Wedding venue inspiration - Country havens

Anstey Hall, Cambridgeshire

If you're on the hunt for a quintessential English country house setting for your big day, Anstey Hall ticks all the boxes. The family owned Grade I listed venue, oozes historic charm and character, with glorious grounds and a wealth of fabulous photo opportunities. You can have the whole place to yourself for your big day or enjoy a weekend-long wedding and make the most of the stunning spaces including the library, morning room, Venetian ballroom and billiards room. Less than two miles from the city and all its amenities, the hall is conveniently situated yet still retains all its rural character and charm. The hall's imposing facade provides a wow-factor backdrop at any time of year and in the summer the 10 acres of gardens and terrace really come into their own; perfect for al fresco drinks and canapés. The three licensed ceremony rooms can cater for everything from cosy intimate gatherings to grander affairs. The ballroom can host up to 120 guests to watch you say 'I do' and 90 for a sit-down wedding breakfast. For more lavish celebrations, the heated marquee is big enough for as many as 200 family and friends.

Hengrave Hall, Suffolk

This wedding venue is a must-see if you're looking for a breathtakingly beautiful setting for your big day. It's got it all, a fascinating history, its own idyllic chapel, glorious gardens and more. Enter through the iron gates and make your way down the tree-lined drive to catch your first glimpse of the magnificent Tudor mansion. Exclusively yours, you can create your dream wedding and make the most of the indoor and outdoor spaces. With four different rooms licensed for ceremonies, you'll be spoilt for choice. You can tie the knot in the grand Banqueting Hall with 140 guests or for more intimate 'I dos', the Library is ideal and can seat up to 20 loved ones. The sun-kissed West Terrace is great for al fresco drinks receptions and the Long Gallery, with its white timber panelling and crystal chandeliers, is a popular choice for the wedding breakfast. Come the evening, throw open the doors to the Banqueting hall and take to the dazzling black and white dancefloor for a party to remember. There's a separate bar, a chill-out area and even a fully equipped playroom for the little ones.

Tuddenham Mill, Suffolk

If you're on the hunt for a wedding venue with a difference Tuddenham Mill could be the one. Set in a picturesque rural location, the converted historic mill oozes character and charm with beamed ceilings and open brickwork. Beautifully converted with contemporary flair, it's surrounded by 12 acres of Suffolk countryside. The idyllic setting and rustic chic surroundings provide a wonderfully romantic big-day backdrop. The venue is licensed for ceremonies and the Terrace Room with wooden beams and a private balcony is ideal for intimate weddings for up to 36 people. The stylish restaurant is full of character with its beamed ceiling, mill-wheel cogs and views over the mill pond and can host 60 loved ones for your celebrations.

Park Farm Hotel, Norfolk

Set in 200 acres of Norfolk countryside, this inviting hotel has the charm of a rural retreat with all mod cons and the attractions of historic Norwich on the doorstep. A mix of old and new, the original Georgian country house has undergone extensive renovation and redevelopment. Boasting 52 individually designed rooms, there's plenty of space for friends and family to stay over and relax and unwind or explore the city the next day. Couples can tie the knot in the light and airy conservatory joined by 100 guests or the Ellingham Suite with up to 60 loved ones. Celebrate afterwards in the spacious and modern Colney Suite leading to the conservatory with its own bar and access to a private lawn. There's a host of other great features too, including the staircase in the Georgian house, the beautiful landscaped gardens, gazebo, fountain and a wealth of nooks and crannies for album-worthy photos.

Mannington Estate, Norfolk

This hidden gem is located in an idyllic spot 20 miles north of Norwich and eight miles from the coast, nestled in beautiful rural surroundings. The gardens and moat provide a picture-picture setting with the impressive Medieval hall in the background. The hall is still a family home today and, although you can't marry here, there's plenty of space in the grounds for a magical marquee reception or you can hire the tearooms for a more intimate celebration.

Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa, Suffolk

Seckford Hall has all the credentials for a storybook wedding – an ivy-clad Tudor red-brick building, 34 acres of grounds and mature woodland, sweeping lawns, a private lake, beautiful walled garden and more. All you need is your Prince Charming and a happy ever after. The 16th-century listed country house offers the ideal mix of comfort and luxury steeped in Tudor history. The Great Hall oozes character and charm with its oak panelling, high ceilings, huge open fireplace and fabulous views. Overlooking the lake and gardens, you can tie the knot here and host a reception for 180 guests or up to 250 teamed with the beautiful marquee dining space in the adjacent garden pavilion. The hall has a separate entrance from the hotel as well as its own bar, toilets and cloakroom, so you and your loved ones can celebrate in style, comfort and privacy.

Alpheton Hall Barns, Suffolk

Alpheton Hall Barns offers the perfect mix of ancient and vintage farm buildings; perfect for a rustic chic theme. Think Medieval honey-coloured oak beams, lime plaster walls, big barn doors and corrugated tin roofs, with all the comforts of modern heating, as well as high-tech lighting and sound systems. Bursting with character, the black featherboarded barns are surrounded by fields, next to Alpheton Church. There are plenty of outdoor areas for fabulous photos, drinks receptions, entertainment and al fresco catering for the evening. The Wedding Garden has its own brick terrace and space for garden games and there's a courtyard complete with a wood-fired pizza oven.

Hales Hall & The Great Barn, Norfolk

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 bit 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.

Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Suffolk

You can celebrate in style at this versatile wedding venue. With its own dedicated event space to make your own, you can party the night away joined by up to 300 of your family and friends. The Hangar is a spectacular setting, designed with state-of-the-art lighting to create a romantic atmosphere. Set back from the Milsoms Kesgrave Hall Hotel on the edge of the landscaped grounds, the exclusive, self-contained space has its own turning area for guests to arrive, a welcoming reception with comfy sofas as well as its own private kitchen and facilities. The star-clothed interior includes a dancefloor and stage; the perfect blank canvas to style your day, your way. Licensed for ceremonies you can tie the knot joined by up to 120 loved ones, host a sumptuous wedding breakfast afterwards and invite as many as 180 more for the evening reception.

Thurning Hall, Norfolk

If you're on the hunt for a grand old house in the country for your big day, look no further. Thurning Hall is a beautiful 18th-century Georgian mansion, a privately owned family home full of warmth and original character, set in more than 30 acres of grounds. Think classical elegance meets boho spirit, with an eclectic mix of nooks and crannies and elegant spaces brimming with history. Outside discover a magical mix of wonderfully whimsical and romantic informal secret walled rose gardens, woodland and grass parkland leading to a small lake; a treasure trove of great photo opportunities. With two Victorian walled gardens as well, the first provides an idyllic setting for al fresco ceremonies, while the second and largest is ideal for creative marquee receptions.

Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Suffolk

Enjoy a taste of the good life at Jimmy's Farm with bags of rustic charm, panoramic countryside views, free-roaming peacocks and more. A wonderful mix of contemporary yet natural spaces with an abundance of wildlife throughout the grounds, it's an idyllic setting for you and your guests to reconnect with the great outdoors. Take a stroll in the ancient woodland and admire the views, you can even treat your loved ones to an exclusive out-of-hours tour of the wildlife park; great for original fun photos. What's more there's the added bonus of five-star luxury glamping, so you can retire at the end of the evening under the magical Suffolk night sky.

Swynford Manor, Cambridgeshire

Swynford Manor is a luxurious country house wedding venue offering a fusion of contemporary style and rural charm. Arrive down the gravel drive with plush lawns either side to catch your first glimpse of the distinctive timber-framed building. Step inside and the magic continues with a gleaming monochrome chequerboard floor in the hall and a huge crystal chandelier above the grand staircase; perfect for making a fairytale entrance. The rest of the rooms are dressed to match the chic black and white colour scheme with tactile touches including velvet wingback chairs and lush curtains.

Dove Barn, Suffolk

Dove Barn is ideal if you're on the hunt for a blank canvas to call your own. Divided into two large spaces, one for the ceremony and wedding breakfast and the other for drinks and dancing, this classic Suffolk barn offers a versatile relaxed space that lends itself to a host of different styles and themes. Tucked away in a quiet corner of south Suffolk, just outside the village of Boxford, it's set in the grounds of the elegant Castlings Hall, providing a picture-perfect backdrop for those all-important photos. You can say 'I do' in the Ceremony Barn and celebrate afterwards with a wedding breakfast for up to 110 guests. With beautiful exposed oak beams and a minstrels' gallery overlooking the main room, the informal terrace at the back is ideal for the drinks reception when the weather's fine or hanging out later in the evening. The wedding meadow beyond is an idyllic spot for a children's play area or bar and from February 2022 it will be used for chilled celebrant-led ceremonies.

Holmewood Hall, Cambridgeshire

Nestled in a quaint Fenland village, there's plenty to capture the imagination at this impressive wedding 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.

Hintlesham Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

Wind your way down the tree-lined drive to discover this historic gem of a wedding venue. Surrounded by peaceful mature gardens, the outside of the hall has a Georgian façade and an elegant Tudor feature at the back. You can tie the knot in a choice of distinctive rooms to suit weddings large or small. The Georgian-style Salon can host up to 100 guests and boasts an impressive chandelier and ornate gold-leaf ceiling while for more intimate 'I dos' with up to 20 loved ones, The Justice on the ground-floor overlooks the back lawns and has a charm all of its own. There are three beautiful function rooms including The Salon which with the adjacent Parlour is big enough for 135 family and friends. There are three lounges to relax in and at the end of the night staying guests can retire to the luxuriously furnished bedrooms, all individually designed and many with original timber beams.

Kimberley Hall, Wymondham, Norfolk

You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing where to pose for romantic photos at Kimberley Hall. Built in 1712, the romantic Queen Anne-style house offers breathtaking views of the lake and private park and the redbrick frontage, curved colonnades, wings, turrets and other classical features provide a fairytale big-day backdrop. Your family and friends are sure to be impressed as they're welcomed into the grand entrance hall. You can tie the knot in the light and elegant Music Room with its grand pianos, chandelier, cosy fireplace and huge arched window looking on to the garden. There's space for up to 130 guests and the room connects to the garden via an impressive spiral staircase complete with a cascade of hanging butterflies; great for bridal shots. The terraced garden looking towards the lake can also be used for outdoors ceremonies and with a marquee for the wedding breakfast and reception, there's unlimited capacity if you're planning on inviting a crowd.

Woodhall Manor, Sutton, Suffolk

Step inside Woodhall Manor and discover a romantic exclusive-use wedding venue steeped in history. Close to the Suffolk Heritage Coast, surrounded by beautiful grounds and countryside, your guests are sure to be impressed as they arrive down the sweeping drive. Full of character and charm, the stunning manor is set in nine acres of glorious gardens. With an experienced team on hand to help every step of the way, the versatile venue caters for everything from intimate weddings to grand celebrations with up to 200 guests. Licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies, you can be sure of a one-of-a-kind big day. The manor's mix of history, beauty and eclectic features offers something for everyone. Combined with the Blossom Bar, with its stage, comfy seating and dancefloor, it's great for a lavish evening party so you can dance the night away in style with your family and friends. Foodie heaven too; the award-winning chefs use only the freshest local ingredients for a feast to remember.

Abbot’s Hall Weddings, Stowmarket, Suffolk

Abbot's Hall Weddings, set within the grounds of the Museum of East Anglian Life, offers historic buildings galore. From the stunning Queen Anne-style architecture of Abbot's Hall, to the 13th-century Medieval Abbot's Hall Barn providing a stunning backdrop for wedding photos, it offers something to suit a whole host of different styles and themes. The impressive marquee on the back lawns of Abbot's Hall provides a blank canvas for the wedding breakfast with up to 200 guests and the stunning Medieval tithe barn is a wonderfully atmospheric setting for evening receptions. There's a variety of characterful ceremony spaces too, full of original features including Edgar's Medieval farmhouse, Abbot's Hall dining room, the Stable block for outdoor weddings and Gt Moulton Chapel, a tin tabernacle that still retains original features from when it was an active chapel.

Heacham Manor Hotel, Heacham, Norfolk

If you're dreaming of a quintessentially English country house wedding, Heacham Manor Hotel is a must-see. Built from the region's earthy carrstone bricks in 1580, it oozes history and charm with period features inside and out. From the moment you arrive down the pretty driveway to catch your first glimpse of the gardens and picturesque duck pond, the magic begins. With two rivers winding through the parkland golf course, and four lakes, it's a photographer's dream. The peaceful grounds include garden areas with romantic arbours, ponds and hidden seating areas. What's more, it's only a mile-and-a-half away from the Victorian seaside town of Hunstanton; great if you're planning to stay over to explore the surrounding coast and countryside.

Bruisyard Country Estate, Saxmundham, Suffolk

Enjoy the best of both worlds at this picturesque wedding venue. Set in beautiful countryside, it's close to the Suffolk coast too with lovely beaches and seaside towns just a short drive away. At the heart of the Bruisyard Country Estate is the stunning 17th-century barn with floor-to-ceiling double doors allowing the natural light to flood in. Spacious, with wooden beams criss-crossing the high ceiling, some of the original brickwork can still be seen. The magnificent hall is steeped in history, with parts dating back over 700 years including the 14th-century remains of a nunnery. Surrounded by lush lawns and flowerbeds, there's a tranquil lake behind the hall; a favourite spot for romantic just-wed shots. With wildflower meadows, rolling green fields and wooded areas beyond, there's a wealth of album-worthy photo opportunities.