Your heart beats a little faster as you near the end of the long, tree-lined driveway. And then you see it. Set in private riverside grounds dotted with lavender, Notley Abbey instantly casts its spell. The country retreat that once seduced lovebirds Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh is every bit as beguiling today – an award-winning wedding venue for up to 250 guests.
It’s a moment you’ll never forget. The walk up the aisle. The turn and smile. The vows. And then the cheers from those you love. The setting has to be just right. Notley Abbey has several just-rights, inside and out – the choice is yours.
The confetti settles. There are photographs to pose for (could there be a more beautiful backdrop?). And then the celebrations really begin. With the run of the house and grounds, there are multiple settings for drinks and canapés…
We’re looking forward to showing you around. Let us know when you’re coming, and we’ll have a glass of something sparkling ready for you…
Delicate canapés for mingling guests are merely a prelude to the main event – a three-course wedding breakfast that delights the eye as much as the palate. Crisp white linen is the canvas for food you’ll remember for as long as the day itself, meticulously crafted, presented with panache.
Famous guests have graced the abbey’s bedrooms over the years (Henry VIII and Marilyn Monroe among them). As you ascend the main staircase, passing beneath a rather striking chandelier, your imagination runs wild. The stories these walls could tell. It’s quite the sleepover, with a leisurely breakfast for you and your resident guests the morning after.
