Looking or booked!
Getting married at Coton House Farm Wedding Venue?
Providence, locally sourced, fresh and the highest quality....you can capture your moment in your finest wedding breakfast.
Plan your Wedding
Where to Start?
Your Wedding day is extremely important to us. We promise we will do everything we can to make your day as special and unique as we can.
Your venue hire includes, The Stables, our bridal preparation suite, The Old Dairy Barn, our licensed ceremony barn, The Oak Barn, our large dining and evening barn, complete with the Sty our fully stocked bar.
Darren the owner is very well qualified and has a vast amount of experience in planning events, some of which have been the largest events organised within the United Kingdom. and Northern Ireland, Events for Royalty, Presidents, Prime ministers, International Peace talks, International sporting events, High security events, large scale Music events , are all but a few and not to forget weddings!
You are in safe hands so please do not hesitate to ask for advice.
You can email events@cotonhousefarm.com
Our first advice will always be arrange wedding insurance! (insure your engagement ring too,) We cannot recommend a wedding insurance but it is worth looking at www.moneysavingexpert.com and various other sites. It is not costly and it could be extremely important for you.
Check and book your registrar, or church .... focus on the time you want to get married!
remember this day will go so quickly so make the most of your time.
..... Brand your wedding!
Without a doubt you will have ideas, you will have seen instagram or Pintrest images that have grabbed your attention.
This is your wedding. It is like branding a business, Choose your colours, your text styles, this will help you with everything you are going to decide upon, from dresses, floristry, suits, to stationary.
and finally...relax and enjoy.
This is a celebration and you should enjoy your time preparing for your big day!
Do not get worked up and stressed. Consider taking the worries away by using a planner, or on the day management.
Consider leasing items to dress the venue and use a venue dresser instead of making and having your clan run around on the morning of your wedding. (parents, Aunt's, bridesmaids get stressed too!)
We have attached some documents you may wish to use to plan your day before conversation with your venue and your food coordinator.
We have also included some of our trusted suppliers. These suppliers we do trust. We value and have experienced their services. We cannot take responsibility for any suppliers so even more importance to place your wedding insurance at the forefront of your booking. Do consider the use of a credit card too, as this can afford you some protection under the consumer rights act. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com
They do not pay for us to recommend them, and we do not profit from you using them. We will not book them for you as it will be more cost effective for you to book direct. You do not need to use these suppliers. You can use others. Remember if you do they must supply public and employers insurance liabilities and PAT (electrical safety) certificates,
Your Wedding food coordinator can arrange such things as donut walls, ice cream carts etc. We cannot allow outside food and drink suppliers (other than your wedding cake!) for safety, traceability and hygiene control purposes so please speak to Katie your food coordinator.
Try to Go Green..... We are 100% a renewable energy venue and carbon neutral in our footprint, so use local, support small businesses, reduce miles, reduce waste.
Relax and enjoy.
If you have any questions why not just call Darren and ask......
He doesn't mind.
Route to Booking your Venue
Visit our Venue
Reserve your date
Reserve your date
request a visit, by email, telephone or from our venue website.
01543 432429
Check the availabilty on our wedding venue website
Reserve your date
Reserve your date
Reserve your date
Email your date with your names and address.
Receive your Terms of booking.
Receive your booking fee invoice.
Date is held for 7 days.
Confirm your date
Reserve your date
Confirm your date
Return your Signed Terms of Booking.
Pay your booking fee Invoice.... and start to plan!
Booked, and now?
Wedding Planning App, or Diary?
We mentioned using a website planning app or a diary. Pick bits you like and discard those you do not ! Often these direct you to use specific service providers that have paid to be suppliers so just be aware that they may not be the best for you. They may lead you down certain paths.
Planning your Wedding is like setting out a methodical and detailed time line for your day. We have included some PDF files that may assist you.
Your engaged, Your venue is booked!
Your date is set, so :-
- Decide how you are going to get married. Will you marry at the venue? At Church? At a registry Office, sign at registry office and then hold your ceremony at your venue. Check availability of Registrar, /Church for your day. (Staffordshire county council https://www.staffordshirewedding.info
- Book your registrar or Church straight away and get a good time for your ceremony. (peak time 1.30pm -2pm)
- Local Church to your venue https://ourvillagechurch.org.uk/st-giles-church-whittington/
Save The Date!
Start to work out your 'priority' guests. Your numbers for the day and the evening. Draw up a list.... Will you have children attend? Some parents are grateful for children not being invited as they do like a break from the kids themselves..... remember it is your wedding and your decision.
Now...... send out save the date invitations to your guests! Make them yourself, buy from Ebay, have them made. It will all be down to your Style, time, and 'Brand'.
Budget.....
You have your Budget...... You know your numbers.
You know your venue hire costs, you can ask for your food costs by contacting your wedding food coordinator (you have an idea already) and you know your drink package costs. These are fixed so you know where you are going.
Your remaining venue hire is due 20 weeks before your wedding day.
50% of your food around 6 months before your wedding.
around 1-2 months before your wedding your other 50% food and any drinks package is due.
Shopping
You now need to start booking your services......... Photographer, DJ, Band, Videographer, magician, florist, Wedding cars, honeymoon, Wedding venue dresser, and of course shopping for your wedding outfit, suits or dresses, and your jeweller for rings.
Take the Strain
Some service providers can offer a one stop shop which can reduce your stress by providing all the services you need. This can reduce your costs as they have purchase and connection power, giving savings that you probably could not get, so give this some thought.
You can have a wedding planner. these can be incredibly brilliant if you find the right one for you. You can also have On the Day management planners, these too are brilliant at what they do and again remove all the stress and planning you might otherwise worry yourselves with. They can take the strain from you, parents and your entourage.
Wedding Planners or On the Day Management :-
https://www.just-ticketyboo.co.uk
Steph 07989650730
Deb 07855981309
Planning your day
Make an Itinerary
Our Wedding food coordinator will discuss an outline of your itinerary with you in the planning and preparation of your wedding day. It is prudent to make one yourself beforehand so you can create the right timings for your food.
Let us know
We want to deliver exactly what you want, so an early heads up of your plan is very useful for us. We want it to be exactly how you want it. If we think you need advice we will help you.
Email to us at events@cotonhousefarm.com
Make it chronological
Make your timings run in order. Walk through your day in your mind, as you want it. Then write it down. Write who each supplier is, their name, business and contact number, preferably mobile number.
This is purely an example and may not fit your wedding.
0900hrs -Arrive at venue with bridesmaids. Dad is dropping us off.
0910hrs -Photographer arrives.(say who this is.)
0920hrs -Make up and Hairstylist arriving.(Say who they are.)
0930hrs - Venue Dresser is arriving.(Say who they are.)
1000hrs - Florist arriving.(say who florist is)
1020hrs -Champagne order from venue for bridal preparation suite.
1030hrs -Cake arriving.(say who this is.)
1100hrs - Brunch delivered by..........
1200hrs -Ceremony musician arrives (say who this is.)
1245hrs -Guests start to arrive.
1300hrs -Groom and groomsmen arrive. (Say who.)
1330hrs -Ceremony will start in the Old Dairy Barn
1400hrs -Ceremony concluded...
1410hrs -Photographs and Canapé reception, with reception drinks on the terrace.
1420hrs -Background music set playing in Oak Barn in preparation for dining.
1515hrs -Bride and Groom enter the Oak Barn alone.
1520hrs -Parents of Married couple enter the Oak Barn and stand for greeting guests.
1525hrs -Guests enter the Oak Barn and view table plan to find seat.
1535hrs -Bride and Groom slope off for Photographs.
1600hrs -Bride and Groom return to Oak Barn, Groomsman announces All stand for the Bride and Groom. All seats taken and dining is served.
1720hrs -Speeches commence. Running order of Father of the bride, Groom, best man.
1800hrs -Speeches conclude, Cutting of the cake.
1810hrs -Background music DJ playing (say who this is.)
1900hrs -Evening guests arrive.
1910hrs -Evening entertainment Band arrive.
2000hrs -First Dance
2005hrs Evening food served.
2100hrs -Band starts first set.
2145hrs -DJ Plays disco
2200hrs -Band play second set.
2300hrs -DJ for disco.
Midnight - Carriages. Mum to take Postbox and valuables home.
proceeding day -
10am -Collect private items left.
11am -All guest cars gone from venue.
Arranging Transport
It is always best to book or consider your transport to and from the venue well in advance for you and your guests.
Busy day.
Your day will go really quickly and even from the example given of timings, you will see that time is precious, so make the most of it.
If you are not using a Venue dresser
If you decide not to use a venue dresser and decide to self decorate, remember that this can be time consuming, stressful and try to avoid parents and important people to you getting all flustered about dressing it, as you probably want them to enjoy the day with you. It can be a lot to take on.
Wedding Catering
How do we organise the food for our wedding?
When you book your wedding day with us and have agreed to our terms of booking we pass your details to our exclusive wedding caterer. They will be the only people we pass your details to. This is not for any marketing purposes or passed to any other supplier or company. This is solely for them to make contact with you, be aware of you and fully address your wedding day food requirements.
Who are they?
Our Wedding caterers are Jenkinsons caterers based in Stafford.
https://www.jenkinsonscaterers.co.uk
Wedding catering is an absolute specialist style of catering.
As a venue, throughout the years we have rolled through various catering experiences, and we are fully behind Jenkinsons caterers. A lot of what we do is behind the scenes, ensuring ultimate safety, reassurance to you, providence of food, and standards. We would like to assure you that we do not put our trust in just anyone, and not only do we believe in Jenkinsons caterers as superior in quality, service and value, but importantly in food hygiene and safety.
Locally sourced from Staffordshire, is a key important factor for us securing the highest quality and lowest mileage, and supporting the British farming industry.
Jenkinsons are a family business. Established for over 60 years, and like our business, the staff are loyal, highly skilled, experienced, determine to deliver, go beyond, and are part of their extended family.
Prepared and cooked on site, at Coton House Farm, in our new state of the art kitchens using technology to monitor and trace every component process to deliver only the best product for your wedding.
Your Wedding Day Food
Food Tasting
Knowing your numbers
Six Months Before
At about 8 months before your Wedding day you will be invited to attend a food tasting evening. Our Wedding food coordinator will contact you with a date.
Six Months Before
Knowing your numbers
Six Months Before
At around 6 Months before your Wedding day, your caterers will ask for 50% of your overall food bill. Your caterers will ask for a minimum of 40 day guests for your wedding.
Knowing your numbers
Knowing your numbers
Knowing your numbers
Once you have confirmed your numbers by receipt of your RSVP's you can pay the outstanding balance remaining on your food bill. All food payments go direct to Jenkinsons caterers, and include Vat, Table cloths, service charges, there are no unknown hidden costs to you. Honesty and transparency is paramount to us.
FAQ's - Is there a Corkage Option?
Can i bring my own Alcohol?
Sorry ! The simple answer is No you cannot bring your own alcohol and we do not offer a corkage option.
Why?
Our prices are exceptionally reasonable.
We are a fully licensed venue and as such we take our licensing responsibilities very seriously. We use the Challenge 25 Policy , so if you do have young looking guests please do ask them to bring identification with them if they intend drinking alcohol. Please do just be flattered if asked.
We are truly unique as a wedding venue, we put a great deal of thought into our bar, we do carry an extremely well stocked bar with a minimum of 9 lines and an incredible amount of spirits and wines..... there is not a lot that we do not have. including Cocktails and Whiskey menus
Not many Wedding Venues can be found to have such quality and options, and this is done to get away from the usual poor wedding bars that can be found.
Our wines and drinks packages come with the best glassware..... you do not need to hire in glassware for your drinks!
Our bar is very reasonably priced, and not your usual Wedding Venue prices!
It is the brides and grooms responsibility to ensure no alcohol is brought onto site.
Drinks Packages
We do have some fabulous drinks packages, but you can bespoke!
We can custom make your drinks packages to exactly the content and style of delivery you might wish for. Bridal party preparation drinks, Gin and Tonic trees, Champagne towers, beer buckets, open bars, limited open bars...
September lessons start Monday 6th- do not book before
You can book now
We also have a pony fun day on Saturday 25th September !