Your East Anglian Wedding - Aug/Sep 2019 (Issue 38)

If you’re looking for a reception venue close to Cambridge city centre, with a cool contemporary style and gardens to boot, Murray Edwards College, ticks all the boxes. Although it’s not licensed for ceremonies, the college is just a five-minute walk from the Shire Hall register office, so you can tie the knot and celebrate here afterwards. The modern architecture makes for a stylish setting, with a variety of rooms and spaces decorated in a range of styles so there’s something to suit everyone. The light and airy rooms can be set up in different ways and the dining hall is the college’s star attraction, with its spectacular dome ceiling. You can host your whole reception here, with as many as 270 guests seated banquet-style for the wedding breakfast and there’s a dancefloor and bar too. Great for al fresco drinks and canapés post-vows, the gardens are informal but beautiful and, unlike some Cambridge colleges, you’re welcome to walk on the grass! Fellows Garden is located in a quiet secluded corner of the college, while Orchard Court has a long lawn, surrounded by pretty borders, and is ideal for larger gatherings. Did you know? The Dome dining hall houses the largest collection of women’s art in Europe. Woodhall Manor, Sutton 01394 411 288 | woodhallmanor.com Be prepared for plenty of stop-stare moments as you make your way up the impressive driveway to arrive at this grand manor. With its majestic entrance, ivy-covered walls, decorative chimneys and surrounding countryside, it’s a must-see venue with an eye-catching mix of modern whimsy and Elizabethan opulence. Whether it’s a festival-style celebration or something more decadent you’re after, Woodhall Manor can be exclusively yours for the big day and beyond. With 14 exquisite bedrooms, there’s plenty of space for you and your nearest and dearest to prolong the celebration. When it comes to the extensive grounds, with nine acres of glorious outside spaces to choose from, there’s no shortage of Insta-worthy photo opportunities. The fountains leading up to the front of the manor set the tone, there’s an enchanting Walled Garden, the perfect backdrop for summer nuptials, and a pretty pergola nearby. You’ll be spoilt for choice on where to wed as the venue boasts five licensed spaces for ceremonies of all sizes, with up to a maximum of 130 guests. There are four indoors and one outside in the Walled Garden, complete with the option of a romantic dove release after you’ve tied the knot. The venue can host receptions for up to 200 loved ones. With a variety of places throughout the manor there’s plenty of options covering everything from the romantically intimate to the big and beautiful, and for outdoor affairs, the gardens are ideal for a chilled summer wed-fest. We love... the heart-shaped flower bed; a popular feature for the wedding photos. Images: purplepeartreephotography.com Murray Edwards College, Cambridge 01223 762 267 | murrayedwardsevents.co.uk 28