Andrew and Charlotte Mercer, the applicants, aim to change the use of an agricultural barn in the village near Romsey into a wedding venue for up to 40 ceremonies annually, hosting a maximum of 20 people at each.
Their application also details plans to use an existing two-bedroomed annexe attached to the adjacent dwelling as a bed and breakfast exclusively for wedding couples.
The plans, drafted by Wessex Planning Ltd, are now with Test Valley Borough Council.
Before the application was formally submitted, the proposal was discussed with the local planning authority for initial feedback.
The authority noted that since the barn is a domestic outbuilding located in the countryside, its commercial use does not align with some local policies.
However, the National Planning Policy Framework supports the proposal.
Crucially, the barn is not readily visible from any public views, meaning it is likely that the proposals will have little impact on the area’s character and appearance.
A future application should be supported by a Preliminary Roost Assessment for bats.
Parking provision should accord with Test Valley’s minimum parking standards and a future application should be supported by a Transport Statement and/or parking plan.
The rise in popularity of ‘micro-weddings’ is central to the application.
These non-traditional, more intimate ceremonies resonate particularly with couples wanting to trim wedding costs significantly.
A ‘micro-wedding’ can cost as little as £1,000, considerably less than more traditional celebrations.
The proposed ceremonies are simple services without hymns or amplified music.
They are usually in the company of the couple themselves and their closest relatives or friends, and often have fewer than 20 participants.
This site is particularly well suited to this type of wedding tourism as it is completely enclosed by woodland and away from neighbours.
In addition, they assert that micro-weddings would not pose any significant impact from traffic or noise and would benefit local suppliers like flower shops, cake decorators, and catering companies.
The applicant is also training to become a ‘celebrant’ and will officiate the weddings, negating the need for an external celebrant to attend each event.
The couple drew inspiration for their proposals from Frieda and the Moon, a similar venue in Cornwall.
