The 10 Best Wedding Venues in the East of England

The East of England has a lot to boast about, from Cambridge University and the Norfolk Broads to royal estates and a vast network of lakes and rivers. With so much on offer here it’s easy to forget that it’s also a pretty fantastic place to get hitched. 

Made up of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Sussex, the East of England landscape is a patchwork of historic cities, rugged coastline and rolling countryside hills. All this variety means that there’s something for everyone here if you search hard enough. 

Luckily for you, we’ve done the searching already and narrowed it down to the top 10 wedding venues in the East of England region. All of the wedding venues on this list are unique but one thing they all have in common is live band facilities. So whichever one you fall in love with, you can rest assured that your favourite party band will be welcome!

When it comes to weddings, the team at Houchins really know what they’re talking about. This award-winning Essex venue has thought of everything, from decorative details to picture perfect photography backdrops and rooms designed for each part of your big day. 

You’ll start your wedding morning at Houchins in the stylishly appointed dressing room where full length mirrors, makeup mirrors, natural light and glasses for fizz will make getting ready a highlight. Once dressed to impress, you can make way your way to one of four stunning ceremony locations. The marquee on the wedding lawn is a breathtaking place to say ‘I do’ and stands out as the jewel in Houchins’ crown. 

After your vows you can head to the Grain Store where industrial chic meets wedding romance with corrugated metal walls adorned with fairy lights. Fill the space with florals to bring the outdoors in and choose between round or long tables to seat up to 150 guests. Finally, avoid awkward breaks in the day as you head straight to the Foundry Dance Barn which will be set up and ready to go straight after your wedding breakfast.  

Built in 1893 this Essex country house exudes period charm and splendour. Recently restored to its Victorian glory days, Baddow Park House is the perfect place to celebrate your nuptials in seclusion and luxury. 

You can marry here in one of four stunning ceremony locations. For smaller ceremonies, the Oak Room with its open fire and views out to the sweeping driveway is the ideal spot. Larger weddings can be hosted in the light-filled drawing room which boasts views out to the parklands and ornamental gardens. Alternatively, you can say ‘I do’ in the spectacular orangery or outdoors under the custom-built pavilion. 

The Orangery awaits you and your guests for the wedding breakfast and evening celebrations where bi-fold doors open onto the terrace and vineyard views can be appreciated with a glass of champagne in hand. After dinner and dancing, you can retire to the on-site bridal suite as guests find their way to the luxury bedrooms. 

Calling all history lovers! This 16th century Tudor Hall will be right up your street. Hockwold Hall sits at the end of a tree-lined driveway, surrounded by 50 acres of manicured lawns and a charming orchard. 

At Hockwold, you can marry in the cosy ceremony room, the banquet hall with its wooden beams and vaulted ceiling, or in the charming outdoor wedding gazebo. Post-ceremony drinks can be enjoyed in the stunning gardens before guests are invited into the wedding marquee. The marquee can accommodate up to 250 guests and is the perfect blank canvas for couples wishing to put their own unique stamp on the venue. When you’re ready to dance, the dance floor will be revealed from behind a curtain giving guests a welcome surprise! 

If you’re not quite ready to end the party after your evening reception, Hockwold Hall has one more surprise in store. The Cellar Bar can be stocked with your favourite drinks and the Bluetooth sound system connected to your own device, where celebrations can continue when the DJ has finished their final set upstairs. 

Set within picturesque countryside on the Suffolk coast, Woodhall Manor is an Elizabethan manor house with 21st century wedding facilities. 

Licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to where to exchange your vows at Woodhall Manor. Our personal favourite spot is The Dovecote, a charming space within the walled garden with trailing plants and hedges, creating a magical backdrop. 

The Ballroom offers the perfect place to enjoy a sumptuous wedding breakfast and drinks. This beautifully appointed space opens out onto the terrace and rose gardens where bubbles can be enjoyed as guests mingle. 

When it comes to your evening celebration, you can head to the incredible Garden Lounge. Blending the elegance of a bygone era with contemporary design and lighting, guests will feel they’ve been transported to an exclusive night club. A dedicated DJ booth awaits your chosen wedding DJ and the bar is manned with expert mixologists ready to create personalised cocktails. 

Seamlessly blending period features with contemporary styling, Swynford Manor offers couples the best of old and new. Situated just 15 minutes from the historic city of Cambridge, this country manor is easily accessible for guests travelling from afar. 

Step through the front door and onto the chequerboard floor beneath the sparkling chandelier in the grand hallway before heading into the glass-roofed Garden Room (or the elegant, monochrome study) for an unforgettable ceremony. 

Back in the grand hallway guests will ascend the staircase and ready themselves for the all-important confetti toss as you and your new spouse walk in hand in hand. The contemporary luxe décor will ensure your confetti moment looks stunning on camera. 

Evening celebrations take place back in the Garden Room, with the cosy drawing room on stand-by for quiet moments and guest book signing. As the night grows dark, the Garden Room will be lit up with mood lighting and candles as your DJ or wedding band crank up for the volume for an unforgettable party. 

Once a working farm, Easton Grange has retained its pastoral charm while offering couples the chance to marry in a countryside idyll. Your day here will start in the dressing suite where a rainfall shower, salon-style chairs and a luxurious powder room offer everything you need to prepare for the most important day of your life. 

Just steps away from the dressing suite is the Ceremony Barn where vaulted ceilings, exposed oak beams and neutral décor provides the perfect backdrop for elegant ceremonies. Dress the space with draped fabric or florals or simply let the space itself do the talking with just a simple scattering of petals. 

Raise a glass in the Piano Bar post-ceremony and step outside onto the courtyard to take in the fresh country air. Lawn games can be played during the warmer months, leaving guests with plenty to do. Head back indoors for food and dancing the night away under the festoon lights. 

You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped straight onto the set of a period drama as soon as you reach the end of the drive at Hengrave Hall. This imposing building dates back to the 16th century and is the perfect blend of history and romance. 

Hengrave Hall boasts its own on-site church, St John Lateran, just steps away from the main house. If a religious ceremony isn’t your thing, there are plenty of options within the hall itself or out on the stunning grounds. The grounds also often play host to drinks receptions and canapés, either in the inner courtyard or the sun-kissed West Terrace. 

The Long Gallery is the favourite space for wedding breakfasts among previous Hengrave Hall couples. Wooden panelling and crystal chandeliers offer a sense of occasion as you dine on delicious food prepared by a renowned local caterer. 

Once the cake is cut and the speeches are done, the doors to the banqueting hall will be thrown open ready for guests to enjoy more drinks and dancing on the chequerboard floor. 

The Reid Rooms has something for every couple on offer at their exclusive use venue in the Essex countryside. Here you can say ‘I do’ in one of three licensed ceremony locations: the oak-beamed ceremony room, outside in the Meadow Pavilion or in the Garden Pavilion set within the landscaped garden. 

Alternatively, you can say an informal ‘I do’ at the Willow Trees alongside the River Roding and tie up the legal formalities later. This option ties in perfectly with the festival wedding offering at The Reid Rooms. When you book a festival wedding, you’ll get three-day field hire and the freedom to create the bohemian wedding of your dreams. The Reid Rooms will be more than happy to help as much or as little as you’d like and pass on their tried and trusted festival wedding suppliers list. 

If a more formal affair is what you’re dreaming of, The Reid Rooms can help too. The country barn style Dining Room is perfect for elegant wedding breakfasts after a ceremony in one of their stunning licensed locations. 

Sitting at the centre of a 25,000-acre estate on the Norfolk Coast, Holkham Hall is a Palladian mansion and family home of over 300 years. Holkham has a small number of wedding dates available each year, ensuring each couple is given the team’s undivided attention. 

Holkham boasts one of the most spectacular ceremony spots we’ve ever seen: the Marble Hall. This pillared space with vaulted 50ft domed ceiling needs to be seen to be believed. Alternatively, you can marry in The Temple, a fabulous portico sitting within the grounds, or one of a selection of smaller spaces within the hall. 

When it comes to wedding breakfasts and receptions, Holkham also has some first-rate options. You can choose the bright and airy Lady Elizabeth Wing, a marquee in front of The Temple, in the Walled Garden or at the lakeside. At the end of the night, you and your nearest and dearest can retire to the 20 bedrooms in the on-site hotel or the self-catering lodges scattered across the estate. 

If history and period features are your thing, look no further than The Pilgrims Rest in Battle, East Sussex. Packed with character and charm, this is a unique wedding venue with a special focus on sustainability. 

The 600-year-old Pilgrims Rest is certainly beautiful enough without added adornment, but the team here have a range of seasonal props and décor that are lent to couples without further cost. This means that prop hire and disposable decorative touches are kept to a minimum. Greener choices are encouraged here through the fantastic relationships the team at The Pilgrims Rest have nurtured with local suppliers. From local farmers providing homegrown produce to florists with cutting gardens on the doorstep, there’s no need to look far for fantastic wedding supplies. 

Ceremonies here take place in the Great Hall where guests can sit on benches with either faux fur or bohemian rugs draped over them. The Dining Room can seat up to 50 guests to dine in candlelight, enjoying the warmth of the wood fire. As you dine, the team will transform the great hall into your evening reception space where you can toast your nuptials and dance the night away.