Essex Wedding Venues with the WOW Factor
THE MOST PHOTOGENIC WEDDING VENUES IN ESSEX
Looking for your perfect Essex wedding venue? You’ve come to the right place. Essex offers a wide range of wedding venues, so whether you’re dreaming of saying “I do” in a stunning stately home, a cosy converted barn, or in the great outdoors, there’s an Essex wedding venue just for you.
Essex has a diverse landscape ranging from buzzing cities such as Chelmsford and (soon-to-be) Colchester, coastal beauty spots such as Burnham-on-Crouch and Frinton-on-Sea, to stunning villages like Castle Hedingham and Stock. This means that any style of wedding can be planned and catered for in Essex; from the small and intimate to the grand ceremines with hundreds of guests.
Essex is also home to a range of incredible wedding suppliers. Local wedding photographers (Hello!), florists, celebrants, bridal shops, and make-up artists are easy to find and will be on hand to make your wedding day super special.
But let’s get back to the wedding venues themselves. On this page I’ve listed ten of the most photogenic wedding venues in Essex that are guaranteed to make your wedding photos look incredible.
Each Essex wedding venue featured below, has a link to its own listing page which details important information such as location and capacity. If that specific wedding venue takes your fancy, you can then scroll to the bottom of the page to view the venue’s website and contact details.
I hope you will find this a useful resource for seeing the diversity of venues available for your wedding in Essex.
APTON HALL
Apton hall is an historic venue located in the Essex countryside in Rochford. It comprises of 6 separate areas (including accommodation) that can be hired individually or collectively for your special day.
CHALKNEY WATER MEADOWS
The perfect spot for an outdoor / festival wedding. This lakeside Essex wedding venue is located just 6 miles from Colchester and features accomodation for the entire weekend.
THE CANARY SHED
Available to hire for the entire weekend (accommodation available) and decorate in any style you like, The Canary Shed is a new Essex wedding venue situated in the rural location of Creaksea Place Farm, near Burnham-on-Crouch.
HEDINGHAM CASTLE
Located in the North Essex village of Castle Hedingham, this grand and historic Essex wedding venue is one your guests will not forget in a hurry. Onsite accommodation available.
HYLANDS HOUSE
Set in acres of parkland, including two gardens, woodland and a serpentine lake, Hylands House has been opulently restored to become a stunning location for your Essex wedding. Conveniently located near Chelmsford.
LEEZ PRIORY
A Manor House wedding venue, with many original features, Leez Priory provides a wonderful backdrop for your wedding photographs, and an impressive setting for your ceremony and wedding breakfast.
MAIDENS BARN
With its beautiful ceremony and reception barns plus a picturesque courtyard and accommodation for guests, Maidens Barn is worth a visit for couples planning a more rural wedding day.
TEYBROOK ORCHARD
A beautiful woodland setting for your Essex wedding, complete with glamping accommodation, onsite kitchen, a reception marquee and a modern shower block. Located in North Essex, a short drive from Colchester.
VAULTY MANOR
Vaulty Manor is located near the Essex town of Maldon, and it can provide exclusive use of the buildings (including accommodation) for your wedding day. The main building includes a ceremony barn and separate reception space.
WHAT TO ASK EVERY ESSEX WEDDING VENUE
Whilst I’ve tried to include as much information as possible on each Essex wedding venue’s listing page, there will still be lots of things you’ll want to ask when you visit. Make a note of questions as you think of them beforehand and also consider what would be the ideal answer you’d like to receive. Base the questions you ask wedding venues on the type of wedding you are planning to have and think about what is most important to you.
Is your main concern the number of guests at your Essex wedding? Maybe accessibility is important you? Start from what matters to you and take it from there. Other questions you might want to consider asking might be about how much scope your Essex wedding venue offers for making the space your own. The following questions might help you develop a greater understanding of how flexible venues are in relation to personalising your wedding day.
- Can we bring in outside stylists and wedding florists to decorate the interior / exterior?
- Are we responsible for removing any decorations and wedding table decorations that we’ve created ourselves?
- Can we choose our own suppliers or do we have to use on your recommended list? (Some venues charge a fee for hiring suppliers not on their recommended list).
- Is a planner / wedding coordinator included In the package? Will we liaise with the same coordinator throughout our wedding planning and will they be there on the day?
- Will we have exclusive use of the wedding venue?
Not every Essex venue will tick all the boxes and sometimes you may have to compromise on one or two elements. However, there is absolutely the right Essex wedding venue for you so keep visiting as many as you can and keep asking the right questions.
PLANNING TO VISIT SOME ESSEX WEDDING VENUES? READ THIS FIRST
Whilst many couples tell me that they fell in love with their Essex wedding venue at first sight, there are a few things you should do to make sure you get the most from your visit. It should go without saying that all visits should be pre-booked and arranged with the venue beforehand (unless the venue is holding an open day with drop-ins allowed). Essex wedding venues are very often booked up throughout the year, and even if a wedding is not taking place on the day, it’s still not considered good etiquette to just turn up.
Consider all the practical things like checking the weather and dressing accordingly. If the weather is good, don’t forget to find out the contingency plans for a wet day and where you can still have great photos taken. If the weather isn’t great, ask about where the sun sets and whether there is an opportunity for late night evening photos. Speaking of wedding photography, take some photos with your phone as your look around each wedding venue and make notes as you go. If you’re looking around a large number of Essex wedding venues, then your head will be filled with lots of wedding venue information and it can be hard to recall who said what.
Each Essex wedding venue will have its own unique features that ‘wow’ and leave a lasting impression on you, but don’t remember to look at the smaller details too. Check that the toilets are clean and there is soap and toilet paper to hand, make sure windows have been cleaned and the corners of the rooms are free from cobwebs. General upkeep and caretaking tells a lot about how much attention-to-detail goes into the venue and – in turn – your wedding day.
If you are visiting as part of an open evening or attending when other couples are also looking around, don’t be afraid to ask for a follow-up tour when it’s just the two of you. It might be a little more relaxed and a better opportunity to really get a feel of the venue. If you’ve whittled your choice of Essex wedding venues down to a final 2 or 3, then you can always have a second tour to make you find decision. Your wedding is a one-off occasion so do whatever is needed to make the right decision for you.
Whilst touring potential Essex wedding venues, don’t simply base your decision on the venue itself; instead take note of the staff who walk you around and who you encounter on the day. These are staff that – like your wedding photographer and videographer – will be present on your wedding day, so how they interact and make you feel will impact the feel and flow of your day.