Food Museum Weddings
The museum offers a range of wonderful possibilities for your wedding day, whether it’s a ceremony only, daytime or evening reception, or the whole day with us. We offer a range of unique and historical spaces, all set in a stunning 84-acre landscaped estate in the heart of Suffolk.
We pride ourselves on our friendly and professional approach, with a flexible approach to creating the perfect day for couples with any budget. Clients can use suppliers of their choice to create and personalise their perfect day and keep to their budget.
Our wedding season runs from 1 April-3 October each year. We have smaller capacity winter packages in our dining room and conservatory all year round.
READ OUR BROCHURE HERE – please note we were previously known as Abbot’s Hall Weddings
Please get in touch with Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk if you have any questions or would like an introductory chat without obligation. Marie will be more than happy to talk through your ideas and how we can help you make them a reality.
Photos by Caroline Horne, Hello Lovely Photography, Beth Beresford
Venues and Ceremonies
The Food Museum is a licensed Wedding Venue, with a variety of locations within historic buildings and outside settings for open air ceremonies and celebrations.
Medieval Barn
Abbots Hall Barn
Capacity 180 for ceremony
Our stunning 14th-century barn is ideal for larger wedding parties.
The Medieval Barn is the oldest building on site. The stunning timber structured building is Grade 2* listed, with a large open space and original features. It provides the perfect atmosphere for a ceremony or party that is quintessentially Suffolk and is a much-loved, one-of-a-kind building.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
All of our fees include the use of our tables and chairs and the opportunity to have your photographs taken anywhere on site.
Abbot's Hall Lawn and Marquee
Abbot’s Hall Lawn
Outside ceremony
Capacity 200
For large wedding parties, the back lawn of Abbot’s Hall provides a generous green space adjacent to our wonderful marquee and a perfect venue for your daytime reception. This large, open space is all yours for your guests to enjoy after your ceremony. The marquee has a generous catering space on the side for caterers to use.
With all outside ceremonies there is a need for a ‘wet plan’ for the ceremony and we can provide our large and beautiful Medieval Barn for this if the weather prevents an outside wedding.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
All of our fees include the use of our tables and chairs and the opportunity to have your photographs taken anywhere on site.
Photo by Hello Lovely Photography.
Victorian Stable Block
Victorian Stable Block
Capacity 80 (outside ceremony)
Providing the perfect historic backdrop for an outdoor wedding, the Victorian stables with its ornamental brickwork and framing archways provides a quiet and intimate setting for your ceremony. Situated next to our beautiful Walled Garden, it’s perfect for a flower-filled ceremony.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
All of our fees include the use of our tables and chairs and the opportunity to have your photographs taken anywhere on site.
Victorian Conservatory and Walled Garden
Victorian Conservatory and Walled Garden
Capacity 29
Ideal for intimate, relaxed ceremonies, the Victorian Conservatory of Abbot’s Hall overlooks a beautiful Walled Garden which is lovingly cared for and beautifully planted all year round.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
All of our fees include the use of our tables and chairs and the opportunity to have your photographs taken anywhere on site.
Photos by Beth Beresford Photography and Caroline Horne.
Abbot’s Hall Dining Room
Abbot’s Hall Dining Room
Capacity 27
The intimate dining room of the 18th-century Abbot’s Hall looks out on the picturesque landscaped back lawn and walled garden.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
All of our fees include the use of our tables and chairs and the opportunity to have your photographs taken anywhere on site.
Photo by Caroline Horne
Victorian Chapel
Gt. Moulton Chapel
Unlicensed, independent celebrant only
Capacity 60
Known as a ‘tin tabernacle’, the chapel still retains its original baptismal pool and Sunday School room from when it was an active chapel.
Situated near to our beautiful watermill and millpond with an orchard nearby, this is a special place to celebrate and get the most wonderful photos to capture your day.
Due to its religious past, legal ceremonies cannot take place in this building. It can host independent celebrant only ceremonies and legal ceremonies will still need to be arranged with the local registry office.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
All of our fees include the use of our seating and the opportunity to have your photographs taken anywhere on site.
Photo by Beth Beresford Photography.
Package Weddings
Midweek wedding package, Sunday – Thursday (April – September)
50 guests, £5000 (+ VAT) to include:
- Arrival drink for each guest of sparkling wine or elderflower cordial
- Luxurious grazing table filled with locally sourced produce, plus a pudding table
- Use of our horsebox bar for extra drink purchases throughout the day and evening
- Sparkling wine for speeches
- Your choice of evening food offer of woodfired pizza, hog roast or BBQ
- Exclusive use of our Medieval Barn or Lawn Marquee for your event
- Access to our supplier list and use of our dedicated Event Manager to organise further details on your behalf
Please get in touch with marie@foodmuseum.org.uk for more details and to start arranging your perfect day.
Receptions
You can have your whole day with us: ceremony, daytime reception and evening reception, or a combination of any of these. Some dates are also available for evening only receptions, if you are having a ceremony elsewhere but looking for a wonderful venue for your evening guests.
Daytime Reception
Your daytime reception takes place on the picturesque back lawns of Abbot’s Hall where our beautiful marquee is also situated. Marquee capacity is 180.
Your guests will be able to enjoy a drink or two and take in the beautiful rural surroundings. There are many ways you can build your day and entertain guests – many clients have hired anything from lawn games to bouncy castles. We are open to your ideas and work with you to create a special, bespoke day.
There are numerous photographic opportunities from the moment you arrive. While your guests are enjoying themselves on the back lawn, you will have the opportunity to explore our site with your photographer and capture your perfect day. We can provide a golf buggy and driver to get you around our stunning venue to make the most of the beautiful photographic opportunities all around the site.
We can provide a free-to-hire bar as part of your package which cuts down costs for you. We are also flexible if you want to make your own arrangements. Tables and chairs are provided, and you are free to decorate the venue as you like by prior arrangement with us. We build in generous time the day before your wedding for you to set this up.
For your reception meal, we have a list of high-quality suppliers reflecting different budgets and offerings to fit your vision. You can also use your own caterers, who will need to agree to our terms and conditions. We provide a catering space adjoining the main marquee. The caterers are responsible for all waiting staff, cutlery, crockery and glasses.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
Photos Hello Lovely Photography
Evening Reception
If you are planning a lively evening with a DJ, disco or live music, the Medieval Barn can be booked for your evening reception, allowing your guests to dance the night away and for you to enjoy that first dance together. The barn will be ready to greet your evening guests allowing them to arrive and enjoy a drink, even if you and your daytime guests have slightly overrun.
With the barn you also have the extra benefit of the use of outside space with seating. There is a generous yard which caterers can use to serve evening reception food.
Many guests opt for a hog roast, a chip van or woodfired pizza or simply provide a cheese board for their evening guests. We are open to ideas from you and your chosen caterers. Our suppler list has great local companies who are used to working at our venue and would be happy to discuss your requirements and make suggestions. We can also arrange a bar for the evening celebrations on a free-to-hire basis.
We have options available for all budgets, please contact Marie Taylor, our Events Manager at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk
Photos Hello Lovely Photography
Reviews
“We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better day, Marie and her team are out of this world! The museum is absolutely beautiful, with so many places for a photo op. The staff couldn’t be more helpful, Marie is superb at her job and everything felt relaxed and under control, I honestly can not rate the Food Museum highly enough.”
Emily and Grant
“Our wedding at the Food Museum was everything we could have dreamed of. From making the booking, to finalising all the details, nothing was too much trouble for Marie and the team at the Food Museum. The day went without a hitch and all of our guests have commented on how wonderful the relaxed vibe was in such a beautiful setting. I can’t thank the team enough”.
Laura and Karl
“We initially looked at having our wedding at the Food Museum due to a) the wide range of locations for your entire day, but all in the same complex (outdoor ceremony, marquee and barn) and b) because of the proximity to the station allowing for a convenient commute for all our London based friends and family.
We were absolutely blown away by the venue and in particular Marie and the team. The service provided by Marie and the team was second to none and you can see how passionate they are about the museum. Nothing was too much trouble, enormously accommodating of our needs, professional and friendly, and helped us overcome supplier challenges with ease. Our guests also fell in love with the venue, and everyone commented on what a great find it was. Thank you, Marie and team, for the most beautiful and perfect day, we wish we could relive it all over again!”
Moon and Jack
Recommended Suppliers
Please get in contact with Marie at marie@foodmuseum.org.uk for a list of suggested caterers and providers who have worked on our site before. You are free to choose your own caterers with prior discussion.
Stowmarket Registrars
Stowmarket Registrars are a very experienced team who pride themselves on making your day and ceremony special and personal to you. The team are happy to discuss personalising your ceremony, involving family and friends, including your own personal promises to each other and readings, poetry or even a sing-along. Don’t forget your dog can even play an important part in your ceremony!
The team are able to accommodate ceremonies up until 8pm in the evening and even Sundays. We work closely with the registration team who are open to considering different outside ceremony options for your legal marriage ceremony on this beautiful site, in addition to the main indoor licensed rooms we have on offer. The registration team can also offer non-legal ceremonies such as a renewal of vows in all the areas around this beautiful and unique setting.
Contact
Lynn Hiskey: Lynn.Hiskey@suffolk.gov.uk
stowmarket.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk
stowmarketsudbury.registrars@suffolk.gov.uk
Phone: 0345 607 2080
Tom's Kitchen
Tom’s Kitchen are a highly skilled team providing a catering and event management service completely tailored to their customers’ tastes and imagination. They are dedicated to delivering a service second to none in answering individual customer’s needs, time after time.
Tom’s Kitchen can provide excellent packages for all budgets and styles. They pride themselves on their food and service and working with clients to create a menu bespoke to your wishes. They can provide anything from BBQs to three-course fine dining. Highly recommended and are used to working with us on site.
Contact phone: 07735 497982, email: tom@toms-kitchen.com
Prestige Bars & Catering
Prestige Bars & Catering provide a free-to-hire bar package. Prestige will work with you if you have any special requests or drinks for your guests that are not part of the usual excellent bar stock and offer. Prestige also provides a wide range of catering options and have been working with us for many years. Highly recommended.
Contact phone: 01473 719787, email: info@prestigebars.co.uk.
