Weddings in Hampshire - everything you need for your Hampshire wedding

Hampshire offers the perfect blend of city, seaside and country and has a huge number of traditional and contemporary wedding venues set across both town and countryside. 

Hampshire is located on the English Channel coast and one of the historic reasons for its prosperity and importance is the trade that was undertaken with the Continent during earlier centuries.  Home to Winchester, the former capital city, Hampshire has two National Parks and the well-known vibrant coastal cities of Portsmouth and Southampton.

Despite the presence of both Portsmouth and Southampton, the two National Parks - the New Forest and part of the South Downs - together cover around 45% of the county.  Both the coast and the national parks make Hampshire popular with tourists.  The South Downs National Park with its gently rolling hills takes up much of East Hampshire with pretty villages and quaint thatched cottages.

There are some stunning rural backdrops across Hampshire for a country wedding but plan ahead with your accommodation as tourist hotspots book up early in the spring and summer months.  Picturesque villages criss-cross the county dotted with manor houses, stately homes, pretty farmsteads, historic mills and timbered barns offering a huge choice of approved venues for all types of wedding, some with exclusive occupation.

There are plenty of outdoor and more unusual venues in this beautiful county, making the most of what Hampshire has to offer and this can also be good for couples who are marrying on a tight budget; these weddings can be tailored to suit both taste and pocket without any compromise on quality or atmosphere.

For a cultured and timeless backdrop, why not choose Winchester which is steeped in history.  The former Saxon capital of Wessex, Winchester was founded by the Romans and now lays claim to the longest nave of any gothic cathedral in Europe.  There are also beautiful medieval buildings from the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th centuries.  For a smaller town vibe, opt for Romsey in the Test Valley with its imposing Norman Abbey and pretty streets filled with 18^th century houses and half-timbered cottages, or historic Christchurch with its golden sands on one side and the New Forest on the other.

With strong nautical connections, marry on board ship in Portsmouth Harbour or harbourside in either Portsmouth or Southampton, both of these cities have a rich maritime flavour with traditional and contemporary venues that make the most of their naval history.  Portsmouth’s harbour dates back to Roman times in contrast to Southampton which was a cultured spa town in the 17^th century and was later developed by the Victorians who built the shipyards and docks and brought in the railway.

Hampshire as a county offers a vast range of backdrops and venues for weddings with excellent transport links for your guests.  Hampshire is just an hour from London by road or rail.  Portsmouth has ferry links with France and Spain and Southampton Airport provides both domestic and European flights.