Wedding Venue Review: Wivenhoe House
A wedding photographer’s perspective
If you’re looking for a wedding venue in Colchester that feels elegant but still relaxed, grand but not overwhelming, then Wivenhoe House Hotel is well worth considering.
One of the things I love most about Wivenhoe House is how flexible it is. I’ve photographed everything here from intimate afternoon tea weddings with around 30 guests, to outdoor summer ceremonies, to full-scale celebrations in the Garden Room. Whatever style of day you’re planning, this venue has a way of adapting to it.
In this review, I’m sharing what Wivenhoe House is like from a photography point of view - including ceremony options, portrait locations, light, and a few practical tips to help you plan your day.
Ceremony Spaces
Wivenhoe House offers several options for your ceremony, which makes it a great choice for couples who want flexibility.
Outdoor ceremonies are particularly popular in the warmer months. With the house as your backdrop and the gardens surrounding you, it creates a beautiful setting that feels both romantic and relaxed.
If you’d rather be indoors, the lounges offer an elegant alternative. They’re spacious and bright, which is ideal for photography, and they work well for both smaller and medium-sized guest lists.
The best part? You’re not tied to one style of wedding here - whether you’re planning something intimate or something more traditional, the spaces adapt beautifully.
Couple Portraits
Some couples love the idea of taking a gentle stroll down to the lake for their portraits. It’s a lovely way to spend a few quiet moments together, and it creates a different feel to the photos. The only thing to consider is timing - it adds around five minutes of walking each way, so it’s worth factoring into your schedule.
Other couples prefer to stay closer to the main building. This works just as well and means you can dip away for a few portraits and quickly return to your guests. We still find quieter spots so you’re not in the spotlight the whole time, but you’re never far from the celebrations.
If you have photography coverage throughout the day, I always recommend doing a few extra portraits after your meal too. The light changes, the atmosphere shifts, and it’s a great opportunity to explore different areas of the venue in a more relaxed way.
Drinks Reception and Guest Experience
When the weather is kind, drinks receptions usually take place on the sunken lawn. It’s a brilliant space for mingling, lawn games, and soaking up the atmosphere. There’s also a patio area that offers shade, which is perfect on hot summer days.
If the weather pushes everyone indoors, one of the lounges is used instead. It’s a beautiful space with a fireplace and historic architectural details, although it can feel darker than it first appears. From a photography point of view, this just means we adapt slightly - the atmosphere is cosy and elegant, which creates a different but equally lovely feel to the images.
Wedding Breakfast and Speeches
Wivenhoe House works particularly well for weddings where different parts of the day happen in different spaces. This means your reception room can be fully set up while your ceremony takes place elsewhere, so everything feels seamless for you and your guests.
Speeches often take place in the Garden Room or adjoining spaces, which allows for plenty of movement and natural reactions to be captured. It’s a great layout for storytelling photography — the kind of images that show not just what happened, but how it felt.
Evening Reception
If you’re planning a big celebration, the Garden Room is where the party really comes to life. With its white draping and spacious layout, it looks stunning both during the day and in the evening. The bar sits at one end, the dancefloor at the other, and there’s a nice balance between space to dance and space to sit and chat.
A few tables can be removed to create more room for dancing, while still leaving quieter areas for guests who prefer to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s a layout that works brilliantly for both lively and relaxed evenings.
Helpful Planning Tips for Wivenhoe House
Ceremony timing:
In summer, twilight ceremonies in the late afternoon work beautifully with the light.
In winter, a ceremony around 1:30pm is ideal if you’d like time outside for portraits before sunset.
Confetti: Most couples choose to do confetti on the steps leading down to the garden - it looks fantastic in photos. If you’d prefer something a little steadier underfoot, the lawn is a great alternative.
All-in-one convenience: One of the biggest benefits of Wivenhoe House is that everything can happen in one place - from getting ready to the final night’s sleep. With accommodation for you and your guests, plus a convenient location just outside Colchester, it’s an easy and stress-free choice.
Final Thoughts
Wivenhoe House is one of those venues that works for a wide range of weddings. Whether you’re planning something small and intimate or a full-scale celebration, it offers flexibility, beautiful spaces, and plenty of opportunities for natural, joyful photography.
From a photography perspective, Wivenhoe House is a dream because there are options - inside and out.
On a sunny day, we naturally head outside to make the most of the gardens and open spaces. But when the weather isn’t on our side, the lounges come into their own. They’re surprisingly bright and spacious, which means we can still create beautiful, natural images without feeling restricted.
Outside, there are several areas that work well for photos, so you’re never limited to just one spot.
If you’re getting married at Wivenhoe House and would like to chat about photography, I’d love to hear about your plans.
Get in touch: 01206 632200.
Written by Eleth Mageehan
First Written: 30th November 2016, Last Updated: 23rd January 2026
With historic charm, a beautiful backdrop and flexible options to create your unique celebration - could this be the perfect wedding venue for you?