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Silchester Farm - New Barn Wedding Venue in Hampshire

24/10/2019

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A few weekends ago we had the absolute pleasure of having a nosy round a stunning new barn venue in Silchester, Hampshire. We heard that our friends at The Wild Fork, Benjamin Stuart Photography, Wessex Flower Company and Victoria Shute Calligraphy were taking part in an exciting photo shoot for a brand new venue so we just had to find out more!

We'd heard wonderful things from a handful of suppliers who had already had a sneak peek of the venue. So, we dropped Al and Carla a message on Instagram and agreed to pop along to see what this new rustic venue had to offer. We were expecting great things but in fact what we were greeted with was even more fabulous than we could have imagined.

Al and Carla have thought of every last detail with Silchester Farm, making sure everything is perfect (including the toilets which are quite frankly, fabulous). This is how you renovate an 18th century barn whilst still keeping every inch of its unique character!

Lots of lovely local suppliers had dressed the venue in such a complementary way that their creations almost looked as though they were part of the venue itself. Wessex Flower Company, Ruby and Grace Florist and Miss Mollie's Flowers showcased their floral wizardry with an abundance of foliage and autumnal hues. We particularly loved the dried woodland foliage in the ceremony backdrop and archway in the barn entryway.

Finishing flourishes included Pretty Pieces Perfect Day's charming vintage china as well as a macrame backdrop and rustic welcome signage from Ivory and Bloom Hire.

The tables in the barn were a true collaboration of all the suppliers involved, including yours truly with our pumpkin tea light holders, hand-dyed cotton table cloths and metallic animal place card holders! We were honoured to be part of such a wonderful bunch of wedding professionals and when it came to the tables we were over the moon to see how they'd turned out. Jasmine had her Wild Fork hat on and used her creative direction to craft a range of beautiful tablescapes with crockery and glassware from Crystal Hire and Victoria Shute's beautiful calligraphy. Again, the florists adorned the table with their amazing arrangements.
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To top it all off, as you wandered into the barn you were dazzled by the vocals and sounds of Lizzy Bennie and her harp. The acoustics of the barn were extremely complementary and Lizzy's voice was carried through the venue.

We wouldn't be able to show off this opening event without Benjamin Stuart's stunning photography which he's kindly shared for you all to swoon over below! Please note, the images that aren't so fantastic are ours... Please do scroll down to the bottom of the post where we've listed all the talented suppliers involved.
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A Reception to Impress

As we walked from the driveway, we could see the reception area through the large glass windows. There are actually a surprising amount of windows in this barn venue so light will certainly not be an issue! There's a large open space to the right as you walk in which you can see has plenty of potential for dressing - Silchester Farm are also going to hire out this space for hen parties, workshops and other events which is such a wonderful idea!

The space to the left is possibly the most cosy little nook we've ever seen, complete with squidgy mismatched furniture and fireplace. It's an ideal for spot for older guests who may need a little peace and quiet later in the evening. 
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Spacious Rustic Barn Venue

Although the atmosphere was warm and cosy whilst we were there on a rainy September day, the barn itself is extremely open and spacious. Fairy lights enrobed the oak beams which gave the barn a festive, wintry feel. With large windows either side, you can tell that this venue is absolutely perfect for summer events too and we can picture the large doors opened out to the extensive grounds outside.
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Timber Tables & Chairs

Long family style dining tables and chairs are included in the hire price which we think is super generous considering their quality. Long trestles are right up The Wild Fork's street so naturally they dressed them beautifully with Crystal Hire's stoneware plates and little trinkets. We were so pleased with how our pumpkin tea lights looked and our metallic animals looked right at home.
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Selfie-ready Toilets!

Now, toilets might not be the first on your list of things to check... but, Silchester Farm's loos are pretty impressive! With an industrial vibe and a Hollywood-style full length mirror, your guests will be queuing up for a totally different reason. Did someone say toilet selfie?!
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2020 Wedding Venue

If you're on the look out for a rustic barn venue for your 2020 wedding then do make sure you get in touch with Al & Carla from Silchester Farm. Not only were we seriously impressed with their renovation, they're also a pair of incredibly lovely people who we'd be more than happy to work alongside for your special day!

Wedding Suppliers Involved in Open Day
Flowers - Wessex Flower Company, Miss Mollie's Flowers, Ruby & Grace Florist
Table Settings - The Wild Fork with Crystal Hire Ltd
Pumpkins, Animal Place Card Holders, Dyed Cotton Runners - Wedding Shed
Drinks and Nibbles - The Wild Fork
Photography - Benjamin Stuart and Studio Rouge Photography
Stationery and Table Plan - Victoria Shute Calligraphy
Welcome Sign & Macrame - Ivory and Bloom Hire
Cake Display - Victoria's Sponges & More
Tiered Wedding Drip Cake - Francesca Calkin's Cake Company
Vintage China - Pretty Pieces Perfect Days
Harp - Lizzy Bennie Music
Band - Karizma 

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Countryside Wedding Venue - Combe Manor Barns

29/7/2019

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Are you looking for a rustic barn venue in the Berkshire countryside? Nestled within the rolling hills of Combe, near Hungerford, sits the spectacular Combe Manor Barns. We've both visited this charming venue many times with The Wild Fork and absolutely love the set up. The space consists of two great barns which are attached in an L shape to offer plenty of flexibility, a beautifully picturesque lawned courtyard and a stunning manor house which couples are able to use for the bridal bedroom and drawing room.

If you'd like to know if Combe Manor Barns ticks all your boxes, scroll down to see our list of popular questions and answers... 

Is There Space For a Wedding Band?

Between the two spacious barns sits a generously-sized stage which offers the perfect space for a band or DJ to set up their equipment.

Can I Have My Ceremony Here?

Combe Manor Barns are licensed to hold civil ceremonies in their barns, you can see an example of the set up below (there's space for 150 seated guests). There is also a Grade 1 listed church next door which can be used for the ceremony subject to discussion with the local Rector and agreement with the Church of England. This beautifully historic church is just 50 metres away from the barns!
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Where is Combe Manor Barns?

Combe lies within the rolling hills of the West Berkshire countryside and the winding roads up to the barns offer the most stunning views! To the west lies Wiltshire, Basingstoke and Deane to the east and Test Valley to the south. Combe Manor Barns is an easy drive from surrounding towns including Newbury, Hungerford, Basingstoke, Reading and Swindon.
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Do I Have to Use a Specific Caterer?

Next to the barns there's a fully functioning kitchen which can easy handle a wedding breakfast for up to 200 people! Combe Manor Barns recommend a selection of caterers but you're also very welcome to bring your own caterer, although this does incur a small surcharge. Their recommended caterers include The Wild Fork, Total Hospitality, Vaughan's Kitchen, Nyama Catering and The Little Kitchen Company!

What About Booze?!

Combe Manor don't charge corkage (yay!) and they have fridges to chill down those all important bubbles and wine for your special day. If you're keen to have a pay bar for all or part of your day, they can recommend a few companies who can help with licensing and supply a fully-stocked bar and staff (your chosen caterer is likely to offer this service too). 
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Do I Need to Bring Tables & Chairs?

No! Combe Manor Barns have round and trestle tables, as well as chairs for up to 150 people. Even better, they don't charge for these.
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As you can see, Combe Manor offers a gorgeous rustic setting within tranquil and picturesque location. You'll most likely still have plenty of questions about this countryside venue so thankfully they've included a whole host of information here on their website!
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Joss & Fergus' Hertfordshire Teepee Wedding

23/4/2019

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If you love the outdoors but don't want the risk of soggy guests and frizzy hair, you have to have a nosy at some teepee weddings. Teepees offer the perfect combination of rustic and cosy but serve as a blank canvas for any theme or style. In the colder months your guests can warm up by the fire with a mulled wine and on sunny days you can open up the side to let the outdoors in!

Stunning Tents have kindly shared some gorgeous images from Alan Law Photography to give you a little inspiration if you're considering a teepee or marquee wedding. Joss and Fergus certainly weren't afraid to get creative and their décor was truly stunning. Although it was late October, this lovely pair chose to channel the tropics with zingy foliage-filled arrangements, mini palm trees and cocktails!
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It's pretty clear they were absolutely buzzing about their special day as here's what they had to say...

"If you're looking for a party / wedding tent with a difference, just book Stunning Tents and don't think twice. Their ability to think of unique setups for your space, their range of beautiful finishing touches to make it all look amazing and their effortless attention to detail and positivity were just amazing. They were seamless, super calm, super professional and with tents / accessories / ideas that made our wedding beyond our dreams. We compared extensively with other suppliers on costs, range and also willingness to create a custom solution and they were hands down exceptional on all fronts. Book them now!" 

The Wedding Team

Teepee - Stunning Tents
Catering - Carte Blanche
Photographer - Alan Law Photography
Photo Booth - Hello Booth
Band - Turn It Up
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A Bright & Beautiful Ufton Wedding

8/4/2016

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Olivia from Ufton Court has kindly shared this lovely blog post written by the couple themselves about their special day! All images courtesy of Benjamin Stuart Photography.
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Why Ufton Court?

The barn and grounds were absolutely beautiful – there’s so many gorgeous locations for photos. Also, we wanted a venue where we could have both our ceremony and reception in the same place, and the barn worked perfectly for both. Having the open plan space for the reception was perfect for our day – we wanted a relaxed feel where all our friends and family could be in the same room getting to know one another.
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Your Style

We went with a rustic theme as it suited the barn and the relaxed feel of our day. The colours we chose were coral, pink and white as we both love bright colours. Ufton Court supplied gorgeous wood slices for our centre pieces which I topped with different jam jars I’d wrapped in twine. I’m creative so there were quite a few home-made touches which I really enjoyed making. I made a love bird and heart mobile from vintage print paper in our wedding colours, our table plan was made with rustic white-washed boards and had birds hanging on a line holding the table names. I’d also made black and white polaroid pictures of Lewis and I to hang above the guestbook table.
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The Ceremony

We had a civil ceremony in the barn. The music we chose for me to walk down the aisle to was Angel by Jack Johnson. The lyrics mean a lot to us so it was lovely being able to walk down the aisle to it. We didn’t have any readings but Lewis is a big music fan and adapted some Johnny Cash lyrics (Rose of my Heart) for us to read as personal vows. It was lovely to be able to add things to our ceremony that were special to us.
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The Dress

My dress was by the designer Ronald Joyce. When I put it on I knew it was perfect! I always wanted a lace dress but did not expect to wear full length sleeves at all! I nearly didn’t try it on! But when I did it was exactly what I wanted.
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The Flowers

Our flowers were by Ashley Bloom in Caversham. We asked for a mix of flowers to fit in with our rustic theme – so nothing looked too ‘arranged’ or symmetrical – all in coral pink and white. I asked them to include hydrangea, roses and peonies because they are my favourites. The roses they used for the guys button holes were stunning – they were called Miss Piggy roses and were a perfect mix of coral and pink! My bouquet was coral and pink to contrast with my dress, and the bridesmaids were pure white (as their dresses were coral and pink floral print). All the flowers tied our colour theme in really well.
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The Food & Drink

We loved the flexibility of the venue to be able to choose the caterers we liked from their recommended suppliers, and to be able to bring our own drinks during the day. Lewis’ Dad brews his own beer and brew us special beers for our wedding (all named after Lewis’ favourite songs). It was a really personal touch to the day.
Our caterers were The Great Food Company. They served really delicious canapes with the welcome drinks. We had Pimms with vintage straws as well as the beer Lewis’ Dad brewed. The Great Food Company were able to provide sharing food for our meal, rather than a formal dinner – but the quality of the food was amazing. We had Italian charcuterie boards for starters, platters with different barbecue foods for main and a lovely lemon tart for pudding. Sharing the food really got conversation going for our guests – even on tables where people didn’t know each other.
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The Cake

Our Ufton Court wedding coordinator Julia had some great advice for us about our wedding cake! We both said we didn’t really like cake, (we like savoury food more) and said we were just having a cake for our guests. Julia suggested that we have a cheese tower instead and then serve it as our evening food. It was a brilliant idea! We loved the cheese ‘cake’ – it looked just as gorgeous as a traditional wedding cake and we got to have cute little mice as cake toppers! It went down really well with our guests too, there was absolutely none left at the end of the night.
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The Entertainment

We had a DJ – Jon Saunders. We got to choose our playlist for the night which was great – I included a song request with the rsvps so all our guests could hear a song they loved on the night that they’d want to dance to. And I put in a song that meant a lot to my mum and I which was lovely.
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The Photographer

Benjamin Stuart was our photographer. He was absolutely brilliant – I couldn’t have asked for more. I loved his reportage style photography – he perfectly captured our day as we remember it. He also gave great advice and managed our guests really well on the day. My favourite place for a photo at Ufton Court is a cute hidden door in one of the old walls in the grounds. I’s a beautiful backdrop.
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Your Advice to Future Couples

If budgeting is important (which it was for us) create a spreadsheet to keep track o
f costs. We updated it with everything – even the smallest things like decorations/craft materials. It’s surprising how quickly things rack up! Look for decorations on ebay – you can find the same things for a more reasonable price than in the shops (I even saved money on the patterned craft paper for my homemade mobile). Make some decorations yourself if you can / ask friends to help – everyone loved the homemade touches
Try not to stress – I was so worried about everything coming together, but on the day everyone wants the best for you and makes sure that it all runs smoothly.
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