Dry Hire Wedding Venue Hampshire
Create your perfect wedding at Oakley Hall
What is a dry hire venue?
A dry hire venue is a property or area that is hired for the space, and the space only. This means that any additional amenities are not typically included when hiring a dry hire venue and the likes of catering, staff, entertainment and event management will need to be sourced from elsewhere. Dry hire is a great option for couples who are looking for more bespoke catering offerings that their chosen venue can’t cater for.
Dry Hire venues are a popular choice for couples who want to celebrate their special day by incorporating one or more different cultural backgrounds. Whether you’re looking for your Hindu wedding, Pakistani wedding, Sikh wedding, Muslim wedding, Chinese wedding, Nepalese wedding or Afro-Caribbean wedding – dry hiring a venue is the perfect way to incorporate your traditions into a beautiful wedding space.
Why choose Dry Hire for your wedding?
Booking Oakley Hall on a dry hire basis is the perfect option for couples who want to incorporate one or more different cultures into their special day with the added benefit of creative control! It gives you the flexibility to choose caterers who specialise in the cuisine you want, to choose event planners who are experts in the industry and host your wedding day the way you want to. Oakley Hall's dry hire package includes everything you need for your wedding day so you can focus on all of the other details, knowing that your venue space is sorted.
Oakley Hall's Dry Hire Facilities
Our Georgian wedding venue is the ideal spot for your dry hire wedding. The beautiful Garden Pavilion can accommodate up to 350 guests, making it perfect for large guest numbers. The space also boasts its very own private kitchen which allows your caterers to work seamlessly away from the main hotel to provide you with the best cuisine for your day.
Oakley Hall is home to over 300 acres of estate gardens and woodlands, providing you with the perfect setting during your day. From elegant terraces overlooking our gardens for socialising with your guests and immaculate lawns to play garden games to picturesque backdrops for your wedding photography - our gardens are undeniably magical. The original Georgian architecture of the Oakley Hall manor home sets a unique scene for your special day, whilst also providing couples with a blank canvas to design the day of their dreams!
Perfect for cultural celebrations
Our hotel and wedding venue sets the most unique scene for your wedding day. Whether you're looking to host an Asian Wedding, a Jewish ceremony or an Afro-Caribbean celebration, our team can work with you and your suppliers to make your dream day come true. With nine spaces to choose from for your celebrations, 50 bedrooms & suites for you and your guests and over 300 acres of gardens to enjoy, it's hard to imagine why Oakley Hall wouldn't be the perfect fit for you and your partner. Our 20 plus years of being a wedding venue has given our team the industry knowledge to provide you with the best service possible, from multi-day celebrations with specific timings to elaborate set-ups and many suppliers on the day!
Asian Weddings
Whether you're wanting a Hindu wedding filled with vibrancy, music and dancing or a delicate Chinese Tea Ceremony, Oakley Hall is one of the most beautiful venues in Hampshire to host your special day. The large capacity Garden Pavilion can seat up to 350 of your loved ones whilst our other function spaces are perfect for more intimate ceremonies & celebrations.
Afro-Caribbean Weddings
If you're looking for a venue for your Afro-Caribbean wedding celebrations, look no further. Our spacious wedding venue and hotel sets the perfect scene for you to party in style with your loved ones. Our countryside location is like no other and ensures that your wedding will be as unique as you.
Jewish Weddings
Oakley Hall sets the most beautiful scene for your special day. Our breath-taking Woodland Pavilion is the perfect option for your modern day Chuppah whilst the Whitchurch Wedding Preparation Suite is perfect for Bedeken ceremonies for couples who want to celebrate this special moment together in privacy.
Your Dry Hire Wedding Package Options
Our Dry Hire package includes everything you need for your special day. We want your dry hire wedding planning journey to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, so our ready-made package includes all of the necessities with the option to add extras as and when you need! Our 2026 Dry Hire package prices start from £9,500 and are applicable to the season.
Here's what is included in our Dry Hire package:
- Private use of our wedding and ceremony spaces: the Garden Pavilion, Garden Pavilion Terrace, Garden Pavilion Bar, Garden Suite, Garden Terrace and Main House Bar (timings restrictions apply)
- Your chosen caterer's use of the Garden Pavilion kitchen
- Private dedicated entrance to Oakley Hall
- Private car park with up to 200 spaces
- Chivari chairs & tables to seat up to 350 guests
- 2 changing rooms to use throughout the day (timing restrictions apply)
- 1 suite for the couple on the night of the wedding
- An assigned Oakley Hall Representative for the day(s)
- Housekeeping as required throughout the day(s)
Optional add-ons for your Dry Hire wedding package:
Additional fees will apply
- Room hire for a civil ceremony
- Whitchurch Wedding Preparation Suite
- Dance floor
- Live DJ
- Additional bedrooms for your family & friends
- Additional catering by the Oakley Hall team
Accommodation for your Wedding Guests
Oakley Hall is a stunning Hampshire manor house and a 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.
Planning your Dry Hire Wedding
We understand that planning your wedding can be hard work and complex, so we want to make it as stress-free as possible for you. You can lean on our wedding team throughout your dry hire wedding planning journey. We've listed a few key important pieces of information that might be worth noting!
The Oakley Hall team:
We are a close-knit team with a combined industry history of over 40 years. A member of our Wedding & Events team will be on hand from 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday to answer any questions or queries that you may have during your wedding planning journey.
Recommended Caterers & Suppliers:
We have a list of caterers & suppliers who we have previously worked with and would highly recommend. To view our list of recommended suppliers, please download our dry hire wedding brochure here. Caterers & suppliers who are not included within this list are always welcome, but they must be pre-approved by Oakley Hall and an additional fee will apply.
Room Setup & Breakdown Procedures:
On your wedding day, it is your caterer & supplier's responsibility to clear down, empty and leave Oakley Hall in the state it started in prior to your wedding celebrations. The Garden Pavilion must be empty by 01:00 the morning after your wedding.
Your Wedding Timeline:
With so many elements to any wedding, it can be confusing and complicated trying to get the timings right! Our team are happy to sit down with you and your caterers/suppliers prior to your special day to ensure that they are on the same page so they can efficiently manage your event on the day. From wedding photos to timings throughout the ceremony spaces, our team can help you set a timeline for the perfect day and your dream wedding!
When the time comes to book your wedding suppliers, we would always recommend checking availability with us (the venue) and your caterers prior to signing any dotted lines. If you intend to have a civil ceremony at Oakley Hall, it is your responsibility to book the registrars - and again, we would suggest checking their availability before booking the venue and your caterers.
Why couples choose Oakley Hall
Oakley Hall is one of the most recommended Dry Hire wedding venues in the county of Hampshire. With an undeniably beautiful manor house encompassed with a rich history, jaw-dropping gardens & magical woodlands, luxurious bedrooms & suites and an exceptional Events & Operations team - your dream day can absolutely be created! Our country house wedding venue is completely unique in character & style making your wedding 'one-of-a-kind' that will not be forgotten anytime soon! And if you don't believe, then please do come for a visit and see for yourself.