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Weddings

About

The Minories – A Unique Colchester Wedding Venue

Nestled in the heart of Colchester High Street, The Minories is one of the most intimate and unusual wedding venues in Colchester. Our Grade II listed Georgian building and tranquil walled gardens, including an enchanting 18th-century folly, make us a truly magical wedding venue in Colchester, Essex—perfect for couples seeking charm, history, and sustainability all in one place.

Facilities and Capacity

As one of the top small wedding venues in Colchester, The Minories can host wedding parties of up to 45 guests. You’ll enjoy exclusive use of the building and garden spaces, with a choice of beautifully bright, licenced period-style rooms for your wedding ceremony. Our flexible packages are ideal for couples on different budgets, including those looking for cheap wedding venues in Colchester without compromising on character or quality. We also offer outdoor wedding venue options in our garden for relaxed, natural celebrations.

Plant-led, seasonal catering is available as an add-on from our in-house café, run by a local community cooperative. Whether you're planning a classic sit-down meal or a more relaxed reception, The Minories is a versatile wedding reception venue.

Environmental Responsibility

We’re proud members of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, making The Minories one of the most environmentally-conscious wedding venues. We work closely with eco-friendly local suppliers to reduce your wedding’s carbon footprint. From in-season blooms to dried flower arrangements, our trusted floral partners—Ardleigh Flowers, The Freckled Foxglove, Jordans Farm & Foliage, and The Foraged Bouquet—help us create stunning, sustainable decor.

Services Offered

Your wedding will be guided by our experienced and friendly coordinator, Sally, who offers a personalised, hands-on approach to ensure everything runs smoothly. From your initial enquiry through to the big day, Sally will be your dedicated point of contact—just one more reason why we’re a favourite among couples looking for bespoke wedding venues in Colchester Essex area.

  • Woman-owned
illustration popular

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

Unusual weddings
Historic
Landmark
In the city
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Private catering allowed
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Venue staff assistance:

Wedding coordinator

Other features:

Accessible facilities

Reviews for The Minories

A
Amanda Sent on 27/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Intimate wedding

We recently had our very intimate wedding at The Minories. It was everything we wanted…….a beautiful romantic setting in the idyllic foley with all its ancient Italian looking charm, a mixture of rustic & romantic the perfect backdrop for any photographer! We were able to decorate it to our personal taste & our guests, although few, were able to roam the grounds before the ceremony began, & after the event we had plenty of time to take advantage of the grounds with plenty of photo opportunities. Many thanks to all involved especially Sally…..we recommend The Minories if your looking for a unique romantic wedding venue big or small 👰👨🏻‍⚖️
S
Sonny Sent on 01/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect LGBTQ+ Small Wedding Venue

We recently had our small wedding at The Minories, and it was absolutely perfect. The venue itself is gorgeous — it strikes the perfect balance between traditional charm and a modern, stylish feel. It made for a lovely, intimate atmosphere that suited our day beautifully.

The staff were fantastic throughout. They were helpful, attentive, and really went the extra mile to make sure everything ran smoothly. A special mention also goes to Sally for all the support with planning and being there on the day to support with everything.

The food was outstanding and so many of our guests commented on how delicious everything was.

The only downside is the limited parking, which made things a bit tricky for some of our guests. That said, it didn’t take away from what was an otherwise wonderful experience.

If you’re planning a smaller wedding and want a unique, character-filled venue with excellent service and food, we’d absolutely recommend The Minories.
A
Anni Sent on 23/07/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Our wedding at the Minories

We celebrated our wedding in May at the Minories and had a beautiful day. From the moment we decided to get married at the Minories the organisation and communication was easy and straightforward and the staff helpful, supportive and knowledgeable. The Minories is perfect for an intimate and relaxed wedding and we would highly recommend it!
B
Billie Sent on 20/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A hidden gem for us to renew our vows, 15 years later

Found this amazing place for our vow renewal! After 15 years together, we wanted something special but not too fancy or expensive. The Minories was perfect!
Sally showed us around - loved the garden with that cool old folly thing and the upstairs room where we can have drinks after. It's different from boring hotel function rooms and has actual art on the walls!
The best bit is they only do small weddings (max 45 people) which is exactly what we want - just close family and friends who've been with us through the years. The building is really old but well kept and right in the middle of town so easy for everyone to get to.
They seem pretty flexible about what we want to do and the staff were really nice when we visited. Can't wait to celebrate our anniversary here in a few months!
Oh and they let us bring our own caterers if we want which is great as my cousin does amazing food.
Not many places in Colchester let you do something this nice without charging a fortune!
Should've taken more pictures especially of the garden - this sculpture intrigued us so just attaching this.
J
Jenny Sent on 12/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect wedding venue

We recently got married at the Minories and it was a perfect experience for us and our guests.
Even though we were all very anxious the helpful and experienced staff took care of everything from start to finish.
If you are looking for a peaceful, relaxed and amazing location that feels and looks like a Monet painting we more than highly recommended the Minories.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.

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The Minories Art Gallery, 74 High Street CO1 1UE Colchester (Essex)

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