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SWEET DREAMS
www.clairegraham.co Sweet Dreams Picture-perfect, fairy-tale locations that are sure to take you and your guests’ breaths away
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Every wedding at Chelmsford’s Baddow Park House is unique. The versatility of the venue’s spaces means they can accommodate any wedding from the most intimate occasion to a full-on, 150-guest celebration and beyond. Throughout the house you’ll find sumptuous textures, hidden spaces and stylish décor, all creating the perfect blend of luxury and traditional for you to embrace and embellish with your own style. Then there are the impressive gardens, designed to provide you with the opportunity to really go to town on any alfresco elements of your wedding.
For smaller cosy celebrations, the Oak Room is perfect for up to 50 guests, with its open fireplace and wood panelling. Alternatively, take advantage of the incredible light and sweeping views of the Drawing Room, which can accommodate up to 80 guests – or why not say your vows outside in the perfectly-crafted pavilion?
Baddow Park House also boasts its recently-renovated Orangery – seating up to 150 guests, its space can be enhanced further by opening up the wall of bi-folding doors revealing perfect views across the terrace to the vineyards beyond. The Orangery can then be turned around from day to evening with minimal fuss, meaning your guests can continue their festivities into the night with no need to relocate. Psst! Baddow’s Log Shed Bar provides the ideal location for a pre- or post-ceremony cocktail and even has its own pizza oven and BBQ. As the sun starts to set, why not head into the whimsical woodland to discover the fire-pit, where you can toast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate and liqueurs while you share old stories – and create new memories under the stars?
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https://mattwing.co.uk/ https://mattwing.co.uk/
At the heart of a vast walled estate you’ll find Braxted Park’s magnificent country house and its stunning gardens. Combing elegance and romance throughout its interior, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to saying, ‘I do’. The Orangery exudes romance, with Roman-inspired murals and arched windows that look out over the grounds. Alternatively, during the warmer months, tie the knot outdoors at the heart of the walled garden as your guests soak up the sun. Braxted Park even has its own church, so you could have a religious ceremony just a few minutes away from the house should you wish to. Each option is capable of seating up to 170 guests.
When it comes to receptions, The Pavilion is perfectly equipped for parties both large and small. This versatile space offers plenty of room for up to 350 guests and comes with neutral décor so you can truly make it your own. The in-house catering team are on hand to create some spectacular menus for your special day, while come evening, a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and huge dance floor ensures you can enjoy yourselves long into the night.
Psst! The Garden Cottage really stands out and offers couples the perfect place to retire to after a day of celebrating, while loved ones can enjoy a relaxing night’s stay just a few steps from the Pavilion, too.
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THE CANARY SHED 01621 786503 | www.thecanaryshed.co.uk
The Canary Shed is a restored traditional Essex black barn with a rustic but modern interior so that couples can add their own personal touches, making the venue unique to them. Located on a farm with views of the River Crouch, it boasts easy access to the nearby town of Burnham on Crouch and the Saltmarsh Coast Trail. You don’t even have to worry about somewhere to stay, as The Canary Shed has six self-catering converted barns and two hotel-style rooms with en-suite facilities for you and your guests to enjoy, sleeping up to 30 in total.
While The Canary Shed can hold up to 120 guests, you can be legally married in front of up to 80 of your friends and family for legal ceremonies and sit-down meals. Taking place outside under a gazebo in the venue’s courtyard area, you can also choose an indoor ceremony in The Granary Barn, which can accommodate up to 30. All receptions are then held in The Canary Shed which can be set up by couples the day before, be it for a formal sit-down feast or a more relaxed buffet or festival-style reception. Opening out on to the courtyard area, it’s the perfect space for photos and reception drinks.
CREEKSEA PLACE MANOR 01621 784535 | www.creekseaplace.co.uk
Set in an impressive 42 acres of stunning Essex countryside, all within a stone’s throw of the River Crouch, Creeksea Place Manor is another impressive venue to consider. The magnificence of this Elizabethan Manor House begins the minute you enter through the wrought iron gates, with native trees adorning the lawns and scented flowers dispersing their glorious fragrance throughout the day and night. Inside, enjoy the manor’s many original features in the stunning panelled room, complete with 16th century fireplace, before opting to relax with a drink in the new Cigar Lounge.
The venue has a license for 350 guests and a total of seven wedding areas. Choose from The Orchard, with marble pagoda and stone statues (180 capacity); The Pannelled Room, with wooden floor and original features (60 capacity); The Regency Room, with double aspect windows overlooking the gardens (90 capacity); the Pagoda on The Lake, a pure white wooden pagoda nestled among water lilies (80 capacity); the Walled Garden, enclosed by ancient walls and decorated with ferns (180 capacity); the Tudor Hall/Garden, a secluded terrace overlooking the lake lawn (80 capacity); or the Music Room, with piano and windows overlooking the grounds (20 capacity). You can then enjoy your reception and dance the night away in Creeksea’s luxury silk-lined marquee.
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GAYNES PARK 01992 660329 | www.gaynespark.co.uk
With a backdrop of lush rolling fields, enchanting woodland and the London skyline on the horizon, it’s safe to say that Gaynes Park offers a location like nowhere else. The exquisite Walled Gardens provide couples with a picturesque setting to while away the hours and drink in their atmospheric surroundings, while the Gather Barn and Mill Barn give a sense of the venue’s past life. Picture exposed beams, vast tree trunks and mementos of the venue’s history adorning the walls, while the Orangery combines an expansive roof and windows with an oak frame that’s perfect for adorning with flowers and fairy lights. Despite its rustic feel, Gaynes Park comes fully equipped with all the modern comforts a couple could wish for to make their wedding day just the way they want it to be. When it comes to ceremonies, Gaynes Park offers plenty of choice. The Orangery, with space for 150, lets the sunlight pour in and boasts exquisite views of the garden all around. The Gather Barn, meanwhile, is a unique, open-sided structure that hosts civil ceremonies in the great outdoors. Available separately from Gaynes Park, a select number of weddings can also be held each year in the surrounding woodland. This is the perfect setting for an enchanting and romantic ceremony, while the Walled Garden holds a number of picturesque spots to tie the knot outdoors, too.
Ready to party as newlyweds? The Mill Barn is a magnificent, all-inone reception venue, with plenty of space for 150 guests for a wedding breakfast and 200 for an evening celebration. With its dancefloor, bar and seating all under one roof, couples and their guests will never be more than a few steps away from the party.
YOUR VENUE, YOUR VISION, YOUR VERY SPECIAL DAY
