Of all of the components that constitute a successful big day, the venue is arguably the most important. Where you celebrate your nuptials with family and friends has to be perfect for your needs as it will account for 30-40% of your total budget spend in most cases. There are lots of different styles of venue to consider but one type which I find is really popular with my clients, is an Exclusive Use Wedding Venue.
Introducing the exclusive use wedding venue: the perfect solution if you have lots of guests travelling for your wedding and if you wish to have a weekend long celebration. Quite often exclusive use venues are large country estates with masses of accommodation on site, whether it’s a central house with many bedrooms, a barn with lots of smaller outhouses/cottages for overnight guests. There are lots of advantages to having an exclusive use wedding venue, for example you’ll have guaranteed privacy, you won’t risk running into another wedding party or corporate event, and you’ll have no parking issues! The exclusive use wedding venue is yours for as long as you need it, resulting in a truly relaxing, unique celebration.
Interested?
Then read on for the ins and outs of this special type of wedding venue and a list of the very best exclusive use venues Norfolk has to offer
What to expect
Terms will differ, depending on the property. Some exclusive use venues supply a complete service, meaning you won’t have to bring in wedding suppliers. Others are a complete blank canvas, allowing you to commission your own suppliers.
Booking an exclusive use venue will give you ample time to dress the space and bring your wedding vision to life. If you book for a weekend, you and your guests can celebrate at leisure, knowing you all won’t have to travel between venues on the big day. It’s the very definition of quality time and making the most of every precious minute.
If you’re considering hiring a blank canvas venue, think carefully about how your dream wedding will work in the space. For example, you may wish to make the most of your surroundings by arranging a marquee service and reception.
Here are my favourite exclusive use venues in Norfolk (and beyond!).
Voewood
This exquisite arts and crafts house is available for weddings and can accommodate forty two guests in seventeen stunning bedrooms. Boasting eleven acres of gorgeous grounds, Voewood is also licensed for outdoor wedding ceremonies. Its grand banqueting hall is a sight to behold and the perfect place for a delectable wedding breakfast! Packed with bohemian artefacts and contemporary works of art the ‘butterfly house’ has something interesting to see at every turn.
https://www.voewood.com/unique-norfolk-wedding-venue
The space at Voewood is fairly versatile so for larger numbers you can make use of the garden space and have a marquee of your choice.
Image Charlie Campney Photography
Barn Drift
This enchanting venue with a sea view is surrounded by nothing but open farmland and offers the ultimate blank canvas for your choice of wedding suppliers. Meander through meadows and exchange vows at St.Margaret’s church or use Barn Drift’s officially licensed drawing room, or converted aircraft hangar for your ceremony. With eight double or twin rooms and three to four reception rooms, this venue is perfect for more intimate celebrations. As with Voewood, the extensive grounds lend themselves to marquees so you can easily accommodate larger guest numbers. There are also glamping facilities on site so perfect for a summer gathering!
Image: Stuart Wood Photography
Hall Farm Cottages, Horning
This charming collection of self-catering cottages offers a number of romantic ceremony locations for the happy couple: lakeside on a bridge, a rustic and stylish barn for less than perfect weather, and the choice of two fields for a stylish marquee wedding. Couples are invited to source their own suppliers for the happy day and with exclusive use you have sleeping space for up to fifty two guests in the cottages for the weekend.
Ormesby Manor
Brand new to Norfolk is this luxurious, exclusive use property, with bags of personality and its refined, elegant décor, Ormesby is the perfect backdrop for a marquee celebration. Inside the property there is accommodation for up to 26 guests in individually designed bedrooms and suites, outside you have access to 11acres of secluded parkland close to the infamous Norfolk Broads.
Happy Valley
This lovely woodland setting is perfect for micro or festival-style weddings, so be prepared to say ‘I do’ in boho-chic heaven! Happy Valley holds a wedding licence so you can choose between a civil or humanist ceremony either inside or outside. The luxuriously rustic accommodation is spectacular! Imagine stargazing in a hot tub after a magical day.
https://www.happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk/
The Wilderness Reserve
Celebrate your nuptials in the quintessentially English setting that is Suffolk. Located in over eight thousand acres, Wilderness Reserve provides two elegant wedding venues: Chapel Barn estate and Sibton Park Estate, both of which can accommodate your perfect bespoke wedding. What I absolutely love is the Gatehouse Sweet Shop, where you can indulge in a selection of yummy confections before being escorted to your luxury lodgings. A check-in with a difference!
https://wildernessreserve.com/
I adore helping couples organise their wedding in an exclusive use venue here in Norfolk. The sky really is the limit with a ‘dry hire’ or blank canvas setting and I am on hand to bring your vision to sparkling life. With my local knowledge and skill in overseeing the logistics of multiple suppliers over multiple days you can happily bask in the party atmosphere and make memories, completely stress-free.