NORTH ESSEX

www.grace-elizabeth.co.uk NORTHEssex

Where to wed when you head north of the county

WIVENHOE HOUSE HOTEL

01206 863 666 | www.wivenhoehouse.co.uk

Found in idyllic Essex parkland and gardens, this stunning 18th-century country house hotel is nothing short of spectacular. Its magnificent façade is enhanced by the elegantly restored interiors and sweeping staircases.

Sixteen individual suites and bedrooms are located in the main house while beautiful lounges overlook the carefully restored sunken lawn. The traditional house is complemented by the modern Garden Wing, which is home to 24 bedrooms and a popular brasserie serving the best of British produce.

For nuptials, couples can opt for The Garden Suite (120 people), a contemporary setting made up of three rooms with removable partitions to make it flexible for all sizes of wedding. There are also two historic rooms in the main house; Signatures (60 guests) is a serene space with high ceilings, period features and pretty vistas; while The Drawing Room (70 guests) has an effortlessly elegant feel and can be hired in conjunction with Signatures.

For those who like the great outdoors, the Garden Gazebo is located in the Sunken Lawn overlooking 200-year-old cork oak trees. Receptions are held in the Garden Suite (120 guests) or the Drawing Room (70 guests).

When tying the knot here, newlyweds get a complimentary suite for their first night as a married couple.

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TUFFON HALL VINEYARD

01787 462 288 | www.tuffonhall.co.uk

Tuffon Hall, an award-winning vineyard, is set amongst the rolling hills of the North Essex countryside and offers the perfect backdrop for open-air ceremonies and al fresco dining. To the rear of the Cellar Door, its 400-year-old threshing barn, is a rose-lined terrace offering a further space for reception drinks, lawn games and photos as well as the chance to capture the stunning sunset.

Approached by a long tree-lined driveway running parallel with the beautiful vineyard, the Cellar Door is an imposing building with magnificent flint walls and traditional red brick, it stands proud as the main focal point of property. Seating around 100 guests, it boasts a wealth of features from the original beams and traditional red brick work to the original arrow slits which have been framed to add to their character. The large glass doors allow daylight to flood in, while underfloor ground source heating ensures a welcoming atmosphere all year round.

Couples have a choice of three beautiful ceremony locations including the Vineyard Wedding Gazebo for the most picturesque open-air ceremonies (100 guests), downstairs in the Cellar Door with the beautiful flint wall backdrop (100), or upstairs on the Gallery overlooking the magnificent Cellar Door (85).

Post-vows, for smaller weddings the Gallery can seat up to 40 guests or for larger gatherings, around 100 daytime guests, increasing to 200 for the evening, can be accommodated in the main body of the Cellar Door with both bar and break out area all under one magnificent roof.

When tying the knot here, couples benefit from a gorgeous adjacent farmhouse offering on-site accommodation for guests wishing to stay overnight.

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THE PARK WEDDINGS AND EVENTS

07732 597 056 | www.theparkevents.co.uk

The Park, set at the top of a one-and-a-half-mile country lane, offers a beautiful and private setting with panoramic views over the rural Essex countryside.

When hosting a blessing, wedding breakfast and reception here couples benefit from a complete blank-canvas venue. You can choose to have an indoor ceremony inside your marquee or tipi, or have an outside ceremony to take advantage of the views and rolling countryside, you could even hire a pavilion or pagoda to be a central focus point.

Post-ceremony, again you can style and choose whatever structure you wish, marquee, tipi, pavilion, the possibilities are endless and it means capacity numbers can be anything up to and more than 350 attendees.

When tying the knot here, couples benefit from its hilltop location, as the sun sets The Park is stunning with the uninterrupted views across the rolling countryside, you couldn’t find a more peaceful setting to get married in – a photographer’s dream.

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HOUCHINS WEDDING VENUE

01376 561 448 | www.houchins.co.uk

A truly unique venue, Houchins is a lovingly restored barn set within its own peaceful, landscaped grounds boasting a gentle formality with romantic planting including roses, lavender, verbena, tulips and much more. There are a myriad of beautiful spots and hidden corners in which photographs can be taken, and the main wedding garden is where the marquee is situated and where the majority of weddings take place.

Designed in a unique modern style, the zinc and cedar shingle barn nestles in the wedding garden with huge folding glass double doors opening onto an expansive west facing terrace. It’s the perfect setting for reception drinks set in the landscaped gardens. There are three interconnecting barns which allow the wedding to flow from reception drinks to wedding breakfast, then dance the night away in the aptly named Dance Barn!

For the all important ‘I dos’, the Foundry seats up to 130, The Grainstore 150 and for more intimate weddings the wood-panelled drawing room in the house seats 30. Outside, the marquee and loggia provides seating for up to 150 guests, while the rustic unlicensed Woodland Wedding area can also seat 150 friends and family.

Post-vows, The Grainstore is the perfect setting for the wedding breakfast seating up to 150 and adjoins the bar area and the dance barn; it features a 35ft high ceiling, open fireplace and mezzanine gallery.

COLCHESTER TOWN HALL

01206 506 905 | https://colchester-weddings.co.uk

The Town Hall is a jewel in Colchester’s crown and the most romantic and historic of wedding venues. From its prominent town centre location, this magnificent Baroque structure with its Victorian tower and statue of St Helena (Colchester’s patron saint), dominates the town.

Bursting with Edwardian glamour and rich heritage, The Town Hall’s outstanding function rooms are all fully licensed for ceremonies and receptions. Beautifully decorated with ornate and original features such as stained-glass windows, oil paintings and murals, the spaces are still used for their original purpose today including Mayoral and Civic events.

New for 2021 is the Old Library, designed in classic Jacobean style with its white, lime-washed walls, high ceilings, curved timber gables and mullioned windows, it’s an elegant space that is flooded with natural light by day and by night transforms into a glamorous location with sparkling chandeliers, stained-glass windows and opulent marble bar.

Perfectly placed to accommodate weddings of all sizes and budgets, The Council Chamber (70 guests) is ideal for ceremonies with its impressive windows and wooden pew-style seating giving a church-like feel; the Moot Hall boasts the biggest space (300 ceremony guests and 200 reception guests) and is blessed with high ornate ceilings and abundant natural light pouring through stained-glass windows. The Mayoral Suite offers a more intimate setting (100 ceremony guests and 70 reception guests) whilst the Old Library can accommodate 20 to 120 guests.

When tying the knot here, the Mayor’s Parlour with its beautiful iron balcony offers couples the perfect ‘royal’ photo opportunity looking down over the town below.

A wide choice of catering is provided and the Colchester Weddings team is always pleased to offer menu tastings. Town Hall guests will benefit from on-site town centre parking for up to 50 vehicles.