A Greener Way to Say ‘I Do’: Sustainable Weddings at Oxleaze Barn
Photographer: Tanli Joy
Venue: Oxleaze Barn
There are so many decisions to make when planning a wedding from the flowers and food to the outfits, décor and all those little details that make the day feel completely yours.
But increasingly, couples are also thinking about the impact their wedding has on the world around them.
At Oxleaze Barn, sustainability isn't simply a wedding trend. We're part of a family-run, working organic farm in the heart of the Cotswold countryside, where caring for the land, encouraging biodiversity and working more sustainably have been part of life for many years.
So, if you're dreaming of a beautiful countryside wedding while also wanting to make more thoughtful choices, here are some of the ways you can make your celebration a little greener and a little more Oxleaze.
Sustainability at the Heart of Oxleaze
The beautiful countryside surrounding the Barn isn't simply the backdrop to our weddings it's part of a living, working farm that we are incredibly proud to look after.
Oxleaze Farm has been certified organic since 2007 and is farmed both organically and sustainably, with a focus on improving soil health, supporting biodiversity and working alongside nature.
Over the years, the farm has worked with organisations including the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Pasture for Life and Natural England, alongside participating in Countryside Stewardship schemes.
Much of the farm is grassland, grazed by our traditional Aberdeen Angus cattle, which are 100% pasture-fed. Flower-rich grassland, herbal leys and unimproved pasture all play their part in creating habitats for wildlife.
And that wildlife is thriving.
An RSPB survey recorded the highest number of linnets in the UK here at Oxleaze, while the farm is also home to more than 20 broods of English Grey partridge, with flocks of hundreds of lapwings visiting during the winter months.
It's one of the reasons the countryside here feels so wonderfully alive.
Powered With the Future in Mind
Sustainability at Oxleaze extends beyond how the land is farmed.
Since 2012, the farm's commercial and domestic buildings have been heated by a 200kWh biomass system, partly fuelled using wood from our own woodland.
Across the farm, more than 30,000 trees and 26,000 hedging plants have been planted, creating and connecting habitats while contributing to the long-term health of the landscape.
A 270kW solar PV array also provides electricity, while two EV charging points are available on site for electric vehicles.
We're proud that this work has been recognised too, including winning Building Biodiversity at the Sustainable Wedding Awards 2024, alongside previous conservation awards.
For us, sustainability isn't about one big gesture. It's an ongoing commitment to looking after the place we're fortunate enough to call home.
Celebrate Everything in One Place
One of the simplest choices you can make when planning your wedding is choosing somewhere that allows your whole day to unfold in one place.
At Oxleaze, your ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast and evening celebration can all happen here, with a choice of beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces.
Rather than moving guests from one venue to another, everyone can arrive, settle in and enjoy the day.
Accommodation is also available on the farm for your nearest and dearest, meaning some guests don't need to travel again until the following morning.
Fewer logistics, less travelling and, importantly, more time together.
Choose Seasonal Food
Food is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding day, and choosing a menu inspired by the season is another lovely way to make more considered choices.
Our in-house catering team creates menus with a focus on quality and seasonality, whether that's an elegant plated wedding breakfast, generous sharing boards or a relaxed BBQ.
Thinking carefully about your menu and final guest numbers can also help minimise unnecessary food waste – while still making sure everyone leaves extremely well fed.
Let Your Flowers Follow the Seasons
Wedding flowers don't necessarily need to have travelled halfway around the world to look spectacular.
Talk to your florist about incorporating British-grown and seasonal flowers and foliage wherever possible and let the month you're getting married inspire your choices.
Spring blossom, abundant summer flowers, rich autumn foliage and beautiful winter greenery can all create completely different looks.
And at Oxleaze, you may find you need less decoration than you initially imagined. Cotswold stone, historic timber beams, pretty courtyards and the surrounding countryside already provide a beautiful natural canvas.
Hire Rather Than Buy
Venue: Oxleaze Barn
Photographer: Lara Jacques
Before buying something specifically for your wedding, ask yourself whether you'll ever use it again.
If the answer is probably not, hiring can be a brilliant alternative.
Our Oxleaze Prop Shop allows couples to hire decorative pieces for their celebration rather than buying everything new. Items can be enjoyed at wedding after wedding rather than being used once and discarded.
Your florist and stylist may also have collections of vases, candlesticks, linens, signage, plinths and other decorative pieces available to hire.
It can reduce waste, save money and spare you from wondering what on earth to do with dozens of bud vases the morning after the wedding.
Choose Natural Confetti
We love a confetti moment at Oxleaze.
Choosing natural confetti such as dried flower petals means you can still have that wonderful burst of colour – and the photographs to go with it – while being kinder to the surrounding countryside.
Rethink Wedding Stationery
Photographer: Clem Stevens
Venue: Oxleaze Barn
Beautiful stationery will always have its place, but not everything needs to be printed.
Digital save-the-dates and invitations are increasingly popular, while wedding websites can contain everything from RSVPs and directions to accommodation information and menus.
For the day itself, consider one beautiful table plan or welcome sign rather than lots of individual printed pieces.
And if paper stationery is important to you, recycled or responsibly sourced papers can be a lovely option.
Support Local Suppliers
We're fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible community of talented Cotswold wedding suppliers.
Choosing suppliers based closer to your venue can help reduce unnecessary travel while also supporting independent local businesses.
From florists and cake makers to photographers, musicians and stylists, your wedding is a wonderful opportunity to discover some of the brilliant businesses right on our doorstep.
Give Your Décor a Second Life
Photographer: White Wedding Film
Venue: Oxleaze Barn
Think about what will happen to your wedding décor once the last song has played.
Flowers can sometimes be divided into smaller arrangements for family and friends to take home. Candles, baskets, blankets and vases can be reused. Signs can be designed to become keepsakes for your home.
And anything you no longer need can potentially be sold or passed on to another couple.
One couple's wedding leftovers can very easily become another couple's Pinterest board.
Help Your Guests Travel Smarter
Guest travel is another area where a little planning can make a difference.
Encourage guests travelling from similar areas to share lifts or consider organising group transport where practical.
Aside from reducing the number of individual journeys, it has another considerable advantage, everyone can enjoy the fizz without deciding who has to drive home.
Remember: Your Wedding Doesn't Need Everything
Perhaps our favourite sustainability tip is also one of our favourite pieces of wedding-planning advice:
You don't have to include something simply because it's considered a wedding tradition.
Photographer: Philip Qinnell
Venue: Oxleaze Barn
You don't need favours if they don't mean anything to you.
You don't need dozens of signs.
You don't need different decorations for every part of the day.
And you certainly don't need to buy hundreds of things that will only be used once.
Choose the details that genuinely matter to you and let go of the ones that don't.
Often, weddings with fewer but more considered details are the ones that feel the most personal.
A Beautiful Wedding, Thoughtfully Planned
We know weddings are celebrations first and foremost. Sustainability shouldn't become another source of pressure or another impossible standard couples feel they have to meet.
Instead, it's about making thoughtful choices where you can.
Choose seasonal. Hire rather than buy. Support local businesses. Reduce unnecessary waste. Share transport. And make the most of the beauty that's already around you.
At Oxleaze, we're incredibly fortunate to celebrate weddings surrounded by a landscape that has been cared for by generations.
From our organic farming and renewable energy to the thousands of trees and hedgerows planted across the farm, we're committed to ensuring this little corner of the Cotswolds remains just as special for generations still to come.
And we rather like the idea that every new marriage celebrated here becomes a tiny part of that story too.
If you're dreaming of a relaxed Cotswold wedding surrounded by beautiful countryside, we'd love to welcome you to Oxleaze and show you around.