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High House Weddings

Exclusive-use wedding venue High House Weddings in Althorne, Essex, with historic barn and lakeside gardens.

Essex, Chelmsford

from £5,000

200 guests

read 140 reviews

Picture perfect country & waterside location

Dedicated wedding team

Exclusive use wedding venue

Licensed for indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies

Gorgeous new Orangery opened in 2025

Honeymoon suite included in your booking

Business details last verified on 18th of February 2026 by the Guides for Brides team.

Prices & Capacity

Prices

Typical Price: £9,000

Price Range: £5,000 - £13,000

Capacity

Ceremony: 120

Standing: 200

Seated Meal: 140

Accommodation

Sleeps: 27

Contact High House Weddings

About High House Weddings

High House Weddings sits just outside Althorne in the Essex countryside and offers couples exclusive use of its estate for civil ceremonies, receptions and evening celebrations. The venue’s historic 18th-century Grade II-listed barn, with oak beams and brickwork, is licensed for indoor ceremonies. An alternative outdoor choice is the thatched gazebo beside a pond, also covered by the civil licence.

On the wedding day, couples and their party start in a dedicated dressing room with natural light and views over gardens and a pool, creating a base for preparations. After vows, celebrations can centre on the orangery, a contemporary space with panoramic views over formal lawns and vineyards, or on surrounding terrace and lawn areas.

The venue’s exclusive use policy means the entire property, from ceremony spaces to reception areas and grounds, is reserved for each wedding, enabling ceremonies, meals and celebrations to flow without interruption. For accommodation, the venue can host up to 27 guests across a combination of farmhouse bedrooms, courtyard rooms and a separate couples’ retreat nestled in the garden. Landscaped gardens, lakeside views and the vineyard backdrop are available for photography and relaxed moments throughout the day.

The Expert's View

Alison Hargreaves

"High House is one of those venues where you instantly feel at home. It's in the winemaking area of the Crouch Valley, and is surrounded by the Althorne Vineyards in a quiet part of Essex. You enter the venue through an arched garden gate and the gardens open up in front of you; manicured lawns, rose borders, vine-draped walkways and hanging baskets are everywhere, giving an English country garden feel. I loved the pond in front of the ceremony barn with a white arched bridge that forms part of their logo. There are a lot of elements to the venue, but as the wedding coordinator showed me around the natural flow of the wedding day became obvious, from the dressing rooms, to the ceremony barn, gardens, Orangery and finally to the hideaway honeymoon cottage and accommodation. "

Alison Hargreaves

The Details

Type of Ceremony

Civil ceremony licensed

Humanist / Celebrant weddings

Outdoor Ceremonies

Receptions Only

Hindu (Fire ceremony permitted)

Interfaith / Multicultural

Jewish (Stage and Chuppah)

Venue Setting

Countryside

Waterside

Venue Type

Barn

Exclusive use

Land For Hire

Outdoor / Garden

Weekend Hire

Breweries & Vineyards

Dry Hire Available

Suitable for Asian Weddings

Suitable for Jewish Weddings

Eco Wedding Venue

Additional Facilities

Outdoor ceremonies

Honeymoon suite

Orangery Or Marquee

Dance floor

Live music permitted

Discos permitted

Wedding coordinator

Swimming pool

Onsite car parking

Licensed bar

Bespoke weddings

Good Disabled Access

Wedding packages

Bridal Dressing Room

Catering Options

Vegan

BBQ / Hog Roasts

Inhouse Caterers

Contact & Location

High House Weddings

High House Farm, Old Heat Road, Althorne, CM3 6EW, Essex, United Kingdom

FAQs

Yes, High House is exclusively yours for your wedding day. We want our couples to enjoy the privacy of our wedding venue, making their day truly special.

Yes, High House has a civil ceremony licence and can offer beautiful indoor ceremonies in the barn and outdoor ceremonies under the thatched gazebo surrounded by a picturesque landscape.

Absolutely, our thatched gazebo is a stunning setting for outdoor ceremonies, or you can get married by our lake or in the vineyard.

The cost of exclusive hire of High House for your wedding starts at £5,000 for a Monday in Winter to £13,000 for a Saturday in High Summer.

We have in-house catering where we deliver exceptional menus for your wedding guests to enjoy by catering to all dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, and allergy considerations.

The barn and marquee need minimal additional decoration but you are welcome to come in on the morning of your wedding.

Yes - our Couples Retreat is a real hidden gem with it's own private secluded gardens, and is the perfect place to spend your wedding night.

Yes, our luxury grade II listed farmhouse has 10 bedrooms alongside our couples retreat and courtyard rooms, there is enough accommodation for yourselves and 25 wedding guests.

There are plenty of pubs and a hotel for wedding guests in nearby Burnham-on Crouch.

We have a private car park at High House plenty of space for your wedding guests. Vehicles can be left overnight, but we ask that they are collected between 8am-10am the following morning.

We have a lovely preparation suite with loads of natural light, in its own gardens with a swimming pool for great pre-wedding photos.

We have a specially designed "Jack and Jill" room for the registrar to meet you both, with separate doors so there is no chance of you seeing each other before the ceremony!

While we are a full service wedding venue, where there are religious or cultural reasons, our team are happy to discuss dry hire options and prices.

Why Couples Recommend High House Weddings

Couples consistently describe their wedding day at High House as a perfect, fairytale experience, brought to life by an exceptional team and a stunning setting. The staff are universally praised for being incredibly attentive, professional, and friendly, going above and beyond to ensure the entire process, from initial planning to the day itself, is seamless and completely stress-free. Dedicated wedding coordinators are frequently highlighted for their flawless organisation and calming support, making couples feel their vision is in the safest of hands. Guests are consistently impressed by the beautiful and immaculately maintained venue, with the light-filled Orangery, picturesque grounds, and charming barn creating an idyllic backdrop. The convenience of having high-quality on-site accommodation is also noted as a major advantage. Furthermore, the food receives rave reviews for being delicious and top-notch, with a wide variety of choices to suit all dietary needs. Across the board, couples felt the team’s genuine care and meticulous attention to detail created a truly magical and unforgettable day for them and all their guests.

Customer Reviews

140 reviews

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Angela and Stephen

Feb 2026 -

Sophie and Sam

Nov 2025 -

Personal Message

Samantha MacLean

Enquiry and Marketing Director

Creating completely bespoke weddings in a stunning setting is what we strive to achieve here at High House Weddings. As the main point of contact for all couples interested in holding their special day here, I offer either Private Tours of the venue throughout the week or the chance to wander our spaces at your leisure at our monthly Open House events. I would love to meet you to show you all that High House has to offer and discuss your own plans in detail. Can't wait to hear from you!

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