£3,500 - £9,995 for a package
Up to 140
5 Bedrooms
Exclusive Use
Wedding Licence
Bridebook Deal
Seasonal Offer Available
Old Coaching Stables Offer 2023
At Friern Manor, we are passionate about weddings. Our team is exceptional and we will ensure that your wedding day is like no other.
Friern Manor Country House Hotel Pricing & Costs
Packages(total price)
Prices Start At
£3,500
Maximum Price
£9,995
Number of Guests Included
60
- Twilight Wedding Package from just £3500 for 70 guests, the stylish alternative to a formal sit-down wedding breakfast.
- Old Coaching Stables Package from £7995 for 60-day guests and 100 evening guests in total with the option of adding additional guests.
What is included in this pricing:
Furniture included
Private room(s) included (non-exclusive use)
Wine / soft drinks allowance per guest
Wedding coordinator available on the day
Non consumables (e.g. linen, lights etc.)
Couple accommodation included
Friern Manor Country House Hotel Features & Capacity
Overview
Venue Type
Country House
Manor House
Dining Capacity
140
Reception Capacity
200
No. of Bedrooms
5
Bridal Suite
Honeymoon Suite
Ceremony & Reception
Wedding Licence
Sound System Available
Dancefloor Available
Confetti Permitted
Venue
Marquee Permitted
On-Site Parking
In-House Wedding Coordinator
Disabled Access
Landscaped Gardens
Water View
Outdoor Reception Space
Bridal Changing Facilities
Food and Drink
In-house Catering
Alcohol Licence
In-House Wine List
Friern Manor Country House Hotel Full Description
Friern Manor Country House Hotel, built in circa 1790, was transformed in the late 1980s to one of the county’s foremost exclusive hotels. Friern Manor was the first country house in England & Wales to hold a wedding ceremony under the new Act of parliament.
Situated in the village of Dunton, just south of Brentwood, it is less than five minutes’ drive from the M25, giving easy access to all major routes.
Set within four acres of beautifully landscaped and manicured grounds, Friern Manor boasts unrivalled facilities for wedding ceremonies within its unique setting. These luscious landscaped areas create a romantic setting and the perfect backdrop for your wedding photographs.
The classic Georgian Manor with its historic past has been owned by the family for the last quarter of a century. Over that time its reputation for exceptional service, friendliness and attentive service along with the establishment’s devotion to detail has enabled Friern Manor to become recognised as one of the county’s leading wedding establishments
We pride ourselves on setting new standards and continually strive to meet the ever-varied demands of our clients. We believe that our role through the planning, organisation and delivery of your wedding should be about facilitating your ideas and concepts to achieve your requirements.
So, whether you choose a traditional formal wedding or a chic modern twilight alternative, you can be assured, it will be memorable for all and executed with the passion synonymous with Friern Manor's reputation, all on a budget that will represent great value.
We would be honoured to be trusted with your most important moments. In return, we are committed to delivering an exceptional level of service and a lifetime of memories to reinforce the trust bestowed upon us.
Ultimately . . . It is all about service!
Personal Message from the Manager
Name of Wedding Contact: Danielle & Sarah
We would be honoured to be trusted with your most important moments. In return, we are committed to delivering an exceptional level of service and a lifetime of memories to reinforce the trust bestowed upon us.
Experience
Year Business Was Established
1989
No. of Weddings Hosted
More than 50
Public Liability Insurance
Yes
Reviews
(17)
Jenifer & David
Wedding: July
July 2021
recommended
We are due to marry here in 2023 and were invited as guests to attend their twilight wedding in July this year
If I am honest I knew it was a nice venue and realise just after lockdown most would be struggling as we read so much about it, but I think its better than before and the real WOW for me was the night time the grounds and lake all beautifully lite and they have restored the greenhouse ruins which are just so cute and the boat decking has been changed and is just so romantic, it really moved me just cannot wait till our special day – so if you are looking for something a bit different and well run then I would say this place is for you, I’m just so pleased my friend recommended it
Keely
Happy couple married in May
July 2021
Cancelled our wedding reception with 2 weeks notice!
They cancelled our wedding reception two weeks before we got married. They originally said that all other couples had postponed their weddings until the restrictions would be lifted so couldn't open 'just for us' as it was not financially viable. When we quoted this in our complaint, we were were told that it was not based on profit but because it was not safe. We still do not know which reason is genuine as both are contradicted by them holding another wedding reception two weeks later in the same step of lockdown. The managing director has no empathy at all and has still not apologised for the lack of notice he gave us and I don't think has fully grasped what he put us through in the lead up to our big day. Our last communication with them was two weeks ago and they have now stopped replying, probably because we have caught them in a lie. It's such a shame as it's a beautiful venue and this review is not a reflection on the staff, only the Managing Director.
Mrs Powell
Wedding: July
December 2020
Everything was perfect
Our daughter got married at Friern Manor on the 2nd June 2019 and everything was perfect. They made a special day wonderful and everything was run with military precision and nothing was too much trouble, even with an unexpected guest. We would recommend the Manor for any occasion as I held my husbands 60th birthday there in January and there was again no faults.
MR & MR WILSON-DOVE
Happy couple married in March
March 2021
More magical than we could have possibly imagined.
Thank you to all at Friern Manor for making our day more magical than we could
have possibly imagined.
The whole experience was excellent, with a genuine personal touch.
Nothing was ever too much trouble and you created the perfect day.
All of our guests have been so complimentary about how beautiful the venue is,
how wonderful the staff are and how delicious the food is.
MR & MRS BOSS
Happy couple married in March
March 2021
The day of our dreams.
Our wedding day was even more perfect than we could have imagined.
Every member of staff went above and beyond to make sure that we had the
day of our dreams.
Our guests have commented on what a fabulous day they had.
We are so glad that we chose Friern Manor for our special day."
MR & MR B FOX
Wedding: February
March 2021
We felt like guests rather than the hosts.
I do not expect that this is the first or by no means the last letter
of congratulations you will receive.
We all appreciated the advice, help and sheer professionalism of your staff.
We felt like guests rather than the hosts.
Bridebook recommended photographer
Looking to find a great photographer?
David Tinkler Photography has previously worked at Friern Manor Country House Hotel. Check out their work!
Frequently Asked Questions
(10)
Describe the best wedding that happened at Friern Manor Country House Hotel?
I am proud of every wedding at Friern Manor. We always aim to uphold our ethos of quality and service regardless of budget; the team go above and beyond to ensure it is the day of your dreams. The success of any wedding is as important to us as it would be to the bridal party, where you are made to feel at ease like guests, rather than hosts and we never forget your invited guests. Ultimately, good quality does not have to be expensive, but executed with a passion.
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Wedding planning can seem daunting at the beginning with so many choices to make. Just make one decision at a time and it will all fall into place and be perfect. If you are unsure or need any assistance, we are always available and would be delighted to help.
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
There are many, but personally I like discreet personalised touches.
One example was a couple that ordered the luxury Friern Manor ice cream cart but provided their own personalised paper napkins and ice cream tubs for their guests. I thought that this was a nice subtle touch.
Describe Friern Manor Country House Hotel in 5 adjectives
Luxury, Professional, Personal, Beautiful & Memorable.
Where’s the best photo spot at Friern Manor Country House Hotel?
As one would expect from an exquisite historic building within a four-acre established estate, photo opportunities are endless, but for me it is the stylish fusion of the historical manor house along with its ruins like the Potting Shed through to the inspiring folly’s with their modern influence that make the perfect backdrop for wedding photographs.
However, my personal favourite time of day for photographs is as dusk falls as I feel it creates some of the best opportunities for professional photographers and those Instagram moments for us amateurs alike.
The lush open-air oasis of the lake and its fountains, water features and significant gardens are all lit dramatically by lighting themes that are exceptional. The design emphasises the reflecting lake, substantial trees and the surrounding grounds, thus allowing guests to drink and relax in an informal atmosphere and to capture unique photo opportunities that are as exceptional as Friern Manor itself.
Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at Friern Manor Country House Hotel?
Yes many, primarily due to the venue’s private and safe environment.
What’s your favourite canapé?
Although our Chefs create delicious canapés, my favourite is the Light Bites selection in the evening. A couple of my favourites are the miniature Fish and Chips that include cod in beer batter and French cut chips served in a miniature cone and wrapped in Financial Times newspaper and a miniature beef burger with accompaniments served on a petite brioche bun in a stylish copper sauté pan.
What’s your favourite midnight treat?
It must be the Bacon Butties that are tastefully presented to the guests and a welcome surprise for those still partying. They are made of the finest smoked back and streaky bacon, grilled and served in a rustic roll with individual tomato ketchup or houses of parliament sauce.
What is Friern Manor Country House Hotel most unique feature?
There are far too many to list but a brief Google search demonstrates the passion and style of this exceptional venue. When I was approached to take the position of senior wedding co-ordinator I was apprehensive as I considered I had achieved my goal at an alternative venue. However, when I visited I soon realised that Friern Manor was understated, it did not bellow its presence, from the historic building with its chic modern interpretations that are tastefully accomplished without being influenced by trends to the impeccable grounds, it truly is select.
But for me, I think the most outstanding impression from behind the scenes was the passion for service and attention to detail, the internal training of staff with the emphases on attentive but not imposing service, quality uniforms and a devotion to the quality of food was a refreshing change in our industry, as our motto says, “Distinctly Different” and Friern Manor unquestionably delivers on that.
What part of your business are you most proud of?
I think that there are two that come to mind.
Firstly, the ground-breaking change by the act of parliament of the marriages Act 1949, Friern Manor was the first historic building to be sanctioned according to the new law to permit the solmisation of marriage on the estate. Friern Manor hosted the first ever marriage in England & Wales in May 1995. Friern Manor had previously played a historic role and was proud for it to have played this significant role in the unprecedented change of law.
More current must be the reduction in our carbon footprint. By engaging with our staff, we passionately believe that they will become ‘catalysts for change’ in this incredibly emotive subject of global warming. With their help and interaction, it is enabling us to develop a conscientious and proactive approach to the environmental and sustainability issues we face, not only as a business, but as a community too. The team at Friern Manor have always taken a consistent and long-term approach, knowing that ultimately, we are custodians who must safeguard the heritage of the estate for future generations so it can be as an important part of the county’s future as it has been of the past.
Bridebook Benefits
Bridebook GiftREDUCED MIDWEEK RATES AVAILABLE !
Bridebook Special OfferREDUCED MIDWEEK RATES AVAILABLE !