Essex offers one of the widest ranges of wedding venues in the UK, making it a strong choice for couples looking for flexibility without compromise. Within a single county, you’ll find historic country houses, barn venues, contemporary hotels and coastal settings, all with good transport links and a real sense of space.
Many of the best wedding venues in Essex are set just outside towns and villages, giving you privacy and countryside views while remaining easy for guests to reach from London, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and beyond. It’s this balance of accessibility, variety and character that makes Essex one of the most popular counties for weddings.
This guide brings together 15 of the best wedding venues in Essex, covering a range of styles, guest capacities and budgets, to help you compare options and find the right venue for your day.
Gosfield Hall
Gosfield Hall is a stunning Georgian manor house set in the heart of Essex, offering couples an exclusive and unforgettable setting for their wedding day. This award-winning venue overlooking the shimmering Gosfield Lake, is a popular choice for those seeking both elegance and history. Despite its rural location, Gosfield Hall is conveniently located just 30 minutes away from Stansted Airport.
With a rich history as a former royal residence, Gosfield Hall boasts breathtaking ceremony spaces, including the Queen Charlotte's Oak panelled gallery and the Grand Salon. In the summer, you can have an outdoor ceremony and enjoy the stunning house as your backdrop. The Marquis of Buckingham's former ballroom provides a magnificent setting for the wedding breakfast, accommodating up to 116 guests. The estate can accommodate up to 250 guests for the evening reception and party, ensuring plenty of room for celebrations.
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Gosfield Hall Wedding Venue
Celebrate your love at the idyllic Gosfield Hall, an exquisite wedding venue in Essex with a rich history and captivating surroundings.Leez Priory
Leez Priory is a stunning Tudor mansion nestled in the heart of Essex, offering a breathtaking setting for your wedding day. Surrounded by 40 acres of picturesque parkland, the venue provides a truly magical atmosphere. With a choice of seven licensed ceremony settings, including the historic Tower and the Great Hall, Leez Priory can accommodate a variety of wedding styles.
The Great Hall, with its impressive architecture, can seat up to 86 guests for the wedding breakfast, while the Coach House offers a delightful setting for up to 110 guests. The entire house and grounds are exclusively yours for the day, allowing you to invite up to 250 guests for the evening reception. For added convenience, the Fisherman's Cottage provides comfortable accommodation for the wedding party the night before the big day and Leez Priory also offers 15 exquisite bedrooms for your guests to stay overnight, ensuring a peaceful and luxurious end to your special day.
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Leez Priory Wedding Venue
Celebrate your love story in a timeless setting with Leez Priory, where history and grandeur intertwine to create an unforgettable wedding day.High House Weddings
Set amidst acres of picturesque gardens and rolling meadows, High House Weddings is located in Chelmsford, Essex. This beautiful wedding venue features a restored Grade II listed Essex Barn dating back to 1750. Retaining the barn's character with rustic oak beams and exposed red brick brings a beautiful charm to your day. Paired with modern full-height windows to bring in the daylight, this venue provides the perfect setting for you to say 'I do'.
High House Weddings opened their brand new orangery wedding venue in 2025. This space is perfect for wedding receptions all year round and accommodates up to 140 guests for a wedding breakfast and 200 for the evening celebrations. So, regardless of the time of year you plan to tie the knot, High House offers a setting that is beautiful year-round with plenty of impressive features.
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High House Weddings
Beautiful Barn Wedding Venue in Essex with Stunning NEW Orangery for Wedding Receptions from 2025Valentines Mansion & Gardens
Set within historic gardens and surrounded by 130 acres of lush parkland, Valentines Mansion is a gorgeous Grade II* listed country house. Steeped in rich history, this romantic yet intimate mansion features elegant period rooms, a grand staircase, a striking 18th-century Venetian stained glass window and ornate fireplaces. Combined with contemporary features, it offers the perfect blend of old and new. With the capacity to host weddings between 70 and 120 guests, the stunning rooms can be hired individually or exclusively.
The beautiful Holcombe Room opens to a terrace that overlooks charming gardens and features an 18th-century fireplace. The art gallery seamlessly combines classic elements with a contemporary flair. Enjoy breathtaking views from the Morning Room, which boasts a magnificent fireplace and a gilded mirror. The Drawing Room is adorned with intricate details, fireplaces, and a romantic balcony that offers a view of the South Lawn. With the assistance of the skilled events team, Valentines Mansion is an ideal choice for your Essex wedding.
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Valentines Mansion & Gardens Wedding Venue
Discover the charm of Valentines Mansion & Gardens, an affordable Essex venue perfect for budget-friendly weddings.Vaulty Manor
Surrounded by picturesque countryside and woodlands, Vaulty Manor seamlessly blends a historic country manor house with a charming, rustic barn. The Oak Essex barn dates back to the 17th-century, with stunning beams creating a romantic atmosphere for the perfect place for your indoor ceremony, the wedding breakfast, and the evening reception. Alternatively, the beautiful surroundings of the walled garden featuring a charming pergoda create the ideal backdrop for a picturesque outdoor wedding. Whether you want an intimate gathering or a lavish celebration, Vaulty Manor has the perfect space for every wedding celebration.
Vaulty Manor includes a fully in-house catering service, ensuring that every dish is crafted with care using locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Meals are prepared from scratch, offering a truly bespoke culinary experience. This approach not only guarantees the highest quality of food but also allows for dietary requirements to be easily accommodated.
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Vaulty Manor Wedding Venue
17th Century Barn Wedding Venue in Goldhanger, EssexThe Essex Barn at The White Hart
The Essex Barn at The White Hart is a breathtaking 15th-century venue, exuding timeless charm and elegance. Perfectly blending historic character with modern amenities, this picturesque setting offers the ideal backdrop for your dream wedding.
The expansive barn accommodates up to 200 guests, making it suitable for both grand celebrations and intimate gatherings. Its serene location near the Suffolk border ensures easy access for guests traveling from Essex, Suffolk, or Cambridgeshire.
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The Essex Barn at The White Hart
Essex 15th Century barn wedding venueColchester Weddings
Say 'I Do' in the Colchester Castle Chapel – a favourite place for couples to get married. The chapel's beautiful white ceilings create a romantic and calm atmosphere, while colourful light streams in through stained glass windows.
Whether you're planning an intimate ceremony or a bigger celebration, the space can comfortably accommodate up to 80 guests for both the vows and the meal. And don't forget the magical opportunity to exchange vows on the castle rooftop for that added 'wow' factor. It's the ideal setting to embark on your journey together.
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Colchester Weddings - Historic Venues
Make your Essex wedding dreams a reality at Colchester Weddings - historic venue, stunning settings & unforgettable memoriesThat Amazing Place
Surrounded by beautiful grounds, That Amazing Place offers a romantic setting for your wedding day. Dating back to the 15th-century, this historical Grade II listed manor house has been beautifully renovated with a stylish, contemporary interior. You can say your vows in your choice of reception rooms or under an outdoor gazebo by the lake.
Exclusive use of That Amazing Place means as well as the manor house, you have the option of having the Wedding Cottage and 13 deluxe bedrooms all to yourself. This total exclusivity gives you the flexibility to tailor your dream wedding day to perfection. That Amazing Place offers a wonderful location for the perfect Essex wedding.
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That Amazing Place Wedding Venue
Escape to "That Amazing Place", a captivating manor house nestled in Essex, for a wedding day that dreams are made of.The Waltham Barns at Little Channels
The Waltham Barns at Little Channels is a highly sought-after wedding venue in Essex. Steeped in history, the venue is home to a 16th-century barn that has been meticulously restored to feature modern facilities while retaining its rustic charm. This unique blend of old and new provides a captivating backdrop for your special day.
The venue can comfortably accommodate up to 150 guests and offers a variety of services to ensure a seamless and stress-free wedding celebration. From in-house catering and bar service to overnight accommodations, The Waltham Barns takes care of every detail, allowing you to relax and enjoy your wedding day.
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The Waltham Barns at Little Channels
The perfect barn wedding in a stunning intimate venue nestled in the heart of Essex.The Rose Barn
Set within the breathtaking grounds of The Warren Estate, The Rose Barn is considered one of the finest barn wedding venues in Essex. The main wedding barn offers a lovely ambience for your wedding breakfast, with a vaulted ceiling and glorious French doors enhancing the wonderful sense of light and space. The grand oak staircase, with a galleried landing and elegant lighting, is perfect for your entrance on your special day!
For summer weddings, The Oak Pavilion is surrounded by manicured lawns with stunning borders. A lovely limestone path forms the aisle between rustic oak benches, where your guests will be awaiting your arrival. The team also offers a wealth of experience. Your very own wedding manager will take care of every detail for you, so you can relax and enjoy your day. So, The Rose Barn is a unique country retreat, perfect for a rustic Essex wedding.
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The Rose Barn at The Warren Estate Wedding Venue
A beautiful 18th Century Barn Wedding Venue in Maldon with Countryside SurroundingsChannels
Situated alongside a 4 star, 26 bedroom hotel, Channels has a gorgeous, thatched barn wedding venue as well as a unique ceremony garden. The restored, 17th-century Essex Barn is a picturesque ceremony location, full of charm and historic character. Outside, in the stunning ceremony garden overlooking the glorious Essex countryside, you can tie the knot under the stunning pavilion while your loved ones look on from the antique wooden pews.
A beautiful extension to The Essex Barn is the outside wedding garden, a fantastic space to serve canapés and reception drinks. Secluded and surrounded by stunning countryside views, the wedding garden is a great space for live music, children's games and photo opportunities. Wedding photographs can also be taken in Channels' tranquil surroundings, with its extensive grounds, fountain, lily pond and avenue of mature trees. With 45 years of experience, the team at Channels will provide you with the very best cuisine and service, adding the wow factor to your Essex wedding.
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Channels Wedding Venue
Create your dream wedding at Channels, an award-winning 17th Century Barn Wedding Venue with stunning surroundingsLondon Chigwell Prince Regent Hotel
The London Chigwell Prince Regent Hotel in Woodford Green is a popular wedding venue in Essex due to the variety of wedding packages it offers and its ability to accommodate larger guest lists of up to 300 people. The hotel is the ideal location to host a large guest list and has a beautifully flexible space. It also has 62 bedrooms for guests to stay in, making it a convenient option for those guests travelling from overseas or outside of Essex.
Additionally, the hotel has received plenty of positive reviews from couples who have held their weddings there. Previous couples have praised the venue's staff, food, and overall atmosphere. The hotel's convenient location and easy accessibility are also major selling points for those wanting somewhere luxurious and convenient to host their wedding in Essex.
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London Chigwell Prince Regent Hotel
Discover the Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell, a stunning historic wedding venue, surrounded by landscaped gardens.Holiday Inn Colchester
Holiday Inn Colchester is a solid pick if you want a wedding venue that feels flexible and welcoming without fuss. Set on the peaceful edge of historic Colchester, it combines contemporary hotel comfort with event spaces that work well for a range of celebrations, from intimate weddings to larger gatherings of up to around 150 guests.
The Priory Helena Suite gives you plenty of natural light and air-conditioning, with options for a private bar and dance floor, while smaller suites like the Castle Abbeygate offer a cosy vibe for more intimate moments. The venue is licensed for civil ceremonies, so you can host the ceremony and reception all in one place, with gardens nearby for photos that feel less staged and more natural.
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Holiday Inn Colchester
A versatile and welcoming choice for a wedding venue situated on the edge of historic Colchester, EssexColville Hall
Rich in history and romance, Colville Hall is a charming venue featuring listed thatched barns set around a central manor house. Despite being a working farm, it exudes a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The 10 acres of formal gardens, complete with ponds, gazebos, ancient monuments, and a stunning Grade I listed archway, provide a breathtaking backdrop for unforgettable wedding photographs.
We offer two beautiful barns for your special day: one perfect for your wedding ceremony and the other ideal for hosting your reception, both set amidst tranquil and picturesque surroundings. There is also a fully licensed thatched duck pond gazebo, perfect for a charming and unique outdoor wedding.
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Colville Hall Wedding Barn
Discover your dream wedding at our exclusive, Grade I listed barn venue in the heart of Essex.The Lawn
Situated on over 100 acres of rolling parkland and woodland, The Lawn offers a variety of unique spaces for your special day. The Grand Hall, with its sweeping staircase, provides a breathtaking entrance and an unforgettable setting for your occasion. The elegant Orangery is a light-filled space featuring stunning garden views, perfectly complementing the grandeur of the Georgian main house. Outside, the terrace, overlooking the beautiful gardens and fountain, creates a picturesque backdrop for receptions and evening drinks.
For an outdoor ceremony, the wedding gazebo is nestled away in the gardens and boasts unspoiled views across the romantic Rose Garden. So, for a wedding of up to 150 guests, The Lawn is the perfect setting for a romantic English country wedding.
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The Lawn, Rochford Weddings
An enchanting manor house wedding venue in Essex, available for your wedding day, exclusivelyHow to choose a wedding venue in Essex
When choosing a wedding venue in Essex, it helps to start with the basics and build from there. Consider your guest numbers, budget and how far people will need to travel, as these factors will quickly narrow down your options. Essex offers a wide mix of venues, from country estates to hotels and barn spaces, so having a clear idea of what suits your plans will make the search feel more manageable.
Would you like to explore more venues in this area? Check out our page dedicated to helping you find top wedding venues in Essex.