Wedding Inspiration

What is a Wedding Experience Evening and What Can You Expect at One

Once you have chosen and booked Upwaltham Barns as your dream Sussex wedding venue, you will embark on an exciting journey towards your special day. As part of this journey, we are delighted to offer you a truly unique and immersive experience – our exclusive “Wedding Experience Evening”.

At Upwaltham Barns, we understand the significance of every moment leading up to your wedding. That is why we hold these evenings, designed to allow you and your partner a glimpse into the magic that comes with your big day. Think of it as a sneak peek, an opportunity to step into the world of Upwaltham Barns as one of your wedding guests and to envision your own day unfolding within the rustic charm of our Sussex Barns.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Wedding Experience Evening:

1. Invitations

Held several months before your big day, the invitations are sent via email from our exclusive caterers Nibbles2Nosh, along with a curated seasonal menu.

2. Warm Welcome

Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted by our friendly staff and handed a welcome drink. This sets the tone for a relaxed and enjoyable evening.

3. Venue Tour

Get ready to be enchanted by Upwaltham Barns at night and the magical ambience created by candlelight and twinkling fairy lights. The whole venue is open so that you can wander at your leisure exploring the Moroccan snug, gardens, Stable Bar and Jasmine Cottage.

4. Meet The Team

Our experienced catering coordinators will be ready to answer any questions you may have; this is an excellent opportunity to discuss your wedding vision and any special requirements you may have for your day. During the evening, many of our dedicated service team members, who will also be present on your wedding day, will look after you. Recognising familiar faces can help you feel more at ease on your wedding day.

5. Styled Spaces

The barns will have been carefully styled to give you a sense of how your wedding could look. Some of our trusted suppliers will dress both barns, showcasing the versatility and charm of each space. A florist will create table décor, while live music will allow you to experience the acoustics in the barns. A professional photographer will capture the evening, leaving you with cherished memories of the extraordinary experience.

6. Culinary delights

Nibbles2Nosh will be serving a selection of dishes from their current menus allowing you to experience the quality and presentation of our food, helping you to make your final choices for your wedding breakfast. This gives you the opportunity to taste the high-quality cuisine that will be served to you and your guests on your wedding day.

7. Sipping and sampling

The Stable Bar, our in-house drinks experts, will be adding to your experience by offering wine samples from their current selections to compliment your meal. Their team will be on hand to discuss drink options, including cocktails and helping you to find the perfect beverage to raise a toast to your new beginnings.

8. Networking with other couples

These events provide the opportunity to connect with other couples in a similar planning phase, enabling idea-sharing and forming supporting relationships with like-minded couples.

Experience your Sussex wedding venue for yourself – as a guest!

Our “Wedding Experience Evenings” at Upwaltham Barns are more than just a taste test. Immerse yourself in the ambiance, savour the flavours, enjoy a glass of bubbly, and explore our enchanting Sussex barn wedding venue. An evening of lively conversation, laughter, love, and a taste of the magic that is Upwaltham Barns.

We have always had such positive feedback from these evenings with many couples saying the experience was invaluable to their planning process.

“We just wanted to thank you and all the team at Upwaltham for the thought and work you put in to creating a really lovely evening last night. The food was delicious, and we very much enjoyed reconnecting with you all and chatting to the other couples during the evening.” – Nicola & Peter

“I just wanted to send a quick email to say thank you for hosting such a special evening on Thursday and for being so accommodating to us. The food was exceptional, and it was really special to be able to show my Mum around. It made us both really excited for the big day! Josh also loved the lemon tarts you packaged up for him – a big thank you from him too!” – Laura

“We just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you and your fabulous team for the wonderful Experience Evening on Thursday.  We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Upwaltham Barns again and seeing the additions since our last visit”. – Laura & Vik

“Last night was lovely and we can’t thank you all enough, was nice to see the venue at night and taste the food! It was lovely!” – Kirsty