Essex Wedding Photographer: My Top 5 local Essex wedding venues

Because of my location on the edge of East London, I am lucky enough to call myself a London wedding photographer AND an Essex wedding photographer. I am just a few miles from the border of Essex. It means I get the best of both worlds – trendy London wedding venues with urban backdrops, and beautiful, sprawling outdoor Essex wedding venues. In this blog, I thought I would share my favourite local wedding venues! I’m sure those who follow me on Instagram or just read my website know I have a real affinity to weddings at venues that have character, are outdoor or just something a bit different. This list mainly consists of my neighbouring outdoor or barn wedding venues. Enjoy!

If you are having an Essex wedding, fill in my enquiry form now and tell me all about your special day.

  1. The Barns at Lodge Farm 

Bride at the Barns at Lodge Farm in Nazeing

The Barns at Lodge Farm is a relatively new venue but has sprung straight to the top of my list. Bryony who runs it is absolutely wonderful, and has partnered with Occasion Queens to co-ordinate.

If you are looking at low key wedding venues in Essex, this should definitely be on the list.

Barns at Lodge Farm wedding photography

Essex wedding venues

If you follow them on Instagram, you’ll have seen Bryony and the team are constantly renovating the space. Even since I was at the Barns at Lodge farm last summer, they’ve created a new bar area, and are busy building a new ceremony space. This Essex wedding venue is just outside Epping in Nazeing, so perfect for Londoner’s looking for a barn wedding venue with space. The Granary is the most perfect spot for ceremonies, while the huge Grain Store is the perfect place for a reception. If you have a lot of guests, this is the place for you! The Granary can hold 160, while the party space holds 250.

It’s also the amazing yard area which has my vote for wedding portraits! There are so many fun backdrops to use.

Bride wearing leather jacket and boho hat

2. Gaynes Park

Gayne’s Park is another Essex wedding venue just a stone’s throw for me! Also just outside Epping, this contemporary barn venue within a country estate. It’s another venue which has a little bit of everything, which is which I love outdoor countryside weddings.

If you would like an outdoor wedding ceremony in Essex, Gayne’s Park has a woodland area for this. Or, If you would prefer to be inside, they have multiple barns to choose from!

Essex wedding venues

Their grounds are classic, with a Walled Garden, long drive and plenty of nooks for some portraits. I love how you can get some great pops of colour with all the flowers in the walled garden. Gayne’s Park can hold 150 guests.

3. Houchins 

Houchins was one of the very first Essex wedding venues I shot at so it will always hold a special place for me. This farmhouse venue also has many options for your wedding ceremony. There’s a woodland area, a covered outdoor area, or the indoor ‘Foundry’ area.

Houchins farm wedding venue

The Grain Store is a beautiful dining venue for a low key reception. It seats 150 and opens out on to the gardens and drinks terrace. One of the main things I love about it is the feature will with fairy lights. As a photographer, who doesn’t love some good lighting?!

Houchins wedding

4. Blake Hall

I have never shot at Blake Hall, but with it’s 17th century barns and beautiful grounds, it’s definitely up there on my list of local Essex wedding venues!

Blake Hall has two absolutely incredible barn spaces, as well as a Saddlery if you decided on an outdoor ceremony. I am a real sucker for barn spaces, but the Hay Barn is an absolute gem. Full of light and a high ceiling, it looks hard to beat.

For a reception, the Essex Barn can hold up to 150 seated and looks beautifully cosy for dining and dancing!

Essex wedding venues

5. Colville Hall

On the Hertfordshire and Essex border, this quaint barn venue has a wealth of history. Dating back to the Medieval times, Colville Hall used to be surrounded by a moat! It still oozes medieval architecture but also has beautiful large grounds, with a listed arch, pond and gazebo. It’s one of those places I can imagine looks absolutely incredible if you take a sunset stroll.

The barn will hold up to 250 guests.

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Essex wedding venues

Well there are my top five favourite local venues with an outdoor or barn twist! If you are looking for an Essex alternative wedding photographer, fill in my enquiry form now to receive a brochure with my latest packages. I can’t wait to hear from you. Dates for 2021 are filling up fast.

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