Small wedding venues in Essex
What defines a small wedding? The average number of guests at a wedding tends to be around 125 but I think that’s changed post-covid and there definitely seems to be a trend for smaller weddings nowadays. That’s great, as far as I’m concerned. Mini weddings tend to be more intimate, relaxed and are much easier to budget and cater for.
I find anything around the 50 mark doesn’t actually feel ‘small’ at all and even 30 people is still enough for a great party! Once you get down to about 10 or so guests then it tends to be a calmer affair. Perhaps at that number of people you’d better opting for meals or camping, rather than a full blown party but who knows, if you were raucous enough it could still work!! As a micro wedding photographer, I’ve photographed lots of mini weddings in Essex and these are some of my favourite small wedding venues. A venue can be a great choice if you’d like a lot of the wedding logistics catered for. They are also great if you’d like to do the ceremony and reception all in one place.
However, one of the great things about a smaller wedding is that allows for more flexibility and freedom so don’t be afraid to think outside the box with your wedding plans and opt for somewhere that’s not even an official wedding venue. Small wedding ceremonies can be done in registry offices and places of worship and then you can have the rest of your day anywhere you choose!
My top Essex venues for a small wedding
- Old Parish Rooms – a stylish space which can be used in a few different ways. For a smaller guest list the ceremony can take place on the beautiful mezzanine and the space downstairs never feels too big, even with a handful of guests. This light venue has oodles of style and the team running it are super lovely. This is a really popular choice for a small wedding with just a handful of close family and friends and I can totally see why!
- Hare’s Field – a small barn venue in the countryside, on the edge of the village of Wethersfield. It has a small maximum capacity of just 60 and with it’s little ceremony space and on site accommodation it makes a really lovely place to get away from everything.
- Rayleigh Windmill – a quirky mini ceremony space, if you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to hold your legal ceremony in this makes a great spot. It’s teeny-tiny inside but perfect for a small guestlist.
- Colchester Castle – at the top of the building is a venue space which is ideal for a smaller guest list, it’s really fun going into the castle too and will make a ceremony to remember.
- Tymperleys – great for a chilled, small wedding, you can make use of the gardens and restaurant after
- Little Tey Barn -another small barn venue, this one has onsite accommodation and can do an all inclusive package
- Wivenhoe Sailing Club – the upstairs space is a lovely spot to host a smaller wedding and you can make the most of the location on the water
- Eaton House Studio – not actually a wedding venue but you may be able to hire it if you meet their criteria
9. Braintree Town Hall – a great option for a small town hall wedding, I prefer this over the larger options in Chelmsford or Colchester as it’s a bit more intimate, less hassle with logistics and actually got some lovely character compared to some other registry places. I find it on par with a lot of the London Town Halls but with considerably less cost and time constraints!
10 Saffron Walden Town Hall – I love Saffron Walden, it’s a really quaint town with lots of character and some great independent restaurants, bars etc. I can see why this is always a popular choice. For a small wedding you can just have your ceremony here and then walk to one of the many local places for a meal or small reception.
Alternative venue options
One of my favourite things about a small wedding is that you can think outside the box too, don’t be afraid to approach pubs, restaurants, campsites, woodlands etc as often it’s much easier to accommodate a wedding when it’s a smaller guest list. And of course a back garden wedding can be perfect for a smaller wedding too!
Also many of the larger wedding venues, country homes etc, will also have smaller rooms which can be booked for smaller weddings mid-week. And sometimes even weekend dates if it’s booked last minute. It’s always worth asking what the options are if you’re really keen on a location.
If you’re looking for an Essex Wedding Photographer who loves smaller weddings I’d love to hear from you!
And hop over to this post if you’d like list of small wedding venues in Suffolk