Intimate Wedding Packages: What You Get for Under 30 Guests
An intimate wedding package for under 30 guests at The Sessions House gives you exclusive use of the whole building: a Grade II listed Victorian courthouse, built in 1843, on Broad Street in Spalding, Lincolnshire. You can marry in the Courtroom or the licensed Courtyard, celebrate in the Emerald Room (up to 30 guests, with its own fully working bar) and bring your own suppliers and drinks, with no corkage.
A small wedding here is not a scaled-down version of a big one. You still have every room to yourselves, and no other event shares the building on your day.
This guide explains what an intimate package covers, which rooms suit 30 guests or fewer, what you arrange yourselves and how to get a quote. You can also see the current options on our wedding packages page.
What does "intimate" mean for a wedding?
Most couples use "intimate" for a wedding of around 30 guests or fewer: close family and the friends you would want at your kitchen table. At that size you can talk to everyone, share one long table and spend the day with your guests rather than moving between groups.
At The Sessions House, the Emerald Room is a useful guide to scale. It holds up to 30 guests, so if your list fits that room, you are planning an intimate wedding.
Comparing small venues in the area? Our round-up of wedding venues near Peterborough covers more options, and our guide to planning a luxe micro-wedding on a budget helps if you are still deciding on numbers.
What is included when you book an intimate wedding at The Sessions House?
Whatever the size of your wedding, these are part of every booking:
Exclusive use: every booking hires the whole building, so the day is yours alone.
Every space: the Courtroom, the Emerald Room, the Magistrates' Room, the Library, the Courtyard and the Summer Staircase.
Free choice of suppliers: there is no mandatory supplier list.
No corkage: bring the drinks you love without a corkage charge.
Easy arrival: private parking for 30+ cars and Spalding railway station under 250 metres away.
Styling, catering and timings are shaped around your plans, so the exact contents depend on the package and date you choose. The wedding packages page shows what is currently available, and if you are planning at short notice, look at the late availability wedding package.
Which room suits a wedding of under 30 guests?
Each space has its own character, and because you hire the whole building you can use several of them through the day. See them all on our spaces page.
The Courtroom: for the ceremony
The Courtroom is the ceremony room. It seats 20 to 100 guests on hand-carved wooden chairs and keeps its original features, so even a small group gets the drama of a former working Victorian courtroom.
The Emerald Room: for drinks and dining
The Emerald Room takes up to 30 guests and has its own fully working bar. For an intimate wedding it can carry you from the first toast to the last dance without anyone leaving the room.
The Magistrates' Room: for character
The Magistrates' Room is hung with 19th-century oil paintings and has a grand piano, which makes it a striking backdrop for a small reception, a quiet moment or photographs.
The Courtyard: for vows outdoors
The Courtyard is licensed for outdoor ceremonies. It is landscaped, sheltered and framed by gothic stonework, and it suits a small group as well as a large one.
The Library and the Summer Staircase: for portraits
Both are part of your exclusive hire, giving you more backdrops for portraits without leaving the building. Browse the photo gallery to see how couples have used them.
What do you need to arrange yourselves?
Because there is no mandatory supplier list, you choose the people who make the day yours:
Registrar or celebrant: registrars for civil ceremonies are booked separately through the local council's register office, so check their availability early.
Food and drink: choose your own caterer, and bring your own drinks with no corkage.
Flowers, photography and music: book the suppliers you love, or start with our list of trusted suppliers.
Your outfit: the Sessions Bridal boutique is on site at the same address (sessionsbridal.com).
A smaller guest list often lets the budget stretch further on the details you care about most, such as photography, flowers or a longer meal.
How much does an intimate wedding package cost?
There is no single price, because a wedding for 12 and a wedding for 30 need different things. The Sessions House sits in the mid-range for exclusive-use venues in the East Midlands, and the team builds a quote around your date, numbers and plans. Start with the wedding packages page, then ask for a quote.
Is The Sessions House easy for guests to reach?
30 minutes' drive from Peterborough.
Under 250 metres from Spalding railway station.
London around 90 minutes by train.
Private parking for 30+ cars.
After the meal, The Cell Bar, our prison-themed cocktail bar, is also on site.
How do you book a viewing?
The best way to picture a small wedding here is to walk through the rooms. Before your visit, it helps to know:
Roughly how many guests you are inviting.
Whether you would like your vows indoors or in the Courtyard.
The kind of meal or reception you have in mind.
Your preferred dates or season.
Book a viewing online, email info@thesessionshouse.com or call 07887 980103. You may also find answers on our FAQ page.
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can you have at an intimate wedding at The Sessions House?
Intimate weddings at The Sessions House in Spalding usually mean 30 guests or fewer. The Emerald Room holds up to 30 guests and has its own fully working bar, and the Courtroom seats 20 to 100 guests for the ceremony, so both work well for a small wedding.
Do you get the whole venue for a small wedding?
Yes. Every booking at The Sessions House is exclusive use, so a wedding of 10 or 30 guests still hires the whole building, including the Courtroom, the Emerald Room, the Magistrates' Room, the Library, the Courtyard and the Summer Staircase.
Can we have an outdoor ceremony with a small guest list?
Yes. The Courtyard at The Sessions House is licensed for outdoor ceremonies. It is landscaped, sheltered and framed by gothic stonework, and it suits a small group as well as a larger one.
Can we bring our own drinks and suppliers?
Yes. The Sessions House has no mandatory supplier list, so you can choose your own caterer, florist and photographer, and there is no corkage on drinks you supply yourselves.
How far is The Sessions House from Peterborough?
The Sessions House is 30 minutes' drive from Peterborough. It is under 250 metres from Spalding railway station, has private parking for 30+ cars, and London is around 90 minutes away by train.
How much does an intimate wedding package cost?
There is no single fixed price, because the cost depends on your date, guest numbers and the details you choose. The Sessions House is priced in the mid-range for exclusive-use venues in the East Midlands, and the team will give you a quote after a viewing or enquiry.
Comments