FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AT LYDE COURT WEDDING VENUE HEREFORD

Venue Questions:

Is your venue available on the required date?
The venue is open all year round. Available dates are listed on the website – click here. Just select the year you are interested in to check the date.

Is your venue easy to find?
Our idyllic rustic barn is nestled in the rural Herefordshire countryside, yet it is just a short two-mile drive from Hereford city centre. For a map and directions please click here.

Is your venue licensed to carry out Civil Weddings?
Yes, we are licensed to hold civil ceremony weddings, both inside and also in the grounds outside.

If you hold a licence for Civil Ceremonies, what authority do you come under and what are the contact details for the registrar?
We come under Herefordshire Council who can be reached on 01432 383261 or by
email: registrars@herefordshire.gov.uk 

Will ours be the only wedding at your venue on our wedding day?
Yes. You will have exclusive use of the venue. The white room is available from 8am

How many people can you accommodate for the Ceremony?
In the 17th century rustic barn, we can hold 300 seated guests, but there is flexibility if we use some of our outdoor areas as well. Please note that most of our weddings have around 50 – 60 daytime guests.

How many car parking spaces are available?
We have ample onsite free parking for all of your guests. Cars can also be left overnight but will need to be moved by 11 am the next day.

Do you allow confetti to be thrown at the venue?
Yes, please use natural or biodegradable confetti and this will help to keep the lawns and gardens looking splendid and save the environment.

Do you allow candles to be lit in the reception room?
Yes and we highly recommend them! Candles create a lovely ambience in the building and can stay lit for the entire event. Candles are included in your wedding hire and we have an abundance of them to beautifully light up the arrow slits and windowsills in the beautiful barn. Lyde Court barn looks very romantic by candlelight!

Do you allow professional fireworks at your venue?
No, we have a local Dairy Farm and many of the village residents have horses and other animals. The noise of fireworks is just too much. However, we love sparklers and of course we have the firepits

Do you have landing permission should we want a helicopter to whisk us away after our day?
Yes, you can safely land a helicopter at the venue and it makes for an epic entrance or departure to your honeymoon!

Do you offer the option of a marquee?
We do not offer a marquee as it is not needed; we have vast areas of indoor covered space in addition to the main barn. We do offer summer festival-style weddings where a marquee can be used, please get in touch for more information.

Are there separate rooms provided for the wedding, reception, meal, evening reception etc.
As the Great Barn is L shaped (for ‘Love), it divides nicely into two sections, with room to extend upstairs in the barn. There are also the options of other barn buildings if required.

Is there a room provided for the use of bride and groom for the day?
Yes, there is a bridal suite available the night of the wedding which is available from 12 noon. There is also The White Room in the main house, which is available to you and your guests at no extra cost from 8am in the morning. The White Room has incredible bight and airy lighting, which makes for fantastic photography lighting.

Is there a dressing room that the bride and bridesmaids can use prior to the ceremony?
Yes, there is, without additional charge. Either the ladies powder room in the dormitories or The White Room in the main house depending on your preference.

When can we have access to begin setting up the room in terms of decorating it?
You can have access to the barn from 11 am the day of the wedding or earlier by arrangement in most cases. If there is no function the day before then you can do any set up the day before.

Does the DJ/Band have to set up their equipment beforehand?
We would always recommend setting up beforehand to minimise disruption but setting up during the course of the evening is possible.

Is there an area that could be used as a crèche if needed?
I’m afraid we have no crèche services available but we are happy for external children’s entertainers to come in.

Is there a quieter area for older guests to get away from the noise of a band/DJ?
Yes, there are a few upstairs mezzanine areas at varying distances from the stage which are perfect for those that appreciate a slightly quieter environment. There is also a ground floor comfortable soft seating area at the opposite end of the barn from the music.

If rooms are available for overnight accommodation, how many?
There is one en-suite bridal suite.  There are a further three VIP double rooms with en-suite bathrooms. The Oast House accommodation sleeps up to 76 of your guests in a mixture of family rooms and dormitories. Camping, touring caravans and camper vans are also an option. Campers and caravan guests pay £25 per person which includes breakfast and full use of the facilities.

What are the costs of overnight accommodation?
The current rate for the bridal suite is £180 per night with breakfast for two included. Dormitory accommodation is charged at £40 for guests aged 12 and over and £32.50 for guests aged up to 11. This includes a full English breakfast per person.  Other family rooms available upon request or under our accommodation tab.

Do you have a room where you are able to store wedding presents until you are able to collect them, and are you insured for any loss or damage to these presents?
We are happy to undertake storage for these items, but we cannot offer insurance to cover them.

Catering Questions:

Do you insist on doing all the catering?
Lyde Court supplies all catering with our trusted and experienced catering teams.

Can you supply examples of suggested menus along with prices?
We can, and indeed every menu is discussed with you in detail to ensure the perfect harmony between menu, budget and guest enjoyment.

Do you include a cake stand and knife if required?
We offer a knife if required and a table or rustic tree stump for the cake to sit on. However we do not have a cake base at the present time.

Do you have a preferred order of service (when and where do we cut the cake)?
We plan the order of service around your requirements as we want your day to work completely for you. We can offer recommendations on timings based on our experience of what works well should you wish.

What time do you offer an alcohol licence until?
Our alcohol license is until 2am.

What time do you insist the reception finishes by?
There is no curfew. Party till you drop.

Do you insist on supplying the wine and champagne?
We supply the drinks and have an extensive wine list to suit all budgets.

Extra Questions

Do you have a Public Address (PA) system that can be used for our music and speeches?
Yes we have a fabulous PA system which has been used by International Artists at Lyde Court.  You can play your own music if required through our PA system via a laptop, ipod, MP3 player or CD.

What facilities are available if the weather is poor?
The barn is such a size that it can comfortably accommodate 300 people in bad weather.

What photographic locations are there?
All areas are available for photographers to take photos. The gardens have many lovely spots that are perfect for photographs all of which have a lovely outlook onto Herefordshire countryside.

Do you supply or can you recommend a DJ or Band?
Yes, we have a fantastic in house DJ and have a list of recommended bands. Alternatively you are very welcome to use your own band or DJ.

Do you have details of local hotels for guests to stay?
If not staying onsite we have offsite recommendations on our local information page.

Do you have any arrangements with local cab companies that offer reasonable rates?
We have details of the local firms. The usual wait for a taxi is 10 minutes. Our bar staff will call you a cab.

What decoration do you supply for the reception?
We provide candles for the windows and in the centre of the tables if required. You are most welcome to bring any of your own decoration to suit your theme.

Can you recommend a photographer/videographer?
Yes, recommended suppliers are listed on the suppliers page of the website.

Is it OK for the photographer / videographer to visit the venue beforehand to get an idea of what to expect on the day?
They are most welcome to visit before the big day in order to familiarise themselves with all of the best photo opportunities within the grounds.

Can you recommend a company that can supply wedding cars?
Yes, recommended suppliers are listed on the suppliers page of the website.

Can you recommend a good florist?
Yes, recommended suppliers are listed on the suppliers page of the website.

Do you take credit/debit cards at the venue?
Yes we do take these on the bar and there is no minimum spend. Please note that we do NOT accept cash, it is card only