Smeetham Hall Barn
Wedding Venue In Essex
The Perfect Barn Wedding Venue in Essex
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When you and your guests step inside Smeetham Hall Barn, you’ll be welcomed by an atmosphere of elegance, charm, and timeless romance. Our barn, with its stunning high-vaulted ceiling and original timber beams, is over 500 years old. It has been meticulously restored into a tasteful wedding venue, ready for you to enjoy. Victoria and Sophie will go above and beyond to make your wedding dreams come true.
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The barn is perfect for weddings and civil ceremonies of all sizes, from intimate gatherings of 30 to 40 guests to grand celebrations with up to 150 guests for a sit-down wedding breakfast. The spacious dance area provides plenty of room to dance the night away to the band or DJ of your choice.
A Marquee or Garden Wedding Reception
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Adjacent to the barn, our silk-lined wedding marquee, located in a sheltered courtyard, accommodates up to 150 guests. Heated in cooler weather to maintain a perfect ambiance, the marquee is ideal for drinks and canapés, offering a comfortable space for mingling away from the dance floor. There's also room for additional musicians, such as a string quartet, to enhance your reception.
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For a civil wedding ceremony held in the barn, you and your guests can smoothly transition into the marquee or the landscaped gardens, where Splinters Caterers, our dedicated catering partner, will be ready to serve drinks.
Couples choosing a church wedding will find our caterers waiting at the French doors of the marquee to welcome the bridal party.
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Idyllic Farm countryside wedding setting
In addition to the marquee, you’ll have access to the scenic courtyard, perfect for welcome drinks, stone-baked pizza, barbecues, hog roasts, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors throughout the day.
Surrounded by the gentle rolling hills of Essex and Suffolk, the area is rich in charm and heritage. Nearby villages like Lavenham and Nayland, and the market town of Sudbury, offer timeless English character, while the region’s historic churches and cathedrals - including Long Melford, Lavenham, and St. Edmundsbury in Bury St. Edmunds - provide stunning ceremony options for couples dreaming of a traditional celebration.
Smeetham Hall: A Rich History
Nestled in the heart of the countryside, Smeetham Hall Barn is a lovingly restored 16th-century barn with roots that stretch all the way back to the Domesday Book of 1086. Once used for threshing grain and later as a livestock barn, this Grade II listed building has been beautifully transformed into one of Essex’s most cherished wedding venues.
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The Hyde Parker family has called Smeetham Hall home since 1906, and it remains a working farm to this day. In 2000, the barn began a new chapter—welcoming couples to celebrate their wedding in a setting steeped in history and natural beauty. At Smeetham Hall Barn, every wedding becomes part of a story centuries in the making.
Your Exclusive use wedding venue
Wedding days often pass in the blink of an eye, so we believe it’s essential that Smeetham Hall Barn be yours for more than just one day. This ensures you have ample time to prepare for and fully enjoy your special day.
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The venue will be exclusively yours throughout your wedding, with no other parties or visitors present, allowing you and your guests to celebrate in complete privacy and tranquility.
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At Smeetham Hall, we also offer a dedicated room for the couple. This space is perfect for changing into your wedding or ceremony attire, or into evening wear for the reception. More importantly, it provides a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the barn and marquee.
stunning photography
Our barn wedding venue is nestled in the rolling hills and idyllic countryside of the Belchamps, on the Essex/Suffolk border.
Here, you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of a truly rural setting and capture stunning photographs.
In addition to the surrounding countryside and wildflower meadows of Smeetham Hall Farm, your photographer will have the opportunity to utilize our beautifully maintained grounds.
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Our picturesque gardens feature colorful borders, immaculate lawns, and a willow-bordered lake, offering a stunning backdrop for your photographs. Guests can also enjoy a drink, take a quiet stroll, or simply relax by the water and soak in the serene setting.
