A charming 1940s-era barn where hundreds of Manitoba couples have exchanged their vows has burned to the ground, leaving dozens of scheduled weddings up in the air and the venue’s owners devastated by the sudden loss.
In 2006, Robert and Tammy Belanger renovated the wooden barn in St. Clements, Man., about 50 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, into an event space called Hawthorn Estates. The barn has been a popular wedding venue and was fully booked for 2017 and half booked for 2018.
But early Friday morning, the barn was completely destroyed in a massive blaze. It’s unclear what sparked the fire.
“It was such a unique building, an old-style barn that was renovated. So that’s what’s hard, it’s not replaceable,” Robert Belanger told CTV Winnipeg.
The couple described the barn, built from reclaimed wood, as a dream project that they built together in 2006. It was built on a sprawling five-acre lot surrounded by trees and sweeping prairie landscape. The rustic two-storey barn included a bridal room, vaulted ceilings and several chandeliers.
The Belangers have since started calling engaged couples to inform them about the loss.
Robert Belanger said the bride and groomed booked for this weekend have been notified and are making alternate arrangements.
In October, the couple released a video of the estate shot by a drone.
With a report from CTV Winnipeg
