Botley Hill Barn Surrey Wedding Venue
I cannot get enough of Surrey Wedding Venue, Botley Hill Barn – I even asked if I could move in! Visiting as a Surrey wedding celebrant, this venue made my heart sing in a way that I could never imagine, I was fizzy with excitement upon arrival, all through the viewing, chatting with the events team and all the way home.
A sneak peak at Botley Hill Barn:
An array of gorgeous spaces…
Tucked away in a hidden corner of Surrey, Botley Hill Barn achieves style and sophistication yet offers a homely and cosy feel. The Oakly Barn, used for wedding ceremonies, features red exposed brick which creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. Being in this space, was like being lovingly embraced by an old friend. Adorned with rustic wooden chairs, stunning dark-wood staircase for a memorable entrance and secret plush dressing room, this setting is what dreams are made of.
If the Oakley Barn hadn’t already given me all the feels, the Main Barn and Baby Barn (is there anything cuter?) offer a jaw-dropping event space for your wedding day. You certainly don’t need to worry about styling these spaces, they are beautiful as they are. Opulent seating in the Baby Barn provides guests with comfort and splendour. The Main Barn is even more breathtaking with impressive panoramic views of the Surrey North Downs, tall ceilings, intricate chandeliers and wood finish.
A glorious outside setting…
In addition to gorgeous interior, the exterior is equally enticing; wooden decking, ideal for watching the sunset on your wedding day and a cosy outside space complete with log burner. Even on a grey autumn day, the setting radiated warmth. If I haven’t gushed enough already, Botley Hill Barn has even considered where you might spend your wedding night and have three snug shepherd huts for your use and are automatically included in the venue hire.
The Dream Team…
This dreamy venue has a dreamy events team to match, and I have no doubt you would be in safe hands with Rachel, Lily and Kate: friendly, approachable and calming, they made me feel at home straight away. Botley Hill Barn also recommends some of the most incredible suppliers. Some of which I met at their Winter Showcase in November 2024 whom deserve a little shout out.
Suppliers at Botley Hill Barn:
Flowers
Look no further than Holly & The Dragonfly, Holly and Laura have a gift for curating floral designs which match the elegant yet rustic feel at Botley Hill Barn. Their floral arrangements bring vibrancy to the space and enhance Botley Hill Barn’s beauty even further - who knew that was possible! Warm and approachable, Laura and Holly are a joy to work with and have bundles of enthusiasm, reflected in their energetic floral curations which are so effortlessly beautiful - a real credit to their attention to detail and work ethic.
Music
Ok - it has to be said, I am a sucker for a musician but even if I wasn’t… Thom would be enough to convince me a musician is an absolute must for your wedding ceremony and beyond. I spent the Winter Showcase being serenaded by this absolute talent. It was easy to imagine brides and grooms descending the staircase accompanied by Thom’s gorgeous voice and guitar. His idyllic sound filled the space and it was impossible not to have a little dance along to his huge array of acoustic covers. Reflecting the venue magnificently, Thom’s vibe can set the tone for your day. Fangirl much?
Photography
I don’t know much about photography but I am learning and I know a gem of a wedding photographer when I meet one. Joe Burford captures the real moments of the couple’s day, recognising that whilst a few casual group shots are a must and of course some frame-worthy couple shots, the unplanned moments are the ones worth capturing and does so by blending in seamlessly. I love Joe’s photographic style, dramatically effortless (if that’s a thing?). Aligning harmoniously with the Botley Hill Barn’s essence, I dare to say his photos are rather….seductive!
Caterers
Willing to accept I am totally biased on this one and I am sure all the caterers at Botley Hill Barn are totally amazing but I wanted to give Two Many Cooks a little shout out as many many years ago I actually used to waitress for them at weddings (and on steam trains! But that’s a story for another time). The absolute best thing about working for Two Many Cooks was that you would always get the most incredible staff food and if you were really lucky, some of the wedding breakfast if it was going spare. I always dreamed that one day Two Many Cooks would cater my own wedding…alas, our wedding venue in Cambridge would not allow outside caterers but from behind the scenes, I can say Two Many cooks runs a well-oiled machine, a very smooth operation indeed. Their kitchens are immaculate (former pot washer approved!), their staff professional and their food divine. Just thinking about their buttery dauphinoise potatoes makes my mouth-water!
Hair
STUNNING! Is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Emma Louise Bridal Hair. When I saw Emma’s style, I asked myself how quickly could I persuade my husband to have a vow renewal just so I could book her. I have a lot in common with Emma, both having to postpone our weddings due to Covid, careers as teachers and members of the small-biz-owner-working-mum-club. Emma was so relatable and friendly, I would book her just so I could hang out with her…the elegant and sleek hairstyles she creates is just a bonus! A Hollywood wave pro and elegant updo expert, I would trust Emma with taming my frizz (IYKYN) any day.
Winter Showcase Reel:
What do their wedding couples think?
Having raved enough about Botley Hill Barn myself, I asked one of Botley’s wedding couples, Jess and Luke who got married at Botley Hill Barn in September 2022, to spill the tea on this treasure of a Surrey Wedding Venue:
What sort of vibe were you looking for from your wedding venue?
I was definitely after something a bit more boho and rustic, whereas my husband is a little more boujee, Botley Hill Barn seemed to blend these two styles together perfectly!
What made you choose Botley Hill Barn for your wedding?
We honestly got ‘the feeling’ as soon as we walked into the ceremony area. We loved the fact there were three separate rooms so you felt like your guests were going on a journey throughout the day (without the hassle of actually having to move venues). The floor to ceiling windows in the main barn with views over a beautiful valley were definitely a main selling point too. But probably one of the main things was that if it rained it wouldn’t have impacted the day, but if you got lovely weather you would have had the added bonus of the outside space (which we didn’t get to use as it absolutely tipped it down after our photos)
What was your experience of working with the venue/events team?
The ladies we worked with at Botley Hill Barn were so lovely, they were really good at communicating and made us feel completely at ease. The whole day ran perfectly!
What advice/ tips (if any) would you give to other couples looking to get married at Botley Hill Barn?
Take the stairs for your aisle walk! Apparently not all brides use them as they are worried about falling down but it makes such a lovely entrance and gorgeous photos! It is such a beautiful venue that if you didn’t want to spend much on decor then you wouldn’t have to as it looks lovely as it is.
It Botley Hill Barn was a tea, what tea would it be?
Early grey with a hint of lavender, earl grey to reflect its elegance and charm, and the lavender which adds the calming, and warm modern twist of the venue.
Photography credit: Megan Donati, Surrey Wedding and Elopement Photographer
Final thoughts from a Surrey Wedding Celebrant…
Put simply, The Barn at Botley Hill is a work of art; full of juxtaposition: cosy yet sleek, relaxed yet professional, rustic yet well-refined. These contrasts are further reflected in the external appearance of the dark wood of the Main Barn against the green of the Surrey, North Downs. There is something magical about Botley Hill Barn and it is evident that every couple who spend their wedding day here experience unforgettable moments in abundance.
A little thank you…
Special thanks to Botley Hill Barn who have supported my work as a wedding celebrant and for featuring me as one of their recommended wedding celebrants on their website. Woohoo! A massive thank you and to Jess and Luke (but mainly Jess!) who took the time to answer the questions above. What a star! AND a final thank you to their gorgeous wedding photographer, Megan Donati, who was up for having her divine photos of Jess and Luke’s day featured in this blog post.
Related:
https://www.botleyhillbarn.co.uk/
https://hollyandthedragonfly.com/
https://joeburfordphotography.com/
