Some venues work to feel special. Others do just the job without much effort at all. In this article, we’re breaking down exactly what a countryside wedding venue gives you that a city one simply can’t. And we should know: because at The Woods at Oakley, we’ve spent years watching couples fall immediately in love with the landscape of the Wiltshire countryside and our ancient woodland.
The Natural Allure of a Countryside Wedding Venue
Fields don’t need decorating. Neither do bright lawns, tall trees, the serene view from your ceremony or the greenery that surrounds you in all directions. That’s the first advantage of a countryside wedding.
Because although the city can dress up nicely for your wedding day, the countryside was born ready for an enchanting wedding reception or ceremony. It’s yours for the day, or sometimes even the weekend. Meanwhile, in the city, you can borrow a backdrop, a rooftop, a ballroom, or a skyline, but it doesn’t feel like yours, and you’re often sharing it with thousands of other people.
On the other hand, in the countryside your backdrop truly feels like a blank canvas that belongs to you for the day. Depending on where you choose to host your rural wedding, you’ll get fields, ancient trees, golden light on the grass, thick forests, and much more.
But that’s not the only benefit of a wedding in the countryside, because choosing a wedding in the outdoors means guests aren’t confined to one room for twelve hours, you can shape the day how you like it, and let’s be honest, the photography comes back absolutely unmatched!
Nowhere captures this better than the Wiltshire countryside, where the landscape itself seems to have been designed with weddings in mind. At The Woods at Oakley, nestled in the heart of Wiltshire, we’ve had the privilege of hosting weddings for years now, and in that time we’ve learned exactly what it takes to bring a couple’s vision to life in a setting like this; from the smallest details to the biggest moments.
Take a look at our most recent wedding brochure here.
What makes a countryside wedding venue special?
1. Beautiful photography opportunities
This one’s simple and pretty obvious too: a countryside wedding venue gives your photographer way more to work with, and this really shows in the final gallery.
Instead of one function room lit by the same lighting rig all day, outdoors you benefit from all kinds of different natural elements. You’ve got open skies, changing light of the day, and a different backdrop every hour. Think bright sun for your midday ‘getting ready’ photos, warm golden hour shots by early evening and evening shots by the fire when the light dims.
And it’s not only the newlyweds who benefit. Group shots look more natural against a countryside landscape than a plain wall or dancefloor, and candid moments, including guests chatting on the lawn and kids running between the trees will look far more natural (if that’s what you’re after!).
At The Woods at Oakley, our photo opportunities are truly unmatched. We’ve got a woodland swing, wooden archway, oak arbour, open fields, mystical woodland and so much more to play with. So if you’re the kind of couple looking for unique and original shots, you truly can exercise creativity to your heart’s content!
2. Unmatched views
So much of what we remember from a wedding day comes down to what we saw and how it made us feel, not just the music we heard or the tasty food we ate.
And that’s exactly where a countryside wedding venue offers even more edge! Forget a view that stops at a wall. At a wedding outside a city, you get horizons; fields rolling out, hills in the distance, maybe trees marking the edge of the grounds.
Guests notice it too of course. Ask anyone what they remember from a wedding and it’s rarely the carpet or the ceiling, it’s the atmosphere of the venue and possibly the moment they stepped outside and the view took their breath away. A wedding in nature gives you that moment totally built in.
3. Seasonal beauty
Spring or summer? At a countryside wedding venue, that choice is entirely yours, and what you pick makes a big difference to your day.
At The Woods at Oakley, we host weddings through spring and summer (May to September), and each season brings its own magic. Spring gives you bluebells, birdsong, blossoming flowers, and fresh, crisp air that makes everything feel new and exciting. Perfect for a wedding!
And sometimes, summer brings scorching, sun-soaked days with proper summer wedding energy. It’s like one big festival; guests relaxing in the garden, drinks in hand, pizza enjoyed on the grass and golden light coming through the trees well into the evening. And if the British weather does throw in a little rain, we’re fully prepared for it, with umbrellas, canvas covers, and shelter on hand so nothing gets in the way of your day.
That’s the real joy of seasonality when you select an outdoor wedding venue: picking the time of year that matches the wedding you’ve always pictured, and watching the countryside deliver it beautifully!
4. Privacy and exclusivity
Your wedding day shouldn’t come with an audience (unless you want one, then you should absolutely have one!).
Privacy is one of the biggest perks of choosing a countryside wedding venue, and for many couples, we have found that to be a real bonus. You’re not getting ready and walking out in your dress on a public street, and you’re not sharing the day with another wedding party queued up right behind yours.
Typically, a countryside wedding venue belongs to you, properly, for the whole day (or even the weekend!) without anyone wandering into your ceremony space by accident.
In fact, many countryside venues are often tucked away down a quiet lane or hidden behind trees, so your guests feel like they have to discover it first, and feel like they’re arriving somewhere special. In our experience, that sense of exclusivity stays with you throughout the whole day.
5. Connection to nature
If you’re the kind of couple who feels more at home surrounded by trees and birdsong than city lights, this one might be the whole reason you choose an outdoor or rural wedding venue in the first place.
At The Woods at Oakley, we have found that the couples who choose our venue enjoy the depth of the connection to nature our venue brings them. With the Stonehenge aquifer flowing underneath the woods, and the remote feel of the space, there’s nowhere more fitting for couples seeking that kind of deep connection on their special day.
But also at our venue, that connection goes a step further because you don’t just get married surrounded by the woods, you become part of them! As part of your day, you’ll choose a tree and plant it yourselves. This second ‘mini ceremony’ of its own marks your marriage while also supporting the woodland’s future, contributing to the replanting efforts helping combat ash dieback and keep these grounds thriving for years to come.
That tree grows alongside your marriage, long after the day itself is over. Please feel free to come back and visit it on your anniversary!
6. Blank canvas for personal style
Nature might be the best blank canvas there is. Natural greenery gives you a starting point that already looks beautiful, which means whatever you add on top only makes it better. You don’t need to decorate much at all, but you can also go crazy and bring something totally unique and elaborate to life.
Whether you’re picturing a fairytale theme, a woodland dressed head to toe in elaborate flowers, or something completely out of the box, and at The Woods at Oakley, we’ve genuinely seen it all. We feel that the outdoors gives you the freedom to make it happen without fighting against a space that doesn’t have much flexibility.
Other than protecting our woodlands and making mindful decisions, there are no strict rules or boundaries here. Don’t worry about a fixed colour scheme or awkward corners to design around. Just bring your vision to life exactly as you imagined it!
The Woods at Oakley: Your Countryside Wedding Venue in the Heart of Wiltshire
Come and see it for yourselves! Walk the grounds and picture your own wedding day unfolding here. We’d love nothing more than to welcome you to The Woods at Oakley, so book a viewing or explore more on our website whenever you’re ready.