Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - September/October 2020 (Issue 82)

GILBERT WHITE & THE OATES COLLECTIONS, SELBORNE 01420 511 275 | www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk Celebrate your wedding in an idyllic setting in the South Downs National Park. Gilbert White & The Oates Collections offers a distinctive English country backdrop with a range of romantic spaces. Set in 30 acres of heritage parkland and gardens; it’s a breathtaking venue with endless photo opportunities and picturesque spots to wander through and enjoy. Inside the house the Great Parlour is a historic room for intimate ceremonies with up to 35 people or you can marry in the 16 th -century Hampshire Barn with 100 loved ones or 150 with guests seated outside. The bandstand at the side is also licensed for outdoor ceremonies and offers wonderful views over the meadows. The barn boasts a magnificent oak beamed roof and period features with large double doors opening out to the parkland beyond. Festooned with fairylights and with nooks and crannies throughout, you can add your own personal touch with decorative details to suit your style. With space in front for outdoor games and seating, the bandstand makes a great chill-out area too and with a firepit to gather around in the evening, you can relax and watch the sun go down. For marquee or tipi receptions the Great Mead is the perfect picturesque location with space for as many as 300 friends and family. Surrounded by ancient meadow, there’s a traditional marquee on site between June and August and extra tents and tipis can be added to create different areas; perfect for a summer festival-style celebration. We l e... the vintage horsebox bar for an alternative drinks service. STANSTED PARK, ROWLANDS CASTLE 02392 412 265 | www.stanstedpark.co.uk Set in more than 1,000 acres of the South Downs National Park, with far-reaching views across open countryside and ancient woodland, this former home of the Earls of Bessborough is ideal for those wanting a distinctive backdrop for their big day. The lavishly furnished Music Room is the ideal setting to say ‘I do’ and the private chapel within the grounds, with its blue vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows, is a magical place to have your marriage blessed. The historic grandeur of the Blue Drawing Room lends itself perfectly to a formal wedding breakfast while the south- facing lawns provide a quintessentially English setting for a marquee reception; great for larger parties so you can dine and dance into the night. Every wedding is different and couples have the freedom to have their day their way with anything from fabulous canapés to fish and chips, summer drinks on the portico to mulled wine by firelight. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or more extravagant affair, the flexible venue caters for weddings large or small. We l e... the Staircase Hall; perfect for those all-important photos. www.tansleyphotography.co.uk www.charlottewisephotography.co.uk www.olivejoyphotography.co.uk REGIONAL VENUES 23