Essex is one of England's most diverse wedding counties, offering everything from rolling countryside and historic market towns to stunning coastline and vibrant cities. For London-based couples, Essex provides the perfect escape – countryside venues just 30-45 minutes from the capital with excellent train and road links.
What makes Essex special:
Popular venue types in Essex:
Essex's size and variety can feel overwhelming. Start by choosing your preferred area: North Essex (Saffron Walden, Braintree, Colchester) for countryside and history; Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Maldon, Brentwood) for central accessibility; South/Coastal Essex (Southend, Rochford, Mersea) for seaside charm; West Essex (Epping, Chigwell) for closest London access.
Before booking viewings, decide your top priorities: Guest count capacity? Budget range? Exclusive use? Accommodation on-site? Specific style (barn, estate, coastal, hotel)? Distance from London?
A practical approach is to shortlist 10-15 venues across different areas and styles, message them all for availability and detailed pricing, then book viewings for your top 5-6.
Questions to ask at viewings:
Getting to Essex:
By train: Liverpool Street serves Chelmsford (35 mins), Colchester (50 mins), Southend (55 mins), Saffron Walden via Audley End (55 mins)
Essex wedding venues offer excellent value compared to neighboring counties, with diverse pricing to suit all budgets. Here's what to expect:
Premium Country Estates (£10,000-£25,000+)Historic manor houses and exclusive-use estates across Essex offer luxury celebrations. Venues like Gosfield Hall, Blake Hall, and Parklands offer grand architecture, extensive grounds, and complete exclusivity. Weekend packages typically £12,000-£25,000 including venue hire, catering, drinks, and coordination for 100-150 guests. Book 15-18 months ahead for peak dates.
Rustic Barn Venues (£3,000-£10,000)Essex's specialty and best value. Converted barns across North and Mid Essex (Braintree, Saffron Walden, Maldon areas) offer exclusive use, countryside settings, and flexible styling. Venue hire £2,000-£5,000 for Friday/Saturday. With approved caterers, bar, and styling: total £6,000-£12,000 for 80-120 guests. Outstanding value for creative couples.
Mid-Range Hotels (£5,000-£12,000)Contemporary hotels in Chelmsford, Colchester, Brentwood, and Southend offer all-inclusive packages. Typically £60-85/head including ceremony space, reception, three-course meal, toast drinks, evening buffet, basic coordination. For 80-100 guests: £6,000-£10,000. Friday/Sunday 25-35% cheaper.
Coastal Venues (£4,000-£12,000)Waterfront hotels, yacht clubs, and beach venues along Essex coast (Southend, Mersea Island, Maldon, Burnham-on-Crouch). Packages typically £50-80/head. Beautiful for summer weddings with water views. Total £5,000-£11,000 for 80-120 guests.
Golf Club Venues (£4,000-£9,000)Parkland golf clubs throughout Essex offer excellent value. Packages typically £45-70/head including venue, food, bar. Beautiful grounds, ample parking, relaxed atmosphere. Total £5,000-£9,000 for 80-120 guests.
Budget-Friendly Options (£1,000-£4,000)Village halls, community centres, historic pubs with function rooms. Venue hire often under £1,500. Bring your own suppliers for maximum budget control. Essex has strong independent supplier community keeping costs reasonable.
For 80-120 guests, budget £7,000-£12,000 for excellent Essex experiences. This gets you beautiful barn or country house venues, quality catering, good drinks packages, and professional coordination. Essex delivers 20-30% better value than Kent, Hertfordshire, or Suffolk for comparable venues.
Outstanding value: North Essex (Saffron Walden, Braintree, Halstead) – stunning countryside barns, 20-30% cheaper than south
Good value: Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Maldon, Witham) – central location, balanced pricing
Essex shines in summer with countryside at its greenest and coastal venues at their best. Average temperatures 16-24°C make outdoor ceremonies and waterfront receptions perfect. However, expect premium pricing (20-40% more) and book 12-18 months ahead for popular venues, especially coastal locations.
Pros: Reliable weather, coastal venues stunning, countryside lush, long daylight (until 9:30pm June), outdoor ceremony options, warm evening celebrations, beach/garden photos
Cons: Highest prices, fierce competition for dates, hot days uncomfortable in barns without AC, coastal areas busy with tourists, accommodation premium rates
Best for: Coastal weddings, outdoor ceremonies, barn weddings with garden space, venues with water views
Shoulder season (April, October)Essex's best value months. April brings spring blossoms to countryside venues and Dedham Vale, while October offers stunning autumn colors and harvest atmosphere. Temperatures 11-16°C comfortable, save 20-30% vs peak summer, better availability.
Pros: Significant savings, excellent availability, beautiful seasonal scenery, comfortable temperatures, fewer tourists, harvest season charm (October)
Cons: More weather variability (strong backup plans essential), shorter daylight October (sunset ~6pm), coastal venues cooler, spring rain possible
Best for: Barn weddings, country estates, golf clubs, flexible couples prioritizing value
Winter season (November-March)Winter weddings in Essex barns and country estates have grown hugely popular. Fairy lights, log fires, cozy blankets create magical atmosphere. Temperatures 3-9°C require indoor/heated focus but deliver maximum savings – up to 50% off peak rates. Coastal venues often closed or limited November-February.
Pros: Maximum savings (40-50% off), excellent availability, cozy romantic atmosphere, festoon lights shine in darkness, Christmas decorations (November-January), intimate celebrations
Cons: Limited outdoor time, early sunset (4pm December), coastal venues often closed, weather can disrupt travel, heating essential (check what's included)
Best for: Barn weddings with heating, country house hotels, intimate celebrations, budget-conscious couples
March-April: Spring emerging, daffodils in Dedham Vale, countryside awakening, unpredictable but often lovely, 25-30% cheaper
May-June: Peak season begins, most reliable weather, countryside green, coastal venues opening, book 12-18 months ahead for Southend/Mersea coast
July-August: Warmest and busiest, premium pricing everywhere, perfect for beach/coastal weddings, longest daylight, Essex shows stunning
September-October: Autumn harvest vibes, beautiful colors in North Essex, excellent value, comfortable temps, very popular for barns
November-December: Winter barn magic, festive atmosphere, best prices, cozy celebrations, coastal venues mostly closed
January-February: Quietest season, deepest discounts (50% off at some venues), crisp winter photography, intimate vibes
North Essex (Saffron Walden, Braintree):
Coastal Essex (Southend, Mersea, Maldon):
Mid Essex (Chelmsford, Brentwood):
Unlike more northern counties, Essex's milder climate (southeast location) means outdoor elements viable April-October. Coastal venues benefit from sea breezes in summer. Winter barn weddings have become Essex specialty – cozy, atmospheric, excellent value.
Essex has excellent rail connections throughout the county:
Liverpool Street (main Essex hub):
From other London stations:
Trains run frequently throughout the day and evening. Last trains to London typically 11pm-midnight weekdays, later weekends. For celebrations running past 10pm, many London guests prefer to stay overnight.
Note: Many countryside venues are 10-20 minutes by taxi from nearest station. Factor in local transport.
By carEssex is well-connected by major routes:
From Central London: 45-75 minutes depending on destination
From airports: Stansted (15-40 mins to North Essex), City (30 mins to West Essex), Heathrow (60-90 mins via M25)
Most wedding venues have ample free parking. Countryside barn and estate venues particularly well-suited for driving guests.
Local transportBrentwood: Marygreen Manor, Holiday Inn, Premier Inn
Epping: Bell Hotel, small B&Bs
Romford: Multiple chain hotels, good budget options
Mid Essex (central county):Chelmsford (county town): County Hotel, Lion Inn, Pontlands Park, Channels Estate, Premier Inn, Holiday Inn – strongest accommodation in Essex
Braintree: White Hart, Premier Inn
Maldon: Blue Boar, The Bell, characterful waterside B&Bs
North Essex:Colchester (historic city): Wivenhoe House, Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Holiday Inn, Premier Inn, Rose & Crown
Saffron Walden: Saffron Hotel, Rose & Crown, characterful market town B&Bs
Dedham Vale/Constable Country: Milsoms, Maison Talbooth (luxury)
Coastal Essex:Southend-on-Sea: Roslin Beach Hotel, Park Inn, Premier Inn, seafront B&Bs
West Mersea: Victory at Mersea, Coast Inn, seasonal B&Bs
Burnham-on-Crouch: Ye Olde White Harte, waterfront cottages
Accommodation tips by area:For barn venue weddings:
For coastal weddings:
Budget-conscious guests:
Luxury seekers:
For London guests:
For countryside venues:
Making it easy:
Beyond weddings, guests enjoy exploring historic Colchester (Britain's oldest recorded town), Dedham Vale (Constable Country), Southend pier and seafront, Saffron Walden medieval town, Maldon historic waterfront, Mersea Island oysters, excellent gastropubs throughout county, and easy London day trips. Many couples extend celebrations with post-wedding pub lunches taking advantage of Essex's food scene.
Barn weddings in Essex are a great choice if you are looking for a relaxed and more intimate wedding day. Barn venues can often be found nestled deep in the countryside and have been lovingly restored by their owners and turned into stunning venues, often with some original features left behind that make for great photo opportunities.
Weddings like these are always fun to attend as they tend to be located just outside the city centres, so can be used as an excuse for guests to get away from it all and spend a weekend away in a nearby hotel after the wedding itself. Oftentimes, holding your wedding reception at a converted barn means you will need to hire additional catering and decor suppliers so be sure to factor this into the overall cost.
Essex is a beautiful county in the southeast of England, with a rich history and stunning landscapes. It is a popular choice for couples looking to tie the knot, thanks to its diverse range of wedding venues. Whether you're looking for a grand castle, a picturesque country house, or a chic city hotel, you'll find it in Essex.
Castle Weddings Essex is home to several stunning castles that make for romantic and unique wedding venues. Hadleigh Castle, for example, is a historic landmark that dates back to the 13th century. The castle's atmospheric ruins provide a dramatic backdrop for your ceremony and photographs. Leez Priory, on the other hand, is a beautifully preserved Tudor manor house with sprawling grounds and a romantic chapel.
Country House Weddings Essex also offers a range of elegant country houses that are perfect for a traditional English wedding. Gaynes Park is a popular choice, with its beautiful gardens, picturesque courtyard, and elegant reception rooms. Friern Manor is another beautiful country house with a lovely setting, surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque countryside.
Hotel Weddings If you prefer a more modern setting, there are several hotels in Essex that offer wedding packages. The Hyatt Regency in Chelmsford, for example, is a stylish and contemporary hotel with a range of event spaces for your ceremony and reception. The Great Hallingbury Manor Hotel, on the other hand, is a stunning Tudor manor house with a modern twist, offering beautiful gardens and a chic ballroom for your big day.
Other Venues Essex is also home to a range of other unique and quirky wedding venues. The Sailing Club in West Mersea, for example, offers a picturesque setting on the banks of the Blackwater Estuary, with stunning views of the water. The Orsett Hall is another popular choice, with its beautiful Victorian architecture and elegant reception rooms.
No matter what your style or budget, you'll find a wedding venue in Essex that will suit your needs. From grand castles to elegant country houses, there's something for everyone in this beautiful part of England.
Essex plays host to a phenomenal amount of wedding venues, from intimate barn locations to lavish country homes. No matter the number of guests you envision at your wedding, you will be able to find a space that fits the bill and makes for a spectacular day. Getting married in Essex means you will be able to take your pick from a plethora of historic venues through to chic and modern hotels around the city centres.
The most popular Essex wedding venues are vast stately homes and sprawling country lodges such as Gosford Hall and Boreham House, but if you are looking for something a little more intimate and down to earth then venues like The Barn and Leez Priory are most definitely worth checking out. You can also find some really unusual wedding venue options if you are happy to use your imagination and delve a little deeper into what is hidden within the counties boundaries.
Wedding planning can be stressful to say the least, which is why you will want to make your experience as simple and as easy as possible. Essex is home to a number of tried and trusted wedding planners who will make it easy for your day to run seamlessly, however, hiring a wedding planner can come up pretty pricey. If you find this is out of your budget then the next best option for making planning your wedding easy is to find a venue that allows you to have your ceremony and reception at the same place, this cuts down on time spent co-ordinating between the two venues and also cuts costs such as transport for you and your guests.
Often times you will be able to get a package price per head that includes all the wedding must-haves and cuts out the difficult coordination process between suppliers and venues. To make it even simpler, choose a venue that has onsite accommodation so you and your guests can stay onsite and even enjoy breakfast as newlyweds the next day!
Essex is home to some incredible wedding venues offering top-notch service and stunning design which is why choosing to get married in this picturesque county was an easy choice for celebs such as Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon, and the likes of Mrs Hinch and Micheal Crawshaw to name a few.
When it comes to choosing the right location for your celeb-inspired wedding, be sure to take time to visit each of your venues so you can speak with the venue’s wedding planners and get a feel for how they can accommodate you on your special day. Holding your wedding at an exclusive venue means you will be treated to excellent service so you can relax and enjoy your big day stress-free. Check venues like Boreham House and Gosford Hall to get an idea of the packages available to you and your guests.
