Barn Weddings – A Spotlight on Basing House, Hampshire

The Garrison Gate at Basing House, Hampshire

There's something undeniably romantic about a barn wedding, with the combination of rustic charm of an historic building and the natural beauty of the countryside offering the potential for a magical and enchanting backdrop for one of the most special days of your life. Whether you're a couple who loves the countryside or you simply appreciate the romance and glamour of a picturesque setting, a barn wedding can offer a unique and unforgettable experience.

In this blog, I’ll offer my tips for planning the perfect rustic wedding celebration, alongside some photos from a recent wedding photoshoot at the stunning Basing House in Hampshire.

Natural beauty: One of the biggest attractions of a barn wedding is the stunning natural surroundings. Imagine saying your vows under a canopy of clear blue skies, surrounded by lush green fields and towering trees. Barn venues often provide breathtaking views of the countryside, making for unforgettable photo opportunities.

Embrace the season (and the great British outdoors): A spring or summer barn wedding gives you the opportunity to embrace the beauty of these seasons. Incorporate fresh flowers, greenery, and seasonal fruits into your decor and your bouquet – and even your hair.

Rustic decor: The rustic aesthetic of a barn perfectly complements the warm and inviting atmosphere of a wedding celebration. Exposed wooden beams, weathered walls, and vintage decorations create a cosy and elegant ambience. You can enhance this charm with jute or hessian table runners, a muted or pastel colour palette, mason jar centrepieces, and twinkling string lights.

Versatility: Barn venues come in all shapes and sizes, offering versatility to match your vision. Whether you want an intimate wedding ceremony, or a big gathering of friends and family, there's a barn venue to suit your needs. You can also adapt the space to your taste; for example, an eco-friendly theme, a romantic, floral vibe, or a bohemian chic aesthetic.

An outdoor ceremony: If you can , take advantage of the beautiful weather by hosting your ceremony outdoors. Exchange vows under a charming gazebo, an arch decorated with or hoop adorned with flowers.

Basing House - A stunning backdrop for a photoshoot

We were incredibly lucky to see a warm and sunny day for our wedding photo shoot at rural Hampshire’s Basing House in summer 2023, a stunning wedding location and the perfect place for a celebrant-led barn wedding. Steeped in history - it was the site of a key battle during the English Civil War - Basing House, with its Jacobean Knot Garden, walled garden and Great Barn is perfect for a quintessentially British rural, rustic and romantic summer wedding, with so many elegant natural backdrops for your photos and so many opportunities to make your wedding spectacular! If you are looking for a unique, picturesque and tranquil venue for your dreamy Spring/Summer wedding, Basing House is certainly worth a look. You can also choose to mark other significant milestones here; the Great Barn or Knot Garden would also be perfect for a renewal of wedding vows or a baby-naming celebration.

Some images from our amazing shoot…

Suppliers:

Venue: @basinghousehct ~ Models: @shay_and_aga ~ Photography: @josettecrispinphotography and @nkphotography.uk ~ Celebrant/handfasting ceremony: susannah@vitaceremonies ~ Hair: @rjgbridal ~ MUA: @cecilellewelynbowenmua ~ Cakes: @buttercupbakes21 ~ Florals: @sarahashleighflorals ~ Dresses: @sophierosebridal ~ Embroidered jackets: @niamhdesigns ~ Venue styling: @nicheevents

A brief history of Basing House

Basing House was built in 1535 for Sir William Paulet, Governor of Portsmouth and Lord Treasurer of England. Under King Edward Vi, he was also ennobled as the first Marquess of Winchester and Earl of Wiltshire. The house was built on the ruins of a castle built in the 1100s by the de Port family, who arrived with William the Conqueror in the Norman invasion of 1066. The remains of the castle can still be seen through a large circular bank and defensive ditches

Basing House was once the largest private house in Tudor England, with 360 rooms, and it was one of the most lavish; in fact, it rivalled Hampton Court Palace in its opulence and was said to be second only to Windsor Castle in size.

At its peak, Basing House was frequently visited by royalty; King Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn visited Basing House in 1535 and Paulet was present with the King at the sinking of the Mary Rose*. Queen Mary I also spent her honeymoon there after her 1554 wedding to Philip of Spain in Winchester Cathedral and later, Elizabeth I was also a regular visitor.

The expense of these visits from royalty was considerable, with royal entourages frequently reaching 2,000 people. The 4th Marquess of Winchester is said to have been forced to abandon parts of the house and sell property to mitigate the debts he his ancestors incurred in hosting royalty and the living an opulent lifestyle. By the start of the English Civil War in 1642, the 5th Marquess of Winchester was living in London, as a result of the high upkeep costs of Basing House as a residence. 

The Siege of Basing House

Basing House was intermittently under attack from 1642 onwards. On the 14th October 1645, it was stormed for the last time and subsequently destroyed by Oliver Cromwell’s men. Following the capture of Basing House, Oliver Cromwell suggested that Basing House should be made an example by destroying the building entirely. On 15th October 1645 the House of Commons ‘resolved, that the house, garrison and walls at Basing House be forthwith totally slighted and demolished…that whosoever will fetch away any stone brick or other materials of Basing House shall have the same for his or their pains.’ (more details can be found here). Many local residents did take away bricks and other materials from the ruins of Basing House to build cottages, some of which are still in existence. However, Basing House was never rebuilt. The only building that remains to this day is The Great Barn, which holds numerous battle scars from artillery fire. Basing House is managed by the Hampshire Cultural Trust. Further details, including visiting hours can be found here.

*The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth is well worth a visit! The Mary Rose was Tudor king Henry VIII's favourite ship and the museum has the largest collection of Tudor objects in the world. You can also celebrate your wedding here, with the wreck of this amazing ship as a backdrop.