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If we had any advice for couples on how to create the day of their dreams it would be to go with your heart, choose what you love and do what makes you happy and everyone will feel it.

From the moment we met R & A we knew this was going to be a mega Wedding for all the right reasons, beautiful souls creating their own vision & as it unfolded the happiness oozed through the venue from start to end.

Wedding Review -

Magical forest wedding venue in Norfolk

We had our wedding celebration at Happy Valley in July 2023 and it was the best weekend of our lives. The happy memories will last us a lifetime. We truly believe that this is a magical place, you can feel the love that has been channelled into the site. From our first visit in November 2021, we knew this was the place we wanted to get married. The venue has everything you need and more for the perfect wedding!

Our priorities were - a venue where our wedding party could stay on site, so we could spend as much time as possible with them, and a venue where we were surrounded by nature. Happy Valley gave us both of these in abundance. When you quietly walk around the site you can hear the trees gently creak as they sway in the wind, and it feels like they are offering blessings, it's pure wedding magic.

Led by Katy, the staff are super kind and helpful, and communication is always clear and friendly. They have worked with many local suppliers and we really felt the sense of community that has been built here as a business. Marie at The Cattle Yard bar put together the perfect drinks package for us, complete with local wines & bespoke cocktails. All the bar staff were so lovely to all our guests and instantly understood the vibe of our day. Our coordinator Alex was super calm and friendly and was always on hand with encouragement and support. We noticed every single kind word and gesture from the Happy Valley staff and we will always be grateful. If we haven't made it clear enough already - this is the dream team you want on your wedding day.

The venue has so many gorgeous spaces to chose from, both indoor and outdoor so you are covered whatever the weather. It looked like it might rain on our wedding day (it didn't in the end) but we can honestly say that wherever you have your ceremony on the Happy Valley site, there will be a beautiful backdrop.

The accommodation is beautifully put together and it really felt like the best possible (luxury!) festival with our nearest and dearest. The time you are allowed on site is really generous, so we never felt rushed and we felt like we had plenty of time to settle in and then to clear up. Checking all our friends into their accommodation was so much fun! Whether we were having breakfast together in Keeper's Cabin or a post-disco hot tub at Toad Hall, the accommodation was a huge part of the magic of our wedding weekend spent at Happy Valley.

If you are looking for a versatile wedding venue, full of magic and beauty, and run by the coolest, kindest people - look no further, this is it. Have your wedding at Happy Valley and the special memories will last a lifetime. A&R x

It is our honour to be able to host these incredible ceremonies of love, and we are so grateful to have worked with some of the best Wedding Suppliers
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Like something out of a fairytale

A Great British Summer of Weddings

The leaves are on the turn and the smell of Autumn in the air, so we decided it's the perfect time to reminisce about the beautiful summer weddings we’ve had...

Our hearts have been full this summer watching the venue come alive once again! After so much uncertainty in the wedding industry, I know not only for us but for all of the wonderful suppliers we work with - it has been a pleasure and relief to get back to doing what we do best! 

It’s been a particularly special season as not only have we had some magical weddings - we have been the destination that these families reunite. It has been so lovely to witness the joy on each couples face as their dream wedding comes together and to see the love on the faces of families who have spent 18 months apart. 

And with the Great British Summer comes the array of Great British weather. One word of advice when planning your wedding day is to have every weather eventuality covered. Here at Happy Valley there’s a beautiful space come rain or shine for every aspect of your day. This year we’ve seen it all but in true HV style the sun has shone down for all the outdoor “I dos”.

We want to share with you our favourite moments so far…

The Courtyard

Alfresco dining in the most colourful setting you can imagine, the barns as the backdrop and the sun shining down. This really is the spot for outdoor lovers - there is no better way to appreciate the outdoors than to sit, eat and revel in its’ greatness.

Jarek Lepak Photography

Jarek Lepak Photography

Sam Gee Photography

Jarek Lepak Photography

Jarek Lepak Photography

Thyme Lane Photography

Jarek Lepak Photography

Jarek Lepak Photography

Jarek Lepak Photography

The Dutch Barn

It was so refreshing to see the Dutch Barn full to the brim with love and laughter on this special day!

The Dutch Barn is the ideal place to gather and watch the sun go down…the golden haze captured here encapsulates the warmth we hope every couple experiences on their big day.

With space to seat 175 people, it’s a great spot to escape the weather and admire the panoramic views of Happy Valley.

Thyme Lane Photography

Thyme Lane Photography

Thyme Lane Photography

The Hay Barn

The snug ambience of the Hay Barn is the perfect place for intimate weddings! We were and still are completely in awe of the Hay Barn set up for this micro-wedding. The walls have such character that only minimal decor is needed to make it a really special place.

Throw open the doors and dance until your heart in content no matter the weather! The cosy atmosphere of the Hay Barn is perfect for when the nights draw in and the air becomes frosty.

Killer Filler Workshops

Photo Credits - Aurora Grey Photography, Tori Hancock Photography, Sam Gee Photography, Killer Filler Workshop

Suppliers - Wildfolk Flowers, Hannah Hunnam, Charlotte Rowland,

A Midsummer Night's Wedding in Happy Valley’s Woodlands

There are some moments in time that hold such an indefinable sense of fragility that we try to capture this fleeting event and bottle it as a memory. We imagine the feelings we felt and grasp them with both hands, clutching at it as if it were a precious butterfly about to escape. Some memories are so pure and so strong that one word, sound, smell or touch can take us back in time and conjure up what once was. Weddings often carry that sense of timelessness and there is something truly magical about encapsulating the day in a series of everlasting moments such as photographs, favours or scraps of material. We imagine ourselves old and grey, holding onto that precious token and looking back on a lifetime of happiness.

There is a feeling of promise that hangs in the air before our weddings at Happy Valley; our lands become restless with excitement as the fluttering of birds’ wings and the dancing of leaves signal its approach. The temperature rises and with it a warm feeling of joy is spread across the grounds as we anticipate our guests’ arrival with each tick and every tock.

The dreaminess of our woodland ceremonies and sense of ethereal wonder of our Willow Island blessings, sets a magical tone to proceedings. With all of the enchantment and mystery surrounding Happy Valley, it’s a perfect setting for a fairy-tale wedding, such as the one in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The ways to have a Shakespearean Midsummer Wedding at Happy Valley

1. Set the scene  – “I know a place where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows”. Shakespeare knew of the importance of creating the perfect ambience for romance. At Happy Valley, our nine acres of whimsical woodland are bound to inspire you.

2. Add a touch of romance –  “Love's stories written in love's richest books. To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes”. Consider adding a harpist or string quartet to your day, include Shakespearean quotes at the dinner table or perhaps send calligraphy wedding invitations, written on handmade paper and sealed with wax. At Happy Valley we can provide exquisite wedding gift vouchers, romantic, vintage props and timeless, vintage wedding dresses.

3. Add a sparkle of magic – “hand in hand with fairy grace, will we sing and bless this place”. With Happy Valley’s festoon lighting, log burners, Willow Island and star-gazing hot tubs, we add a glimmer and flicker of charm to any occasion.

4. Shakespeare Up the Dress Code – whether you choose to include floral garlands for the bridesmaids, Shakespearean masks for the guests or go all out and fashion some incredible costume pieces, Happy Valley has a stock of vintage clothing items that emulate the Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding theme perfectly.  

5. Make Memories – “Are you sure/That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream”. Having your wedding at Happy Valley is an unforgettable event but you can treasure this moment by capturing it with stunning photos, keeping a wedding invitation and favour in a time capsule, by dancing under the stars to your favourite song, or choosing to wear your signature perfume. Whatever it is you need to create an unforgettable moment, Happy Valley has a list of amazing wedding suppliers we can provide you with.

The Bard was a great believer in Love and naturally, so are we. No matter what theme or style you choose for your wedding, Happy Valley invites you to immerse yourself in the magic of our venue.

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

weddings@happyvalleynorfolk.co.uk

01485 600719

Instagram - @HappyValleyNorfolk

Facebook - Happy Valley Norfolk