Orsett Hall Vs Friern Manor (Essex) can anyone help??!

Hi there,

I'm getting married at Orsett Hall later this year, what is it you're after asking?

I can see what you mean about there not being much inside space there if it rains but they have 4 function rooms and only ever (on Saturdays only) have up to 3 weddings so I'm sure you must be able to use the other rooms for photos? We went for a Sunday and there is only the possibility of one other wedding there on a Sunday. Still hoping not to have to share!

Which room were you considering at OH?

Hi!

Thanks for your quick reply! We are hoping to go for our reception in the Gold Room, and use the adjoining Blue Room too, but I'm not sure there will be enough room in Blue Room for reception drinks before we go into the Gold Room for dinner! Plus I am not counting on the weather being any good as we are getting married off season so I really feel we need somewhere inside for photos, but like you have said perhaps we can use another function room for that if it's not being used. We are thinking of a Saturday so there could be 3 weddings on but I didn't realise they only do up to 2 weddings on a Sunday so maybe that's something to think about...

Which room are you going for? Have you tried any of the food at all? Also are you planning on using any of the on site companies like the florist, cake person etc?? I like the idea that they have those kind of things right there! Thanks for your help!

We have booked the Gold and Blue rooms too. A Sunday has a cheaper hire charge too if that helps?! Although I think registrar fees are slightly more expensive, it is still a small saving in cost.

We haven't booked any of the onsite companies, we booked last April when they were only just up and running so things weren't quite as organised! Although we have now seen a lot of our suppliers at their wedding fayres so whilst not using OH affliated ones, we are confident of who we have chosen (plus, finding our own meant we got better deals!).

We have eaten there a couple of times and I can honestly say the food is divine.

I have the email address of their wedding team, why not send them an email to ask about inside photo space / drinks in poor weather?

They are both lovely venues and very difficult to choose... however I love Friern Manor, I've not worked there but I have been to a wedding and it was great.

HTH

Kim x

Hi Lulu2012

I'm sorry I probably am not going to be much help but I am also getting married in Essex (or Kent) and was wondering what other venues you have seen? Bit cheeky I know but we hardly have any time to get to visit venues so have only seen two so far and have been looking for a few months!!

I have been to a wedding at Orsett Hall but again, it was before the fire so obviously the set up was quite different. The grounds are lovely for photos and the weather was awful that day (even though it was mid July) but the photographer still managed to get some photos outside making the most of each break rain so there was no need to take inside photographs. I personally find Friern manor a bit more formal (both venues still formal but Friern more so) so I suppose it depends what kind of atmosphere you want, I prefer more casual.

Good luck with all the planning - any tips for Essex brides let me know! ?

Hi Vicky,

There are lots and lots of venues in Essex. What type of thing are you looking for? Barn, Stately home etc?

Kim x

Hi Kim,

I think part of my problem is I don't know what I am looking for!! We have a large wedding party (approx 90 day guests going up to approx 150 guests altogether for the evening) and don't have a huge budget so this rules out a lot of the stately home type venues. I also prefer a more casual atmosphere (not totally casual just not too stuffy). We looked at Mulberry House in High Ongar which we liked but the marquee (which we would need for the size of the party) doesn't go up until June so going to go back then and have another look.

So any suggestions gratefully received! (sorry for hi-jacking this post LuLu!!)

Hey, fellow essex bride here!

both venues are nice, i know of someone who married at orsett hall after the fire and they loved it and they had a pretty big party.

I looked at mulberry house too vicky-jay and loved it!

went for the old rectory(just past friern manor) in the end. loved the relaxed feel and having our own choice for the menu, and a big plus was that its all ours for the day. also hoping to get married outside on their pegoda.

really depends on what you're looking for. are you looking anywhere else?

Hey girls.vicky jay imgetting marriedat www.mountavenuebanquetting.com which is in brentwood they would suit your numbers and probably your budget. mines tight to. and they are very helpful.lulu, both of them venues are lovely. it really does depend as they are both quite different. depends what you style youwant to go forx

Orsett Hall reopened due to a really bad fire and i havent been to a wedding there since it re opened but it is beautiful

if you love barns and older style places have you looked at Smeetham Hall barn nr Sudbury a bit further out but it is lovely and you get the marquee and the hall all in the hire price

Prestead hall nr kelvedon is nice as well although i am unsure re numbers they can accomodate there,

I dressed a wedding at Parklands Nr Saffron Walden and it was a really gorgeous venue and suited so many different options i had a lot of fun with that wedding

xxx

Hello

Another essex bride here

Ive not been to weddings at either of those but H2B is a wedding videographer and has done lots of weddings at Orsett hall he thinks its lost a lot of its charm since the fire but its still a lovely venue.

We are getting married here https://www.yeoldeploughhouse.co.uk/ its just down the road to Orsett hall and has lots of hotel rooms that are very reasonably priced

Hi,

I've been to Orsett hall for an evening function and really liked it there. I visted the venue for my wedding and didn't really like it, found it quite over priced. Also I'm not fond on having ceremony and Reception in same room.

I'm booked in to De Rougemont Manor Hotel which is in Brentwood. I love the place. I have around 90 people for day and 160 for evening. The price we got was also great, and definatly value for money. I have had lunch there and the food it great too.

Unfortunatly I have been to Ye Olde Plough house, and was rather rudly spoken to by the banqueting manager (I also read a couple of dodgy reviews...sorry if anyone has booked this)

I must say Frein Manor does look a lovely venue, I was a bit put out by the price though!

Good Luck, and let us know your decision!!!

Hi again,

Thanks for your help with this. I'm glad the food is good! I've spoken to one of the wedding co-ordinators at OH and I'm going back for another look and to have lunch! Hopefully we can make a decision then!

Hi! I just thought I'd let you know about the other venues I've seen. Not sure how helpful it'll be but just in case! I've also been to Marygreen Manor in Brentwood. It's a nice place - an old Tudor building and the little garden is lovely - but it is a bit on the small side if you are having a lot of guests. They do a very good package for anyone having around 50 people in the day and 50 in the eve though. The other I've been to see is the Park Inn, Thurrock. Unfortunately it does need a bit of TLC and is already having a major refurb of the bedrooms so it might not be the best time to consider it for a wedding! I'm also waiting for a brochure for Stock Brook but it does look a bit pricey!

Yes I can see what you mean about FM being a bit more formal than OH. Hopefully my second visit to them both will mean I can make a decision!

Thanks LuLu - I haven't heard of Marygreen Manor so will have a look on the website now! Stock Brook is lovely - have been to many weddings there. But yes it's pricey! The bar prices are also really high and every time I have attended a wedding there, there have always been two other weddings going on at the same time. My school prom was also there so it would feel really weird to get married there!!

Good luck with your planning x

Great to find fellow Essex brides!! I'll have a look at the Old Rectory - hadn't heard of it until now. I did like Mulberry House but didn't get an instant "wow" from it. But having looked through the prices again I think it's by far the best value and the more I think about it the more I like it!! So maybe it is "the one".

My sister had her wedding there last year, and its a wonderful place. The food was fab and service great. The only downside was the bar. They only had two people running it and serving 140 people is near impossible. She did have to rant, but thankfully they drafted in extra help!

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thanks to all the other Essex Brides for your comments. This has really helped. Good luck with the planning! x

I know!

go back for a second look of you can, thats what we did and as we had already been told all the information we could just walk around by ourselves and try and picture it all!

the old rectory are really helpful if you do go for a look around.

good luck with it though, definately let us know where you decide!!

xx

Firern Manor, everytime.

Orsett Hall is nice, but the fact that they can have so many weddings at once is a bit of a put off.

Pete x

Hi there, I got married at Friern Manor a few weeks ago and the venue is amazing and so are the staff, I felt like the whole world revolved around us that day, they were so attentive to our every need, from escorting my Nan to the toilet during the ceremony to arranging a tiny fridge for my babies milk...nothing was to much for them.

Have been to a wedding at the new Orsett hall and just found it very.....Chavy. I didn't like the area where the service was carried out, its seemed like a living room and just not the same at the old venue that once was. Doesn't have any character now and its lost its charm, however the gardens are lovely

So It has to be Friern Manor every time, its very personal and if there is another wedding taking place that day as there was mine, your not at all aware of it! My advise would be to have the ceremony in the house and the evening in the stables, its just perfect and they have kept the Christmas twinkly lights on the ceiling now which makes it even more breath taking!

Good luck x

Just to add more spice to the mix, I'm an essex bride getting married at Newland Hall.

www.Newlandhall.co.uk

We're getting married in winter, we have the ceremony room for pics, another little room and the marquee. Preferably we will have some outside loving, but if not we'll just have fun indoors. ?

<Zips mouth before she explodes at the blatent advertising above calling the wedding venue of past, present and future Hitched brides as 'Chavy'>

Hello,

I havnt been to OH but we did like Friern alot. Loved the stables and the conservatory. We wanted the ceremony in the marqee but that only goes up during peek season and if wanted both bits (the marquee and the coach house) we would have had to pay more...as they can hold two weddings that way. only thing that put me off...oh and yes the bedrooms too. They looked so small. I know its a small thing but wanted the first night of our married life somewhere slightly better. The fiance suggested going somewhere else for the night but that just adds to cost including transport. I realy like the Fennes...its a smaller version of Qendon hall. Both are run by Parklands.

The have lots of space to do anything you want. Can get married outside too etc

But the bedrooms are huge...great to stay in and great to get ready in.

Hope that helps

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments. I thought I'd just update you with our decision. Well we went for the 'chavy' option! So it'll be a chavtastic wedding for us it seems! In all seriousness though we didn't find Orsett Hall chavy at all and I love the Gold Room. Friern Manor is lovely but it was just too small for us, plus the room situation really put me off. It definitely helped going back to see them both again! And I got to see the rooms and bridal suites at OH which are lovely!

RaeF - Fellow Orsett Hall bride! How are the plans going? Hope all is well!

Trying to get my Ticker to work but not having much luck!

http://tickers.tickerfactory.com/ezt/d/4;10716;6/st/20120225/e/Our+Wedding/dt/5/k/bb81/event.png%22%3E%3C/a

Welcome to a fellow 'Chavy' bride, apparently... Can't see myself how it's chavy, but hey - what do we know? We booked it after all! ?

When abouts are you booked for? Which bridal suite have you gone for?

I don't have long left now and we're full steam ahead.

PS - the ticker url needs to go into your signature - in the member area at the top right of the screen, then into my profile.

Hi Vicky Jay

not sure if this is too far out for you:

https://whitehartweddingvenue.co.uk/

Been to a wedding here & it was great. Old house/stately home feel without the price tag. Back then the wedding reception was in a marquee in the garden. They've since had a barn built to hold functions. Hope this helps, from a sad old married who loves to pop into hitched once in a while & enjoy other peoples plans,

Best of luck

M x

Hi RaeF, Thanks for the reply. I can't see it myself either but there you go!

We are going for the Gold Room on 25th feb 2012. Decided to go off season to save a bit of money, plus I'm not really too fussed about the weather. I love the Gold Room is that what you are going for? Have you chosen your menu and everything? Must be getting exciting now! I can't wait but it seems so far away - exactly 20 months tomorrow! I hope you have a lovely day!

PS: Thanks for the tip about the ticker. I have tried it but not sure I've done it right!

Just testing my ticker again - if it doesn't work this time I give up!

We have the Gold Room too. We loved it as soon as we saw it! We've also got the Barnard bridal suite as it was just so different.

Our final meeting isn't until 7th July so everything will be decided upon then. Stick around and I can let you know how the day goes!!

Anything else you want advice on, supplier wise, just give me a shout and I'll see if I can help you at all. As you've seen, there are plenty of Essex brides on here so someone should always be able to help!

Hi RaeF, Thanks for that, yes please let me know how everything goes! We have booked the old fashioned bridal suite, I wanted the one with the pink on the walls but my H2B thought it was a bit girly! I think my sister wants to stay in it if there are no other weddings! LOL!

Hope everything goes well, and yes I expect I will need some advice on suppliers and things so I will def be in touch. I haven't done much planning yet but will get started soon. Take care!

Hi there, i am a 2012 essex bride!! i was hoping to book orsett hall also, on a sunday there website says they allow own caterers which would be handy as oh mum is a chef! if you dont mind me asking was it quite pricey? some have said yes others no. many thanks x