5 of our favourite traditional wedding venues in Hertfordshire (From a Local Photographer)
I’m a Hertfordshire wedding photographer and I’ve worked across many of these venues over the years. If you're currently planning your day and want natural, relaxed photographs rather than posed or staged ones, you can see my wedding photography here. Choosing a venue is usually the first big decision you make when planning a wedding, and it quietly shapes everything else. The light, the space, how your guests interact and even how calm the morning feels all depend on where you get married. Hertfordshire is full of variety, from stately homes to barns, which is why it’s such a popular county for weddings.
Below are some of the best wedding venues in Hertfordshire and what they’re actually like on a real wedding day.
The Best Wedding Venues in Hertfordshire
Knebworth House
Knebworth House is a magnificent Gothic mansion with beautiful gardens and parkland. The house has been host to many weddings over the years and offers a range of options for your special day. You can choose to have your ceremony in the Banqueting Hall or outside in the gardens. The house also has a range of reception rooms to choose from, including the Victorian Library and the Garden Terrace Marquee.
The Grove
The Grove is a luxury hotel set in 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. The hotel offers a range of options for your wedding day, including a ceremony in the beautiful Walled Garden, a reception in the elegant Ballroom, and accommodation for you and your guests. The Grove also has a range of outdoor spaces, including the Orchard Suite and the Potting Shed, which are perfect for smaller, more intimate weddings.
Coltsfoot Country Retreat
Coltsfoot is one of the most relaxed barn venues in Hertfordshire. The ceremony barn, courtyard and surrounding fields naturally encourage guests to mingle which creates a very documentary style atmosphere. Most couples have their ceremony in the barn followed by drinks in the courtyard and reception in the marquee. The layout keeps the day moving without announcements constantly breaking things up.
One of the more memorable parts of Coltsfoot is the alpacas who live on the grounds. Couples can often include them in their drinks reception and even have a few photos with them, which always brings guests together and adds a bit of fun without it feeling forced. Barn venues like this work best when you lean into the atmosphere rather than trying to control it, and that’s usually when photos feel the most like memories rather than a photoshoot.
You can see a real wedding example here
Hatfield House
Hatfield House is a grand stately home with beautiful gardens and parkland. The house has been host to many weddings over the years and offers a range of options for your special day. You can choose to have your ceremony in the Old Palace or outside in the gardens. The house also has a range of reception rooms to choose from, including the Banqueting Hall and the Riding School.
Fanhams Hall
Fanhams Hall is a beautiful country house hotel set in 27 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. The hotel offers a range of options for your wedding day, including a ceremony in the Japanese Tea House, a reception in the Great Hall, and accommodation for you and your guests. The hotel also has a range of outdoor spaces, including the gardens and the lake, which are perfect for drinks and canapés.
Hertfordshire has many beautiful wedding venues to choose from, each with its own unique charm and character. Whether you're looking for a grand stately home or a rustic barn, Hertfordshire has something for everyone. Every venue holds a day slightly differently, but the best photographs tend to come from the same thing each time. Feeling comfortable enough to forget the camera is there. If you’re planning a wedding at one of these Hertfordshire venues and want the day documented as it naturally unfolds, you can get in touch here and tell me a bit about your plans.
