Selden Barns Open Evening — Thursday 17 September
Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most significant decisions of your planning journey, and visiting in person is the only way to know whether a space is truly the right fit. On Thursday 17 September, from 5pm until 7pm, Selden Barns will be open to prospective couples and their families for a relaxed, drop-in evening — an opportunity to walk the grounds, view each ceremony space, and gain a clear sense of how your day could unfold within it.
About Selden Barns
Set along a quiet country lane in the heart of West Sussex, Selden Barns is a privately owned wedding and events venue surrounded by open countryside. The estate features a collection of restored flint and brick buildings, formal gardens, and licensed indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, all available on an exclusive-use basis. The venue accommodates intimate celebrations and larger weddings of up to 200 guests.
Ceremony Spaces
Selden Barns offers three licensed ceremony spaces, allowing couples to choose the setting that best reflects their style and the season.
- The Ceremony Barn — A beautifully restored, timber-raftered room offering an intimate indoor setting for up to 100 guests.
- The Sussex Oak Pergola — A licensed outdoor ceremony space framed by mature planting and rural views.
- The Front Lawn — An open-air setting bordered by fruit trees and rolling countryside, with capacity for up to 200 guests.
Mid-September is a good moment to see all three at once — the outdoor spaces still hold the last of the summer warmth, while the Ceremony Barn gives a preview of how the venue feels through autumn and winter, dressed and lit rather than empty.
Reception and Celebration
Following the ceremony, guests are invited into the walled garden for drinks, canapés, and garden games — a private, sheltered space ideally suited to photography and informal gatherings.
The Main Barn forms the heart of the celebration. Dressed with ivory drapes, chandeliers, and integrated fairy lighting, the space accommodates dining, dancing, and a fully equipped bar in a single open-plan setting. A floor-to-ceiling window frames the surrounding fields, while the original mahogany bar — repurposed from a Victorian chemist’s shop — provides a distinctive central feature. As the evening progresses, uplighting and an adjoining outdoor terrace extend the celebration into the night.
Exclusive Use and Onsite Accommodation
Each wedding at Selden Barns is held on an exclusive-use basis. The venue includes onsite accommodation for up to 24 guests, comprising 8 bedrooms within the main accommodation building together with the Gatehouse, allowing couples and their immediate party to remain on site throughout the celebration. Full details are on our accommodation page, and our catering partners are introduced on the catering page — both worth a look before you visit.
Format of the Evening
The Open Evening is a drop-in format — there’s no fixed appointment or time slot to book. Guests are welcome to arrive at any point between 5pm and 7pm and to stay for as long as they wish. There are no scheduled tours or formal presentations — instead, members of the team, including our wedding coordinators, will be available throughout the evening to answer questions on availability, pricing, planning support, and logistics.
The one thing we do ask is that you confirm your attendance online beforehand. It takes a minute, and it lets us know roughly how many guests to expect on the night so we can prepare properly and make sure everyone gets the time and attention they’d want.
The evening is suitable for couples at any stage of the planning process, from those who have recently become engaged to those finalising a shortlist of venues. Bring whoever’s opinion you trust — a parent, your maid of honour, the friend who’s already planned a wedding of her own.
Getting the Most From Your Visit
Open evenings have a way of sweeping couples up in the atmosphere — the fairy lights go on, the barn is dressed, and it’s easy to fall for the feeling of a place without checking the practical details that actually matter once the big day arrives. Before you come along, it’s worth reading our wedding venue open evening checklist — a short list of what to look for and what to ask, so you walk away with real answers rather than just a good feeling.
Event Details
Date: Thursday 17 September Time: 5pm – 7pm Location: Selden Barns, West Sussex Cost: Complimentary
Can’t Make the 17th?
If the date doesn’t work, you don’t need to wait for the next open evening. You’re welcome to request a private tour at a time that suits you, with one-to-one time with a coordinator rather than a shared evening. Couples who’d rather meet suppliers at the same time may prefer our Wedding Fair on Sunday 25 October, where several of our preferred suppliers join us on site.
Confirming Attendance
To assist with planning and refreshments, we kindly ask that all attendees register in advance.
We look forward to welcoming you to Selden Barns on the 17th.