Clayburn Village Schoolhouse

At Clayburn Village, the wedding can begin in an old brick church and end with dancing inside a schoolhouse.

There are not many venues that can say that.

The historic village in Abbotsford gives couples two buildings across the street from one another, allowing the wedding to unfold through a little piece of British Columbia history.

The Clayburn Church is the intimate one.

Up to 80 guests can gather inside the non-denominational brick church, with cushioned seating facing a raised stage and a central aisle waiting for the ceremony.

Then everyone can cross the street.

The historic Schoolhouse can accommodate up to 120 guests and has retained the details that make it feel like a school rather than an event room wearing a heritage costume.

Rustic hardwood floors.

Large chalkboards.

Big windows opening toward the village.

A potbelly gas stove in one corner and a piano in another.

Couples can also skip the church and hold an outdoor ceremony on the Schoolhouse grounds, with Clayburn Creek and the surrounding village forming part of the setting before the reception moves inside.

And because couples can bring their own caterer and decorator, the old room has space to become very personal.

Flowers can soften the schoolhouse.

Names can appear on the chalkboards.

Tables fill a room once meant for lessons.

Then, later, everyone starts dancing in it.

There is something wonderfully playful about that transformation.

For one day, nobody comes to the old Schoolhouse to learn anything.

Except perhaps that a historic classroom makes a surprisingly good place for a party.

• Ceremony and reception in one place
• Outdoor ceremonies
• Gardens and grounds
• A historic setting
• Wedding packages
• Sound system and audio-visual
• Tented celebrations possible
• Exclusive use of the venue