When it comes to planning your dream wedding day, there’s always a lot to consider. From the guest list to the ceremony plan, the wedding favours to the band, the to-do-list can feel endless. This is why our dedicated team go above and beyond to do everything we can to help take the load off, whether that is through our stunning collection of venue styling options or by simply having all the information our couples need, right at our fingertips.
Keep reading for our most commonly asked wedding questions…
When do I book the registrar?
You’ve planned your dress, picked your décor and united your bridal party, but have you booked your registrar!? If you are planning on having your wedding ceremony at Southend Barns, we recommend that you check availability of the registrar before you even confirm your date with us. The phone number for West Sussex Registrar Office is 01243 642122, their helpful team will chat you through the process of registering your marriage and booking a registrar.
Is your wedding venue accessible?
Inclusivity is incredibly important to us at Southend Barns and therefore we ensure that all areas of our wedding venue are accessible for wheelchair users. This includes the bridal suite, both ceremony spaces, our reception space, facilities and also our outdoor spaces and gardens. We also have dedicated accessible parking spaces in our large car park.
Is there somewhere we can use to get ready?
For those brides or grooms looking to get ready on site, many choose to use our Milking Parlour bridal suite. Also, a beautiful option for the night of your wedding, the spacious bridal suite has its own bathroom, log burner, seating and dining table plus plenty of mirrors. The Milking Parlour is available from 11am on the morning of your big day.
Do you allow candles?
We know the gentle glow of candlelight can make or break a carefully planned wedding day aesthetic, which is why we are pleased to say we do allow the use of candles at Southend Barns as long as they are in holders. The only exception to this is, for safety reasons, we do not allow real candles lining the aisle. However, if you are set on walking down a sweeping candle lit aisle, there are some beautiful and very realistic faux candles available which make a perfect substitute.
Are guests allowed to bring confetti?
Another commonly asked question is our stance on confetti. We are all for it! However in line with our pledge to be as environmentally friendly as possible, we do ask that all confetti used is natural, such as rose or other flower petals.
What wedding reception spaces do you have?
Some of our most frequently asked questions relate to the wedding reception. Our wedding venue consists of several interlinked spaces including our Secret Garden outdoor ceremony space, our Dairy Barn indoor ceremony space, our fully protected and heated outdoor Collecting Yard which looks over beautiful landscaped gardens and our Threshing Barn which is usually used for the wedding breakfast and reception party.
What drinks do you offer?
The Threshing Barn and Collecting Yard both have bars serving a wide range of drinks including cocktails, spirits, wine, beer and soft drinks. Many couples opt to put a set figure behind to bar to kick off celebrations, but it is important to advise guests that both bars are cashless, so unless you are treating your guests to a free bar all night, only card payments will be accepted.
Can we have fireworks?
Many of our couples have enjoyed spectacular firework displays as a gorgeous crescendo to their special day. We have one approved supplier of fireworks – Selstar – who we have worked with for years. They create unforgettable, tailored to you displays whilst also being conscious of our rural location and surrounding wildlife.
Is your wedding venue child friendly?
We welcome children to Southend Barns, but understand a late night reception can be a bit too much for the young ones. To enjoy the best of both worlds, some of our couples have created a cosy kids zone in our Dairy Barn (which is just across the lawn from our reception space in the Threshing Barn). There are several childcare professionals in the area who can be hired to run a crèche in this space, or some have their own pop-up tents full of entertainment and activities. This gives young children a quiet, safe and supervised space to sleep or play, whilst their parents enjoy the party just a stone’s throw away.
Do you have noise restrictions?
Although we have no noise restrictions at Southend Barns, to be respectful of our neighbours (sound can travel quite far over rolling fields!) and also to conform to our premises licence, we ask that music ends by 11.30pm and that all guests have left the barns by midnight.
Do you have on site accommodation?
As well as providing a range of beautiful accommodation onsite for close family and friends there are lots of lovely hotels and B&Bs located near our wedding barns.
At Southend Barns we have our Milking Parlour, Mama Lou Shepherd’s Hut and also our new Luxury Bell Tent offering which sleeps up to 12 people and will be available for use during the warmer months.
There are also plenty of great nearby accommodation options available for your wider wedding party. From Crouchers Hotel only a mile down the road, to a wide range of beautiful spots to suit a variety of budgets just a couple of miles away in nearby Chichester, including The Harbour Hotel, East Walls Hotel, Premier Inn and many more. Check out our full recommended accommodation list here.
Is there plenty of parking? Can guests leave their cars overnight?
Although we have a large car park which can fit up to 80 cars, we know guests often like to unwind with a drink or two to celebrate your big day. If guests choose to drive to Southend Barns, but do not wish to drive at the end of the night, we are happy for them to leave their cars in our car park overnight along the far hedge, as long as these are all collected by 10am the next day.
Can you recommend any taxi firms?
There are a wide range of reputable taxi firms in the area. We highly recommend these are pre-booked as they can get very busy, especially during the weekend. Click here for a full list of nearby taxi firms.
If you would like to know anything further about having your wedding celebration at Southend Barns why not take a look at our full list of frequently asked questions. Alternatively, our team would be more than happy to answer any questions you have, just give us a call on 01243 641247 or email us at enquiries@southendfarms.co.uk.
