FAQ's
Please find below a list of frequently asked questions about Weddings at East Afton Farmhouse.
Do we have to book the registrar separately?
Yes, you will need to liaise with the registrar separately and ensure they are available to conduct a Civil Wedding Ceremony on the date you have chosen. This is the second most important thing to do after booking the venue. The phone number for Isle of Wight Council is 01983 823233
Please note that the venue ceremony fee is separate to the fee the council will charge to conduct the ceremony.
You are also able to have a blessing by a celebrant or family member. There is no venue charge for this. Please see our list of local suppliers for some of the celebrants we have worked with previously.
Do you allow dogs at the venue?
Yes dogs are more than welcome to be part of your celebrations and also stay in the accommodation. Extra places to stay at Tapnell Farm also welcome dogs. Should you need help with looking after them on the wedding day, we have recommended dog sitters/ walkers on our supplier list.
Do you provide a microphone for speeches?
Yes. We have two portable Bose sound systems at the venue, as well as a two wireless microphones. Either one or two microphones can be used at the same time. The portable sound systems can also be used to play your ceremony music & during drinks/ dinner. A member of our team will ensure the right music is playing at the right time, and we’ll share playlists the day before the wedding so we can play music on our device.
Do you have noise restrictions at the venue?
Our licensed finish time for music is midnight. Although we do not have a sound restrictor in place, we ask that musicians are sensible about the noise levels, and if they are excessively higher than normal, we will ask them to turn down the volume. Please note this is a rare occurrence. We ask that no loud music is played on other evenings during your stay to avoid disrupting neighbouring properties.
Can we have fireworks?
No. We are sorry but we cannot allow fireworks because of animals and neighbours nearby. We do allow sparklers and will provide sand buckets if you have these at your wedding.
Can we have confetti?
Yes. We ask that all confetti is real or biodegradable. Confetti can be thrown in all areas of the venue.
How many of our guests can stay on site?
The farmhouse & annex accommodation can sleep a total of 20 guests over 8 bedrooms if you fill every bed space. There are further accommodation units in the paddocks at the venue, as well as at nearby Tapnell Farm.
Can we have candles?
Yes. We ask that candles in the ceremony barn are enclosed, and any on the tables have holders than catch the wax. Please note that if the wax goes onto table cloths, then they have to be thrown away and we will need to pass on replacement charges from the hire company at £15 per cloth.
What is the deposit when booking the venue?
No matter what hire option you pick, we ask that all couples pay a £2000 deposit within 2 weeks of holding a date. Please get in touch if this is not possible, but you are worried about a particular date.
What is the best way to get guests to and from the venue?
If you would like to provide transport for guests to the church, or to/ from the venue, there are a few options. There is a open top bus from Southern Vectis- ‘The Old Girl’, or Wight Minibus can do trips. Alternatively ICAB can offer a shuttle service with an 8 seater back and forth to Tapnell Farm, or close locations.
Can the inclusive packages be personalised?
Yes. Our inclusive packages can be made bespoke for each couple- you don’t have to have everything that is included in our package example. All dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for.
What is your maximum capacity?
You can see on the venue pages the capacity for each barn for different use.
Please get in touch if you are unsure or have any questions.
Is the wedding coordinator included in all hire options?
Yes. For every wedding at the venue we will ensure you are allocated a wedding coordinator. This person will be there on the day a few hours before your guests arrive to ensure everything is ready, up until every guest has left. They are there to ensure everything runs smoothly, and can play music, make announcements, liaise with suppliers & troubleshoot if required. As well as on the day, we’ll also manage all the logistics in the months leading up to the wedding day- we’ll contact every supplier so they know timings and we’ll ensure we have their insurance details. We’ll create your wedding schedule with you, and share our knowledge and experience with you, to help you plan the best day! Please see here for our full wedding planning service.
Which areas can we get married?
Our licensed areas include: all 3 barns, the courtyard decking, the front lawn, the paddock at the entrance to the venue.
Can we provide our own drinks? Do you charge a corkage fee?
We allow our couples to provide their own welcome drinks, table wine & toasting drinks, without any corkage. If you require any service or glass hire for these drinks, then there are charges that apply. Glass hire is 0.80 per glass and service is per hour per team member. The average cost to service all of these drinks for you is £200. If you would like guests to have drinks included all day and night, then you can have a tab to cover this. Alternatively guests can purchase drinks at the barn from a time that suits you.