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These Essex venues have picture-perfect gardens for your wedding day

BRAXTED PARK

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

Pure Pride & Prejudice outside – a tree-lined drive and view of the Georgian mansion standing proud – immaculate décor and superb facilities inside, Braxted Park marries the romance of the old with the best of the new to create the perfect venue for your 21st-century wedding.

The Orangery at Braxted Park is no ordinary setting for your ceremony of up to 160 loved ones. In this bright and airy exquisitely decorated room, boasting hand-painted murals and wonderful views over the garden, you have the luxury of a space large enough for family and friends to surround you and an aisle generous enough for the most gorgeous of gowns. For al fresco nuptials, behind mellow brick walls lies the Knott Garden perfect for romantic gatherings of up to 160. As beautiful as any bridal bouquet with secluded nooks and delightful surprises around every corner, it enfolds all who enter in an enchanted circle of love.

Nestled so naturally within the walled garden, the Pavilion was designed to delight. Windows and doorways link it seamlessly with outdoor terraces and the green spaces beyond, while inside is contemporary comfort and state-of-the-art facilities. Yours for the whole day and into the night, the Pavilion can be whatever you want it to be with up to 350 loved ones.

When tying the knot here couples benefit from a complimentary menu tasting for the bride and groom.

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BADDOW PARK HOUSE

01245 473 969 | www.baddowparkhouse.co.uk

The Baddow Park House gardens are an integral part of the venue and have been designed to provide couples the opportunity to really go to town on any al fresco elements of their wedding.

Wedding parties simply flow from The Orangery and step out onto the natural stone terrace, where you start to realise the potential that these gorgeous open spaces offer for a truly unique wedding event. The versatility of spaces means the venue can accommodate any size wedding, with sumptuous textures, hidden spaces and stylish décor discovered throughout.

For small cosy weddings, the Oak Room is ideal for up to 50 guests and has an open fireplace and wood panelling; or, take advantage of the incredible light Drawing Room (80) which boasts sweeping views.

The venue’s recently renovated Orangery is, without doubt, an iconic and showstopping space that can be transformed to suit requirements. Seating up to 150 guests, its natural light and space can be enhanced further by opening up the wall of bi-folding doors revealing the views across the terrace to the vineyards beyond.

This seamless balance between indoors and outdoors means the Orangery is the ideal for any season.

Many couples make the most of the perfectly crafted pavilion for al fresco nuptials; while the Log Shed Bar provides a location for a pre- or post-ceremony cocktail and even has its own pizza oven and barbecue!

Post-vows, the venue’s fully stocked bar mixes Art Deco styling with modern technology – a real talking point at any wedding – The Orangery can 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. It can host up to 250. Then as the sun starts to set, head into the whimsical woodland to discover a firepit, where you can toast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate and liqueurs while you share stories and create memories under the stars.

When tying the knot here, couples have the benefit of using the Bridal Suite and 10 luxury bedrooms, which sleep 30 depending on the configuration of guests. Each room has been totally renovated and redecorated in keeping with its eclectic design yet respectful to the house’s heritage and history blending comfort and style.

DOWN HALL HOTEL & SPA

01279 731 441 | www.downhall.co.uk

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 striking 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 standalone 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.

Couple can host their vows in the Bridgeman Suite for up to 220 loved ones. This suite, with its iconic chandeliers, is the largest space decorated in a contemporary style, with an abundance of natural daylight and views across the landscaped gardens. Post-vows the suite can host 200 attendees.

Alternatively, couples can opt for the Oxford/Belcamp space for the reception with up to 130 guests. Specially designed for the smaller intimate wedding, it boasts a lovely ornate fireplace with a contemporary twist.

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.

When tying the knot here, couples are given exclusive rates on treatment packages which Down Hall’s wedding coordinators can assist with. Every wedding celebration booked receives a complimentary wet spa pass for two to use either the day before or after the wedding.

Newlyweds are also give the flower according to the package booked, i.e magnolia and a tree to plant in the grounds in our wedding garden.

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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: 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 woodland wedding area can also seat 150 friends and family.

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

IVY HILL HOTEL

01277 355 111 | https://ivyhillhotel.co.uk

Dating back to 1891, traditional family values still lay at the core of Ivy Hill Hotel. A lovingly converted, Victorian, 31-bedroom boutique hotel country house, it’s also known as the ‘spectacle house’ ‒ due to some quirky windows! The hotel is set within five acres of beautiful gardens, giving a relaxing atmosphere, whilst being in a superb location situated within easy access of all major routes.

The patio and landscaped gardens, have delightful features such as the wishing well, gazebo and ponds, all forming a stunning backdrop for reception drinks and photographs.

Ceremonies take place within the Ingatestone Room and Ivy Suite, seating anything from an intimate 10 guests or with all rooms combined up to 120 guests. These rooms overlook the patio and extend down onto the gardens, where the reception drinks and canapés are served.

After the ‘I dos’ the Margaretting Suite is an elegant and sophisticated setting for the wedding breakfast, with its own entrance from the gardens. It benefits from plenty of windows giving ample natural daylight and boasts a refined neutral décor. There is ample room for this suite to seat up to 160 guests throughout. It has a spacious polished oak dancefloor and integral mirrored elegant bar.

The smaller of the two venues is the Ivy Suite, sited in the main body of the hotel and able to seat a maximum of 70 guests, with doors that extend out to the patio and gardens.

With its interconnecting Margaretting Suite, Ingatestone Room and Ivy Suite, plus Orangery, as your party grows throughout the day the function rooms can expand with you, giving a rare opportunity to build the exact venue that works for you.

When tying the knot here, couples benefit from a free tasting to all couples that book a Heavenly Weddings package.