Information for Couples

This page is for couples booked to have their big day at Cott Farm. If something’s not covered below, please do get in touch! Please also do have a look at our Questions & Answers page.

Furniture

• The Barn can seat up to 150 people, with ten people on each of our 15 handmade wooden tables.
• We recommend seating at least eight people per table.
• Each table is 2.4 metres long x 1 metre wide.
• Our tables do not require table cloths, but we think a table runner looks good.
• Recommended table runner lengths: if you’re seating ten guests to a table (i.e. one either end and four down each side), we recommend allowing a space of at least 30cm for each place setting. A table runner of 1.8m long x 40 cm wide is ideal. If you’re seating eight to a table (i.e. no one either end), a table runner longer than the table length (to create an overhang) looks pretty. Please contact us if you’d like us to hire these for you.
• Chair covers: our chairs are all wooden to suit the style of the barn and you do not need to use chair covers.

Decorations

• If you have hired the venue for the weekend, you are free to decorate The Barn, its grounds and the ceremony pergola as much, or as little, as you’d like. We ask that you are mindful to not damage the fabric or contents of the building and grounds. Hooks are provided on the walls inside the barn for you to hang your own decorations (or to use ours) – please use these and not drawing pins, Sellotape, blu-tack or any other fixings. All decorations provided by you must be removed by you at the end of the hire period.
• The barn is approx. 20m long and 10m wide. There are 7 wooden beams spanning the 10m width. Each beam is fitted with fairy lights (which are included). You are welcome to use the beams to hang additional decorations.
• In addition to the fixed decorations, we have a wide range of wedding styling props and decorations. See our range of wedding venue styling props…
• We offer a venue styling service if you need help bringing your vision to life or you simply don’t have the time to put together your decorations.

Pergola

We provide a lace curtain at the back opposite the steps. This is 210cm wide. If you wish to decorate the railings at the front, each side is 160cm wide.

Children

We do not restrict the number of children you may invite but, if more than 10% of your guests are under 14 years old, you must arrange a suitably qualified and insured creche or childminding service for the duration of the wedding. Please see our list of  local wedding suppliers.

Children must be fully supervised throughout the day and night.

Children over 10 will be served the same meal as adults. We can usually offer under 10s smaller portions of your chosen adult main course but unfortunately cannot change starter and dessert portions. We do not have highchairs so please ask parents to bring their own if required.

Wedding cake

• All food must be provided by us. The only exception to this is your wedding cake, which must be supplied by a registered food business (this means they must be registered with their local authority for food hygiene purposes).
• All other food, including savoury cakes such as those made of cheese, must be provided by us due to strict food hygiene rules.
• As with all suppliers you have arranged, you do need to send us your cake baker’s documents in advance.
• You must ensure your wedding cake takes into account your guests’ food allergies. For example, no food containing nuts can be on the premises if you have a guest with a nut allergy.
• Once you’ve done your ceremonial wedding cake cutting, we transport it to the kitchen and process it into slices to be served informally ‘buffet-style’ during the evening. There is no charge for informal cake service for full weekend weddings; you will just need to supply equipment for your guests to consume your cake – typically serviettes (or we can arrange plate and fork hire at cost price). Please contact us for options and pricing for single day wedding/event venue hire.

Setting up & access

The agreed booking period for a full weekend wedding is:

Friday 10am – 5pm to set up
Saturday (the Event Date) 1pm – 1am
Sunday 10am – 1pm to collect possessions.

Please refer to the booking terms and conditions if you have booked something other than a full weekend wedding with us.

Wedding suppliers

Deliveries & collections

You are responsible for liaising with your own suppliers (any person or company you have contracted directly). This includes their delivery and collections, and removing all items supplied by them (including rubbish and recycling) between your agreed booking times. We cannot accept deliveries or collections from your suppliers on your behalf so please ensure you arrange their arrival on Friday and Sunday when you will be there between the agreed hire times.

You must ensure each of your suppliers have appropriate insurance and credentials, and supply us with written evidence of this in advance of your event date. We cannot allow suppliers on site without this written evidence.

Catering for your suppliers on the day

You will often be expected or contractually required to provide food and drink for your suppliers. Photographers usually always need to be included in your daytime guest numbers for catering. They will normally sit separately to eat their food while you and your guests are eating.

We would expect you to include your evening suppliers (especially your band, and often your photographer) in your evening food numbers. Some suppliers expect a provision for drinks from the bar too, and we are happy to accommodate you if you wish to set up a small soft drinks bar tab for suppliers. Please check with your individual suppliers what they expect or require and let us know what has been agreed. We are unable to provide food or drink for suppliers without prior arrangement with you.

Confetti

• Real flower confetti is allowed. This must be used outdoors only.
• We do not allow any synthetic (including that labelled ‘biodegradable’) confetti anywhere within the grounds.
• Confetti, including table ‘confetti’ decor, is not permitted inside the barn.

Entertainment

• Please tell your band or DJ music must finish by 12 midnight on Saturdays (11pm Monday – Friday and 10pm on Sundays). This cannot be extended.
• The usual spot for bands in the top right corner is 5m x 2.5m. More or less space can be agreed with you. The Barn is equipped with 13A power sockets.
• We recommend your performer(s) arrive prepared for their performance. There are no private rooms or spaces them to use.
• All entertainment providers must have public liability insurance and are liable for the safe use of their equipment. In the case of equipment such as bouncy castles, it will only be permitted if they are fully staffed throughout its use. Please contact us to discuss.
• Catering for your entertainers and other suppliers must be pre-ordered, if required (please see above).
• We do not permit Chinese lanterns or fireworks.
• We do not permit smoke bombs.
• Please contact us if you wish to have sparklers. These are permitted but need to be arranged and managed through us for obvious reasons.

Camping & parking

• If you have booked our glamping & camping option, this includes five bell tents and your guests can bring their own camper vans, and caravans, as well as tents. We do not have electric hook up facilities.
• Our glamping and camping option is one price for the exclusive use of the whole camping field (including the bell tents). We don’t offer an option for guests to book individually with us. Likewise, breakfast can only be provided for the minimum number of guests and we can’t offer this to individuals. It’s not a problem for you to ask your guests to pay you for their camping pitch and breakfast, however you are responsible for making such arrangements with your guests. 
• You have exclusive use of the venue from Friday morning. Your guests may set up and take down their tents at anytime during your hire period. Staying overnight is only permitted on the night of the wedding.
• All guests must leave The Barn by 1am. Those camping must head back to the campsite. No sound systems/amplifiers etc are permitted in the campsite.
• Sorry, but we cannot permit overnight stays by anyone if you have not booked our glamping & camping option. 
• Guests may leave their cars parked overnight at Cott Farm at their own risk. Guest vehicles must be removed by midday the following day.
• Guests must prebook taxis because of our rural location.

The Nook

• You’re welcome to use the nook to dress before your ceremony. Please note this is subject to your booked access times.
• The capacity of the nook is a maximum of three people at any one time due to fire regulations.

Changing your booking

Are we able to make amendments to our booking – for example guest numbers and changes to booked requirements?

We appreciate your final guest numbers may increase or decrease by a few people between your completing your booking form and receiving your RSVPs, and that is expected. However, if your numbers look like they’re going to vary significantly either way from your booking, or if you would like to change anything else you have booked from us, please let us know as soon as possible.

All amendments to your booked requirements must be agreed in writing with us. This is because your booked requirements (as specified on your booking form) are used to calculate the estimated price and payment schedule for your booking using the costs specified in our brochure for venue hire, catering and your other requirements. We use these to plan and book everything from our suppliers for the booked date to the wider schedule of maintenance, renewals and other annual costs. It’s therefore really important we are aware of – and agree to – any amendments you wish to make to your booking.

Anything else?

Please do in touch if you have any questions or need any help!

Becca & Ollie x