Planning your intimate wedding at Pig & Whistle Restaurant should feel relaxed, personal and beautifully simple.
At Pig & Whistle Restaurant, we personally help every couple plan their day, whether you're celebrating with 8 guests, 14 guests or enjoying exclusive use of the restaurant with up to 30 adults.
This guide explains how we help organise your ceremony, food, drinks and celebrations so that everything runs smoothly on the day.
Why choose us?
Award‑winning venue and food
Licensed indoor and outdoor spaces
Countryside views and sunsets
Dedicated events planner
Exceptional food and wine
Your Personal Intimate Wedding Itinerary
Once your ceremony time has been confirmed, we'll help you create a personalised wedding day itinerary.
This becomes a simple one-page plan covering:
Ceremony timing
Drinks reception
Photographs
Wedding breakfast
Speeches
Cake cutting
Evening celebrations
The itinerary can be updated as many times as you wish before the wedding.
The only fixed timings are the ceremony itself and the service of your wedding breakfast. Everything else can be adjusted to suit the style of day you'd like to create.
Booking Your Registrar
Pig & Whistle Restaurant is licensed for civil ceremonies through Essex Registration Service.
Once you have secured your preferred wedding format with us, you can arrange your registrar directly with Essex Registration Service.
Their team will guide you through the legal requirements and help you choose a ceremony time.
We are happy to assist with planning around your chosen ceremony schedule.
Food & Drink
As a restaurant, exceptional food sits at the heart of every wedding we host.
Micro-weddings for up to 8 or 14 Adults
Guests choose their meal from our seasonal à la carte menu.
Menus are supplied in advance, allowing everyone to choose their preferred starter, main course and dessert.
Intimate weddings for up to 30 Adults
Couples can choose from a selection of specially designed wedding breakfast menus featuring meat, fish and vegetarian options.
We provide a simple spreadsheet to help record guest choices, dietary requirements and seating arrangements.
Post-Ceremony Drinks
After the ceremony, guests can relax with drinks on our sun terrace, in The Outdoor Dining Room or within the restaurant.
Popular choices include:
Champagne
Prosecco
Cocktails
Wines
Local beers
Soft drinks
We recommend selecting a small range of drinks that can be served quickly so that all guests can begin celebrating together.
Wine for the Table
Many couples choose wines in advance for their intimate wedding breakfast.
Our wine list includes a wide range of styles and price points, and we're always happy to offer recommendations to complement your menu choices.
Table Layouts
For intimate weddings of up to 30 adults, we can arrange the dining room in different ways.
Traditional Top Table
A formal arrangement with the couple seated at a top table for 8 guests overlooking family and friends.
Informal Layout
Our most popular option places the couple in the centre of the room, surrounded by guests, creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere.
We'll discuss the options during the planning process and help you decide what works best for your celebration.
Flowers & Styling
The character of Pig & Whistle Restaurant means many couples choose to keep decorations simple.
Our cosy interiors, original features and countryside setting already provide a beautiful backdrop for your wedding day.
We recommend:
Bud vase arrangements
Seasonal flowers
Ceremony table displays
Candle styling
Florists are welcome to access the venue from 10am on the day of your wedding.
Candles & Decorations
We can provide a selection of decorative candles and candelabras to complement your chosen colour scheme.
Because our wedding spaces are intimate, a little styling often goes a long way.
Many couples find that simple floral arrangements and candlelight create the most elegant setting.
Confetti
Biodegradable confetti is welcome.
We ask that confetti is used outside the front of the building and, wherever possible, we encourage the use of natural flower petals.
Wedding Cakes
You're welcome to arrange your own wedding cake and have it delivered on the morning of your wedding.
Whether you choose a traditional tiered cake, a modern design or individual cupcakes, we're happy to help with display and cake cutting arrangements.
Music & Entertainment
Ceremony Music
Simply provide your chosen ceremony music choices and we'll arrange everything for you.
Exclusive Weddings
Couples enjoying exclusive use of the restaurant are welcome to provide a Spotify playlist, hire a DJ or arrange live music.
The ceremony room can also be used later in the day as a dance floor or choose to use The Outdoor Dining Room for an outdoor party.
Smaller Weddings
For weddings where the restaurant remains open to other guests, our usual background music will continue during your meal.
Recommended Suppliers
Over the years we've worked with a number of wonderful local wedding suppliers and are happy to provide recommendations for:
Florists
Cake Designers
Photographers
Videographers
Venue Styling
Please ask during your viewing or planning meeting.
Where we are?
Pig & Whistle Restaurant is situated in the beautiful Essex countryside near Chelmsford and situated between Writtle and Broomfield. As a small wedding venue near Chelmsford you will be transported to rolling fields. We are a 10 minute taxi-ride from Chelmsford train station.
Arrange a Viewing
The best way to discover whether Pig & Whistle Restaurant is right for your intimate wedding is to visit us.
Viewings are available between 4pm and 6pm, Wednesday to Saturday, when the restaurant is between lunch and evening service.
We'd be delighted to show you around and discuss your plans.