Why Choose a Country House Wedding Venue?

Inspiration - 22.08.18

The English country house is one of the most popular wedding venue styles in the UK. It’s the stuff of fairy tales and the setting for countless romantic novels and period dramas.

For just one day, couples can revel in the grandeur of a property from the past, complete with manicured grounds and enchanting views at every turn. An opportunity for newlyweds to carve their own little piece of history into the rich tapestry of stories that constitute a beautiful and enthralling country house such as Braxted Park.

If you’re considering choosing a country house wedding venue, here are six reasons we’re confident you’re making the right choice.

1. Timeless romance

Is there anything quite as romantic as the English countryside? Plus, natural surroundings will never go out of style. So when you look back on your wedding photographs in years to come, the countryside will still seem just as beautiful as it did on your wedding day. Guaranteed.

Picture yourself saying “I do” in the great outdoors surrounded by gardens and tended pastures, or perhaps you’ll marry inside with picture-perfect views of the estate. Whichever season you choose, the countryside offers unrivalled beauty and a feeling of romantic intimacy, despite the vastness of your rural surroundings.

At Braxted Park, we’re within easy reach of the towns of Colchester and Chelmsford but with the bonus of feeling as though you could be miles away from everything—a match made in rural heaven.

Braxted Park is a beautiful country house wedding venue in Essex

2. Exclusively yours

Most country house wedding venues offer exclusive use for your wedding day, and here at Braxted Park, we are no exception. On the day of your wedding, it’s all yours. You won’t bump into another bride or feel restricted about which area of the venue ‘belongs’ to you.

The beauty of exclusive use and a countryside setting is that you can choose whether to make the most of the great outdoors or enjoy the beautiful indoor rooms. On a sunny day, you might decide to marry in the walled garden. Alternatively, in cooler months, the Orangery is an idyllic setting for your ceremony, its magnificent windows bringing the beauty of the gardens inside, whatever the weather.

All you need to do is relax and enjoy your venue on your day, your way.

3. Photo opportunities

With picturesque backdrops at every turn, a country house wedding venue is a photographer’s dream, offering innumerable opportunities for both indoor and outdoor photographs.

Take a walk after your wedding ceremony and get lost in the gorgeous gardens. Venture into tucked-away corners for unique photographs that tell your story and show your personality. Make sure you prioritise having photographs of the two of you away from guests, providing a snapshot into how you both really feel at this moment without the pressure of feeling watched. Private, personal and picturesque. That is how country house venues do wedding photographs.

Braxted Park Show Round Day 20th August 2021 - Matt Wing Photo

4. A treat for your guests

A countryside location is most often a hit with guests. Offering a feeling of escape, guests look forward to the calmness and tranquillity of a country house, can park easily and often find reasonably priced accommodation within easy reach of the venue. You’ll probably find that some of your guests decide to make a weekend of it.

At Braxted Park, as well as offering the Garden Cottage to the newlyweds, we can also accommodate your closest friends and family in the converted stable block.

Converted stables create the perfect on site guest accommodation at Braxted Park wedding venue in Essex

5. Imprint your style

Many country houses are decorated beautifully and in a way that simply cannot be readily replicated today. Embracing the unique interiors of a country house can be incredibly exciting if you’re willing to incorporate certain details and colours into your wedding style.

On the contrary, while Braxted Park boasts plenty of stunning spaces, it’s also a relatively blank canvas upon which you can imprint your own style and colour scheme.

Depending on your tastes and preferences, you can find characterful rooms or muted settings that make your day your own.

6. Unique spaces

Most lavish country house wedding venues were designed with ‘entertaining’ in mind. Think grand ballrooms, opulent lounges and impressively ornate staircases and entrance halls.

For your wedding day at Braxted Park, what could be more wonderful than dining in a grand ballroom? Or, if you’re having a larger celebration, the Pavilion is a magnificent dining space set within the walled garden.

A great benefit of having plenty of outside space is that you can imprint almost any style or scheme, safe in the knowledge that it will absolutely work.

The Ballroom at Braxted Park wedding venue is dressed for a wedding reception

How to choose the perfect country house wedding venue

So you’ve decided that a country house wedding venue is right for you. Choosing your wedding venue is one of the first and most important decisions you’ll make when planning your special day. So, of course, it has to be beautiful and function correctly to suit your needs.

How do you seek out that idyllic place, and what do you need to consider when looking around a potential venue?

Here are six key considerations that will help you find your dream country house wedding venue.

1. Size and setting

When searching through wedding venues, the first thing to consider is whether the location works for you and whether the venue has the capacity for the number of guests you’d like to invite. After all, you can’t make a venue bigger or smaller, and you can’t relocate it!

At Braxted Park, we host intimate weddings in our elegant Ballroom and can also accommodate larger celebrations in the magnificent Pavilion.

2. Saying ‘I do’

If you have your heart set on a church wedding or dream of saying your vows in the great outdoors, make sure that the venue can provide the perfect ceremony space.

As one of the most versatile wedding venues in Essex, Braxted Park can host ceremonies in the idyllic walled garden, in the beautiful Orangery or at the altar in the parish church set within our grounds.

3. All about style

Consider whether the style of the venues you’re looking at suits your taste and allows you to impart your style and ideas in a way that will work. After all, this is your wedding day, and you want to feel comfortable and happy with the décor surrounding you.

While Braxted Park boasts stunning architectural features, it is also a relatively blank canvas; its neutral colour scheme lends itself perfectly to being adapted to your style. So whether you want a sleek, contemporary style or something colourful and boho, it’s easily done.

4. A venue for all seasons

Have you considered what your venue will look like at the time of year you’ll be getting married? Is it somewhere that will look just as glorious in the winter months as it does in the height of summer? On the other hand, if the weather is gloomy or it decides to rain, can you celebrate your wedding indoors?

At Braxted Park, we adore a summer wedding, but we also love winter celebrations – our gardens are abundant and stunning throughout the year. And, while it’s lovely to take photographs amongst the hidden delights of the walled garden at Braxted Park, there are equally spectacular photo opportunities inside. Even the interior of the magnificent Georgian house can occasionally be made available for photographs.

5. Seasonal food

Exceptional, seasonal food is a key element of a successful wedding day, so choosing a venue that rates a delicious menu as highly as you do is important. At Braxted Park, we recommend a selection of talented catering companies, giving you the opportunity to choose the perfect caterer to suit your style and create a memorable dining experience.

Serve guests a barbecue for your evening summer wedding food at Braxted Park

6. Accommodation

Is accommodation at a wedding venue important to you? How many of your friends and family would you like to stay on-site, and is there sufficient accommodation nearby for everyone else?

Garden Cottage is the honeymoon cottage at Braxted Park, and for your closest friends and family, our converted stable block offers luxurious, contemporary accommodation. Those guests not staying overnight will find a fabulous selection of accommodation within easy reach.

If you’d like to know a little more about weddings at Braxted Park, or perhaps even discuss availability or arrange a visit, we would love to hear from you. Simply call the friendly team in our wedding office on 01621 770855, and they’ll be happy to help.

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The Newly Renovated Garden Cottage and Guest Accommodation

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Incredible wedding photo opportunities at Braxted Park

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If the beauty of Braxted Park has planted a seed in your heart, then simply fill in your details below, and we will be happy to email you our brochure or arrange your personal visit. Alternatively phone us on 01621 770855 and one of our friendly wedding team can tell you more about how this magnificent venue could become distinctively yours.

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