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About Us
The family behind Smitsfield Venue
Smitsfield Wedding Venue is the perfect location for destination weddings, specialising in weekend celebrations. Nestled in the Highveld of Mpumalanga, just a 2.5-hour drive from Pretoria or Johannesburg, it lies on a picturesque farm to the east of Ermelo. With over 100 hectares of farmland alongside the breathtaking Vaal River, Smitsfield Venue provides an idyllic backdrop for your special day.
This family business was taken on by the hard-working Coetzer family, Marius and Heléne, greatly thanks to the success of the sought-after Florence Wedding Venue, owned by Helene’s parents – Nico and Ane Steinberg.
In 2017 the family purchased Smitsfield farm, which for many generations have been the site for the annual Day of Reconciliation remembrance celebrations. This had great significance for the Coetzers, who decided to trade the big city for country living and to take on a new adventure. They pursued life on the countryside with a desire to return to their roots and to raise their children in the same way that they grew up. In 2018, construction began, and their family grew bigger. At the beginning of 2019, weddings and functions started in full swing. Today the Coetzer family is making their dreams come to life on this beautiful farm.
History
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1918-1919
The Start
The property was donated by JJ Smit to the farming community of the Ermelo area. This was dedicated as a place celebrate the day of reconciliation on 16 December
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1924
The Chapel
The historic chapel was constructed by the farming community. The ceder pines where planted in a “X” formation around the chapel. Salvaged yellow wood pews from the church in Ermelo where relocated to Smitsfields church
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1940
Legendary Oaks
The majestic oak lanes where planted in a block perimeter around the historic chapel
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1975 - 1995
Truly South African
The “voortrekkers” used the property to host voortrekker camps, where more than 1000 scouts participated in voortrekker activities. The current wooden railway carriages where sourced by the voortrekker movement and used as accommodation for senior members.
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2018-2019
Your Venue
The property was bought by the Coetzer family. Construction of the new venue and restoration on the church and railway carriages commenced. The venue was opened on 16 February 2019
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Today
The Perfect Spot
Smitsfield is fully operational as destination venue, hosting weddings, corporate functions and accommodation for 60 guests. We still host the annual church service on the 16th of December for reconciliation day.