CITY SIGHTS

Chelmsford boasts some stunning venues to wed in, both in and around the city

CRONDON PARK WEDDING VENUE

01277 841115 | www.crondonpark.com

Crondon Park won Best Countryside Wedding Venue at The British Wedding Awards – and it’s not hard to see why! An established wedding venue set in the beautiful village of Stock, it offers stunning views across the Essex countryside. Its Baronial Hall building is one of the finest examples of a Tudor/Jacobean light oak beamed barn, while during lockdown the Park refurbished their Baronial Gardens patio and outdoor ceremony area, which has since proved a very popular option to say ‘I do’ in.

Ceremonies take place in Crondon Park’s Ryder Room, with a maximum seated capacity of 100. Decorated with fairy lights, it makes for a romantic space to become newlyweds. There’s also the option of holding an outdoor ceremony, thanks to a recently created tiered seating area. Your wedding breakfast is then held in the Baronial Hall itself, which has a maximum seated capacity of 148 for your meal service, and 220 for your evening reception. Fully air conditioned, it boasts fairy lights, bay trees and bespoke coloured up lighting to suit your day’s theme.

Psst! Crondon Park offers a popular Pre-Wedding Dinner Party to couples, giving you the chance to enjoy a date night along with live entertainment. There’s also a luxurious Bridal Suite and five additional ensuite guest bedrooms for your wedding party to enjoy.

LEEZ PRIORY

01245 362555 | www.leez-priory.co.uk

Essex Tudor manor Leez Priory has long been admired for its unrivalled stately elegance and welcoming feel. Set within 40 acres of private grounds, the venue offers you exclusive use of a charming carriageway, the great Tower, two reception rooms, bar and characterful cellar disco. Surrounded by lush greenery, its gardens are home to woodland, parkland, two beautiful lakes and a brook, all of which are ideal for outdoor weddings and memorable post-ceremony snapshots. The inner courtyard even includes a croquet lawn and is the perfect sunny spot for a drinks and canapé reception.

There are seven beautiful ceremony options for up to 100 guests available to you, including three outdoor spaces to take your breath away. The Tower is a popular choice – a particularly intimate area with many church-like features, you’ll feel like a Prince or Princess when saying ‘I do’! A characterful room with vaulted ceiling, the Great Hall is another option to wed in, and includes exposed beams and a feature fireplace. The rustic Coach House has its own barn-like charm, while al fresco choices include the carriageway beneath the Tower, or underneath the main carriageway in the Tudor manor itself. Afterwards, retreat to the Great Hall for an intimate dining experience for up to 74 guests, or head to the Coach House barn for up to 100 guests for some authentic country charm.

HYLANDS ESTATE

01245 605500 | www.hylandsestateweddings.co.uk

Hylands House is a beautiful Grade II* listed mansion and one of the most iconic buildings in the East of England. The grandeur of the portico, with its elegant ionic pillars, provides the ideal backdrop for wedding photos, while the Rose Garden on the East Terrace offers couples another truly romantic setting. That’s before you’ve even accounted for the 574 acres of historic parkland, including ancient woodlands, grassland, ponds, lakes and formal gardens. Guests can enjoy anything from a short stroll to admire the ornate Victorian Pleasure Gardens, to a four-mile walk around the estate, taking in the rolling parkland and Serpentine Lake.

Get married in the Drawing Room (80 guests) with its gilded ceiling, hand-painted wall motifs and stunning marble fireplace; Banqueting Room (100 guests) – lavishly decorated with 24-carat gold leaf swag and scroll decorations – or The Glade (100 guests), a new outdoor wedding ceremony space constructed within the garden’s woods under a graceful canopy of trees. You’ll then host your reception in the Grand Pavilion (300 guests), boasting sparkling chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows and a private outside decked area.

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YOUR VENUE, YOUR VISION, YOUR VERY SPECIAL DAY

PIG & WHISTLE

01245 443186 | www.pigandwhistlechelmsford.uk

Located inside a 16th century wood-beamed property, Chelmsford’s Pig & Whistle restaurant has been lovingly transformed into an award-winning romantic location with a license for weddings and civil ceremonies. Providing stunning views across the Essex countryside from its outside decking area and sun terrace, inside you’ll discover luxurious and opulent décor. Think of it as a home away from home, ideal for your celebration with close family and friends in an intimate, cosy and romantic setting.

The Pig & Whistle can accommodate 30 guests with a choice of spaces. Choose either its traditional room with wooden floor and beamed ceilings, or the dining room; decorated with dressers and opulent drapes. You can then host a reception for 30 guests for a wedding breakfast in either area, before inviting an additional 40 for an evening reception with space for dancing and celebrating well into the night.

Psst! As a fine dining restaurant, food and drink is important to the venue, with the restaurant repeatedly voted the most romantic restaurant in Essex!

PONTLANDS PARK

01245 476444 | https://pontlandsparkhotel.co.uk

An impressive Victorian house with beautifully landscaped gardens, Pontlands Park is the ideal setting for you to celebrate your love and commitment to one another. Located on the outskirts of Chelmsford, a beautiful driveway gives your guests a great first impression, while the picturesque bridge and pond is an ideal place to capture some amazing photos you’ll treasure for the rest of your lives. The inside of the house, meanwhile, has been lovingly restored to a contemporary finish, and the Marquee, with its silk lined ceiling and chandeliers, provides the perfect backdrop to your special day.

The new garden gazebo can seat up to 100 guests overlooking the Essex countryside for your ceremony, or the intimate Lilli Suite, overlooking the grounds, can accommodate up to 60. There’s also a light and fully air-conditioned Conservatory Suite, allowing you to be married with seating for up to 100 – and even higher with standing space. Receptions can then take place in both the Conservatory (90 guests), or the beautiful Marquee (180).