Harewood Forest: A woodland wedding venue near Andover

When I asked which venue Sammy and Mike had found to get married in, I wasn’t ready for the enchanted, secret hideaway that is Harewood Forest near Andover.

Woodland wedding venue images of the interior bars, cosy area and ceremony space full of greenery.

I’ve been a photographer since 2010, and I like to think I’ve been to or at least know about the most special venues, but going to Harewood Forest Weddings in September 2022 was genuinely such a treat. I’ve seen woodland wedding venues before; camping wedding venues or outdoor wedding venues… but Harewood Forest kind of does everything you want it to with a sprinkling of magic on top.

Multiple photographs showing bridal prep in a light coloured tipi tent in Harewood Forest Weddings. The bride opens wedding crocs, bridesmaids put on necklaces and pin flowers.

Sammy is a hairdresser, and got her hair and make-up done off-site in Alton where she works at The Cutting Room, before travelling to Harewood Forest to finish her bridal prep in a beautiful tipi tent. Sammy’s wearing a boho lace dress from Bridal Indulgence, and her bridesmaids gifted her surprise Bridal Crocs much to her delight. She was howling laughing!

I love when folks are just getting on and having fun with their day, it means I can do my best work as a relaxed and unposed photographer, making the most of the story telling that’s happening…

Multiple images in a timeline of a father seeing his bride at Harewood Forest Weddings near Andover. He's emotional and has his hand to his mouth as the other bridesmaids grin and wipe tears away in forest green bridesmaids dresses.

Setting up moments like this takes seconds just to reassure people and get them into the right spot, but then all of this magic is down to you and your people. This first look between Sammy and her Dad was just lush, and I feel so privileged to be trusted by folks to bear witness to what’s raw emotion and often a really private moment. Even Sammy’s bridesmaids who’d helped her get ready were taken by the moment, and there in the woodland it was so secluded just made it all the more emotional!
Anyway, it was time to get hitched!

The legal paperwork of their marriage had been signed before the date while Sammy and Mike were away on a luxury beach holiday; an elopement just the two of them. When they got back to the UK then they had every freedom about where they’d have their marriage ceremony and who they could have conduct it.
Independent Celebrant Sarah Weller wrote with them a funny, personal service which had their guests equally tearing up and having big belly laughs, and truly I just can’t think of anything you’d want more than that!

Over the years marriage has had many traditions according to faith, or just the time. One such tradition with roots in paganism is Jumping the Broom, which a couple might do as they leave their ceremony, symbolising the sweeping away of their single lives and them jumping into their new married life together. Sammy and Mike also chose to Tie the Knot, also known as Handfasting.

After the ceremony, it was time for confetti! This is one of my favourite times of the day, often straight after you’re married, it’s a moment full of colour and energy which includes everyone on your day in a bit of a raucous celebration. It lifts people after they’ve been sat down, and really gets the reception off to a flying start!\

Also… check out Sammy’s really unusual and alternative engagement ring and wedding band - holy smokes!

I don’t think I can say enough just how beautiful I think Harewood Forest Weddings is, the dining area is magical. It’s just the right size, sitting between 70-80 people on benches like this. Everyone had a great view during speeches, and there was plenty of room to move around - practicalities that really matter!
Thai Inns provided the family style dining food, we had a few different choices, including a thai green curry which is one of my absolute faves.

Seashells were used as place names, rustic flowers in jars as centre pieces, and they’d used the most colourful paint on a pallet to make their order of the day! It was such a DIY wedding, but it all fit together really beautifully and likely saved a fortune, too. Hard work, but I think so worth it!

Now the relaxed, funny, candid bit of the wedding. This is where things get real. I can get to know your guests, who’s trouble?? I’ll be making relationships at this time, and Sammy + Mike’s was no different. Bantering with Mike’s Groomsmen was great fun, and seemingly every time I walked past a group there were big eruptions of laughter.
The light in Harewood Forest Weddings is utterly gorgeous, largely because of the plant cover, but also the translucent corrugated roof which just let streams of even, bright light in. No harsh shadows and sweating here!

The drinks reception is one of the best opportunities to start storytelling the day from a guest perspective, and to get stuck in. The drinks were flowing, the couple had booked a Clairvoyant to tell fortunes, and there were doughnuts GALORE for snacking.

When it comes to the group photos, we didn’t want it to be all the same every time! It’s so possible to have a riproaring fun photo with your ‘maids, and then a beautiful and formal one with your family. We took so many fun photos for the groups, making sure that there were “sensible” ones but also some with a whole heap of personality, too. Sammy + Mike and their family and friends weren’t stuffy, so while it’s nice to look nice, we took advantage of the atmosphere and had fun with it too.
Sammy’s bridesmaids were also well on it in helping me to create such an incredibly gorgeous floral portrait of the bride. What a stunner!

After all that it was time for us to go it alone; we sent the guests back off to enjoy some drinks and get ready for the meal and speeches, while we went for an explore around Harewood Forest Weddings. There’re so many awesome spots for photos.
From the ceremony space, to the little benches and nooks inside, the little bridge from the woods into the venue, not to mention the whole woodland. We were spoilt for choice in terms of colour, light and texture, and obviously the two of ‘em are just gorge so it was easy as pie.

Speeches next.
I often cry, but I just have a camera to hide behind, and this was no different. Set before the meal, we heard from Sammy’s Dad, Mum and Sister, as well as Mike and his Best Men. There were tender moments, and jokes that left people doing that high squeaking laugh while crying - perfect.

As well as capturing the speaker (obviously), I love to get in on the guest reactions… the tears and the cheersing and the laughing, the odd big reaction face… it’s all part of the relaxed, story telling and candid vibe.

It’s not a wedding without a party! Post dinner it was time to party into the night, and the venue transformed! The magic really is day to night, and with inflatable games on the dance floor and the alcohol flowing at the bar, it was an absolute HOOT.

10/10 would wedding again.