Located in the picturesque Belchamp countryside, Smeetham Hall Barn dates back to the 16th century and has been transformed into one of the top wedding venues in Essex. Set against a stunning rural backdrop and within breathtaking gardens, complete with a willow bordered lake, this venue is sure to provide beautiful wedding photographs for you to treasure forever.
The Barn is fully licensed for civil ceremonies and it offers the perfect, country setting for making your vows followed by your wedding breakfast and evening celebrations. We offer either a package at amazing prices or, if you would like a little more flexibility with your menu, you may choose the ‘venue-only’ hire. You can then choose one caterer from our list of six.
We are also very happy for you to provide your own alcohol and soft drinks for the day. The caterers will serve these for you and there is NO corkage charge, allowing you total freedom to choose your favourite tipples without the worry of extra costs!
The Barn, for a Saturday wedding, is available to you from 9am on the Friday until midday on the Sunday.
The Barn has a large dancefloor with the bar close by!
Smeetham Hall Barn is a wonderful wedding venue for all seasons (the Barn and the marquee are heated to an ambient temperature) and can accommodate small, intimate weddings or more extravagant celebrations of up to 150 guests for the wedding breakfast.
While the venue boasts a truly stunning countryside location, there are excellent transport links making it easy to travel to and from London, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Kent.
We understand how important your wedding day is and we are committed to doing everything we can to give you the day of your dreams.
Beautifully restored 16th Century barn and marquee
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So helpful and understanding in unpredictable times
Thankyou to Bridget and Sophie who have been so helpful throughout a very stressful time trying to plan a wedding in a pandemic... who would have thought that would be a thing! They have been always there at the end of the phone to discuss our options and helped us plan for all sorts of different situations and tier changes! Although we have now had to postpone to feb 2022, the process was so easy and they helped us pick the new date that was pretty close to our original!
We can’t wait to FINALLY get married in Feb 2022 at your beautiful wedding venue!
Sent on 30/12/2020
Alicia M.
· Married on 03/07/2021
5.0
Quality of the Service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value for Money:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Out of this world 💜
Where do we begin? It was an absolute honour being able to to host our wedding at the most stunning venue in July 2021. Bridget and Sophie's hospitality was out of this world and they made us feel so welcome and relaxed from the beginning.
We have had so many guests compliment the venue and say how wonderful those in charge were. Everyone enjoyed themselves to the max!
We cannot say thank you enough, we had the bestest day of our lives. If you are looking for a picturesque wedding then this is the only place you should consider!!
Sent on 23/07/2021
Smeetham Hall Barn's reply:
Thank you so, so much. As you know, we loved having you here and are just thrilled you had the day of your dreams!
Jade M.
· Married on 26/06/2021
5.0
Quality of the Service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value for Money:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Our perfect day - 26/06/2021
Where to start on our wedding story, like many others during the pandemic we should have been married last year. However, at the time we were with another venue which fell through, they were far from accommodating and wouldn’t allow us to rebook for a later time. Feeling in complete turmoil that we had lost our venue only weeks before we were due to get married, the amazing Sally at Splinters catering came to the rescue. Through tears she listened, got practical and started her own search on who and where was available. Smeetham Hall Barn was always a favourite but at the time we had overlooked this as my sister had been married there the year before. However, Bridget made contact, understood our situation and between her and Sally they really saved the day. We were able to have the date exactly a year on and my goodness, the flexibility, the support and the package they offered was just incredible. I’m a firm believer in fate and we both know that this change was meant to be. However, a huge thank you to Sally - you honestly don’t realise how much you helped. I was in complete despair at the time and your calming and practical support was greatly received.
The months that followed continued to be up and down, would we get the wedding we had planned, what would the numbers be, would we be able to dance? Bridget and Sophie at Smeetham were always so flexible, payment deadlines delayed and were always so relaxed and accommodating - exactly what every panicking bride needs.
10 days before, restrictions around weddings lifted to a certain degree. But we were required to cut some numbers, but even then, Sophie and Bridget were on the end of the phone and email, even allowed us to push in a few extra guests and navigate what the ever changes ‘rules’ meant for us and they really took the stress away.
We then come to the day before, dressing and decorating the stunning, stunning barn. Everything was going to plan, Sophie and Bridget were there on hand to help, as well as Sally from Splinters to ensure we had all we needed to get the barn dressed and ready. Then disaster struck and our wedding cake collapsed. Just when you think you’ve had all the bad luck, and this kind of thing only ever happens on ‘you’ve been framed’ the cake was in pieces. I was in sheer panic that I had to remove myself for a moment. However, yet again….. Bridget, so very calm, said she’d accommodate whatever we needed, any hour of the night or following morning, offering the kitchen to enable the cake maker to come and re do the cake, offering an array of options to ensure things worked out - and they really did.
Our wedding was utterly perfect, the day itself was a dream, the venue even with nothing is stunning, but we utilised the space and my dreams all came together. The sun shone and our photographer (Pengelly) a regular at the venue, knew every spot and the photos are breath taking.
The day and night went past in a blur, but the whole team working at the barn that day went over and above in their service, so many members of our friends and family commented on how amazing you all were. The food was delicious and this is all I have heard since - service and food was perfect. My friend even said she briefly said in discussion about a drink and before she knew it, one of the team had delivered her one. Even when we were off having photos, Sally, Sophie and the team were there ensuring Olly and I were ok and with a drink.
Now our engagement has been quite the journey, and I’m sorry if I have gone on a little but you have all been AMAZING! Our day was perfect and something we will continue to talk about for a long time to come. I can’t recommend SHB and Splinters enough - 5* on everything. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! Xxxx
