Wedding Venue Review: Layer Marney Tower
A truly iconic Essex wedding venue
Layer Marney Tower is one of those venues that stops you in your tracks the first time you see it. A stunning Tudor gatehouse set within expansive, immaculately kept gardens just outside Colchester, it feels grand, historic and truly special. Built in 1520, the venue carries centuries of history, yet works beautifully for modern weddings of all styles.
It’s a venue I absolutely love working at - not just because it’s visually impressive, but because it offers couples so much flexibility while still feeling private, exclusive and thoughtfully run.
Ceremony
Layer Marney offers several ceremony options, which is one of its biggest strengths.
My personal favourite is the on-site church. It’s genuinely unusual to find a church just a short walk from the reception space, and for couples who want a traditional church ceremony without the logistics of travelling between venues, this is a huge advantage. Even better, the church is wonderfully light-filled - something that’s surprisingly rare for historic English churches. The natural light allows for bright, clean photographs, and there’s plenty of room for your photographer to move around discreetly, meaning your ceremony can be documented from multiple angles without feeling intrusive.
For couples who prefer a civil ceremony, there are indoor options within the main buildings. These spaces are smaller and more intimate, and while they are darker than the church, they still carry plenty of character and charm.
There’s also the option of an outdoor ceremony, which works beautifully for humanist weddings or celebrant-led weddings. On a good day, the setting is hard to beat - historic buildings behind you, open gardens around you, and a real sense of calm and occasion.
Couple Portraits
Layer Marney Tower is a dream when it comes to portraits. The grounds are extensive, and every direction you look offers something beautiful - from the Tower itself to the gardens, courtyards and surrounding countryside.
Some couples prefer to keep portraits short and sweet, spending around 15 minutes close to the Tower. Even with that amount of time, there are plenty of stunning backdrops nearby, allowing you to get gorgeous images while staying close to your guests.
Others choose to allow closer to 40 minutes and explore more of the grounds. This gives you the opportunity to move further afield, vary the scenery, and really make the most of everything the venue has to offer. Both approaches work well here - it simply depends on how you want to spend your day.
Drinks Reception
There’s ample space for guests to spread out, mingle, and enjoy lawn games without ever feeling crowded. The gardens are immaculately maintained and feel wonderfully secluded, giving your guests space to relax while you enjoy the atmosphere. I have witnessed guests playing giant jenga, boules and ‘hit the nail on the head’.
One unique feature Layer Marney offers is a short car ride for the couple after the ceremony. It’s a lovely opportunity to steal a quiet moment together - something many couples really value. If you choose to include this, it’s worth building it into your timeline. It does slightly reduce the time available for portraits, so I usually recommend either having fewer group photos or extending the drinks reception by around 15 minutes to keep everything feeling relaxed rather than rushed.
Wedding Breakfast and Evening Celebrations
For the wedding breakfast, the Long Gallery is a truly impressive space. Best suited to small to medium-sized weddings, it’s filled with natural light and overlooks the gardens - I know I talk about light a lot, but it really does make a difference to how your photos look and feel.
The experience of guests walking up the grand staircase into the Long Gallery sets the tone beautifully. It feels formal, elegant and veru special - like being invited to a royl banquet!
When it’s time for the evening party, celebrations can move into the barn. It’s a vast space, making it ideal for a lively evening, additional guests joining later, and a live band. The transition between spaces works really well, allowing the day to evolve naturally from refined and relaxed into full celebration mode.
Top Tips for Weddings at Layer Marney Tower
Allow a little extra time
Layer Marney is a large and impressive site, so building a bit of breathing space into your timeline helps the day feel relaxed rather than rushed.
Decide how far you want to go for portraits
Staying close to the towers allows you to be back with your guests quickly, while exploring more of the grounds gives variety. Neither is better - it’s about what suits you.
Factor in the car ride
The post-ceremony car ride is a lovely, quiet moment together, but it does reduce portrait time. Keeping group photos simple or extending the drinks reception helps balance this.
Final Thoughts
Layer Marney Tower is perfectly suited to couples planning a traditional, classic and sophisticated wedding. It offers real historic interest, a countryside setting, and the feeling of exclusive hire that many couples are looking for.
Whether you’re drawn to the church ceremony, the grand architecture, or the flexibility of spaces throughout the day, Layer Marney consistently delivers a beautiful, calm and memorable experience, both for couples and their guests.
If you’re considering Layer Marney Tower for your wedding and would like to talk through photography timings, portrait options, or see a real wedding I’ve photographed there, I’d love to hear from you - call 01206 632200.
See a real wedding at Layer Marney Tower, from the church ceremony through to the first dance.
Written by Eleth Mageehan
First Written: 4th May 2017, Last Updated: 23rd January 2026
Layer Marney Tower is an absolutely stunning wedding venue in Colchester. This couple got married in the church on site at Layer Marney, and then celebrated into the evening in the barn. Check out a full wedding gallery at Layer Marney.