FAQ's
Here are some of our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ which may assist with the planning of your event.
About the venue
A. Yes. When you hire Coton House Farm as your wedding venue, you and your guests will have exclusive use of the grounds and facilities.
A. Yes, you can. We hold a licence for indoor and outdoor civil ceremonies, as well as several beautiful options for the service itself.
A. At Coton House Farm we make sure our packages are straightforward. You’ll receive three invoices – 1. Venue Hire. 2. Food. 3. Drinks.
The Venue Hire Fee includes exclusive use of the venue, including our Barns, Courtyards and Stables, as well as tables, chairs and glassware. The Venue Fee also includes use of our licenced bar. Our team will be on hand to advise you during the planning of your wedding.
A. Yes, we are. The venue is wheelchair accessible throughout and we will make every effort to accommodate individual requirements. We are also autism friendly. Disability and autism dogs are welcome at the venue all day.
A. We understand that your furrier family member may be an integral part of your ceremony and we welcome them as part of your ceremony and photographs. However, we ask that your dog is taken off site prior to dining. The only exceptions are disability and autism dogs, which are welcome at the venue all day.
A. Whist we do not currently provide on-site accommodation, We now have planning permission granted for accommodation to be built for 4 accommodation units in our stable blocks. This is expected to be completed in early 2023.
In the meantime, we are perfectly situated close to a wide range of local options to suit you and your guests. Choose from boutique hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Cottages, Log Cabins, Glamping, Campsites and even canal barges.
A. Yes, we do. Cars may be left overnight but must be collected by 10am the following morning. Cars and supplies must use the car park only. The courtyard and rear gates are not part of the venue hire.
A. Wedding Insurance is not a requirement to use our venue. However, we will advise you to take insurance out. Weddings are expensive days, and you could lose a lot of money if something went wrong.
On the day
A. You have exclusive use of the venue from 9am to midnight on the day of your wedding, with the bar closing at 11.45pm.
Unfortunately, we are not licensed to stay open any later at any time except for New Year’s Eve.
A. We cannot accommodate earlier access to the venue. You have full access from 9am on the day of your event, including use of the Stables as your personal dressing room.
You must have the venue cleared of your items by 10am the following morning.
A. Any deliveries or third-party suppliers are able to arrive and set-up from 9am on the day of your booking. Suppliers must remove their equipment at midnight or between 8am-9am the following morning.
A. Yes, we do. Cars may be left overnight but must be collected by 10am the following morning.
We recommend that your guests use taxis to and from the venue. This gives them the opportunity to enjoy a drink before they arrive as well.
A. The Stables is your private dressing room for use prior to the ceremony. Following your ceremony, the suite is locked and not accessible to guests.
We ask that during your preparations you keep your items tidily boxed and placed in bags or storage crates, so that we can safely move them to our secure storage area for you to collect in the morning. This room must be empty by midnight, to allow us to tidy and prepare the room for the following day.
If you require access to the Stables after the ceremony to tidy or remove items, please speak to the Duty Manager.
A. Before your day you will have planned an itinerary with your personal Food Coordinator from our authorised caterers, a copy of which is sent to us. You can find a itinerary sample here.
If you arrange for your ushers to guide your guests to their seats, and appoint someone to announce your entry, you will find that the Food Coordinator will manage the flow of your day from that point by following your itinerary.
If you choose to, you may hire a private wedding coordinator to lead your day.
You will find that any professionals you have hired to help you dress before the wedding should be accustomed to planning their services to get you to the ceremony on time and should discuss this with you before the day.
About the ceremony
A. St Giles in Whittington is our charming village church, and popular with couples who prefer a Church of England wedding. They welcome couples from outside the parish. The church is 0.9 miles from Coton House Farm, and an easy walk for guests who chose to do so.
A. Yes, you can. We hold a licence for outdoor Civil Ceremonies. It’s important to consider the weather and have a contingency plan, which we can discuss with you. You should also confirm your plans with your registrar before your ceremony.
A. We recommend that you invite your guests to arrive 30 minutes prior to your ceremony, giving your usher time to ask them to take their seats. The bar will be open and drinks served as soon as your ceremony has taken place.
About payments
A. At Coton House Farm we make sure our packages are straightforward. You’ll receive three invoices – 1. Venue Hire. 2. Food. 3. Drinks.
- Venue Hire
We require an initial booking fee of £500.00 to secure your chosen date.
An interim payment of £500.00 is due 6 months after the date you paid your booking fee.
The remaining balance for venue hire is required 20 weeks before the date of your wedding.
- Food
Our caterers require a payment for 50% of your food balance around 6 months before your wedding.
The remaining balance is due 1 month before your wedding date, at which time you will also confirm the number of guests.
- Drinks
We recommend that you order your drinks package 4-6 weeks before the wedding, this can be done online via our website.
About food and drink
A. At Coton House Farm, we proudly collaborate with two amazing catering partners for your wedding needs. Alongside our trusted Jenkinsons Caterers, we are pleased to introduce Dove’s Delights, both dedicated to elevating your wedding day. Both our caterers offer a dedicated Food Coordinator to manage your menu, wedding extras, and cake arrangements, allowing you to choose your ideal culinary experience for a truly delightful wedding day.
A. Yes, you can. Your wedding cake is a unique and personal part of your ceremony, and we understand that that you might have a preferred bakery. This is the only food item that can be sourced from an outside caterer. You must ensure that you list your wedding cake on the catering document and your personal Food Coordinator will store it, cut it up and serve it on the day at your request.
A. No, we are unable to allow corkage. Our licensed bar, as with any public bar, requires that we cannot allow alcohol on site that is not purchased from us. However, we provide competitive rates for our bar and drinks package so it is unlikely that corkage fees would be of benefit. If guests are found to have bought their own alcohol into the venue, we reserve the right to charge a fine, as stated in the booking agreement.
A. No. All food, other than the wedding cake, must be supplied by our authorised catering team as required for food hygiene standards. This is to protect you, your guests and our reputation. Coton House Farm is delighted to be working with a first-class catering team and offer extensive, bespoke menus. Your personal Food Coordinator will discuss the available options with you.
A. To comply with food hygiene standards and our legal requirements, all food on site must be arranged with our authorised catering team. They are able to provide an extensive range of additional wedding treats such as ice cream bikes and doughnut walls. If you have anything particular in mind, please discuss it with our Food Coordinator.
A. We are pleased to offer pre-designed drinks packages to make your choices easier, which can be ordered on our planning website at your leisure. If you prefer, you can also design a bespoke drinks package. Please remember to accommodate children and non-drinkers. We recommend that you order your drinks package 4-6 weeks before the wedding, once your numbers are confirmed.
About the entertainment
A. You are welcome to use your preferred supplier for entertainment (excluding food and drink items). All suppliers must contact Coton House Farm directly to provide copies of their insurance and PAT certificates. Please ensure you thoroughly vet your supplier to avoid disappointment, as we cannot be held responsible.
A. A DJ, like any other entertainment supplier, is not included as part of the venue fees. We can recommend and arrange a DJ from our preferred supplier list, however you will need to arrange payment with them directly.
A. Yes, you can. Live bands are perfectly suited to our venue. As with all suppliers, they must provide us with their insurance and PAT certification.
A. No. Coton House Farm is a working livestock farm, and we cannot allow fireworks at our venue.
There is an option to allow silent fireworks, as long as they are provided by a licensed and regulated company.
A. No, due to health & safety and legal requirements.
A. Yes, you can. Bouncy castles can be provided for children, provided that it is manned, fully insured and powered by its own generator. This must be taken down in the evening as adults, drink and bouncy castles do not mix well.
A. Yes, you can. All suppliers must contact Coton House Farm directly to provide copies of their insurance and PAT certificates.
A. Coton House Farm is a working farm and has a responsibility to our livestock. We do allow biodegradable confetti made from dried flowers or petals. We do not allow party poppers or paper confetti to be used on-site. Please ensure that all guests are aware of this restriction.
A. Due to health and safety we do not permit outside dance floors being brought into the venue.
