If I was getting married again, this is the wedding venue where I’d choose to say ‘I do’! Its a brilliant compromise between a hotel and the blank canvas of a barn, which for me is the best of both worlds.
Location
Though slightly out of my normal radar, this wedding venue sits about 20 miles from Witney in the north of the Cotswolds. However it was well worth a visit to look around on such a glorious sunny day last month.
I feel really lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country and it was wonderful to drive through such stunning countryside to get to this venue. Unfortunately, my drive was slightly longer than planned as I made the mistake of trying to find this venue from their postcode. It is much easier to find if you stick to the main roads, coming off the A44 towards Chipping Campden on the B4081. Or type ‘Lapstone Barn Wedding Venue’ in your Google maps!
There’s a lovely sense of escapism when you arrive and this venue feels like it’s completely in the middle of nowhere. Found not far from Batsford Arboretum, Dormy House and a stone’s throw away from Snowshill, with the lavender of the region echoed at the venue.
Industrial chic
This 18th century stable farm (and then a furniture shop until only last year) has recently been beautifully and breathtakingly done up to a luxurious finish. With all the class of a London venue alongside the tranquil and rural setting of the Cotswolds.
Industrial chic at it’s best and you can’t beat the backdrop and amazing scenery that this venue has to offer.
Grounds
After coming down the long drive, there’s a spacious car park out the front of this newly refurnished barn. Whilst the outside space was still a work in progress when I visited, you can still see the potential and vision that will come to life as soon as the warmer weather appears. With plans for a water feature and lavender in their courtyard and new tree being planted outside. Every aspect is being considered to provide stunning memories for your big day.
Facilities
There are two main parts to the inside of the venue, both exude a modern, classy and warm vibe.
The Stone Barn is more rustic and what you’d come to expect of a Cotswold barn venue and typically where couples choose to have their ceremonies. Then the Northwick Barn is a large industrial loft style extension where you could hold your wedding reception. But the options could also include the courtyard (which is also licensed).
Then there’s a further Tanner bar section with seating and a wood burning stove – hygge typified!
What struck me was that the venue seemed really light – both natural and artificial – with great expansive windows and doors, plus I loved the really modern light fittings.
On top of this, there are lots of places and separate areas to sit inside and outside, which would be great for people to break away during the reception or when music is playing.
Lapstone Barn offers all inclusive catering and bar packages and you can have the venue exclusively from 10am – 1am. There’s also a great area to get ready upstairs in the Hayloft where you can see your guests arriving along the drive.
Service
These new kids on the block are certainly not wet behind the ears, as they boast years of experience and an extensive list of suppliers in the wedding industry. They have worked on high-end bespoke marquee weddings and are bursting with ideas and expertise in creating stunning weddings.
They’ve got great vision and a brilliant eye for detail. They’ll even set the tables for you! So all you’re left to worry about is the decor, entertainment and getting yourself ready.
Summary
This wedding venue is a beautiful halfway house between a barn and a hotel. With the facilities of catering and a bar like a hotel, along with the charm and personalisation options of a barn.
WEDDING VENUE FACTS Type of venue: barn Find out more:https://www.lapstonebarn.co.uk/ Location: B4081, Chipping Campden, GL55 6UR Wedding season: year round Guests: 140-200 Marquee option: n/a Ceremony: Licensed inside and courtyard from £200 Venue hire: from £1500 Nearest church: St James’ Church, Church Street, Chipping Campden GL55 6JG Wedding breakfast: packages from £43pp Accommodation: local hotels and b&bs Wedding fairs: Wedding Fair and Open Day 17th March 2018 Other things worth a mention: brilliant industrial loft style barn conversion
Well, if you’re looking for the WOW factor, turning in to the long drive way and getting a first glimpse at this wedding venue will get your jaw dropping and have your guests in awe.
Location
Set in rural Oxfordshire lies Eynsham Hall which, despite it’s name, is actually in North Leigh (on the road between Witney and Woodstock) rather than in Eynsham itself. After driving through wooded areas, you come upon some impressive gates that lead the way to the estate. The half-a-mile, tree-lined, driveway escorts you until the Hall slowly comes in to view.
Quirky details
Eynsham Hall pitches itself as a stately (but not stuffy) Jacobean manor. And this harmony of traditional and contemporary elements sit alongside each other seamlessly. I was delighted to look around this wedding venue at Christmas time and loved all the festive trees decorated individually in each room. And it’s the quirky attention to detail that pops up in every room making each one a bit different with their own talking points.
Grounds
Not only a grand stately home, but Eynsham Hall is surrounding by around 3,000 acres of beautiful parklands and formal gardens – perfect for your wedding photographs.
The terrace overlooks a fountain with a relaxing sound of the slow trickle of water. There’s also tennis courts, a pool, sauna and beauty treatments on site to enjoy before or after the big day.
Facilities
There is certainly no doubt that this is a stately home – proud of its heritage and exuding opulence from it’s very essence. With an amazing staircase to make a grand wedding entrance, oak panelled walls, foreboding portraits hanging, huge fireplaces and large arched windows with big window seats to perch and view the impressive gardens.
But this venue also oozes charm and elegance. It is relaxed and accessible just like the mismatched sofas and arms chairs in the lounge that invite you to sink in to them. And my eye kept being drawn up to the striking high ceilings to notice that each room had a slightly different modern twist for the chandeliers, whether that was using drinking glasses, stag antlers or even a spider’s web.
It also boasts a luxurious bridal suite including a big copper bath to enjoy. Plus the spacious Peacock Room for the bridal party to change and get ready in before the ceremony.
Service
For your wedding day, this would be your house and you’d feel at home and be made very welcome. This wedding venue only hosts one wedding a day so you have their exclusive and undivided attention.
The staff are slick behind the scenes and experienced at what makes a wedding work well. There’s options of which room to hold your ceremony (as well as whether you have it inside or outside). Whilst Eynsham Hall has always specialised in large scale celebrations, it has also announced the addition of a new and intimate licensed ceremony space for weddings for 40 guests from January 2018.
Space
You’ll be spoilt for choice with the number of different rooms at your disposable. You could use one room for the ceremony, the library for drinks, relax outside on the terrace and have a sit down meal in another room.
In my opinion this venue wouldn’t suit the diy couple who want to personalise everything, as the decor and surroundings already speak for themselves. There’s not much that you’d need to organise yourself. Although I think some chair covers may be needed in some rooms if the distinctive colour of the chairs doesn’t suit your own wedding theme.
Conclusion
This wedding venue needs no adaptation or adornment and will provide you with a lush backdrop to a stunning wedding, whether you’re after an impressive, plush do or an intimate affair.
WEDDING VENUE FACTS Type of venue: country house hotel Find out more:http://www.eynshamhall.com/ Location: A4095, North Leigh, Witney OX29 6PN Wedding season: year round Guests: 80-150 Marquee option: marquee permitted Ceremony: licensed inside or outside from £475 Venue hire: included in packages Nearest church: Methodist Church, 1 Chapel Lane, North Leigh, Witney OX29 6SD Wedding breakfast: packages from £115 per person in April-October (from £110 pp in winter months) Accommodation: 35 rooms in the main house (plus 90 onsite) Wedding fairs: several throughout the year – next on 25th February 2018 Other things worth a mention: check out the copper pipes of the beer pumps in the brasserie and yellow sofas in the contemporary bar
Location Not too far off the A361 (which runs from Burford to Swindon) is a beautiful wedding barn. You’d be forgiven to thinking you were in the middle of nowhere as this wedding venue location feels so remote. There’s a wonderful quietness to the surroundings and a lovely sense of still and calmness. It really is an escape from the busy city and a chance to be immersed in the countryside to celebrate your special day in style.
Year round Oxleaze Barn is a tucked-away Gloucestershire barn with year-round warmth, thanks to its solar panel and biomass generated underfloor heating. Built in 1702 and beautifully renovated with some stunning original features, yet adapted efficiently to provide a comfortable space and offer weddings whatever the season.
Grounds
Tucked away in rolling Cotswold countryside, on a working farm, this wedding venue has ample parking, space for catering vans, a landscaped courtyard and firepit, along with access to a phenomenal private garden for your photographs.
Facilities
It’s also well equipped, with a spacious Artist’s Studio to get ready, a state of the art commercial kitchen and luxurious toilet area, plus Chiavari chairs if you want them for your wedding set up. Cotswold Event Solutions are on hand for any other furniture requests and The Watering Hole manage the bar for them. There’s only one wedding a weekend so you’ll have the time to decorate and enjoy your day without feeling rushed.
Service
With 4 years experience under their belts, this family run business have got the right mix of flexibility along with advice if/when couples require guidance. They offer a relaxed and friendly service partnered with a wonderful space that they are continuing to improve and evolve.
Space
This year their offering will include the expansion of additional barn space (The Milling Barn) which will give an extra area for the drinks reception and disco. In addition, they are converting a 3 double bedroom cottage for accommodation later this year.
Conclusion
Oxleaze Barn is certainly an up and coming venue to watch out for. Plus it seems that it is one that is responding to couples’ requirements and developing their offering.
WEDDING VENUE FACTS Type of venue: barn Find out more:http://www.oxleazebarn.co.uk/ Location: Filkins, Gloucestershire, GL7 3RB Wedding season: year round Guests: 120 in The Barn Marquee option: marquee permitted Ceremony: Licensed inside from £250 Venue hire: from £1000 Nearest church: St Peter’s Church, Rouses Lane, Filkins, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3JF (0.0 miles) Wedding breakfast: bring in own catering suppliers Accommodation: 3 double bedroom cottage from February 2018 Wedding fairs: Open Day in February and October Other things worth a mention: warm all year round
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. At this between and betwixt time, I often take the time to reflect on the past year. And what a fantastic year it’s been for Hanami Dream weddings and special occasions in 2017.
This year, my focus has been on developing the blog commercially, as well as providing inspiration to brides and grooms in the Cotswolds. Plus I’ve continued to combine my marketing experience, with my local knowledge, in the scope of the wedding industry. It has been great to provide marketing consultation to some local, independent wedding businesses in and around Witney, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. I’ve been affectionately titled the Wedding Inspector – a bit like the Alex Polizzi of the local wedding industry!
I’ve also organised a festival style wedding open day, along with three styled bridal shoots with some amazing local suppliers this year. These have included The Secret Garden, Festival and Journey to the Centre of the Earth themes (look out for images from the latter of these coming soon). I was chuffed to have these shoots featured on Bride Magazine online and SoGlosWedding too.
#UKWedLunch has been going over a year now and attracts new followers every week. This is a great Twitter hour for wedding planning in your lunch break with other brides to be, grooms to be and wedding professionals in the UK.
I’m delighted to have enquiries for different aspects of the business including venue styling and consultancy, as well as such lovely testimonials from happy couples and suppliers I’ve worked with in 2017.
The blog featured posts on different elements of wedding planning, local wedding venue reviews, wedding fairs, wedding transport, favours, alternatives to bouquets, wedding cakes and some wonderful guest posts from local wedding professionals (with top tips and an insight in to different elements of wedding planning from their area of the wedding industry). Plus my series titled ‘the holy trinity of wedding planning’ looked at wedding budgets. See the top posts of 2017.
My blog has had an exciting year and continues to go from strength to strength. The highlights of 2017, were being a finalist in the UK Blog Awards in April again, having one of mood boards picked as finalist again in the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning SS18 Pantone® colour trend challenge, plus I was proud to win Theo Paphitis’s Small Business Sunday #SBS recently.
Now is also a great time to look forward to working with more local wedding professionals, services and venues in the brand new year ahead. #keepitlocal. And I can’t wait to produce more styled photo shoots and have opportunities to collaborate with local suppliers.
Please get in touch if you’d like to advertise on the blog, submit your own wedding details, would like to collaborate on a shoot, write a guest post or need some marketing advice and guidance. Together we can build the local wedding industry and inspire brides and grooms for their special day.
Many thanks for your support in 2017 and here’s to an exciting and very Happy New Year!
Cogges Manor Farm is nestled in the lovely market town of Witney and offers two stunning seventeenth century barns which provide a wonderful setting for celebrations.
I may be a little bias, as this venue has a special place in my heart – not only is it a beautiful local licensed wedding venue in my home town, but it is also a haven and wonderful place to escape with the children.
More than just a farm museum and set location for Downton Abbey, it also offers two rustic and untouched barns as a wedding venue. They are a perfect blank canvas where you can add your own personalised details to make your special day complete.
More and more couples are shying away from the cookie cutter approach to weddings and demanding a more unique and individual wedding.
Photography by Squib Photography
Photography by Ric Mellis
Photography by Tom Weller
Photography by Neil Hanson pink and cream bunting with fairy lights dressing beautiful rustic wedding barn set for reception
Photography by Neil Hanson straw bales covered in pink and cream covers set for wedding ceremony complete with aisle, bunting and fairy lights in rustic barn
This venue certainly helps couples who want to fulfil this ‘diy’ desire as there are hardly any restrictions or prescriptions. You have the freedom to use the suppliers of your choice, you can choose your own room layout and your own decoration to suit your theme for the day. Therefore, you have the option of taking this venue in a variety of different directions. It’s a really versatile space.
Don’t be under any illusions – it may take a little extra work than a ready made venue but you can make this place fit your theme perfectly.
And embrace the fact that it’s rustic – you’ll need to think about your catering options cleverly. For example it would lend itself very nicely for a hog roast, bbq, picnic or food vans.
It feels like the location is really rural but you’re actually right by the centre of town. And this is more than a shell of a building in the middle of a field – there are facilities (although you’ll need to bear in mind it is still rustic and a short walk to the toilets), accessible and ample parking, plus it’s close to bus routes and hotels.
What you do get is a lot of space (both inside and outside of the barns). And the beauty of Cogges is that it is more than just a wedding venue. Your guests can benefit from all the other facilities and attractions around the site in between the formalities of the day. And after 5pm, as well as the barns, the rest of the site is exclusively yours to enjoy too.
There’s a lovely laid back and friendly atmosphere at Cogges Manor Farm and loads of charming locations for photographs, such as the Manor House lawn, the walled garden or orchard and you can even include the farm animals in your photos!
They have a limited number of wedding slots per year and there is only one wedding per weekend.
I will be styling the venue for their Wedding Open Day on Sunday 17th September 11am-3pm. Come and see the barns dressed for wedding planning inspiration.
WEDDING VENUE FACTS Type of venue: barn Find out more:www.cogges.org.uk Location: Church Lane, Witney, OX28 3LA Wedding season: March-October Guests: 200 in Wheat Barn: 60 in Barley Barn Marquee option: weighted marquee permitted Ceremony: Licensed inside from £300 Venue hire: from £3050 Nearest church: St Mary’s Cogges, Church Lane, Witney, OX28 3LA (0.0 miles) Wedding breakfast: bring in own catering suppliers Accommodation: local b&bs Wedding fairs: Open Day in Autumn Other things worth a mention: so much more than just a wedding venue and very family friendly
This place definitely has curb appeal. From first impressions you’d be forgiven in thinking it is a quaint looking pub set in an idyllic and remote Oxfordshire village. The traditional Cotswold stone buildings don’t disappoint but make sure you don’t judge a book solely by its cover, as this place is like a tardis and is expansive behind that initial beautiful façade.
What sprawls behind is a maze of wonder and great possibilities. A 5 star country inn set on the River Windrush surrounded by 65 acres of Cotswold wildflower meadows and riverside gardens. This is a destination to get away from the hectic, crowded city to a stunning and tranquil setting.
The river meanders effortlessly through the extensive grounds passing peaceful locations to trek to and discover: a disused boat house, bridges, tree swings and deckchairs along the riverbank. With fields to hold a festival style wedding , space to put up a marquee and a renovated barn for your evening reception.
You’d not be surprised to find Mole or Ratty scurrying along as the setting conjures up scenes from the Wind in the Willows with ease. You could relax in a riverside room with an outdoor fire pit on a private terrace. Plus there’s plenty of nooks and crannies for people to explore and retreat.
There’s an abundance of ways to enjoy the surroundings including rods to fish, tennis courts, a croquet lawn and even quirky duck races between bridges that people often incorporate in to their wedding day here. And some couples have sentimentally planted trees or roses in the grounds to mark their big day.
The river culminates alongside the beautiful Temple Garden, one of many places you can choose to hold your wedding ceremony. Complete with love seats and an amazing backdrop of a splendid willow tree draping it’s branches in to the river, flowing on it’s way to join the River Thames.
Inside doesn’t disappoint either with it’s grand, original Cotswold stone fireplaces dark wood, rich red upholstery and warm open fireplaces.
But this place isn’t stuck in the past, it is bang up to date with it’s eco outlook on recycling and even has it’s own turbo screw to power part of the venue. It also has a brand spanking new spa where you and your guests can unwind and get pampered. Plus there’s superb fresh local food and outstanding service. Which makes this a brilliant place to get married as it can be all encompassing – you can stay all weekend with your guests if you like!
It won’t appeal to all budgets nor all sizes of guest lists as this is an intimate wedding venue where you’ll be spoilt and can celebrate in style and luxury.
It’s versatile, tranquil, peaceful, relaxing, and so personal. There’s lots of options and locations within this venue to consider: restored barn, outside temple, marquee in magical gardens, inside historic reception rooms. It’s no wonder you’d want to stay the whole weekend to make sure you have time to enjoy the whole site!
WEDDING VENUE FACTS Type of venue: hotel Find out more:http://www.oldswanminstermill.co.uk/ Location: Minster Lovell, near Witney, OX29 0RN Wedding season: all year (except Christmas Day) Guests (ceremony): 50 Guests (sit down meal): 50 in Minster Room Guests (evening): 80 in Malthouse Marquee option: 120-150 Ceremony: Licensed inside and outside £750 Nearest church: St Kenelm’s, Minster Lovell (0.4 miles) Wedding breakfast: packages from £110pp to £225pp Accommodation: 52 rooms & cottage from £185pp to £450pp Wedding fairs: Open Evenings throughout the year | Wedding Fairs in spring and winter Other things worth a mention: their delicious home made fudge, honey made by Minster bees and it has some dog friendly rooms
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. At this between and betwixt time, I often take the time to reflect on the past year. And what a fantastic year it’s been for Hanami Dream weddings and special occasions in 2016!I’ve continued to study with UKAWEP and was proud to be picked as Student of the month in October. The course has (and continues) to open my eyes up to a whole world of weddings beyond just wedding planning.
My focus has changed this year and I’m concentrating on making the blog work commercially as well as providing inspiration to brides and grooms in the Cotswolds. This feels like a fantastic evolution, which really excites me and fits in with my current family life, plus combines my experience within the scope of the wedding industry.
I also worked as a consultant with a local venue to help them with their first wedding open day where I held a wedding planning drop in clinic.
Plus I launched #UKWedLunch in August – a Twitter hour for brides and grooms to be who are planning their weddings in their lunch breaks.
I’m delighted to have enquiries for different aspects of the business including venue styling and consultancy, as well as such lovely testimonials from happy couples and suppliers I’ve worked with in 2016.
The blog featured posts on different elements of wedding planning, local wedding venues, catering vans, a series titled ‘the holy trinity of wedding planning’ and some wonderful guest posts from local wedding professionals (with top tips and an insight in to different elements of wedding planning from their area of the wedding industry). See the top ten posts of 2016.
My blog has had an exciting year and continues to go from strength to strength. The highlight of 2016, was being a finalist in two categories of the UK Blog Awards in April and I was delighted to get a highly commended award.
I was also chuffed to have some of my articles (on seating plans and stationery) published on Bride Magazine online too.
I’m pleased to add to my honoured collection of accolades with #QueenOf Wedding Inspiration by The Royal Connection, the #SmartSocial award from Marketme, #BrightPig’s Business of the Week and I was also picked by Jacqueline Gold CBE to be a WOW Winner.
I’m really proud to have won the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning’s Greenery (SS17 and colour of the year) Pantone® mood board competition again this year.
If all this wasn’t enough, I’m over the moon to have found out last week that I’ve been shortlisted for the next round of the West Oxfordshire Business Awards #WOBA2017. So I’m looking forward to meeting the judges in the New Year and to seeing what other exciting things 2017 has to hold for Hanami Dream.
Now is also a great time to look forward to the brand new year ahead. I’ve lots of plans afoot including focusing the blog on supporting and promoting local wedding professionals, services and venues #keepitlocal. And I can’t wait to produce more styled photo shoots and have more opportunities to collaborate with local suppliers.
Many thanks for your support in 2016 and here’s to an exciting and very Happy New Year!
Well, if you’re looking for the WOW factor, turning in to the long drive way and getting a first glimpse at this wedding venue will get your jaw dropping and have your guests in awe.
Location
I’ve continued to study with UKAWEP and was proud to be picked as 
