Weddings FAQ's
Woodbank House will be exclusively yours for the date(s) you have reserved and what’s included depends on your choice of plan from our wedding collection whether it be Sweetheart elopement for two, Sweetheart + for up to 40 guests or Platinum for up to 70 day and 100 evening guests. You can find more information on our Collection and Pricing page, together with options that can be added to your chosen plan.
Each plan includes:-
- exclusive use of the main hall for your ceremony
- exclusive use of dining or drawing room
- gardens and terraces for pictures
- tables and chairs for your party
- use of our surround sound system
- support from our wedding co-ordinator
All party numbers include the Bride and Groom.
Accommodation
We have 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms including the Aphrodite Suite accommodating a total of up to 18 guests (depending on configuration).
You can discuss the exact layouts of your guest bedrooms with us.
Although the bedrooms are included in your wedding fee the bedrooms can be recharged to your guests and the amounts deducted from your balance.
We ask that all bedrooms are allocated and paid for by your guests 28 days before your wedding date.
The Aphrodite Suite is where most brides prepare for the big day. It is spacious with lots of natural light and has its own large en-suite bathroom with double sinks, roll top bath and corner shower.
You can decide to add “wrap” around days to your wedding date. Please contact us and ask about our special celebration stays. We will be delighted to talk through the options for you and your wedding party.
Local Accommodation: we can provide you with an additional list of hotels and bed and breakfasts in our area should you require.
Reservations
You are welcome to view Woodbank House and its facilities. Please contact us to make a prior appointment and we will be happy to show you around.
Once you’ve visited us we will normally hold your preferred date for 10 days to allow you to speak to other suppliers.
To confirm your preferred date we then ask for a £1,000 non-refundable reservation fee payable by Bacs transfer and completion and signature of our reservation form which includes our terms and conditions.
The initial reservation fee of £1,000 is non-refundable.
If you cancel your wedding within 180 days of your reservation date the full amount of the venue hire cost will be payable. Any change to this policy will be at the management’s sole discretion.
You will also need to speak to your suppliers and caterers to discuss their cancellation policies.
There are many companies now offering a full wedding package insurance cover for most aspects of your wedding and provide peace of mind. We request that an insurance policy is taken out to cover your wedding. This should include adequate public liability insurance for the venue and your suppliers. We are happy to assist you and provide you with any further information on insurance.
Ceremony
You will need to contact the registrar as soon as you book Woodbank for your wedding or civil partnership ceremony. Monmouthshire County Council is the local authority for Woodbank House and you can contact the registrar on: 01873 735435 or by email: ceremonies@monmouthshire.gov.uk.
Also visit: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/services/the-register-office for more information.
Reception
We welcome children at Woodbank and provide four highchairs for the young ones! Caterers usually classify children at aged 10-12, please check with your caterer.
We can provide a small round 3ft table for the wedding cake.
We can lay the table with your name places, menus unless you have made these arrangements with your caterer. We ask that they are given to us in table order on the morning of your wedding.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow fireworks, sparklers or Chinese lanterns as it can cause harm to local livestock, and damage nearby farmland and property.
- theme: we understand your theme and decoration is important. Due to the age and decoration of some parts of the property we ask that care is taken when decorating to your theme and that the house is left in its original condition.
- candles: for safety reasons real candles or any open flames are not permitted.
- table or scatter crystals: unfortunately these aren’t allowed as these can fall onto the floor and cause accidents.
- balloons: you can use helium balloons inside the function room as long as they are fixed and not released at any point.
You may organise other activities on the day provided they can be accommodated securely and your provider has suitable insurance and meets our terms and conditions. Please contact us for further information.
We allow bio degradable confetti which we ask is used outside the house.
Reception Numbers
Main Hall: 70
Dining Room: 20
Drawing Room: 70 (100 in the evening).
Partners
We have a list of partners that we can recommend. Please see our partners section.
Arrival & Departure
Bedrooms:
Aphrodite Suite: 10:45am
Wedding party (Other bedrooms):
If there is a wedding the night before: 2:45pm
No wedding night before: from 10:00am
Drawing Room:
If there is a wedding the night before: from 10:30am
No wedding night before: from 09:30am
House:
If there is a wedding the night before: from 10:45am
No wedding night before: from 10:30am
The morning after the wedding we request that rooms are vacated by 10:00am and departure from the house by 10:30am.
Those guests staying in the house may bring their luggage and it will be kept safe until the rooms are ready.
If you need to drop anything prior to the wedding please contact us to arrange an appointment in advance to ensure we can meet you on site.
Catering & Drinks
Catering will be provided by one of our designated catering partners for the wedding breakfast and evening party.
They will provide tailor made menus for your wedding day as well as the rest of your stay at Woodbank House, including evening meals and breakfast, if required.
The caterer should provide glassware, crockery, cutlery and linen for the function.
The final date for providing catering numbers, table plan and dietary requirements is usually 1 month before your wedding date but please confirm all of the above details with your caterer.
You can speak to us about all your drink requirements which are provided and run in house.
We believe our comprehensive list gives a cross section of wines, spirits and beers suiting all tastes and budgets. We can arrange a wine tasting to compliment your menu choice.
There is a fully stocked bar open during the day. After the wedding toast further drink purchases can be made from the Library bar.
“Time Ladies and Gentlemen please!”
Subject to government advice, the bar will close and music at Woodbank will end at 12 midnight and we ask carriages to be booked for 12:30am.
House guests can then retire to the house to unwind!
Practical Matters
Access to the house is reasonably flat, there is 1 step. Please advise us in advance of any individual requirements and we will do our best to accommodate them.
We have space for up to 25 cars at Woodbank House, which include the main car park and “priority” spaces in front of the house (approximately 6 spaces). The priority spaces are for the Bride and Groom, close party, registrar and event staff at the front of the house depending on vehicle types. We request that aside from the bridal party that all vehicles leave the venue on the night of the function unless otherwise agreed.
Due to the nature of our drive and turning circles at Woodbank House unfortunately large vehicles and coaches are not allowed.
Your wedding co-ordinator will work with you up to your wedding day. You will be invited to a meeting and run through of the logistics of your wedding approximately 10-12 weeks before.
Woodbank House is a non-smoking venue and this includes e-cigarettes. We ask that you use the designated smoking areas provided.
© Woodbank House 2022
All pictures and narrative in this website are copyright and the property of the owners of Woodbank House, other than as provided by third parties under licence (thestorytelleruk, taniamiller).
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
