There is something quietly moving about celebrating in a house that has already witnessed more than two centuries of family life.
The Hon. William Henry Steeves House Museum in Hillsborough is the birthplace of William Henry Steeves, a Father of Confederation and later a Senator. The original house was finished in 1812, and the larger portion was added around 1840. Today the museum's 6,000 square feet of antique-furnished period rooms are open to the public for guided tours.
Weddings and other events are held in the Little Egypt Room on the ground floor of the museum. The room measures 17 by 33 feet and can welcome up to 54 guests with tables and chairs, or up to 69 with chairs only. Those numbers include everyone in the room, from the officiant and MC to musicians and serving staff, which makes it best suited to small, close-knit celebrations.
Outside, the grounds offer spacious lawns, shade trees, manicured gardens and plenty of room for guests to wander and take photographs.
Weekend wedding packages include use of the Little Egypt Room and two washrooms from Friday evening through Sunday morning, along with tables and chairs, dishes and cutlery, tea and coffee equipment and general kitchen equipment. Food cannot be prepared on site, so couples will want to plan with a caterer who can bring meals in ready to serve.
A wheelchair-accessible ramp leads into the venue at the back of the building, though the museum notes that its washrooms are not currently wheelchair accessible.
The weekend format could give couples time to decorate on Friday, celebrate on Saturday and gather once more on Sunday morning before saying goodbye.
For couples who want a small wedding with real history, gardens for photographs and a setting far removed from a typical banquet hall, The Steeves House Museum offers a gathering place with deep roots in Albert County.
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