My favourite Norwich wedding venues

Cool wedding venues in Norwich (itself)

It’s no secret that i love an urban wedding – I spend much of my working life as a London wedding photographer and I love to carry that aesthetic right through to weddings in other cities – including my beloved hometown of Norwich.

Wedding confetti at Norwich Castle Museum

If you’re considering getting married in Norwich itself, instead of one of the various country wedding venues, I’m going to hedge my bets that you’re a local, and so you don’t need me to tech you to suck eggs and tell you about what an awesome city it is, and a bit of an undiscovered gem, though that does seem to be slowly changing!

Instead you’re going to want a great list of all the fab places you can hold your wedding in Norwich itself. I promise not list to list anywhere terrible or any dated hotels (there are plenty of those!)

Wedding ceremony venues in Norwich

If you want a civil wedding ceremony in Norwich, you have choices other than having it at the Castle Museum. Here are a few lovely spaces to say ‘I do’. They might also be available for hire for humanist wedding ceremonies or those with an independent celebrant.

Becketts Chapel

A beautiful little semi ruined chapel at the back of St Andrews Hall, I had no idea this was even here until I photographed a wedding there. Dressed with drapes by Boomting Bunting, it almost looked like a little Italian Chapel for Sophie & Luke’s wedding

The Flint Rooms

A lovely little deconsecrated church set up for wedding ceremonies with a difference. Full of knick knacks, curios and some of the very best light.

They usually only run ceremonies, but were persuaded to host Sophia & Christian’s wedding reception.

The Octagon Chapel

A Unitarian Chapel on Colgate – a Grand Georgian building. The Unitarians welcome people of all religious faiths and none to be married here. It’s a super distinctive building, and there are a few great spots for a reception within walking distance.

Norwich Puppet Theatre

Yes, the Puppet Theatre does weddings – alas unlike a wedding at a puppet theatre in LA I saw recently, you can’t get married by a puppet officiant. More’s the pity. What you do get is a cool cinema style wedding ceremony and the grandeur of another deconsecrated church.

Venues that do both

The Georgian Town House

The Georgian Town House at the City end of Unthank Road, is a great little venue for a small-medium sized wedding. They have rooms on site, your own private slice of the garden and the ceremony room is stylish and contemporary. Plus you can scoot round the corner to the Plantation Gardens, more on this in a bit.

Dragon Hall

Run by the Writers Centre, this is a beautiful old medieval Hall in the city of Historic Norwich. They have a lovely courtyard at the centre of the building for drinks, and it’s all rather upmarket and lovely. But you can still do the whole pretty meets gritty thing by stepping out onto King Street for some cool photos.

Norwich Arts Centre

If you want to get married in the hallowed halls where Nirvana once played, then the Art Centre is for you. You can use the space exactly as you like – you can have everyone together in the main hall, or put your tables throughout the foyer and bar if you want it to feel lighter and brighter. In the evening the main auditorium becomes an epic space to have a band, or several, play while you party the night away.

Reception venues in Norwich

The Unthank Arms

The Unthank Arms, tucked away on a residential street in the Golden Triangle (and about 3 mins walk from my house) is a great spot for a pub wedding reception. You can hire the whole space, or just use the upstairs room, and as these photos from Sophie & Luke’s wedding show, the space can look super stylish too. The team behind this pub have experience in running big weddings at spaces like Hales Hall too.

The Great Hospital

Another place I had no idea about really until I photographed a gorgeous wedding there, this is another medieval building, tucked away near the Cathedral. It has lovely gardens, it’s own cloisters and two lovely, big medieval halls.

The Redwell Brewery

If you like a laidback industrial wedding venue and/or craft beer, we got you. Head down to Trowse to the Redwell Brewery for a big old party in a warehouse.

Spixworth Hall Cottages

Ok – So this is almost a country wedding venue, but it’s only just outside the city. If you’re looking for something rustic and low key, where your guests can still get a taxi home to bed (or to a hotel) then this spot is great. It’s a big empty red brick barn that you can set up as you like, and gorgeous grounds.

Gonzos

Ok, so they don’t advertise this on their website but I’ve seen wedding receptions hosted here. If you want something rock n roll, or think that maybe roof terrace drinks could be awesome, then get in touch with them via their social media.

Other ideas for reception venues

Why not ask your favourite pub or restaurant if they’d consider hosting your wedding reception. Lots of independent restaurants have space to cater to weddings.

Couple photo locations in Norwich

Norwich has got loads of cool locations to do some couple photos, again chances are that if you choose to get married in Norwich itself, it’s because you love the energy of the place, so let’s capture that in some photos.

Norwich Over the Water

The area around Fye Bridge street has got so many gems – from the classic shot of all the colourful houses on the riverside, to a little bit of Brutalist squalor round the back of Anglia Square. For extra points, get low and as lose to the river as possible for a whole new perspective on the city.

The Lanes

Obviously – but with so many colourful shop fronts and winding pedestrianised streets, just taking a stroll hand in hand through town is going to give you a really rich canvas to work with.

Elm Hil

Not just the picture postcard view of Norwich, but this cobbled street has all manor of interesting nooks and crannies to explore.

The Plantation Gardens

I touched upon this earlier, but if you want a little green oasis in the centre of town this is it. You just need to pay admission and email in advance to request permission and a little world of palm trees and quaint little greenhouses is all yours.

Ellie Gillard is a wedding photographer, living in NR2, and dividing time photographing weddings in London, Norfolk and everywhere in between. Her speciality is creative, alternative weddings and those choosing to celebrate their days uniquely.