Country house wedding venue in Essex
Weddings
From intimate afternoons spent with your nearest and dearest to full-blown festivities with the whole gang, a wedding at Downham Hall is sure to be anything but ordinary.
Just say yes
Nestled in the heart of rural Essex, our recently renovated country house venue is a secluded sanctuary, where you can forget the rest of the world and focus on what really matters. With our generously sized spaces, you can enjoy a day that suits you, safe in the knowledge that nobody's been left off the guest list.
We booked our wedding date as soon as we saw the venue, we fell in love, it was gorgeous, the whole team were incredibly I love the family run feel. I didn't just feel like a number I felt like their friend , Dawn was so sweet and helpful and made the process of swapping dates through covid less stressful she was always at the end of a phone or email, the wedding day was perfect literally can't fault it, it run so smoothly. Christina and Andrew are incredible the hard work they put in is amazing.
Entrant to Wedding Awards
Our setting and views
Downham Hall was built hundreds of years ago and was located as to benefit from the wonderful views in all 360 degrees. Located below the second highest peak in Essex, to the North are fields of crops in a bowl above you, to the South views down to the Thames estuary several miles away. A truly rural spot but remarkably close to greater civilisation. With the gardens in your near view, the landscape in the outer view it sets a wonderful place to be at any time, but more importantly on your special day.
Our Spaces
Downham Hall has 3 main spaces, licensed for ceremonies and available for meals, reception drinks and dancing. In addition there are our lobby with historic fireplace, patios and extensive gardens.
Our Marquee is our largest space, where many have their wedding breakfast, evening reception with entertainment. It has a fully stocked large bar, dance floor area and can be configured to your choice with banqueting tables. In better weather we can open the sides for views over the moat and in less favourable weather is fully heated. Decorations can be hand chosen and installed to create your favourite style for your day.
The de Beauvoir suite, named after the most significant family to have owned the place in the past, holds 60 for a ceremony, 40 for a sit down meal is inside the hall and has an impressive bay window which makes for great photos of your vows.
The Orangery is to the rear of the house and is glass most of the way around to make the most of the setting to the South Wing gardens and views beyond. It can hold 40 for a ceremony and 25 for a meal, perfect for the smaller weddings. It is also where larger weddings have the drinks reception leading into the gardens.
Bridal Changing Room
Our Bridal Changing Room is part of the experience for your wedding day. Typically taken by a bride (or 2 on occasion), but not exclusively. It is a space for a wedding party to prepare, be with friends, get some early day photos and have some food to get you ready. It is equipped ready for hairdressers, make up artists and and for the registrar to chat to you if you are getting married on site.
The changing room also provides you a space to be away from prying eyes, for those who don't want the groom to see you till the right time, and from the changing room there is a route into our main ceremony room so you are first seen as you walk up the aisle, after the last few photos of you looking at your best.
The changing room is also available to hire for those not having their day at Downham Hall.
Rooms on site
We have 5 individually styled rooms onsite, including the Bridal Suite with large bathroom. The rooms are included in most venue hire pricing and include options for families to have pull out beds, perfect for guests with children. More details of the rooms can be seen on our stay page, your wedding coordinator can also provide details or other local hotels for times when you have more guests looking to stay locally.
How to plan your wedding at Downham Hall
At Downham Hall, we believe that no two weddings should be the same; we carefully plan each and every event to create a day that reflects you. With plenty of options to choose from and a wonderful team of recommended suppliers on hand, you can build a package that perfectly reflects your vision and budget.
We suggest you request our brochure, if you then want a viewing let us know and we will find a time that suits. At your viewing you can then talk about details, pricing and get a quote. If you like the quote we will hold a date for you, then pay your deposit and start the rest of the planning. This is just a suggestion, we've had people book from overseas without ever seeing us in person but we find exploring the venues is part of the fun so come along and see us.
To request our brochure use the form below, don't hesitate to get in touch if you need anything on 01268 422 464 or weddings@downhamhall.com.
Request a brochure
Intimate Wedding Package Offer
Bookable Wednesdays & Thursdays | up to 25 guests
*Ceremony in De Beauvoir or The Orangery
*Reception drinks & canapés
* 3 course Wedding Breakfast
*1/2 bottle house wine pp
*Prosecco toast or upgrade to Champagne
* Evening cheese and charcuterie board
£109pp + £1995 venue hire
Outdoor ceremonies
Following the pandemic regulations for outdoor ceremonies have been relaxed and as a result we are able to have outdoor ceremonies, which actually includes our marquee space. Our wonderful views and gardens make these so appealing. We are about to create a dedicated space with path as these have proven so popular.
If it rains the registrar holds the decision and may take you inside so having the back-up of the de Beauvoir suite means you don't need to worry too much but most of the time we have been lucky to proceed as planned.
Smaller Weddings
Another legacy of the pandemic was the crazy days of limits of 15 and 30 people at weddings. This was a challenge at the time but we loved them so much that we decided we would love to have many more. Our orangery is perfect for a smaller meal or ceremony and the de Beauvoir suite alongside to provide a new setting for your guests. If you don't need exclusive use then this can be a more affordable choice but no less special.
Twilight weddings
Some couples prefer to use the late afternoon and evening for a twilight wedding rather than using the full day. An option for those not wanting a formal sit down meal potentially but still want to get everyone together. We offer specific pricing for these days and they are shown in the brochure you can receive by filling the form on this page. If you have any questions, do get in touch.
What we offer
- Exclusive hire of the venue throughout the day
- Five ensuite bedrooms
- Bridal changing room
- Marquee overlooking the moat and countryside below
- On-site parking
- Wedding coordinator to help with all preparation and during the day
- Trusted collection of suppliers
- Tailor-made packages to suit you and your requirements