Thomas Woodards of Hylands Estate tells us about this prestigious Essex wedding venue

Tell us about Hylands Estate...
Hylands Estate, comprising of Hylands Park and Hylands House, has had a vast and varied history. Chelmsford City Council is the tenth owner of the now beautifully restored Hylands Estate.

Hylands was built around 1730, for Sir John Comyns; the original house was a red brick Queen Anne style mansion with approximately 400 acres of land. Now, in the 21st Century, Hylands Estate is a Grade II* listed mansion enjoyed by thousands of people who visit the park and use Hylands House as the wedding venue of their dreams, with the Grand Pavilion added in 2014, allowing for a sleek and contemporary feel for larger wedding parties.

What kind of weddings do you get at the venue?
We are proud of our ability to accommodate all ceremonies; ranging from an intimate ceremony of 80 guests to cultural ceremonies for 300 guests in the Grand Pavilion. Our ceremony spaces are simply perfect for both lavish and intimate ceremonies with family and friends.

For those wanting to have a wedding with up to 120 guests, your civil ceremony and wedding reception can take place in the ornate, historic rooms of Hylands House. For larger wedding parties of up to 300 guests, host your civil ceremony in our ornate Banqueting Room before progressing to the sleek and contemporary Grand Pavilion for your evening reception.

What services do you offer?
At Hylands Estate, we understand that flexibility is important to meet the bespoke requirements for your wedding and that is why we offer our venue on a completely dry hire basis. Our experienced Events & Wedding Team specialise in dry hire weddings and deliver impeccable service from beginning to end. This allows you the flexibility to choose your own contractors, including your own caterer, décor and entertainment. You can even bring in your own drinks and operate from our bar using a designated caterer or external bar company with no hidden corkage charges.

We will support you along the way and our dedication, flexibility and passion for our beautiful venue will certainly create the wedding of your dreams. 

Can couples make use of the grounds?
Hylands Estate encompasses 574 acres of gorgeous parkland, available to the public and to anyone hosting their wedding with us. A small lily pond, flanked by two oak arbours clad in wisteria and borders containing beautiful seasonal flowers can be found within our ornate Victorian Pleasure Gardens, a short walk away from Hylands House, and the beautiful formal gardens date back to the early 1900's. With an impressive planting scheme, creating a beautiful display and stunning backdrop for your wedding photography, take advantage of this delightful feature in the Spring and Summer months for some truly unforgettable memories.

Visit www.hylandsestate.co.uk

Image courtesy of Nathalie Delente Photography