Essendon Country Club offers couples in Hertfordshire that fairytale feel with rolling green countryside and a rustic-chic barn backdrop for their special day.
There are a few different spaces to choose from, or incorporate, into your wedding plans. The Grand Barn is the standout setting. Dating back to the 16th century, this oak-framed building is arranged across two levels and offered on an exclusive-use basis, allowing couples to make the space their own for the day. Guests arrive via a private entrance into the Upper Barn, where the mezzanine level provides a light, open setting for ceremonies. Fully licensed for civil ceremonies and partnerships, it also accommodates more informal blessings or vow renewals, depending on how couples choose to mark the occasion.
Following the ceremony, the layout naturally opens out into the rest of the barn. The lower level is designed for hosting, with space for a wedding breakfast, a dance floor, live band or DJ, as well as a private bar. The staircase connecting the two levels often becomes a focal point for photographs, alongside the surrounding grounds, which offer wide countryside views and a variety of backdrops. For those planning a smaller gathering, the Maple Suite and adjoining Conservatory provide an alternative setting. The Conservatory, in particular, is bright and outward-facing, making it well suited to daytime celebrations with a more relaxed feel.
As for food, couples can select from a range of menus or work with the kitchen to create something bespoke, supported by complimentary food and wine tastings to fine-tune the details. A typical offering might begin with canapés such as mini cottage pies in filo or Yorkshire puddings with roast beef, followed by starters like chicken liver parfait or melon with prosciutto. Main courses include feather blade of beef with horseradish mash, sea bass or lamb rump, before finishing with desserts such as sticky toffee pudding or Sicilian lemon posset.