Boho Loves: Rivervale Barn ‘Laid Back Elegance’ in the Heart of Hampshire

I haven’t featured a wedding venue for a while, so I thought it was about time I paid a bit more attention to the places you actually get married. As a planner I know that finding the right venue can be one of the hardest parts of your wedding planning. So today I thought you may like to know a bit more about a stunning barn venue in Hampshire. Rivervale Barn.

It is a beautiful venue filled with character and charm and has everything you would need for your wedding day including an amazing kitchen with first-rate food, beautiful grounds and a stunning interior!

‘Rivervale Barn is a civil ceremony and wedding reception venue on the banks of the River Blackwater in Yateley, Hampshire. It is ideally placed for weddings in Hampshire as well as Berkshire and Surrey. The barn is a beautiful contemporary L-shaped Barn which lies in the grounds of the historic Mill Farm, once a working corn mill. As well as having plenty of character, the barn has a modern elegant feel. It has all the facilities you require for your wedding, including a Honeymoon Cottage, pretty Courtyard and tranquil gardens perfect for your photographs.’

‘John, Moyra and their daughter Philippa are the ethically minded owners of Rivervale Barn. They believe their role is to maintain the charm and character of their unique barn wedding venue whilst ensuring its sustainable future.’

To get a better idea about the Barn, it’s history and what it has to offer you for your wedding I asked Rivervale some questions………..

What made you start your business?
Our reason’s for creating Rivervale Barn were partly due to the very successful wedding reception we held here in the grounds for our son Paul and his beautiful bride Becky some 9 years ago. We bought the historic Yateley Water Mill site some 30 years ago, which ran as a water mill for a thousand years and is now more recently known as Mill Farm. The enormous feeling of calm and natural beauty that you feel and see when you enter Mill Farm (now Rivervale Barn) is quite overwhelming. This coupled with the considerable area of exquisite gardens, which have been passionately created over the same period, has only added to the belief that the holding of weddings here would be perfect. After 7 years of governmental negotiation, hard work and 400 oak trees later we now have a magnificent and traditional green oak barn, which all adds to a perfect wedding venue and a place we can proudly share with others.

When did you start?
Construction on the barn began in November 2008, but the barn officially opened its doors to our first wedding in July 2009.

Where are you based?
We’re based near Yateley, Hampshire and are easily accessible from the M4, A30 and the M3. Rivervale Barn is not only ideally placed for weddings in Hampshire but also for Berkshire and Surrey weddings, as it lies on the border of all three counties. We’re also approximately an hour from London so the barn is ideal for a couple living in the city looking for a dream wedding venue in the countryside.

What style of wedding do you feel you attract?
Laid back elegance.

What is your biggest achievement so far?
It’s impossible for us to mention just one! Building the barn was our biggest achievement – so much time, love and attention went into that. Being able to stand back when it was finished and see what we had achieved through sheer dedication, tenacity and continuing love was a wonderful feeling. Every wedding feels like an amazing achievement too! So much effort and attention is put into each wedding, from us and the couple. So when the big day finally arrives and it’s perfect in every way, everyone involved feels an amazing sense of achievement. We regularly receive lovely heart-warming feedback about our venue from couples and suppliers, which again makes it all worth-while.

What makes you different to your competitors?
We have built our reputation not just on the beautiful location and surroundings, but also on the exceptional quality of the food that’s served here. Our caterers and Events Team, Galloping Gourmet, offer a Fine Food dining experience. Their talented and enthusiastic chefs have trained in a variety of Michelin starred and AA-Rosette establishments and produce food that looks both elegant and beautiful on the plate and also tastes delicious! Galloping Gourmet work only with the best quality ingredients, using local suppliers and seasonal products wherever possible – the food is simple, fresh and offers outstanding value. Our Events Team are also flexible and work closely with couples to design the perfect wedding menu. We understand that every aspect of a wedding is important and must be perfect and our aim is for couples and their guests to enjoy every part of their day. Our ability to acknowledge and meet these expectations is what makes Rivervale Barn stand out from its competitors.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
We’re so fortunate to work in an industry where we’re constantly meeting happy people – people in love and this makes it evermore enjoyable! When a couple book Rivervale Barn for their special day, we too feel part of their wedding planning journey. Some couples have been planning their day for years and so we get to know them quite well – as you can imagine when the big day arrives and we see the bride looking simply stunning in her dress and the groom waiting nervously at the end of the aisle, we can’t help but feel a sense of pride that tugs on our heart strings. The day is as important to us as it is to them. It’s so rewarding when we see the barn looking beautifully set up for the day and our Events Team are working tirelessly to ensure the wedding day flows perfectly and without a hitch.

Can you give me some information on your pricing structure?
All weddings have exclusive use of the barn and gardens. Couples can enjoy their day in complete privacy! Venue hire charges start from £2,200 in 2012. In addition, couples can choose from our Fine Food Packages which start from £50 + Vat in 2012 for a 3 course meal including drinks package. Couples also receive full event co-ordination, overnight accommodation and an invitation to a complimentary Tasting Event as well as so much more!

For more information on holding your wedding at Rivervale Barn go to:
www.rivervale-barn-weddings.co.uk
[email protected]
FACEBOOK
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01252 413232

Photography Credits:
www.ljphotographics.co.uk
www.nealejames.com
www.snrmac.com

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