9 minute read
THE SHOOT
w w
SPECIAL ISSUE
absolutely-weddings.co.uk
Something SPECIAL
MILSOM WEDDINGS With over 60 years’ experience in wedding planning, Milsom love nothing more than creating the ideal setting for love to fl ourish. With wedding packages in Su olk and Essex, inspirational food, the fi nest accommodation, and exceptional service, it’s easy to understand why Milsom Weddings are in high demand. weddings@milsomhotels.com (Photo by Terri Pashley)
FALL inLOVE LOVE
From di erent ceremony options to a host of food and drink o erings, Braxted Park has everything to make your wedding special
Set amongst the picturesque Essex countryside sits the beautiful 500-acre Braxted Park. A wedding venue with a di erence, where rich history meets modern luxury. This carefully curated space provides the perfect setting where forever memories are created and everything you could wish for is in this one breathtaking location.
THE VENUE
Braxted Park is easily one of the finest wedding venues in Essex, sure to provide you with a special day full of grandeur and elegance for you and your guests. The venue makes an instant impression as you enter the gates, set at the end of a sweeping, torch-lit drive and that impression continues throughout every element of your wedding day.
This peaceful, picturesque, private setting o ers couples complete exclusivity that’ll make you feel as though you’re miles away from anywhere. However, you’re also still in easy reach of towns around Essex and just an hour away from London, too. It’s ideal for an escape to the country in a central location that’s easy to reach.
THE CEREMONY
Braxted Park o ers a choice of ceremony options in which you can tie the knot. The bright and airy, exquisitely decorated
Orangery o ers a luxury space large enough to surround yourselves with friends and family. The magnificent arched windows and hand-painted frescos bring the beautiful gardens inside, whatever the weather.
For an al fresco space to say your ‘I dos’, the charming summer house in the walled gardens is full of secluded nooks and delightful surprises. This outdoor ceremony space enfolds all who enter in an enchanted circle of love.
If your heart is set on a religious ceremony, Braxted Park even has a church within its grounds. This perfect gem that dates back to 1042 is just a short stroll from the house, past the glittering lake. This means that your guests don’t need to arrange any transport or travel, everything is in one place and it’s just a seamless day of joy and celebration.
THE RECEPTION
Bask in your picturesque surroundings with a drinks reception in the Walled Garden, mingling with guests around tranquil water features and blooming flower beds. The Pavilion is a grand and contemporary setting for your wedding breakfast and evening reception. It's incredibly versatile, capable of accommodating wedding parties of all sizes and it comes fully equipped with a dancefloor, well-stocked bar and state-ofthe-art sound and lighting system to make the perfect place to celebrate in style.
FOOD AND DRINK
Your day could begin with elegant cocktails and canapés served in the Walled Garden, followed by a dining experience worthy of any leading restaurant in the glamorous Pavilion. And for the evening celebrations, choose between a delicious BBQ, hearty hog roast or tables laden with tempting tapas?
Whatever you choose, it will be made with passion and the very best produce, sourced locally wherever possible. Relaxed informality or sophisticated elegance, traditional British or a gourmet tour of the world, your chefs will be happy to help you plan your own memorable experience and deliver it to perfection.
Exceptional food and service of the highest order are at the heart of every wedding at Braxted Park, making sure that your special day is perfectly tailored to your needs. Braxted Park Kitchen, the in-house team headed up by Executive Chef Luke Davis, o ers
a number of exciting catering options including fine dining-style dishes. You can collaborate directly with the chefs to create a bespoke menu that’s exactly what you were imagining for your big day.
If you are planning a cultural wedding, Braxted Park o ers you the opportunity to hire the venue on a dry-hire basis. This allows you to arrange your own catering and bar requirements, using the Pavilion’s
There are also a further 12 bedrooms in which guests can stay the night in the smart and contemporary stable block that has been recently renovated. With space for families and one completely accessible room, there’s something for everyone at Braxted Park. And of course, tea and co ee-making facilities and luxury toiletries are provided in each of the bedrooms.
Although Braxted Park is a secluded retreat, it’s also one of Essex’s best-placed wedding venues. In Colchester, just a short drive away, there are a variety of excellent hotels and B&Bs to suit all budgets. There are also places to stay in nearby Witham and the surrounding towns including Maldon, Braintree and Dedham.
large capacity to plan the wedding you’ve always wanted in a stunning location. Dry-hire of Braxted Park is perfect for Asian, Jewish, Afro-Caribbean, Turkish and other cultural weddings, allowing you to make the day completely your own in line with your traditions and beliefs.
ACCOMMODATION
Your wedding day starts in the beautiful and secluded bridal changing room. This selfcontained courtyard retreat provides the ideal spot to prepare before your ceremony. The stylish space o ers space for brides and their bridesmaids to get ready. Best of all, it's just a few steps through the Lantern Room to the Orangery from this calm and relaxing setting. And there is also an equally private space in the Garden Cottage where the groom and his friends can get ready and relax before the main event.
The Garden Cottage is also the idyllic honeymoon cottage for your wedding night. Just a short stroll away from the Pavilion the cottage o ers a luxurious and calming space to retreat to at the end of the night. With a private garden, valley views and a hidden terrace, it really is the perfect honeymoon hideaway.
YOUR CHOICE
Braxted Park has been a family home for generations, and the team prides itself on its ability to welcome all couples into the extended family. That same personal approach is present throughout the whole experience at Braxted Park.
From the moment you step foot on the grounds at Braxted Park for your first visit, the friendly team is there to support you every step of the way and make sure that your dream wedding becomes a reality. There is something for everyone to love at Braxted Park. From the enchanting grounds to the quintessentially English feel of the walled garden and the glorious country house at the centre of it all.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT WING
Prepare to be AMAZED
Absolutely visits the 15th century country manor house in Essex that will wow you and your wedding guests
That Amazing Place in Old Harlow is one of only a handful of country houses to o er exclusive use of the venue for your wedding day. This means that their 15th century country manor house with stylish and contemporary interiors is exclusively yours for the day and night of your wedding. Licenced for civil ceremonies there is a choice of elegant ceremony rooms and during the summer months couples can choose to say their vows alfresco, beneath the outdoor gazebo next to the lake.
For dining, there are no minimum guest numbers and their maximum capacity for a traditional seated wedding breakfast is 150 guests. With a picturesque location and breath-taking views of the grounds and lake, That Amazing Place o ers the perfect backdrop for your wedding day. From the long driveway up to the house on arrival, to enjoying reception drinks on the patio with views of the lake, all of your guests will enjoy the stunning scenery That Amazing Place has to o er.
For the night of the wedding, they o er overnight accommodation in their chic, comfortable bedrooms for your guests and their luxury wedding cottage for the wedding couple. Sleeping 31 people, this means that you and your guests can relax and unwind, without worry about transport. At That Amazing Place they are very excited to announce that from spring 2023 you will be able book their 4 bedroom house, situated right next to the venue, for the night before your wedding. Along with the 4 double bedrooms (sleeping up to 8 guests) and 2 bathrooms, there will also be a large kitchen/dining room, a lounge, a bridal preparation room and a lovely large garden, perfect for relaxing drinks the night before the wedding and beautiful photos the following morning.
With the option to chill out and unwind the night before the wedding, knowing that you are right next door to your venue, this new accommodation will enhance the journey for the wedding party and help to make the whole experience totally stress free. The renovation will start very soon and they can’t wait to welcome new couples through their doors when the transformation is complete.
With 5* reviews on TripAdvisor, Facebook and Google, you can rest assured that your wedding is in safe hands and you will have a day with memories to cherish forever. Remember, your wedding is about more than just a venue, it’s about finding That Amazing Place to turn your dreams into reality, so get in touch and let your imagination do the rest.