Not every couple wants a full-scale wedding day. For some, the focus is simply on getting married; choosing a meaningful location, and sharing special moments with a select group of special people. That’s where our Secret Woodings come in. At our woodland venue in Wiltshire, we proudly offer small wedding packages, perfect for couples looking to elope, or those hoping for a low-key, intimate wedding near beautiful Salisbury.

Small Weddings and Secrets Woodings at The Woods at Oakley

Set within an ancient woodland just outside Salisbury, The Woods at Oakley offers a licensed outdoor ceremony space designed for couples planning unique outdoor weddings. But your wedding with us doesn’t have to involve a whole-day event and a sit-down meal for 80 people.

We recognise that not every couple desires a big celebration, and as a result, we are very happy to accommodate small weddings at our beautiful Wiltshire woodland wedding venue. In fact, if the idea of an intimate event sounds ideal, then we have a wedding package designed just for you and your partner!

Our intimate wedding packages, otherwise known as, our ‘Secret Woodings’ are intentionally toned down, giving you the essentials and nothing more; a beautiful setting, time to make it your own, and the freedom to keep things as small and laidback as you like.

So, what is a “Secret Wooding”?

A Secret Wooding is a three-hour hire of one of The Woods at Oakley’s licensed woodland ceremony spaces in Wiltshire, created for weddings of up to 20 guests. It’s ideal for couples who want a calm or private ceremony without the strict structures, planning, cost or formality of a traditional wedding day.

With a Secret Wooding, the focus is on the ceremony itself. You bring your favourite people, your registrar, and any personal touches you’d like, then enjoy time together in the woods. Beyond your booking window, there’s absolutely no schedule, and there’s no also absolutely no obligation to add extras if you don’t want them.

Our small weddings are therefore especially popular with couples who are remarrying, planning a low-key celebration, working to a tighter budget, or simply wanting a more personal way to get married.

The woodland setting

The Woods at Oakley sits within a private woodland estate, where winding tracks lead to secluded clearings that feel wonderfully removed from the outside world. Ceremonies take place at our Oak Arbour, nestled beneath the woodland canopy and fully licensed for legal weddings, offering an intimate and truly immersive setting.

Nearby, just a short walk along an enchanting woodland path, the Bluebell Glade provides your reception space. Fully equipped for your celebration, it includes toilets, a woodland kitchen, a fire pit, and delicate fairy lighting, creating a warm and magical setting for your wedding reception.

Parking is available on site, with well-maintained gravel paths winding through the woodland to ensure easy, inclusive access for all guests, including those using wheelchairs or pushchairs.

Oh, and don’t forget, we also have some thoughtful touches, such as attractions for small guests. Plus, our animals (such as donkeys, ponies and sheep) are all there on site too!

So, what’s included in our small wedding packages?

When booking a Secret Wooding with us, your hire fee includes:

  • Exclusive use of the site for three hours (morning or afternoon)

  • Use of the Oak Arbour (licensed for wedding ceremonies)

  • On site parking

  • Toilets in the Bluebell Glade

  • Access to the woodland kitchen (to keep your salads from wilting and the bubbly chilled!)

  • Lighting along parking areas, woodland tracks and toilets

  • Use of the venue’s “Something Borrowed” items (we’re got plenty to offer – just ask!)

  • A maximum of 20 guests

This toned down wedding package gives you everything you need for a comfortable, legal and totally unique ceremony in a woodland setting, without unnecessary layers or details that you don’t desire.

What’s not included in our intimate wedding packages (and why that’s actually a good thing)?

Our Secret Woodings are deliberately flexible, and that’s what appeals to a lot of our couples.

The following are therefore not included:

  • Stretch canvas structures but you are welcome to bring your own gazebo

  • Accommodation in the Nissen Hut (available for £170 a night and sleeps 4)

  • Event management or security services

  • Catering

At its heart, our Secret Woodland package is wonderfully flexible, giving you the freedom to shape the day your way. You’re welcome to bring your own cake, drinks, light food or decorations or keep things beautifully simple and understated if that’s more your style.

And if you’d like a little inspiration, some couples choose to keep things delightfully informal setting up a simple picnic, hosting a relaxed champagne reception or simply spending the time walking, talking and taking photographs with guests, rather than hosting a formal reception.

Find out more about our small weddings

If you’re exploring a small or intimate wedding in Wiltshire and want to find out if our Secret Wooding package is right for you take a look at our brochure or get in touch to talk through the details.

But above all, every Secret Wooding is uniquely yours shaped by your story, your pace, and your vision, with flexibility at its heart to make the day feel truly special.

We look forward to speaking with you, and making your small wedding dreams come true in our enchanting woodland estate.