HOTEL STAY

Hotel stay Looking for a stunning hotel wedding venue where you and your guests can bed down for the night? We’ve got you covered

DOWN HALL

01279 731441 | www.downhall.co.uk

Established as one of England’s most established country house hotels, Down Hall is situated in 110 acres of picturesque woods, parks and landscaped gardens, complete with a stunning wedding gazebo that’s perfect for outdoor ceremonies. The impressive Italianate mansion – with ornate stone masonry and detailed architecture – provides a stunning backdrop to any wedding with a truly historic setting.

Connected to the 19th century Italianate mansion house, the enhanced West Wing underwent a £1.2m refurbishment in 2019, creating a stunning stand-alone space which caters for weddings for up to 220 guests. Decorated in traditional heritage colours with bright accents in classic country house meets contemporary chic, the banqueting and ballrooms feature panoramic views over the beautiful gardens, creating the perfect backdrop for the most elegant of ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and receptions. Psst! Down Hall’s recently refurbished gallery provides the perfect classical backdrop for photographs and is the perfect area for guests to relax and congregate before the ceremony.

TALBOOTH WEDDINGS

01206 323105 | www.milsomweddings.com

Set beside the natural beauty of the River Stour lies the Talbooth Restaurant, one of the finest wedding venues in Essex. Here you can enjoy your special day in stunning surroundings, whether it’s dining in the riverside restaurant or dancing in the marquee on the upper terrace. You can even take advantage of Kathleen, the venue’s electric riverboat, which is moored by the restaurant in the summer. This gives you the option of arriving at the wedding breakfast following a 10-minute ride along the river, which is a great way to surprise your guests!

Weddings take place in the River Room, which has a civil ceremony licence for up to 130 people. A beautiful space overlooking the water, terrace and perfectly manicured lawns, your vows are then followed by a wedding breakfast in the marquee.

Want to stay the night? No problem – accommodation options include Talbooth House & Spa, Milsom Hotel and the venue’s self-catering luxury cottage, Idle Waters.

PONTLANDS PARK

01245 476444 | www.pontlandsparkhotel.co.uk

An impressive Victorian House and beautifully landscaped gardens with pond make Pontlands Park the ideal setting for you to celebrate your love and commitment. Located on the outskirts of Chelmsford City Centre, a beautiful driveway gives both you and your guests a great first impression. Also, being a 35-bedroom hotel, it means your guests won’t have far to go to rest after your wedding day! All rates are inclusive of breakfast, meaning you can celebrate the morning after as a group.

Say your vows in the new garden gazebo, seating up to 100 guests overlooking the Essex countryside. You can also choose the intimate Lilli Suite by the gardens and pond area, which is ideal for up to 60 guests seated for your civil ceremony. Then there’s the light and fully airconditioned Conservatory Suite to consider, allowing you to be married with seating up to 100 guests.

Receptions can then take place in both the Conservatory (90 guests), which is fully air-conditioned, or the beautiful Marquee (180 guests), which boasts a silk-lined ceiling and chandeliers for the perfect backdrop.

The Jewel of Essex The Jewel of Essex

Steeped in history and romance and hailed ‘the jewel Steeped in history and romance and hailed ‘the jewel of Essex,’ the Little Easton Manor estate offers the most of Essex,’ the Little Easton Manor estate offers the most breath-taking backdrop for your wedding. With two breath-taking backdrop for your wedding. With two magnificent 14th Century barns and a brand new openmagnificent 14th Century barns and a brand new openair pergoda positioned perfectly by our picturesque Great air pergoda positioned perfectly by our picturesque Great Lake, we offer you a wealth of stunning settings, exclusively Lake, we offer you a wealth of stunning settings, exclusively yours. With its unrivalled heritage, spectacular grounds yours. With its unrivalled heritage, spectacular grounds and beautiful on-site cottage accommodation, Little Easton and beautiful on-site cottage accommodation, Little Easton Manor is the place to realise your wedding day dreams and Manor is the place to realise your wedding day dreams and create memories to last a lifetime. Contact our dedicated create memories to last a lifetime. Contact our dedicated Wedding Coordinators today to book your private show Wedding Coordinators today to book your private show round and to discuss your wedding day visions. round and to discuss your wedding day visions.

STIFFORD HALL HOTEL

01708 719988 | www.stiffordhallhotel.com

An 18th century manor house set in landscape grounds with a covered terrace that’s ideal for welcome drinks, Stifford Hall Hotel boasts a recently built pagoda with beautiful chandelier, ideal for an outside wedding ceremony. There’s also 97 en-suite bedrooms with a mixture of twins/double and superior rooms available, with a block of accommodation to all your guests available at a preferential rate, inclusive of full English breakfast.

Inside the main house you’ll find The Regency Suite – with floor to ceiling windows and a neutral colour scheme, its elegant crystal chandeliers and purpose-built terrace bar makes this the ideal space for your wedding party. Civil ceremonies can also be held in the purposebuilt pagoda, as well as the Blenheim Suite, located on the first floor of the main house. You can then choose to host your reception back in The Regency Suite (130 guests), or The Garden Suite (80 guests), which also has its own smaller terrace area.

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WIVENHOE HOUSE HOTEL

01206 863666 | www.wivenhoehouse.co.uk

Wivenhoe House is a beautiful four-star hotel on the Essex/Suffolk border, incorporating both historic rooms in the Main House and contemporary luxury in the Garden Wing. The magnificently restored 18th century red brick mansion celebrates the original architecture of the building, whether your event takes place in the Gazebo on the sunken lawn; in the light and airy Garden Suite; or in the Drawing Room, complete with bay windows overlooking the parkland. The venue also offers 40 bedrooms, ranging from Classic, Superior or Luxury rooms in the Main House, to more contemporary Deluxe spaces in the hotel’s Garden Wing.

Ceremonies take place in The Garden Suite for up to 150 guests, perfect for an all-in-one celebration with its private bar, dancefloor and sound system. There’s also The Drawing Room – surrounded by views of the parklands through three bay windows, the restored 18th century space can seat up to 80 guests. Alternatively, choose The Signatures Room for a more traditionally styled wedding for up to 60, or The Gazebo, available for an outdoor ceremony for up to 130. Ideal for summer weddings, the daylight hours provide a perfect backdrop for photography.