Chinese Wedding Venue Hampshire
Your Dream Wedding at Oakley Hall
Family-owned 50 bedroom manor home located 45 minutes from Heathrow & Southampton Airports
Experience the elegance of a Chinese Wedding at Oakley Hall
Chinese Weddings are encompassed by beauty, symbolism and history. From the Shang Tou (combing of the bride's hair) and Chuangmen (games for the groom prepared by the bridesmaids) pre-wedding rituals to the Jing Cha (tea ceremony), the days are filled with family & cultural traditions and pure elegance. A key part of these traditions is the Betrothal (Guo Da Li), a formal proposal where the groom’s family presents gifts to the bride's family, signifying sincerity and official commitment. The bride's family plays a central role throughout these customs, from hosting banquets in her honour to participating in symbolic ceremonies. One of the most important traditions is selecting an auspicious day for the wedding, often determined by consulting a fortune teller, Chinese monk, or Feng Shui master, to ensure good fortune and harmony for the couple.
Oakley Hall is the perfect venue to host your Chinese Wedding. As one of the leading Asian wedding venues in Hampshire, we can accommodate these important traditions. As a family-owned hotel & wedding venue, we understand the importance of family involvement, whether it be parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles or cousins! Our beautiful Georgian manor home holds it's very own story dating back to the 18th century and is still home to some of the original architecture and interior design, including a mahogany library, ornate fireplaces and the grand porte cochère.
Our countryside manor offers a range of wedding spaces for you to host your Chinese Wedding ceremonies and celebrations. Whether you're planning an intimate get-together, such as the Tea Ceremony, a traditional English ceremony for up to 120 guests or a large celebration in the evening, you can choose to hire one or as many of our rooms as you would like for your special day!
Alongside the jaw-dropping manor home that is Oakley Hall, our venue is also home to over 300 acres of estate gardens & woodlands which you can use throughout your day. We also have 50 unique bedrooms on-site, which are available to book by you and your guests!
Captured by Adams Wedding Photography
Traditional & modern Chinese Wedding Ceremonies
When you choose to book your wedding day at Oakley Hall with one of our Wedding Packages or our Dry Hire package, you will have the flexibility to design your wedding your way. Our team are more than happy to discuss unique requirements for your day, and can even create Bespoke Wedding Packages! Whether you want your families' and cultural traditions to be present throughout the entire day or looking to incorporate a modern twist - perhaps even including an English ceremony on the same day - the choice is entirely yours. While a modern wedding often blends traditional elements with contemporary practices, the core traditions of a Chinese wedding remain central to the celebration.
Whichever package you have for your wedding will give you the opportunity to choose what colour scheme, flowers, theming and decor you would like in each of the rooms you hire. Whilst our beautiful spaces are unique in style, they all offer the perfect 'blank canvas' for your day. Our past couples have found that the dark mahogany wood in The Library blends perfectly with the gold and red decor of traditional Chinese weddings, and the brighter Garden Suite complements the pastel pinks, sage greens, and lighter colours often seen for English weddings.
Our hotel is home to seven unique rooms, which can all be chosen for your wedding. Four of these rooms are based on the ground floor, which can give your wedding a natural 'flow' from one room to another: the Chinese Tea ceremony in The Library, the English ceremony in the Garden Suite and the large banquet in the Garden Pavilion.
When hosting a wedding that blends two or more cultures, we would recommend hiring a Wedding Planner to help you plan your day. With so many different elements to each culture, it can be overwhelming to think about the timings and all of the little details. Our team would be more than happy to meet with your Wedding Planner prior to your day to discuss any questions or queries that either they or you may have! We would also be happy to recommend planners with whom we have worked well in the past, as well as speciality caterers and suppliers.
Why choose Oakley Hall for your Chinese wedding
Oakley Hall is one of Hampshire's most sought after wedding venues for couples. It's one-of-a-kind Georgian style, endless acres of estate gardens, onsite accommodation and award-winning and experienced team are just a few of the reasons as to why we have had the privilege to host so many weddings over the last 20 + years.
Each and every one of our ceremony & reception spaces are unique in style, character and aesthetic, giving couples a good selection to choose from! For ceremonies, our popular spaces are the Garden Suite (hosting up to 160 guests), the outdoor Woodland Pavilion (hosting up to 160 guests) and the Library (hosting up to 80 guests) - all of which have easy access to our gardens. The Garden Suite can also be used as a reception space, offering plenty of natural light, ornate fireplaces and ornamental chandeliers. For larger parties, of up to 350 guests, the Garden Pavilion is our newest indoor space. It is fitted with tasteful LED fairy lights on the ceiling, a private entrance, a private bar and it's very own terrace that leads onto our gardens. The Garden Pavilion also serves as a banquet hall for large Chinese wedding celebrations, providing the ideal setting for traditional banquets and festivities.
The Garden Pavilion is the perfect space for couples who want to hire Oakley Hall on a Dry Hire basis, as it's private kitchen provides external caterers the space to work their magic and create your favoured cuisine.
Honouring Chinese Wedding Traditions
As with so many cultures across the world, each and every one has its own unique ceremonies and celebrations. Chinese marriage traditions are absolutely no exception! The history and customs of China are beautifully enriched with symbolic rituals, respect to family members (especially the older generations and older married siblings), and honouring the local cuisines with traditional dishes. For every ceremony and celebration that you choose to hold throughout your wedding day, our team can work with you to ensure that Oakley Hall's beautiful facilities are fully prepared!
Chinese Tea Ceremonies
The Chinese Tea Ceremony is usually held at the start of the day or before the 'tying of the knot' officially takes place. This intimate ceremony usually involves the bride & groom, parents from both sides and the grandparents from both sides - and sometimes the extended family including aunts, uncles and older cousins. The couple in turn will kneel on the floor before each set of parents and grandparents to present them with a cup of traditional tea (which differs in flavour depending on the family's heritage). In exchange, the couple will then receive a gift in a red envelope (Hongbao) or jewellery. This ceremony is held to show respect to both sides of the family, the elders and to formally introduce their union, expressing appreciation for parents love.
Some couples choose to host this ceremony in the traditional way, which is by keeping it incredibly intimate - just for themselves and for the family members who are involved. The more modern take on the ceremony is hosting it in front of all of their family members & friends. Whatever you choose to do, we have a wide range of rooms that can be chosen for your Chinese Tea Ceremony. The Library is an elegant space that offers it's own history and has a beautiful contrast of dark mahogany wood with the natural sunlight streaming in from the large windows - making it a popular choice for our couples.
Wedding Colour Themes
As with all of our couples, the colour theming and decor throughout the wedding day is incredibly important. Whether you choose to book your wedding day with one of our Wedding Packages or with our Dry Hire Wedding Package, you will have the flexibility to choose your own colour scheme, flowers (if using) and decor. For many Chinese couples, wedding invitations are typically red with gold lettering and often feature the double happiness symbol, as red & gold symbolise good fortune and joy.
The interior of Oakley Hall is an incredibly diverse space that perfectly complements every colour palette and item of decoration that our couples choose. The dark mahogany wood of the original Library is rich and luxurious, whilst the Garden Pavilion is bright, light and modern.
Traditional Ceremonies & Rituals
The Chinese culture has so many beautiful traditional wedding ceremonies and rituals. Even before the wedding day itself, many newly engaged couples will decide the date of their special day by consulting with a fortune teller, the Chinese calendar or a Feng Shui expert. As mentioned previously, the Chinese Tea ceremony is one of the more well-known traditions that is held as part of a Chinese wedding. Traditionally, this is held in the morning before the wedding ceremony itself and allows the couple to respect each side of the family by offering them cups of tea in exchange for gifts or jewellery.
Chinese door games, also known as 'chuangmen', are a fun tradition that is designed by the bridesmaids for the groom, which usually takes place before the tea ceremony or during the reception. These games can vary depending on what the bridesmaids choose to include, but common games include Q&A tests about the bride & groom, asking for a dance from the groom and groomsmen or holding the bride 'hostage' until the groom has appeased the bridesmaids enough with red envelopes.
Chinese Banquets
Alongside many other cultures and countries from across the world, it is an absolute must to host a Chinese Banquet during your wedding celebrations. Traditionally, a Chinese wedding banquet stretches across eight different courses, each symbolising a wish for the couple. Popular dishes include whole steamed fish (abundance), lobster & chicken (yin and yang unity), whole duck or chicken (peace, fidelity and completeness), dried seafood (expensive ingredients demonstrating wealth and prosperity) and roasted suckling pig (purity).
Some couples may choose to have the banquet as their wedding ceremony, whilst others sometimes choose to host the banquet on a completely different day to elongate the celebrations even more!
Your Chinese Wedding Package Options
If and when you decide to have your Chinese wedding at Oakley Hall Hotel, you will have the choice of a variety of different options which vary in price, inclusions and exclusivity. As an independent hotel, we can offer you more flexibility than most other venues - which our couples always appreciate!
Dry Hire Package Inclusions:
- Use of the Garden Suite & Garden Pavilion (which includes a private bar, entrance, terrace, toilets and car park
- Use of a Private Kitchen for your caterers
- Tables & chairs
- 2 x changing rooms
- An assigned Oakley Hall Hotel representative for the day
- A suite for the couple on the night of the wedding
Exclusive Use Package Inclusions:
- Guaranteed to be the only event at Oakley Hall on the day (A Key To The Manor package) / the only guests on the day (A Key To The Estate Package)
- Exclusive use of the Main House Bar
- Exclusive use of all bedrooms, suites & the Garden Cottage (A Key To The Estate package only)
- Exclusive use of all gardens & grounds (A Key To The Estate package only)
Package Wedding Inclusions (The Oakley Selection):
- A Deluxe Bedroom the night prior to the wedding
- Whitchurch Suite
- Indoor civil ceremony room hire
- Reception drinks (2 drinks per person)
- Menu tasting for the couple
- Canapes (five per person)
- Three course wedding breakfast
- Coffee & petit fours
- Half a bottle of wine per person
- Glass of Champagne for the toast
- DJ & wooden dance floor
- Chiavari chairs and sashes
- Anniversary stay for the couple
A full list of each packages' inclusions can be found on our brochures. Download our brochures using the button below!
Accommodation for you and your guests
Oakley Hall is a stunning Hampshire manor house which is home to 47 beautiful bedrooms & suites and the quaint 3 bedroom Garden Cottage. All are designed with the highest of standards and make the cosiest spot for you and your guests to relax in after the celebrations. All of our weddings are guaranteed a wedding rate starting from £225 for a Deluxe Bedroom. If you're looking to book a large number of bedrooms for your special day, you can contract to a minimum of 15 to receive an exclusive wedding accommodation rate which can be offered to your guests.
For brides or grooms who are looking for a dedicated space for their wedding preparations, our Whitchurch Suite is the perfect spot. It offers 3 light up vanity mirrors, 2 hair dresser chairs, mini drinks fridge, Sonos speakers, curtained off dressing area, cosy lounge area and a toilet & sink.
For guests who are travelling from abroad and want to make the most out of their time in Hampshire, we can provide you with our top recommendations of local attractions for you to visit! Basingstoke is the closest large town to our venue and offers an exciting selection of shops & restaurants to explore. There is a bus stop located directly outside Oakley Hall which can take you right into the town centre, or alternatively we would be happy to book you a taxi to take you where you need to go.
Our Georgian manor home is the most picturesque setting for your wedding Baraat. Dance your way up our 500m winding driveway with your loved ones, Dhol drums and smoke flares by your side. We have also seen grooms arrive at Oakley Hall on horseback or in a horse pulled carriage!
Planning your Chinese wedding at Oakley Hall
As with any wedding or large event, it can sometimes seem overwhelming to start from scratch. We have listed below our top tips that might help you throughout your wedding planning journey!
1. Suppliers
If you choose to hire an external caterer or supplier for your wedding day, it's important that you take a look at reviews and even speak to your venue to see if they have worked with them previously. Many venues have their own list of recommended caterers and suppliers who they have worked with well in the past. You can view Oakley Hall's list of recommended suppliers here.
2. Timelines & Incorporating Traditions
With so many different features of a wedding day, it's sometimes hard to pin point exactly when each will take place. For Dry Hire weddings that incorporate one or more different cultures, we would recommend working with a specialty wedding planner. The right wedding planner will know about every tradition, ceremony and ritual that can take place during your day, and will provide you with the guidance that you may need. For general timings of the day (for example: the ceremony, the speeches, the meal) our team are always happy to give you a 'structure' that you can either use or take inspiration from.
3. Utilising Oakley Hall's team
When you choose to book Oakley Hall as your wedding venue, we encourage all of our couples to utilise our wonderful team and their combined 40 + years of service in the wedding industry. Our team are experts in the industry and can provide you with the guidance that you may need throughout your wedding planning journey - whether you're looking to host a bespoke wedding for 20 or less people or a grand affair with over 300!
4. Planning A Multi-Cultural Wedding
So many of our couples are from more than one culture, whether that be English, Asian, South American or Australian! And speaking from experience, we can understand how complicated it can get when you're trying to add in as many of these cultures' traditions as you can into your day. Working with a wedding planner can really help and can take some of the weight off of your shoulders. Our team would also suggest that you plan as many things as you can in advance. From suppliers & caterers to the number of guests who will need accommodation (especially if many are travelling from over seas). Nothing can be guaranteed by any venue or supplier unless you have signed the dotted line! Oakley Hall is proud to be among Asian wedding venues that offer flexible event spaces and can accommodate religious ceremonies as part of your celebration, ensuring your traditions and rituals are respected and seamlessly integrated.
Why couples choose Oakley Hall
Oakley Hall is a one-of-a-kind wedding venue that offers history, experience and a beautiful setting - making it one of Hampshire's most sought after venues for Chinese Weddings. Our venue offers a range of versatile event spaces, each of which are unique in character, aesthetic and style. And one of our key features that sells well to all couples, is the undeniably jaw-dropping estate gardens & grounds that surround our Georgian manor home. From magical woodlands with sky high secoya trees to immaculately mowed lawns with a sparkling water fountain.
From the moment you enquire with our team, you will be welcomed with a friendly approach, wealth of experience & knowledge and award-winning service. So get in touch with us today to enquire about your wedding or download our Wedding Brochure to find out more details!