Your East Anglian Wedding - Feb/Mar 2020 (Issue 41)

Fairytale venues with a story to tell Happily ever after  Hales Hall & The Great Barn, Loddon 07740 081 994 | haleshall.com If a historic barn with a vaulted thatched roof and exposed timbers are part of your ideal wedding story; read on! Hales Hall has all this and more, the magnificent Medieval estate is set in the heart of the Norfolk countryside surrounded by breathtaking formal gardens and wild meadows providing a magical setting for your whole celebration. You can marry in The Great Barn joined by up to 180 seated guests for the ceremony and wedding breakfast. The largest surviving brick- built barn of its kind in the country, it can host 300 or more for the evening reception. The upstairs Gallery provides a lovely cosy space; great as a chill-out area, complete with comfy sofas, fairylights and additional seating. It can also be used for intimate ceremonies or for the legal part before or after an al fresco service on the front lawn. The grounds provide a wealth of fabulous photo opportunities, complete with a moated area and fountain, topiary and floral avenue. Friends and family can relax on the sun-kissed terrace, there’s a pergola and outdoor seating and the lush lawns are ideal for drinks and garden games post-vows. For those looking to extend the celebration, the venue can accommodate 25 or more guests across the estate. The hall itself provides a welcoming retreat and can be your very own mansion for the duration. All the rooms are furnished with antiques and with open fires it offers the warmest of welcomes. We love... the barn’s 180 loop-hole windows; magical lit with flickering candles. Holmewood Hall, Holme 01487 829 555 | holmewood-hall.co.uk Nestled in a quaint Fenland village, there’s plenty to capture the imagination at this impressive venue. Surrounded by 10 acres of grounds including a lake with a water fountain, a manicured croquet lawn and woodland, it’s a photographer’s dream. There’s a whole host of great backdrops inside the manor house too. Full of character, the Great Hall never fails to impress with its original wood panelling and turning staircase. Step through the double doors at the top on to the rear balcony and you can pose for just-wed shots while looking down on your guests below. The Library has its own quirky window seat with dual aspect windows overlooking the grounds and every reception room exudes its own homely style. Flooded with natural light, the Gold Room can seat 77 for the ceremony or you can marry in the Dining Room, overlooking the lake with up to 80 loved ones. Every wedding enjoys exclusive use of the house and grounds including the Library, Study, Champagne Bar, Garden Bar and The Vault. You and your family and friends can take over the whole place and host an evening reception for as many as 350 of your family and friends. There are 16 luxurious bedroom suites available for the night of the wedding including the breathtaking Renaissance Honeymoon Suite which has to be seen to be believed! We love... the floodlit bandstand for romantic outdoor ceremonies. lavenhamphotographic.co.uk STORYBOOK VENUES 25