8 of My Favourite New Forest Wedding Venues
As a wedding photographer based in Hampshire, I spend a lot of time capturing weddings in the New Forest area. So I wanted to share with you some of my favourite New Forest wedding venues, to inspire you on your search for a venue for your wedding! It was hard to whittle down, as there are so many amazing venues. But here are my favourite 8 New Forest wedding venues. They’re a mix of venues I’ve already photographed at before and some I am hoping to work at in the future.
The grandeur of this 19th-century gothic manor house, coupled with the manicured lawns, incredible grounds and ornamental ponds is quite impressive. The space is so flexible, giving you the choice of outdoor and indoor spaces for your ceremony. So, whether you’re getting married in the height of summer or deepest winter, this venue will be able to cater for you.
And if you’re looking for somewhere completely unique for your small wedding party, ask about the Alhambra room. It’s an amazing room inspired by the Alhambra palace in Granada filled with onyx from Persia, copper and brass inlays, it’s really a sight to behold.
Burley Manor’s history is an extensive one. Dating back to the early 13th century, it’s set amidst an area declared a royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror himself. Weddings take place in the refurbished barns. They are lovely, modern, bright spaces but maintain their charm and character with beautiful oak beams and vaulted ceilings. Then there’s the main house which has beautiful opulent sitting rooms. How’s that for a venue that offers two very different vibes for your wedding? On a summer day, you may even be lucky enough to get some shots outside with deer in the background!
This 18th-century country house hotel is also a former hunting lodge. Grade II listed, it has a similar vibe to both Rhinefield House and Burley Manor with its ode to the past and those glorious oak panelled walls in the main hall. Bartley Lodge sits at the edge of the New Forest though and is one of the easier venues to reach with great access to the main roads. Its accessibility doesn’t mean it isn’t secluded though. It’s set in the heart of acres of grounds, so it definitely is a beautiful and tranquil place to get wed!
This smaller hotel venue is not without its own history. Occupying the site since the 1500s, this former coaching inn is set in the pretty village of Beaulieu, overlooking the river. It boasts elegant English gardens, more of that traditional oak panelling and a crackling fire for the more intimate wedding. This is a venue that has it all in one neat and tidy package.
The Bell Inn is another smaller venue, also set near the edge of the forest. It’s one of the oldest family-owned pubs in Hampshire, having been in one family for over two centuries! Located in the village of Brook, the Bell Inn is not just a pub. It is also an active part of the local community, playing an active role in fundraising for the New Forest Trust. Full of rustic charm and the promise of roaming ponies and pigs, you can’t fail to have an amazing New Forest Wedding right here. They even have a permanent area in the garden for games, so you don’t need to bring extra outdoor props.
I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph weddings at all these venues and I’d say they’re great all year round. With their locations being in easy reach of some beautiful walks in the New Forest, they also make the ideal location for your guests to book in a short stay if they desire!
There are some amazing outdoorsy venues in the New Forest too, ideal for those summer weddings.
This New Forest wedding venue is the perfect woodland wedding venue for something totally natural and unique. It is set in a private woodland estate and boasts total seclusion and tranquillity, making a wedding here a truly memorable experience. The space is entirely flexible in how you use it. The only thing that limits you here is your own imagination! There is scope for celebrations held undercover should the English weather decide to make things interesting. But the outdoor spaces are beautiful so if you’re lucky enough, take advantage of them as much as possible.
If getting wed amongst the tallest Douglas Pines is something you imagine, then Somerley Woods is the place for you. This stunning woodland venue, on the Somerley Estate, also has a country house for something a little more traditional. But Somerley Woods is, again, an outdoor lover’s delight which can be dressed up or down as much or as little as you want to.
This privately-owned residence is a newly launched New Forest wedding venue. It’s set amongst 1500 acres of beautiful woodland and gardens. It has a 15-acre lake and a private beach, along with epic views over the Solent, all with the New Forest as a quietly present backdrop. There are so many options for your New Forest wedding here, you’ll just have to go and take a look to figure out what you want!
One of the things I love most about these venues is their accessibility to the forest. This means it is easy enough to head into the forest for photographs on your wedding day. So, if you’re dreaming of some incredible woodland photographs as part of your New Forest wedding, definitely check out these venues. I’m sure you’ll agree there is an amazing amount of choice and variety in wedding venues right here in the New Forest. I hope this blog post has given you a great taste of what is here.
For more inspiration, have a look at my post ’Unique and Unusual Wedding Venues in Hampshire’ as there is another New Forest Wedding venue mentioned there too. And keep an eye on the blog, as there are more posts like this one planned.
If you’re considering any of these New Forest wedding venues, or any other Hampshire wedding venue, and you’d like to discuss wedding photography with me, then do get in touch! I would love to hear your plans.
