NEW community wedding venues are set to open their doors across Essex next week, offering happy couples an attractive yet affordable place to tie the knot.

Essex County Council has entered into partnerships with districts, boroughs and voluntary organisations across Essex to establish nine new wedding venues across the county.

The venues will ensure that couples can marry in a high-quality space at an affordable price.

The new arrangements will replace the Council’s existing decommissioned rooms with new venues available for ceremonies from 1 April 2016.

Staff have been inundated with booking requests since the new venues were announced at the beginning of the year. Almost 300 couples have already booked their ceremonies at the new venues over the next 12 months.

Cllr Anne Brown, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Corporate, Communities and Customers, said: “It is really pleasing to see couples embracing our new venues.

“These high-quality locations will offer couples an affordable option for wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships in Essex.

“We have entered into agreements with venue operators to ensure residents are offered the highest level of service on their special day at the best price.”

The nine new venues are:

The Lounge, Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
The Farm House, Cressing Temple, Braintree
The Committee Rooms, Brentwood Town Hall, Brentwood
The Andre Room, Essex Record Office, Chelmsford
The Town Hall Ceremony Room, Colchester Town Hall, Colchester
The Ceremony Room, Waltham Abbey Town Hall, Waltham Abbey
The Len White Room, Moot House, Harlow
The Chairman’s Room, Uttlesford District Council Office, Saffron Walden
The Atrium Area, Runnymede Hall, Thundersley