A Year in Review: Looking Back on Our 2021 Weddings
2021 has certainly been a turbulent year for the wedding industry, with COVID-19 and numerous lockdowns causing unprecedented delays and uncertainty. But despite all the obstacles, we are delighted to have helped dozens of newlyweds tie the knot at our glorious glamping wedding venues over the past 12 months.
So, as this eventful season has finally come to an end, we wanted to share some of our highlights with you. We’re so happy we got to experience these special days with our lovely couples and wish them every success in married life!
2021 Weddings at Chalkney Water Meadows
Our first wedding of the year saw Vicky & Sam tie the knot on 22nd May 2021. After multiple delays due to COVID, they were so excited to share their special moment with an intimate wedding party of just 30 guests. Despite the reduced numbers, it was still a glamping wedding weekend to remember, with alpacas and some incredibly emotional speeches!
Next, we welcomed Geraldine & James to celebrate our first big wedding of the season on 26th June 2021. These lovely newlyweds approached us after experiencing problems with another venue, inviting 120 guests to witness them saying ‘I do’. With surprise bag pipes, shots for toasts and an ice cream truck, their party was nothing short of spectacular.
Amy & Daniel tied the knot in front of 100 guests on 3rd July 2021. They used all our recommended local suppliers, including Fox and Braces DJ and Anthology prop hire. With a fantastic playlist in the daytime and fabulous DJ set in the evening, Amy & Daniel’s wedding was one hell of a party!
Up next is Toby & Sue, who finally said ‘I do’ on 17th July 2021. They opted for a festival-themed wedding, inviting 100 guests in the daytime and 130 in the evening. Food options included a delicious wedding breakfast/canapes, ice creams and pizzas. It’s fair to say that Toby & Sue’s wedding was the hottest wedding of the season!
Lucy & Emily formally exchanged their vows in front of 140 guests on 24th July. With the help of some amazing suppliers, including Starry Eyed Weddings, they created the most incredible set up and were especially creative with their use of space. Fun garden games and cheese toasties as a midnight snack for guests all made the list!
On 31st July, Emma & Aden and their 50 guests joined us for a small informal wedding celebration. They had no ceremony, instead opting for a laid-back glamping wedding. Food options included a hog roast, mac n’ cheese and a coffee van for breakfast. Their selfie photo pod went down a treat and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Next up is Chloe & Jamie, a lovely couple who booked their wedding all the way back in 2017! They invited 185 guests to celebrate on 7th August 2021, making it our biggest wedding of the season. Chloe & Jamie’s wedding was fun and entertaining, with a photo booth hire and various creative catering options. The bride was even serving drinks at one stage!
Wendy & Andy celebrated their wedding reception on 14th August 2021 with the help of their closest friends and family members. After getting married in a local church on the Saturday morning, they opted for a beautiful vintage afternoon tea set up, with laid back glamping wedding vibes. We loved hosting this unique and quirky weekend.
Tara & Jack formally exchanged their wedding vows on 21st August 2021 in front of 100 guests. Their sit-down wedding breakfast, Pimms reception and beautiful string quartet went down a treat. They used flowers from our farm’s poly tunnel, grown by our resident florist Jess Blume, for the decorations – they looked truly amazing! We hope to see more couples decorating the tipis with flowers from the farm!
On 28th August 2021, Louise & Ian invited 130 guests to come and celebrate their special day. They opted for a festival theme, with family-focused activities such as an ice cream truck, bouncy castle, bubbles, and a face painter. They even went one step further and hired the site for an extra night to make full use of the bank holiday and extend their celebrations! This chilled-out glamping wedding weekend was certainly one to remember.
Emma & Rahul hosted their small Indian ceremony on 3rd September 2021. 60 guests joined the lovely newlyweds for an informal celebration, with street food stalls and a Browning Bros paid bar. This small glamping wedding weekend had a relaxed feel to it, with a lot of fun had by the couple’s closest friends and family members.
Lauren & Oliver’s festival style wedding took place on 11th September 2021. 100 of the newlywed’s nearest and dearest attended ‘Stoke Fest’, with a festival-themed seating plan, fancy dress, cake, goody bags and props in the daytime. The evening saw a fun glitter station and a pop-up photo booth, with plenty of food options to cater for all.
18th September 2021 was Emma & Daniel’s special day, celebrated with 120 guests. Their choice of catering was second to none, with pizzas, BBQs and a beer dispenser to enjoy. The weekend was full of love and laughter, with acoustic music in the daytime and even a bucking bronco!
2021 Weddings at Teybrook Orchard
Georgia & Katy invited up to 120 guests to come and celebrate with them on 1st July 2021. They approached us after experiencing issues with their previous venue due to COVID. With catering options including BBQs, pizzas and a cocktail bar, everyone was well fed over the weekend. It was a memorable ceremony, with the bride arriving in a red double decker bus!
Zoe & Alex were next to celebrate their wedding on 17th July 2021. They invited 60 guests to their glorified glamping weekend, opting for a DIY BBQ and BYOB setting instead of hiring any external suppliers. The site was decorated beautifully with a bespoke flower arch tailor-made for the ceremony, and the guests made the most of the orchard campsite for a chilled-out weekend celebration.
On the 3rd August, Jade took the opportunity to celebrate their previous COVID wedding with 100 guests. This last-minute booking was more of a large wedding party, allowing the bride and groom to celebrate their newlywed status with friends and family. They really made the most of our glamping facilities on offer!
Up next is David & Joanne, who joined us for a mid-week wedding on 19th August 2021. 90 guests were invited to celebrate their wedding reception, with a fun music playlist in the daytime and a spectacular DJ set in the evening. They even hired a bouncy castle for the kids (and the adults!) and opted for a bubble machine instead of confetti for the entrance!
Bethan & Sarah’s creative ceremony took place on 21st August 2021. They completely transformed our marquee and ceremony area with lots of beautiful props and bespoke signage, and opted to use the hot tub on the Friday night. With food options including a grazing platter, hog roast, ice cream and DIY pizzas, all 75 guests were extremely well-fed!
Georgie & Tommy opted for a wonderful woodland ceremony, with 74 of their nearest and dearest witnessing them saying ‘I do’. They brought all their own booze and used our bar/staff for serving. Their closest friends and family made the most of our glamping dwellings, making for a weekend full of fun and celebrations.
On 25th September, Gemma & Chris tied the knot in front of 90 guests. The ceremony was informal and intimate, and the newlyweds made full use of the hot tub on the Friday night, as well as the glamping accommodation facilities throughout the weekend – with many friends pitching their own tents too. They opted for a bubble machine instead of confetti and made their own flower arch.
Our final wedding of the season took place on 2nd October, which saw Leigh & Dominic exchange their vows. Despite experiencing our heaviest rain during any event yet, the stretch tent worked wonders and spirits were not dampened! 80 guests celebrated this personal and intimate occasion, alongside some friendly alpacas.
Our Wonderful Wedding Venue in the Heart of Essex
Chalkney Water Meadows is our picturesque lakeside venue, welcoming parties of up to 150 guests. The venue is popular with larger parties who require more space, but it can also host small intimate weddings; featuring three linked giant tipis as the reception space, with ceremonies taking place on the lakeside willow pontoon. Chalkney Water Meadows features 20 luxurious Nomadic bell tents, as well as two lakeside cabins.
Teybrook Orchard is our intimate woodland venue, welcoming wedding parties of up to 100 guests. The venue features a beautiful marquee as the reception space, with magical ceremonies taking place under the trees. Teybrook Orchard boasts 10 quirky glamping dwellings, providing onsite accommodation for up to 40 guests.
So, if you’re searching for a wedding venue in the heart of Essex, look no further than Browning Bros! Get in touch today to discuss your wedding plans and arrange a visit.
