Low-key but nice civil wedding venue near or near-ish Oxford?

[LeahE]

Friend-of-a-friend is getting married and is stumped over a venue. She and her DP are both pretty low-key, no-fuss, very "green" people and her ideal wedding would be something very simple held in a field or garden (clearly not possible as such, but gives you an idea of what she likes). All the registry offices she's looked at she's found a bit grim and soulless, and she doesn't really want big imposing traditional-style venues either.

Any ideas? I've seen Mumsnet come up trumps on this sort of thing before.

I wonder if they do them at The Trout at Godstow, I think they do rooms there. God I liove that pub!

LeahE

I didn't know the legalities in England and it is a real shame. I think you may have 'hit the nail on the head' though. A low-key registary office wedding on the Friday, then a big affair for the 'outdoors' wedding on the Saturday.

Would your friend not consider travelling to Scotland for a wedding? There are so many beautifal places to do so. If not, the latter is a very good idea. I hope your friend agrees.
x

The Trout v arsey about kids though.
Mind you they have peacocks so that is a plus.

Have been racking brains to remember the name of \link{http://www.rousham.org/\this place.} Turns out they don't have a civil licence but if they fancy a full-on church wedding and marquee with 300 or so guests, I can recommend it - went to a wedding there a couple of years ago and it was amazing. Thought I'd throw it in anyway.

Ha! The first thing I said was "go to Scotland" but I think that counts as a "fuss" in her eyes...

Thank you all enormously -- I knew there would be some good ideas here!

Is the Trout arsey about kids? I haven't been there post-DS but that's a real shame if so.

Yes, very. No baby chairs and kids outside only. Very sneery.
I don't mind so much - not everywhere can be child friendly and tbh before I had kids I quite liked going places where there wouldn't be children. But they don't advertise it as such so you walk all that way and then find that you can only have your toddler, loose, chasing peacocks and threatening to fall in the river.

The Perch at Binsey is just as lovely as the Trout but I think less arsey about kids. (having said that I haven't been there for 10 years and have never taken kids there). Might be worth looking at

I linked to lains barn below, but didn't bother naming it - it's near Wantage, not far from Oxford. Here's the link \link{http://www.wantage.com/lainsbarn\again}. It's where we got married, v. cheap, you can have your own caterers, really nice space, very mellow.