IN HISTORY Steeped

Romantic and eclectic, these venues hold a thousand love stories

BRAXTED PARK

01621 770 855 | https://braxtedparkweddings.co.uk

At the heart of a vast walled estate, you’ll find Braxted Park’s magnificent country house and its stunning gardens. The intimate gardens that connect Braxted House to the grand Wedding Pavilion provide an idyllic setting for any wedding vision. Within the historic Walled Garden guests can enjoy a series of themed ‘rooms’ that include a romantic English Garden, a Knott Garden and an Italian Garden. The year-round interest each provides creates beautiful and varied backdrops for wedding photographs.

Celebrate In Style

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 dancefloor ensures you can enjoy yourselves long into the night.

We love... 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.

BRIDGE END GARDENS

01799 619 845 | www.saffronwalden.gov.uk

The Walled Garden is surrounded by Victorian gardens. There’s also a hedge maze, rose garden and extensive main lawn area. The gardens are very picturesque with viewing platforms to help you get the most from your photos. There are fountains and sun dials dotted around the gardens. Exclusive hire can be arranged as the gardens can be closed to the public.

Celebrate In Style

Bridge End Gardens aren’t licensed for wedding or civil ceremonies, these can take place in local venues. However, if you wanted a celebrant ceremony to take place in the tipi or marquee, this can be arranged. Ceremonies can easily commence in the local church or Town Hall with guests walking down to the nearby Bridge End Gardens after.

Receptions take place in the Walled Kitchen Garden, where couples can hire either a marquee or tipi.

We love... Over the summer months the smell of perfume that drifts from the rose gardens is a delight to the senses.

VALENTINES MANSION & GARDENS

020 8708 8100 | www.valentinesmansion.com

Georgian in appearance, the impressive Mansion stands proud within a serene corner of Valentines Park, an awarding-winning open space. With a grand porte cochere, stylish brick exterior and romantic balcony, the Grade II listed house is surrounded by lush historic gardens and parkland.

Valentines Mansion’s period features, combined with contemporary finishes, make it a stylish venue for weddings and celebrations. It has several rooms across two floors, each boasting their own charm and character and beautiful views across the gardens and parkland. Striking features include the Venetian stained-glass window, dating back to 1810 overlooking the impressive grand staircase. Ornate fireplaces adorn each room, with many of them dating back to when the house was built in 1696.

Celebrate In Style

For your ceremony, The Holcombe is a stylish room on the ground floor, with French doors opening up on to the outdoor terrace, overlooking the incredible gardens and park. This particular room is ideal for small and intimate ceremonies of up to six people. love... Each couple is appointed their own wedding coordinator and are given a commemorative certificate to take home.

The Morning Room is a beautiful room on the ground floor, with a lovely bay window offering stunning views into the gardens and park. This lovely space holds up to 40 of your nearest and dearest.

On the first floor, The Drawing Room is a gorgeous space for larger ceremonies. Take your vows surrounded by 70 of your family and friends, this room also includes a romantic balcony overlooking the gardens.

For your reception, enjoy exclusive use of the Mansion, including all of the above rooms, as well as the quaint Regency Parlour, which holds 12 people, and the Bird Room on the ground floor (12 people), as well as the historic Victorian kitchen - complete with original stone flooring and plenty of character and charm. Overall, for receptions, the Mansion has a capacity of 120 guests.

Gosfield Hall

01787 472 914 | www.gosfield-hall.co.uk

Previously a Royal Palace, Gosfield Hall is a stunning stately home which offers a different backdrop around every corner. The south façade boasts sashed windows and a beautiful sun terrace, while the east façade, the main entrance, comprises an imposing red brick frontage and grand triple-height front door. The west entrance, the oldest aspect dating back to Tudor times, offers a picturesque carriageway exclusively for the couple and wedding party, leading to the well-kept courtyard.

Celebrate In Style

For your ceremony, make an entrance with the 120ft-long aisle in Queen Charlotte’s oak-panelled gallery. The dual-aspect windows flood the room with light, and the neutral array of silk house flowers completes this space.

Alternatively, the Grand Salon seats 84. The high hand-painted ceiling and double-height sash windows make this a bright and airy space in which to say ‘I do’. The feature fireplace is a beautiful backdrop, and the baby grand piano offers live musical accompaniment.

You can even opt for an outside ceremony. The original carriageway is the licensed setting for this, and you can choose from the inner or outer courtyard setting.

For your reception, The Marquis of Buckingham’s formerBallroom is a breathtakingly stunning setting for fine dining, where guests dine under giant crystal chandeliers and huge double-height mirrors.

We love... There are 23 period bedroom suites, offered exclusively to you for your wedding night, including the Rococo Honeymoon Suite.

St Osyth Priory

01206 430 160 | www.stosythpriory.co.uk/contact-us

This fantastic manor house is a collection of buildings dating back to 1,100, with the newest addition to the house being Victorian. The ruins of the monastery are a prominent feature and will make the perfect backdrop to any photograph. The abbots tower provides a phenomenal view across the estate.

Darcy house has an abundance of historic attributes, it has been sympathetically restored to complement the wealth of history including original features such as, the stone carvings on the window depicting saints which predate the dissolution of the monastery. The detailed wooden touches across fireplaces, doorways and walls retains the history and the grandeur as it once would have been.

Celebrate In Style

For your ceremony, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s Darcy House, where The Gallery and The Great Hall seat up to 110 guests. There’s also the historic chapel which seats up to 60, under the Gatehouse, on the Precinct, and in the Sunken gardens which can host up to 110 guests for a civil ceremony.

There are multiple locations for your drink’s reception, such as The Gallery inside Darcy House or outside in the Rose Gardens, the Sunken gardens, The Knot gardens and the precinct.

We love...

Behind the Priory walls within the 350-acre estate, the gardens and grounds create beautiful scenic memories and impeccable photo opportunities. The gardens are home to natural lakes and a large deer park as well as ancient ruins.

Hedingham Castle

01787 460 261 | www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk

Hedingham Castle is set within 120 acres of stunning Essex countryside including the beautifully restored gardens in the immediate area below the Castle – a perfect backdrop for wedding photography. Our favourite spot is the lake, with the Castle behind, or in between the huge Wellingtonia trees at the bottom of the formal pond. The history of Hedingham spans almost a millennium, with the Castle almost 900 years old. Its imposing Norman architecture is iconic and the Castle is a landmark in its own right and can be seen for miles around, standing at over 70ft tall. The majestic Castle is arguably the best preserved Norman Keep of its kind in the country, both inside and out.

Celebrate In Style

All ceremonies take place in the Banqueting Hall within the Castle, with its breathtaking atmosphere and impressive double height arch. The room is lit with candles and two grand chandeliers to give the space the most incredible romance. The acoustics are superb and many choose to have a string quartet play as the bride walks down the aisle.

Receptions can take place in either the elegant Ballroom Marquee, which is a permanent structure adjoining the Mansion House and includes drinks in the Hall of the House and lakeside lawn before dinner. Or, for smaller weddings, you can hold your entire day in the Castle, dining in the Tapestry Room and then continuing the party on the floor above with drinks and dancing.

We love...

Brand new for 2023 is The Royal Chamber - a magnificent honeymoon retreat situated inside the Castle on the top floor, complete with a stunning four poster bed, double bath, breathtaking views and brimming with character. Couples really can sleep like royalty on their wedding night!