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 from two hours before your ceremony time until midnight.
A. Yes, you can! We hold a license for indoor and outdoor civil ceremonies. We have several beautiful options for the service including our Indoor Ceremony Barn and Outdoor Pergola.
A. Our Luxury Wedding Package includes:
Venue Hire: Exclusive use of the venue including our charming ceremony spaces, Bridal Preparation Suite, Main Oak Barn and Courtyards. It also includes tables, chairs, linen, glassware, fairy lights and LOVE letters as well as the use of our licensed bar and a wedding co-ordinator to help throughout the process of planning your big day.
Accommodation: Our on-site accommodation which is exclusive for our couples, their families and close friends. The package includes all four rooms which sleep two adults and two children in each and a yummy breakfast the following morning.
Drinks Package: Included as part of this package is a drinks package for up to 50 guests. You can add on any additional guests for a set price per head.
Chauffeur Pick-up & Drop-off: Our chauffeur will arrive on the morning of your wedding to pick up one or both members of the couple, along with any guests, accommodating up to three people in total. You’ll be whisked away to Coton, where you can comfortably prepare for your big day, starting with a delightful pre-ceremony brunch.
We’ll also provide transportation back the following day, allowing you to fully enjoy your celebration without any worries.*
*T&C’s: Our chauffeur service is licensed to accommodate up to 3 passengers, with at least one member required to be from the wedding couple. We offer pick-up and drop-off at a single designated address, without any additional stops along the way straight to Coton House Farm. A maximum 20 mile radius applies.
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. Yes, we have our own exclusive, on-site accommodation for our couples and their family and close friends. We have four rooms which each sleep two adults and two children. We are also close to a number of other local accommodation options. Choose from Boutique Hotels, Bed and Breakfast, Cottages, Log Cabins, Glamping, Campsites and even Canal Barges!
A. Yes, we do. We have a car park with up to 60 spaces as well as an overflow car park for any additional guests. Cars may be left overnight but must be collected by 10am the following morning. We can only accommodate cars in our car park. We recommend that your guests book taxis to and from the venue.
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 but you can drop your items off in our suppliers car park between 8am and 9am the day before your wedding. Please arrange this with your allocated wedding co-ordinator. You will have access to the venue from 9am on the day of your wedding, including use of the Stables as your personal dressing room.
You must collect your items from the venue 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. 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. If you require access to the Stables after the ceremony to tidy or remove items, please speak to the Duty Manager. This room must be empty by midnight to allow us to tidy and prepare the room for the following day.
A. You will have one of our in-house Wedding Coordinators on hand to run your big day. They will help you get everything ready in the lead up to your big day, ensure that everything runs on time and be on hand if you need anything. Our catering teams have their own Food Coordinators who will ensure the food service for your day runs smoothly.
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. Our licensed oak Pergola, on the southern side of Coton House Farm is the perfect setting to take full advantage of the English sunshine, surrounded by meadows of wildflowers. It’s important to consider the weather and have a contingency plan in place, 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 45-30 minutes prior to your ceremony giving them time to grab a drink from our outdoor bar area in The Stable Courtyard before your ceremony begins. Please note: Registrars do not allow drinks during the ceremony. Our bar will close 15 minutes before your guests are due to take their seats.
About payments
At Coton House Farm we make sure our packages are straightforward.
- Venue Hire
We require an initial booking fee of £500 to secure your chosen date. An interim payment of £500 is due 3 months after the date you paid your initial 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 a due 1 month before your wedding date at which time you will also confirm the number of guests.
- Drinks
Our new all inclusive package includes a drinks package for up to 50 people. If you have more than 50 guests then there will be an additional cost per head.
About food and drink
A. At Coton House Farm, we proudly collaborate with two amazing catering partners: Jenkinsons Caterers and Dove’s Delights. 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 perfect wedding day.
A. Yes, you can. Your wedding cake is a unique and personal part of your day and we understand 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. We provide competitive local rates for our bar and drinks packages. If guests are found to have brought 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 two first-class catering teams who offer extensive and 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 teams. Both caterers are able to provide an extensive range of additional wedding treats such as ice cream carts and doughnut walls. If you have something specific in mind, please discuss it with your Food Coordinator.
A. As part of our all inclusive package, we are offering a drinks package for up to 50 people included in the package price. If you have more than 50 guests, you can add on additional drinks packages through your Wedding Coordinator for an additional charge. Please remember to accommodate children and non-drinkers. We recommend that you order any additional drinks packages 4-6 weeks before your wedding, once your numbers are confirmed.
About the entertainment
A. You are welcome to use your preferred suppliers 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 hire. We can recommend a DJ from our preferred supplier list, however you will need to book them and 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 for the comfort and safety of our animals.
There is an option to allow silent fireworks at the venue, as long as they are provided by a licensed and regulated company.
A. No, due to health and safety and legal requirements we cannot allow sparklers at our venue.
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, we can accommodate photo booths at our venue. 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 the safety and wellbeing of our livestock. We do allow 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 for the safety of our animals.
A. Due to health and safety, we do not permit outside dance floors being brought into the venue.
Ideal for couples envisioning a traditional wedding with a daytime dining experience followed by an evening reception. This package offers an elegant and timeless setting for a grand celebration
