Below are a number of questions frequently asked by our brides & grooms.  These are divided in to categories. However, if you can't see the answer to your question, please don't hesitate to contact us.

PLANNING THE WEDDING

• How often do we meet with our wedding co-ordinator?

You will have two meetings with your wedding co-ordinator prior to the big day; once when you are ready to send out your invitations and again about six weeks before the wedding.  The person who conducts these meetings will be your point of contact and will, of course, be there to guide you through your special day.

• Can we bring our families/friends/photographer etc to show them the venue we have chosen?

Of course! If you would like to show them the wedding rooms, such as the bridal suite, Cornloft and Lakeside Suite please give us a call to let us know you are coming so that someone can be available to show you around and answer all your questions.

• Do we book the registrars? 

Yes, the registrars must be booked and paid for by you.  Hornsbury Mill falls in the Yeovil Registrars catchment area.

• Can you make any recommendations for suppliers of cakes/flowers/chocolate fountains etc?

Yes. For recommendations not covered on our supplier list, please ask your wedding co-ordinator.

• Do you have chair covers?

We only have chair covers in the Cornloft and these cannot be moved.  You will need to supply your own covers for the Gazebo ceremony and wedding breakfast.  We can recommend suppliers, please ask.  Please note when ordering your chair covers that our tablelinen is ivory.

• What is included in the Venue Hire charge?

The venue hire covers the use of the Cornloft or Gazebo for your ceremony, exclusive use of the lakeside area after the ceremony (or on arrival from the church), the Lakeside Suite or Wheelroom for your wedding breakfast, as well as the Lakeside suite for your evening reception.  The bridal suite is also included for the night of your wedding.

• What does the Exclusivity fee cover?

Without the exclusivity fee our bar/lounge and restaurant will be open to the public for lunch between 12 and 2pm, for teas and coffees from 10am until 4pm and for dinner from 6.30 to 9pm.  A cordon just below the waterwheel indicates the area for wedding guests only and the public are asked not to venture beyond this point.  Given the layout of Hornsbury Mill the restaurant can operate entirely separately from the wedding. However we appreciate you may wish to reserve the entire venue for your guests so that they can relax in our bar/lounge area while the party continues in the Lakeside. This can be provided for an additional £500 fee.  A further £75 will keep our Lounge bar open for you until 10pm - this is recommended for larger weddings.

Please note the exclusivity fee does not cover the cost of the guestrooms which are paid for by your guests on departure.

THE CEREMONY 

• When is the decision made to have the ceremony outside in the Gazebo or upstairs in the Cornloft?

We will prepare both the Gazebo and the Cornloft for the ceremony just in case. Depending on the size of your wedding (if it is large, we will need time to seat your guests) we can wait until an hour before to make the decision.   

• Can we have music playing to accompany the bride down the aisle?

Yes, the Gazebo and the Cornloft have PA systems but we ask you to supply us with the tracks on CD.  Alternatively, you can bring your own musician - harpist, singer, string quartet etc. 

• Can we throw confetti?

Yes, but outside please and we do request that it is bio-degradable in case our wildfowl try to eat it!

WEDDING BREAKFAST

• What is the maximum capacity for each of the rooms? (Please click on each room for table plan)

Lakeside Suite - 80 people will fit comfortably in the Lakeside but we can "squeeze" in up to 85, especially if there are a number of children.

Lakeside Suite with Marquee - an additional 40 people can be seated in the marquee making a total of 120.  Please note if you choose to have a buffet we will need to fit 2 buffet stations in with your guests.

Wheelroom - up to 40 people.

Coachroom - Long banquet table up to 30 people. 

• How many guests can I seat around a table?

Ideally 8.  This will give everybody plenty of elbow room, however a child can be comfortably added to make a table of 9.

• How many people sit on the long top table?

This is entirely up to you.  In the Lakeside Suite 8 people gives a good balanced effect to the table and fits the room nicely.  If you need to go up to 12 people then we would suggest seating a guest at each end so that the table is not too long. In the Wheelroom we have an oval table with the waterwheel as its backdrop.  Ideally 6 or 8 people will sit around this comfortably.

• Can my top table be a round?

Yes of course see our round table plan.

• What colour is your table linen?

We have ivory tablecloths and napkins.  If you would prefer white, please feel free to hire your own. 

• Can we bring our own caterer?

No, all catering is provided in-house and to an extremely high standard by our in-house chefs who are all well experienced in the preparation and serving of the weddings menus on offer.

• Can you you cater for special dietary requirements?

All dietary requirements and preferences can be accommodated.  Please be sure to let us know of any allergies or special requirements.  

• Do you have a children's menu? What about highchairs?

Yes, see children's menu.  We have three highchairs but you are welcome to bring more if you need them. 

• Can we offer canapes to our guests?

Yes, Head Chef makes a selection, all individually crafted by hand. Please ask for our canape menu. 

BARS

• Why does the Lakeside bar close for the duration of the wedding breakfast?

It is usual for us to close the bar during the meal as it is quite central and having it open gives the room a different ambience - we find guests tend to congregate around it and the noise of the till ringing gives it a more pub-like atmosphere.  If you have chosen our drinks package, the waitresses will be circulating continuously pouring wine  or orange juice for the non-drinkers. There will be jugs of iced water on the table.  You can choose to ask us to supply bottles of beer to circulate alongside the wine; this will be added to your bill.  We do advise your guests that the bar will close for the duration of the meal (about 2hours) and they can purchase a drink to take in with them from the Lounge bar before it closes. The Lakeside bar will re-open as soon as we have turned the room around for your evening reception. 

If the wedding breakfast is to take place in the Wheelroom then the Lounge bar will remain open for your guests.

• Can we make a special request for the bar to remain open?

Yes, but only if your wedding breakfast is for less than 50 people as this gives us enough space in the room to serve your guests. 

• Can we supply our own wine/sparkling wine/champagne?

Certainly, however we do charge a corkage fee of £8 per bottle of wine, £10 for sparkling wine and £12 for champagne. 

• Can we have a cask of beer?

No, unfortunately not. 

• What time does the Lakeside bar close? Can we pay for an extension on the bar? Is there a residents' bar for after this time?

The Lakeside bar closes at midnight (11.30pm on Sundays) and unfortunately, our licence does not allow us offer you an extension. We do not have a residents' bar but if you would like to purchase some drinks prior to the bar closing you are welcome to sit in the grounds or in the spacious bridal suite to continue your party.

EVENING RECEPTION

• How many people can we invite to our evening reception?

The Lakeside  can hold up to 200 people. 

• Do you have an in-house DJ and do we have to use them?   Can we have a band/live music?

We can book our in-house DJ for you but you can bring your own DJ if you prefer. You can also bring your own band.  Please note that as the evening reception takes place in the same room as the wedding breakfast, your DJ/band cannot set up in advance and you will need to allow time for Hornsbury Mill to clear the room before your DJ/band can set up - this can eat in to your valuable dancing time!

HOTEL 

• How do our guests book their rooms in the hotel?

At the time of booking your wedding we will allocate all the guestrooms to your name for the night of your wedding.  You can then use our Room Allocation Sheet to allocate your guests to their rooms. We ask you to do this so that you  choose the guests you want to stay in the hotel and who join you for breakfast the following morning. If any of your guests request a room with us independently, we ask them to contact you directly.  The bridal suite is included in your venue hire fee but your guests will pay for their own rooms on departure. 

• Can you recommend some local hotels and B & Bs for our additional guests? Do you have any local taxi numbers?

Certainly. See local accommodation list

• What time can we check in to the guestrooms?

The bridal suite will be ready for you at 12 noon.  Check-in for all other guestrooms is 2pm. If the rooms have not been occupied the night prior to your wedding you may be able to access the rooms earlier.   

• Do you have any family rooms?

No, but there are 3 rooms that we can accommodate a put-up bed to for a charge of £15.  Please note we only have 2 put-up beds, but you can bring your own blow-up bed if you advise us that you are doing so (we will make a £5 charge for breakfast). Put-up beds are only suitable for children and due to fire regulations additional beds can only be added to 3 of our rooms. 

• Can we leave our cars overnight?

Yes, but this will be entirely at your own risk.  We do ask you to collect your car by midday the next day as we may well have another wedding andwill require the parking spaces.

OTHER 

• Can we have a bouncy castle in the grounds? What about a children's entertainer?

Unfortunately there is not enough flat land at Hornsbury to be able to do this. If you have a lot of children attending your wedding we recommend you provide them with some form of entertainment to keep them occupied. 

• Can we have fireworks? And Chinese lanterns?

Unfortunately not as they disturb our wild birds and the farm animals in the neighbouring fields.

Above are a few of the questions frequently asked by our brides and grooms.  If you have any questions of your own please ask and we will be happy to give you further information.