Barn Wedding Venues in Essex: Our Pick of the Best
Find your dream barn wedding venue in Essex with our round-up of the best rustic spots in the county
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Barn wedding venues are a firm favourite in the venue style stakes, and Essex is an endlessly popular county to tie the knot in.
Bursting with rustic charm, barn wedding venues offer couples a romantic ambiance that other venue styles just cannot compete with. Luckily, you have your pick of beautiful barn wedding venues in Essex.
No matter which part of the county you’re based in, this extensive list is sure to have something which suits.
READ MORE: How to Choose Your Wedding Venue
High House – Althorne
Award-winning High House is a stunning wedding venue set in six acres of landscaped gardens and rolling meadows.
Offering a luxurious yet quaint setting, this barn will be exclusively yours on your wedding day. You can host your ceremony either inside the rustic barn which dates back to 1750, or outside in the grounds under a beautiful thatched gazebo.
The grounds are the highlight of this venue – you and your guests will love to wander around and explore all the hidden corners.
There is an aptly heart-shaped lake, a large pond with a Monet-inspired bridge, weeping willows and pretty country flowers in abundance. What a perfect setting for a summer wedding!
READ MORE: The Prettiest Countryside Wedding Venues
The Essex Barn at The White Hart – Halstead
The Essex Barn is a stunning, rustic structure in the grounds of Halstead’s gorgeous hotel and restaurant, The White Hart.
From the open mezzanine floor which overlooks the main barn to the exposed beams and bridal preparation room, this barn wedding venue has so much to offer.
Foodie couples among you will love that your wedding breakfast will be lovingly cooked and prepared by the team of 2 AA Rosette-awarded chefs, who pride themselves on serving only the finest fresh produce.
Rest assured your wedding breakfast will be one to remember.
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The Coach House at Marks Hall Estate – Colchester
The Coach House is situated within Marks Hall, a 250 acre arboretum in Colchester.
With exposed brick and timber frames, this building was once used to house horse-drawn coaches for the Mansion House, so it is steeped in history!
If you’re looking to get married in the summer, we can’t imagine anything more perfect than hosting a drinks reception in the private garden which boasts blooming flowers in abundance.
The experienced team of wedding coordinators will be on hand to provide an exceptional service and make sure your day is all you’ve ever dreamed of and more. This place is definitely worth a visit!
READ MORE: The Most Stunning Summer Wedding Venues
Colville Hall – White Roding
Sitting pretty in the Essex countryside is this unique group of thatched barns that are rich in charm and luxury.
You’ll start your Colville Hall wedding day in the Orchard Barn – a stunning structure which would be perfect for your ceremony and reception drinks.
You’ll then head across the courtyard to the Mill Pond Bar – a gorgeous wedding breakfast barn with 30 foot doors and views of the duck pond, suitable for up to 200 guests.
We love that the two spaces are separate, since it saves on time rearranging chairs and tables!
In addition to these two lovely spaces, there is the Old Dairy – a lovingly converted spot complete with 7-foot mirror that is the perfect place for the bride and her bridal party to stay the night before the wedding. How luxurious!
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Blake Hall – Ongar
If you’re dreaming of saying ‘I do’ in a traditional, fairy-lit barn complete with stunning grounds and options for personalisation aplenty, look no further than Blake Hall.
This barn wedding venue is located in Ongar and offers everything you could ever need for your Essex wedding day.
The main Essex Barn will seat up to 150 people for your wedding breakfast and up to 200 for your evening reception.
The gardens provide countless opportunities for gorgeous photographs, and the nearby Old Coach House sleeps 6 and will be available the night before the wedding.
Once the celebrations are over, the newly-married couple can spend the night in the Stable Cottage – a newly-converted stable block with en suite and private terrace.
READ MORE: The Most Beautiful Bridal Suites in the UK
The Barn – Colchester
We love The Barn in Colchester, a stunning countryside venue which boasts flawless service, delicious food and perfect backdrops for your wedding photographs.
It can accommodate 130 guests for a seated ceremony or wedding breakfast, then a further 50 for your evening reception.
The gorgeous landscaped gardens would be the perfect spot for a drinks reception in the summer, and there is always the option of using the grand marquee for larger celebrations.
READ MORE: The Best Large Capacity Wedding Venues
Maidens Barn – Chelmsford
Just how pretty is Maidens Barn in Chelmsford! This venue offers the perfect mix of country charm and luxurious, modern features.
The space is simple and sophisticated, making it the perfect blank canvas to accommodate your dream wedding.
The vaulted wedding barn is a stunning space with oak beams and large bright windows, and it can hold up to 200 guests for your ceremony.
If you’re looking for an outdoor wedding venue, Maidens Barn could still work perfectly, since you have the choice of getting married outside under the romantic flowering arbour.
This venue only hosts one wedding a day, so you’ll have exclusive use of the space and the dedicated wedding team will focus solely on you.
Richwill Farm – Manningtree
This 19th century barn has been beautifully renovated, earning itself a reputation as one of the finest barn wedding venues in Essex.
Richwill Farm’s character and charm remains, and the rustic, rural location makes it the perfect farm wedding venue for couples planning their big day in the countryside!
When it comes to your wedding feast, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the delicious options on offer at Richwill.
Choose between a more formal wedding breakfast of delectable canapés and three bespoke courses, or a more casual barbeque outside. And how cute is this donut wall! The possibilities are endless.
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Crondon Park – Stock
Crondon Park is one of the finest barn wedding venues in Essex – and for good reason.
Ideally located within peaceful countryside surroundings, this wedding venue is gorgeous. The main function room – the Baronial Hall – is a fine example of Tudor/Jacobean architecture.
It will be exclusively yours for your wedding day. It has its own ceremony room, bridal preparation suites, bar and glorious enclosed gardens. What more could you need?!
The team here have a wealth of experience in planning weddings, so you can be certain your day will be in good hands.
READ MORE: The Best Barn Wedding Venues in the UK
Bury Lodge – Stansted
Bury Lodge is a converted barn bursting with rustic charm, perfect if you’re planning a rustic or vintage themed wedding!
The barn can accommodate up to 280 guests, meaning that you can be surrounded by every last one of your loved ones.
Once you’ve stopped celebrating, Bury Lodge boasts 19 luxurious, boutique bedrooms for you and your guests to spend the night.
There is also a mesmerising bridal suite – a two-storey mezzanine building overlooking the landscaped gardens. What a perfect place to spend your first night as newlyweds!
READ MORE: The Best Wedding Venues with Accommodation
Smeetham Hall – Sudbury
Located in the picturesque Belchamp countryside, Smeetham Hall Barn dates back to the 16th century and has been transformed into one of the top wedding venues in Essex.
You’ll find the barn nestled within breathtaking gardens, on the edge of a willow-bordered lake. We couldn’t dream up a more perfect backdrop for your photographs if we tried!
Not only is there the option to pay for venue-only hire and choose your own caterer, there is no corkage costs if you provide your own alcohol and soft drinks for the day!
While the venue boasts a stunning countryside location, there are excellent transport links from London, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Kent, for all of your guests travelling from slightly further afield.
Houchins – Colchester
Houchins is a rustic farmhouse property which exudes elegance and charm to provide the perfect setting for your wedding day.
It opened in 2014, when the venue’s barns were designed so that your celebrations would flow seamlessly from “I do” to the last dance of the evening.
The Foundry is fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies with between 12 and 120 guests. You can then host reception drinks in the adjoining Chitting Shed – it has large glass doors which open out onto the beautiful terrace and gardens!
The Grainstore is the perfect barn for your wedding breakfast. It seats 150 guests and has high ceilings and a mezzanine gallery for additional space.
READ MORE: The Most Beautiful Rustic Wedding Venues
Gaynes Park – Epping
Gaynes Park is an elegant and stylish reception venue set in a historic private estate.
To reach the venue, you’ll make your way up a long entrance drive through park and farmland, and despite being in the middle of the countryside, you’ll still be able to enjoy sweeping views over the London skyline.
The listed Mill Barn is an impressive building filled with natural light.
It seats 150 for dining and 200 for your evening reception, and has floor-to-ceiling windows, a licensed bar and a dance floor. Your guests are sure to be be wowed by the space!
The Warren Estate – Maldon
We love the Warren Estate – it is home to the Rose Barn, a simply stunning space offering a mix of contemporary styling and traditional character.
It is set in 320 acres of rolling countryside and will be offered on an exclusive basis. If you host your wedding here, you’ll be able to enjoy The Piano Bar, Limestone Terrace, private gardens and a state-of-the-art dancefloor.
If you’re hoping to say your vows outside, the Oak Pavilion is perfect. It offers a rustic setting with oak benches and a limestone walkway adorned with lanterns.
Alternatively, those dreaming of a church ceremony can say “I do” at the beautiful Elizabethan Church of St. Michaels. It is just a two minute drive away.
Channels – Little Waltham
The beautifully restored Essex Barn in the Channels Estate is an idyllic wedding venue for your special day.
With authentic 300-year-old beams, high ceilings and period chandeliers, your guests will be in awe as they watch you say ‘I do’ in the most charming of surroundings.
If you’d like to put a contemporary twist on the traditional wedding ceremony, you can say ‘I do’ outside under the pavilion, while your guests watch on from antique wooden pews.
What’s more, there is a newly-refurbished outside garden space which is a fabulous spot to serve canapés and reception drinks. It’d also be a great spot for a live band to perform from!
READ MORE: 25 Questions to Ask Your Live Wedding Band or DJ
Looking for something slightly different? Check out our full list of our favourite wedding venues in Essex. From cliff-side hotels to converted Parish rooms, there really is something for everyone!
