Have you ever driven down Long Furlong near Worthing and seen that beautiful barn, nestled into an expanse of the South Downs? Depending on what time of day or year it is, the light that falls onto it changes from bright and sunny to moody and sculptural, but it is always breathtaking, and it has always made me turn my head as I drive past.
So when I discovered that Long Furlong Barn were holding a Wedding Fair last month, I jumped at the opportunity to go along – ostensibly to promote my celebrancy services, but secretly to have a good old nose at the place that has caught my eye from the outside so many times.
I wasn’t disappointed. The inside is as spectacular as the outside, with lofty ceilings, a light and airy feel and a rustic flavour (now when people say ‘rustic’, there’s always the chance that it means not quite watertight and you have to mask the smell of wildlife. I don’t mean this. This is rustic luxe, if there is such a thing. Well there is now, evidently – I just invented it to describe Long Furlong Barn)
They have two main areas, the Cart Shed (where the ceremony is held) and the Granary (where the party happens). They are connected and both open up onto large courtyard areas, so you and your guests can flow through the space. Oh, and there’s a separate bit, the South Barn, for the bridal party to get ready and chill out. Except chilling out isn’t generally what most people do just before their wedding, but they probably didn’t want to write ‘for the bridal party to have a flap in peace’, as it wouldn’t sound so idyllic. It’s a very lovely place to be though, whether you’re chilling or flapping.
My good friends from Not Just For Hire had decorated the place up for the Wedding Fair, and they do a lot of the weddings there. When I went, there were strings of lights woven along the beams and coloured paper lanterns hung prettily alongside. It really looked gorgeous. So much so that one bride I spoke to told me that she’d burst into tears the moment she’d walked in. In a good way, obviously.
Not only is this venue breathtakingly lovely, but it is also a family business, run by similarly lovely people. And I’m not just saying that because they’ve made me a recommended supplier – they really are.
If you’re looking for somewhere awesome to tie the knot, why not give Long Furlong Barn a bell?
The beautiful pictures on this post were taken by the the very talented (and very lovely) Jenny Rutterford, who is also a recommended supplier at Long Furlong Barn. Have a gander at a wedding shoot she did at the barn earlier this year here.
