Oxnead Hall Overview: One of Norfolks Best Wedding Venues!
Introduction
I recently had the pleasure of filming Thea & Mitch’s wedding at Oxnead Hall in Norfolk and wanted to take this opportunity to share everything I love about Oxnead Hall, whilst also exploring the downsides of this popular Norfolk venue. Towards the end of the article I have also included a list of the vendors Thea & Mitch hired to bring their vision to life. So if you’re considering booking Oxnead Hall for your wedding day, I hope this helps you in deciding if this venue is right for you.
About the Author
Chris Chadwick is a Wedding Videographer based on the Norfolk Coast, he creates cinematic and heartfelt wedding films for couples in Norfolk, Suffolk, UK and destination weddings. If you’re looking for a videographer to capture your Oxnead Hall weeding day visit chrischadwickfilms.com for more information.
Venue Overview
Oxnead Hall is a historic wedding venue located in the picturesque countryside of Norfolk, close to the city of Norwich. This exclusive-use luxury venue boasts a beautifully restored 16th-century hall, creating an elegant backdrop for your wedding day.
The Great Barn (to the rear of the hall) can accommodate up to 200 guests for a seated reception, making Oxnead Hall a perfect choice for larger weddings.
Oxnead Hall Wedding Venue, Norfolk. A 16th century hall surrounded by ornate gardens.
Positives
Wedding Planning Service
Many Couples tell me that one of the standout features at Oxnead Hall (and other venues in the Unique Norfolk Venues Group) is the exceptional wedding planning service they provide.
While attending Thea & Mitch’s wedding I noted the planning team were attentive to the couples needs and seem genuinely invested in bringing couples vision to life.
I had the pleasure of working alongside wedding coordinator Kathryn Browne at Thea and Mitch’s wedding and witnessed the bespoke service she provided throughout the day, ensuring everything ran smoothly. I noted Kathryn was personable and approachable and it was clear the couple had a close working relationship with her.
Aside from serving the couple, the other vendors and I received clear communication from Kathryn well in advance of the wedding day. We were provided with a schedule, map and contact details to help everyone to stay organised.
A helpful map of Oxnead Hall sent to the vendors prior to the wedding day
The Grounds
Oxnead Hall is set amidst acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, which offer a beautiful backdrop for any wedding day. Oxnead Hall is one of Norfolks most picturesque venues and gives you and your guests the space to relax, take a scenic stroll and allows younger guests to stretch their legs and let off steam.
The ornate hedges and historic archways within the grounds of Oxnead Hall.
The grounds are adorned with flowers and sculpted hedges which provide a romantic setting for your ceremony and photographs. I personally love the bridges, statues and castles which enhance the historic character of the venue.
Inside Space
The interior space at Oxnead Hall is also a standout feature of this venue. Attention to detail is evident throughout the venue, with all areas finished to a high standard.
The Great Barn
As a videographer I love working in the spacious Great Barn which can seat up to 200 people, while still allowing me the space to film the speeches and dancing without obscuring anyones view of the action.
The Great Barn incorporates air conditioning, underfloor heating and a sound system. Once the wedding breakfast is complete there is also plenty of room for a dance floor, live band or DJ.
The Great Barn also features a fully serviced bar and WC’s including disabled toilets and baby changing facilities.
Thea & Mitch enjoy their first dance in The Great Barn
The Bridal Suite
Aside from The Great Barn couples also have use of the Bridal Suite which maintains the same historic character as the rest of the venue. It also provides a spacious and visually stunning place for bridal preparation.
Thea admires her dress in the spacious bridal suite.
Multiple Ceremony options
As a wedding videographer, another feature I love is the multiple choices of location for the wedding ceremony.
The Parterre
Thea and Mitch chose the Tudor Parterre, a stunning waterside location overlooking the lake and miniature castle. They chose these vases of flowers to adorn the ceremony which added an additional element of depth and symmetry to their wedding film.
Thea & Mitch's first kiss following their ceremony in The Parterre
St Micheal and All Angels Church
There is also a small church for religious services. St Michael and All Angels church is a medieval chapel surrounded by woodland and accessed through walled gardens of Oxnead Hall. The chapel seats up to 90 wedding guests and is a great option for an intimate church service. I have not yet filmed at St Micheal’s church but look forward to filming there in the future.
St Micheal and All Angels Church at Oxnead Hall. Photo credit Oxnead Hall Website
The Fountain Room
If the Great British weather doe not accommodate an outdoor ceremony, The Fountain Room provides a spacious alternative for an indoor ceremony. The FR is conveniently situated adjacent to the Great Barn and can accommodate up to 140 guests for a civil ceremony.
The room is filled with natural light and overlooks the Fountain Courtyard. The room is subtly decorated allowing you to personalise this setting to suit the character of your day.
The Orangery
The final option is The Orangery. Nestled in the grounds of Oxnead Hall, The Orangery provides a perfect setting for intimate civil ceremonies of up to fifty guests. I love the location of The Orangery overlooking the lake and flanking the parterre.
Thea & Mitch share a romantic moment at sunset in the grounds of Oxnead Hall.
Negatives
The downsides I can see to Oxnead Hall are primarily price, popularity and size.
Price
Like any premium service the quality is reflected in the price. Oxnead Hall do not display prices on their website and prices will vary deepening on the time of year and the package you choose. Enquire here for details.
Popularity
Furthermore due to the beautiful backdrop and quality of service, Oxnead Hall is a popular venue, so you will need to book well in advance to ensure availability.
Also due to the number of wedding hosted at Oxnead Hall there will be many couples with photos with a similar aesthetic to yours. If you are looking for something truly original, you may want to look at alternative venues. If you’re looking for a more rustic aesthetic I love the tipi / festival vibes of Wellington Wood in Norfolk and Rookery Meadow in Suffolk.
Size
Finally this is one of Norfolks larger wedding venues, so if you’re hosting a smaller wedding, you risk the venue feeling too large for the number of guests, potentially detracting from the party atmosphere you’re trying to create (particularly on the dance floor). For more intimate weddings, I love Curds Hall Barn in West Norfolk which has a more rustic aesthetic while maintaining a high level of attention to detail throughout the venue.
The Vendors
As well as a Wedding Videographer, Thea & Mitch hired a variety of other Norfolk Wedding Vendors to bring their Oxnead Hall Wedding to life.
I have listed them below, so if you’re looking to achieve a similar aesthetic be sure to check them out.
Video: chrischadwickfilms.com
Photo: andydavison.com
Decor: epiceventhire.co.uk
Flowers: norfolkflowerfarm.com
Piano: carrieodonnell.co.uk
Makeup: tieganwillbeauty
Outro
I hope you’ve found this article helpful and has provided you with useful insights into the pro’s and con’s of Oxnead Hall. If you’re looking for a wedding videographer to capture your Oxnead Hall wedding day, remember to check out chrischadwickfilms.com for more information.
