An Essex Wedding - Page number 23 - November/December 2021 (Issue 101)

HOUCHINS WEDDING VENUE 01376 561 448 | www.houchins.co.uk A truly unique venue, Houchins is a lovingly restored barn set within its own peaceful, landscaped grounds boasting a gentle formality with romantic planting including roses, lavender, verbena, tulips and much more. There are a myriad of beautiful spots and hidden corners in which photographs can be taken, and the main wedding garden is where the marquee is situated and where the majority of weddings take place. Designed in a unique modern style, the zinc and cedar shingle barn nestles in the wedding garden with huge folding glass double doors opening onto an expansive west facing terrace. It’s the perfect setting for reception drinks set in the landscaped gardens. There are three interconnecting barns which allow the wedding to flow from reception drinks to wedding breakfast, then dance the night away in the aptly named Dance Barn! For the all important ‘I dos’, the Foundry seats up to 130, The Grainstore 150 and for more intimate weddings the wood-panelled drawing room in the house seats 30. Outside, the marquee and loggia provides seating for up to 150 guests, while the rustic unlicensed Woodland Wedding area can also seat 150 friends and family. Post-vows, The Grainstore is the perfect setting for the wedding breakfast seating up to 150 and adjoins the bar area and the dance barn; it features a 35ft high ceiling, open fireplace and mezzanine gallery. COLCHESTER TOWN HALL 01206 506 905 | https://colchester-weddings.co.uk The Town Hall is a jewel in Colchester’s crown and the most romantic and historic of wedding venues. From its prominent town centre location, this magnificent Baroque structure with its Victorian tower and statue of St Helena (Colchester’s patron saint), dominates the town. Bursting with Edwardian glamour and rich heritage, The Town Hall’s outstanding function rooms are all fully licensed for ceremonies and receptions. Beautifully decorated with ornate and original features such as stained-glass windows, oil paintings and murals, the spaces are still used for their original purpose today including Mayoral and Civic events. New for 2021 is the Old Library, designed in classic Jacobean style with its white, lime-washed walls, high ceilings, curved timber gables and mullioned windows, it’s an elegant space that is flooded with natural light by day and by night transforms into a glamorous location with sparkling chandeliers, stained-glass windows and opulent marble bar. Perfectly placed to accommodate weddings of all sizes and budgets, The Council Chamber (70 guests) is ideal for ceremonies with its impressive windows and wooden pew-style seating giving a church-like feel; the Moot Hall boasts the biggest space (300 ceremony guests and 200 reception guests) and is blessed with high ornate ceilings and abundant natural light pouring through stained-glass windows. The Mayoral Suite offers a more intimate setting (100 ceremony guests and 70 reception guests) whilst the Old Library can accommodate 20 to 120 guests. When tying the knot here, the Mayor’s Parlour with its beautiful iron balcony offers couples the perfect ‘royal’ photo opportunity looking down over the town below. A wide choice of catering is provided and the Colchester Weddings team is always pleased to offer menu tastings. Town Hall guests will benefit from on-site town centre parking for up to 50 vehicles. https://ang elswithdirtyfacesphotography.com https://ang elswithdirtyfacesphotography.com LOCAL VENUES 23