Covid Secure Weddings at Cott Farm

Welcome to The Barn at Cott Farm wedding venue in Somerset. Covid secure weddings at Cott Farm look a little different to how we are all used to doing things, but we’re able to host small and intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions this autumn and winter.

You can get legally married in beautiful surroundings at Cott Farm: either outside with country views, or inside the comfort of our barn. You can choose to have your wedding ceremony at Cott Farm with no following reception or we can host both your wedding ceremony and reception.

Covid secure weddings

Our understanding of current guidance and law

Wedding ceremonies

• Legal ceremonies are permitted in a church or approved venue . 
• A maximum 15 people may attend, providing the venue can safely accommodate this number of people with social distancing. 
• The minimum number of people for a legal ceremony is six: two registrars, the couple and two witnesses. 
• Ceremonies can take place indoors or outdoors. The room or outdoor structure must hold a current licence for ceremonies.
• The licensed room must be large enough to safely maintain social distancing before, during and after the ceremony. If not, fewer people must attend.
• Guests must wear face coverings for indoor ceremonies. The couple and the registrars are not required to wear face coverings. 

Wedding receptions

• A sit down meal following a wedding ceremony is permitted in a COVID-19 secure venue and NOT in people’s private homes or gardens (this is now law from 14th September 2020).
• A maximum of 15 people may attend, providing the venue can safely accommodate this number of people with social distancing. 
• This capacity includes the couple, guests and third-party suppliers, but not venue staff or catering staff. 
• Speeches should take place outside wherever possible.

Wedding ceremonies & receptions

• Social distancing rules mean households must stay 2m apart, or 1m with mitigation (for example face coverings). 
• There should be no singing, shouting and/or playing ‘musical instruments that are blown into’. Any music must be kept at a volume to prevent shouting. Communal dancing should not be permitted.
• Throwing of confetti and the bouquet should be avoided.
• Wherever possible attendees should remain seated. Food and drink should be served at tables to minimise self-service.
• Exchanging gifts and cards, and communal objects such as guest books should be avoided.
• The venue manager must keep an accurate temporary record of visitors for 21 days to assist the NHS Test and Trace service.
• Suppliers contracted by the couple should have their own risk assessment and mitigations.

Covid Secure Weddings: Example layouts for ceremonies and receptions.

©The Barn at Cott Farm

©The Barn at Cott Farm

Covid Secure Venue

The Barn at Cott Farm wedding venue’s covid secure procedure & risk assessment

The following is an extract from The Barn at Cott Farm’s procedure for Covid Secure weddings. All clients, their guests and their contracted suppliers will be expected to read and follow this procedure. We review our Risk Assessment at least every four weeks during the pandemic and update this assessment to reflect the latest guidance from governing and advisory bodies. Please contact us if you’d like us to email you a copy.

©The Barn Cott Farm

Small wedding ceremonies were permitted from Saturday 4th July 2020. Couples can get legally married, either at a church or an approved venue, for the first time in three months. 

Cott Farm is an approved venue, which is licensed for legal marriages and civil partnerships. The safety and comfort of everyone involved in a wedding at Cott Farm remains our priority. This assessment specifically addresses the transmission risks of COVID-19 and identifies our procedures to manage these risks. 

This assessment was prepared using guidance and recommendations from governing and advisory bodies, including national and local government, Public Health England, the European Public Health Association, the NHS, WHO, HSE, as well as industry-specific representatives. The government’s guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships, published on 29th June 2020, was designed to assist people planning their marriage or civil partnership in England and the venues that host ceremonies. This assessment has been updated to reflect these new rules and advice, along with legislation dated 3rd July 2020.

The Registration Service requires all approved venues to provide a risk assessment, venue re-opening compliancy confirmation and registrar specific compliancy confirmation before their Officers are permitted to attend and conduct ceremonies at a venue.

Government guidelines require all approved venues to complete a risk assessment and implement mitigations before hosting wedding ceremonies and/or receptions.

All clients must read and follow this procedure. Failure to comply may result in cancellation of the event.

©The Barn Cott Farm