A Guide to Weddings at Field Place Manor House & Barns
We understand that planning weddings can be a joyous and exciting time for some, but can also be a very busy and stressful time for others.
All of our staff here at Field Place Manor House & Barns, alongside our in-house caterers Hardings, are here to assist with the venue and catering arrangements, to ensure that your big day is extra special and ease any concerns you may have!
Civil Ceremony
Where am I able to get married at Field Place Manor House?
You can be married by registrar in The Chichester Room, The Pavilion Barn, The Bandstand & Wedding Gardens and The Oak Room. From September 2020 you will also be able to marry in The Sussex Barn.
How do I go about booking a registrar?
It is your responsibility to organise and book the registrar of marriages. As they are a legal part of the day, we are unable to book this for you.
Here in West Sussex the registrar team offer a booking service which allows you to book your Registrars’ attendance as far in advance as you would like. The full fee for the Registrars’ attendance is payable at the time of booking. This will allow you time to make all the necessary arrangements for your Wedding, including your catering, entertainment and flowers.
Prior to securing your date, please ensure you have booked the Registrar for your civil ceremony by visiting: www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships.
West Sussex registration offices operate an appointment system for notices of marriage: www.westsussex.gov.uk/ceremonies. To talk through dates and time slots available please call the registration office on 01243 642122.
What is the role of the Registrar:
- The Registrar will hold pre-marriage interviews with the couple, together or separately as required.
- They create a professional, legal marriage ceremony which is creative, memorable and dignified. The ceremony is tailored to each couple, special and personal to you, with your chosen vows, promises and reading and music (all non-religious).
- The Registar will prepare the marriage certificate.
- They liaise with the key persons e.g. Photographer/Readers etc.
- They conduct the ceremony.
- Ensures the register is signed and presents the certificate.
- The complete package is conducted by a friendly and experienced registrar celebrant.
Why can’t there be any religious content to a Civil Ceremony?
In accordance with the GRO Marriage Handbook: Civil marriage ceremonies must not be religious in nature; whilst any inclusion (reading, music etc) that contains an incidental reference to a god or deity would be acceptable, the reading or piece of music in which such a reference is contained must be essentially nonreligious in context.
What is the difference between a Marriage and a Civil Partnership?
Marriages are solemnised by saying a prescribed form of words. Marriages can be conducted through either a civil ceremony or a religious ceremony.
Civil partnerships are registered by signing the civil partnership document, with no words required to be spoken. The formation of a civil partnership is an entirely civil event. Civil partners can choose to add a ceremony to follow the formation of their civil partnership, but this does not form part of the formation.
Are we able to have a celebrant conduct our service?
Yes, you are most welcome to have a celebrant conduct your service. In this country a celebrant cannot legally marry you, however they are able to provide a blessing.
Logistics
What is the difference between The Barn & The Pavilion?
The Barn is larger, has its own stage area, has a higher seating capacity for wedding breakfasts and evening receptions, its own dedicated bar area and double aspect foyer windows. The Pavilion is slightly smaller, more intimate, has a separate bar area inside the barn, a covered walk way, accessibility facilities and enhanced levels of natural light.
How many people does each barn sit for our meal?
The Barn can sit 120 for a wedding breakfast, with 8 guests on each round table and 12 on the top table. The Pavilion sits 80 for a wedding breakfast, with 8 guests on each table and 8 on the top table.
How do we work out timings for the day?
On your wedding day, it is important for you and your guests to relax and enjoy your day without feeling like you are either being rushed or having to wait around. Your day should flow with one section naturally leading into the next, giving you and your guests time to mingle as well as giving the bridal party the ability to complete all the roles during the big day itself. We will work through your Wedding Day timings together, but as a starting point here is a guide:
When What Where
1:30pm Groom & Registrar Meet
1:45pm Bride arrives and meets with the Registrar
2:00pm Civil Ceremony in The Ceremony Room
2:30pm Photos outside the Ceremony Room
2:45pm Reception Drinks and Canapés (group photo’s)
4:15pm Wedding Breakfast
5:45pm Speeches
6:15pm Tea & Coffee served
6:45pm Evening guests invited
7:45pm Cut the cake, First Dance
8:30pm Evening Buffet served
10:45pm Last orders at the bar
11:00pm The Bar Closes (you are able to extend to Midnight Friday & Saturday – charges apply) 11:00pm Carriages
When can we have access to get our wedding ready or to drop all our table things off? Who sets up?
We will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to leave your things with us. If you provide your place cards in table order we can place them out for you, along with your favours and any other table items you would like for your wedding day. We are unable to tie bows on chairs.
Are we able to use our own caterers?
Our in-house caterers are Hardings Catering, they are the only caterers that are able to provide services here at Field Place Manor House & Barns.
Is it possible to get ready at Field Place Manor House & Barns?
Yes, you can get ready on site, access is from 8:00am
Is confetti allowed?
Fresh or dried petal confetti is allowed here, in a world with plastic pollution fresh or dried petals are all we allow in our gardens so that we can take care of our birds and wildlife.
Do you have a microphone we can use, and a PA system to play background music?
You are most welcome to use our PA system, where we have hand held microphones. The system also plays CD’s and can plug in to iPods for play lists. It is not powerful enough to be used for the evening entertainment.
Can we have fireworks? Or Chinese Lanterns?
Due to being in a residential area, Fireworks and Chinese Lanterns are not permitted.
Are we allowed to have candles?
Yes, candles are permitted. They must be drip proof if in a candelabra and tea lights must be housed in votive and not straight onto table linen.
What happens at the end of the evening?
We ask you to remove your presents and as many of your things as you can when the wedding finishes, any items that cannot be taken need to be collected by 11:00am the next day.
Can we have helium balloons?
Due to the nature of the height of the barns, helium balloons are difficult to retrieve when they float up into the rafters. For this reason helium balloons are not permitted.
Are we allowed to bring our dog for the wedding day?
Animals are allowed to be walked in the grounds, but not brought inside or left unattended. You are welcome to bring your family dog to be in your outside wedding photos, after this the dog would need to be taken home. Accompanied guide dogs are allowed full access to our venue.
How many car parking spaces do you have?
There are 103 car parking spaces.
Can cars be left overnight by our guests?
Yes, cars can parked here over night and then be collected by 11:00am the following day.
Making your mind up
How do I hold a date, and for how long can I hold it?
Following having a show round you can hold a date for two weeks, we will contact you after the two weeks to see how things are going and to see how we can help you.
How do I book Field Place Manor House & Barns? What is the deposit?
We will send you a venue booking confirmation contract, along with our Terms & Conditions, which you will sign and send back to us to confirm your booking. The deposit is £500 which is non-refundable.
You can settle the deposit by BACS into our account, over the phone with a card or in person here at Field Place Manor House & Barns. Our Bank Account Details are as follows:
Bank Details:
Account Name: South Downs Leisure Enterprises Ltd
Sort Code: 30 – 80 – 12
Account Number: 12082768
Bank: Lloyds Bank, City Office
When do I need to pay?
You will be asked to settle the outstanding amount on your contract two months before your wedding date.
The Planning Process
Once you have confirmed your booking with Field Place Manor House & Barns, we will inform Hardings so that their services are also booked for your special day. They will then contact you, to guide you through the planning process and arrange a catering meeting.
Harding’s are available to answer any queries you might have during the planning process.
What do to next?
We will arrange to meet with you to discuss the timings for your day, alongside any additional supporting suppliers and their requirements.
Hardings will contact you to arrange your Wedding Breakfast meeting. They will then liaise with you directly.
The Wedding Day:
The Field Place Manor House team will be here to ensure your ceremony runs smoothly, liaising with the Registrars and welcoming your guests.
Once you have completed your photos outside you will make your way over to The Barns, where Hardings will cater for your every need and be with you throughout your wedding day. The Field Place duty management team will be here until midnight too.
