We’ve been lucky enough to have hundreds of couples get married at Cogges over the years.  From our experience in helping them plan their big day, we’ve pulled together the most common FAQs, but we’re more than happy to talk too.  So don’t hesitate to get in touch.

What is the capacity of each barn?

It really depends how you want to seat your guests as to how many will fit in each barn. You could choose round tables, long banquet tables, or have a more relaxed hog roast or BBQ with straw bale seating – there are infinite combinations to suit your own, personal requirements and we will happily advise. We suggest up to 200 in the Wheat Barn, and 70 in the Barley Barn.

As a rough guide:

   - you could seat 146 on 11 x 6’ round tables plus a top table in the Wheat Barn

   - you could fit 84 guests on 4 x 6’ banqueting tables in one half of the Wheat Barn

   - a spacious layout of 36 straw bales in the Barley Barn will seat 72 guests comfortably

-   Up to 110 guests may be seated on folding wooden chairs for a ceremony in the Barley Barn

How do people use the barns?

The barns offer very flexible space to use as you like, but as inspiration, you could:

- hold the ceremony in the Barley Barn, with the Wheat Barn set up for dining, then partially clear for dancing later, with the Barley Barn remaining as quiet space for a photo-booth, presents table, wishing well and family area with teas & coffees

- use the Barley Barn as your ceremony space, set up the bar and tables for dining in the Wheat Barn and then transform the Barley Barn for a disco later in the evening

- divide the Wheat Barn into half-ceremony space, half-eating space, using the Barley Barn for the bar and chill-out area

- just have your reception here if you’re getting married elsewhere, setting up the Barley Barn as your bar area and using some of the available space for your caterer, plus maybe your photo-booth, a table for gifts, visitors' book, wishing well etc, and use the Wheat Barn for dining, and dancing later on

- make use of the canopy and lawned area immediately outside the barns for more catering options, garden games, even a marquee or tipi, should you need more under-cover space     

- have the Barley Barn as your ceremony space, eat around tables in the Wheat Barn and then transform the Barley Barn for a disco later in the evening, or invite more guests for a ceremony in the bigger Wheat Barn, have an informal BBQ to eat on bales outside and have the Barley Barn as a games or chill-out room

Can we just have our ceremony at Cogges?

With or without a reception, you are welcome to just have your ceremony here if your chosen evening venue isn’t licensed for weddings. Please enquire for prices and availability.

Who books the registrar for the ceremony?

It is the couple’s responsibility to book and pay for the registrar direct with the Oxfordshire Registration Service. Our separate charge for holding your ceremony here is purely to contribute to the cost of our Approved Venue License.

Do you have recommended suppliers?

Yes, although couples are free to choose their own, we can provide you with our list of preferred and additional recommended suppliers. We have developed very good relationships with a number of local businesses who have provided Cogges weddings with their services for many years.  Should you wish to bring in your own suppliers, we just ask for contact details, copies of their public liability insurance certificates and, where appropriate, ask that they meet safety regulations for electrics, working at height and ladder usage – we would invite them to visit to familiarise themselves with the site and how we work, so your special day runs smoothly. 

What is Cogges like in different seasons?

Our barns are from the 18th century and made of stone, so are lovely and cool in the warmer months and can be a little chilly during cooler weather. For this reason, weddings are held only from April to October. For cooler days and evenings we can, on request, provide patio heaters as part of the hire to keep you and your guests cosy. We also allow fire pits on the lawned area outside the barns, and suggest blanket hire or ask guests to bring their own. The loos are a little walk away across the gravel farmyard, so you might also want to provide brollies, wellies and/or flip-flops according to the weather, especially for those in high heels.  

How much would the rest of my wedding cost?

This is very much dependent on your own vision for your wedding. Catering options are endless; families are welcome to bring-and-share food and drink, or you can hire a bar and external caterering - anything from a street-food van, afternoon tea, hog-roast, buffet, or fully catered sit-down meal with service. Styling the barns is up to you, and can be anything as simple as fairly lights and DIY decorations, to the most chic whimsical wonderland wedding theme, plus greenery and flora to suit your budget. Consider signage too, welcoming your guests, a table plan and programme for the day. It's your day, so have it your way!

As a guide, we suggest to couples that they allocate around 35% of their overall wedding budget to cover all aspects of the reception which include:

     - Cake

     - Food

     - Drink

     - Furniture (including chairs, tables or bales)

     - Table linen, crockery, glassware, cutlery

     - Decorations

     - Furniture* (including chairs, tables or bales)

     - Favours, sweet trolley

Can we have a marquee?

Both our barns offer a great combined floor space. However, if you need additional space, then you are free to put up a weighted down marquee within the walled area outside of the barns and we can suggest a local supplier.

Where can our guests park?

There’s ample free parking just a two-minute walk away at the end of Cogges Hill Road (OX28 3FR), plus disabled parking on site (OX28 3LA). We are also just 5 minutes from the nearest bus stop and it’s a lovely walk across the river meadows from the centre of Witney.

What is included in the hire of the barns?

We provide you with a complete blank canvas and you can do virtually whatever you like. You have exclusive use of the barn/s (and the area around them) for 3 days. You also have exclusive use of the site in the evening of your wedding day (from 5pm). We’ll also give you heaters to take the chill off in the evening, on request. You are welcome to make use of our vintage 8’ oak table, perfect as a ceremony table or for your visitors' book, wishing tree, cards & gifts etc.

What should we expect?

Cogges will provide all the information you need to plan your own, truly bespoke wedding. You will receive a Cogges wedding pack including floor plans, suggested table layouts, and preferred supplier lists and after booking we will provide check-lists for setting up and clearing up afterwards, including handy hints and great ideas gleaned from previous weddings. 

Please also bear in mind that these are old barns with lots of nooks and crannies for the doves and other creepy crawlies to roam. That's part of our charm!  We rely on couples and their wonderful families to kindly leave things as you’d like to find them, and we will provide a check-list to help. The site is open every day to the public so we need it to be back to working order as soon as possible.

Are there toilets on site?

We may be rustic but thankfully have modern toilet facilities, including disabled cubicle with baby changing facilities. The loos are a walk across the farmyard and are signposted.

What time do we need to vacate the venue on the day of our wedding?

We love that we are part of the community and ask for due consideration to our neighbours at all times. Our music license is until 11pm, though a silent disco could continue a little longer, and carriages should be at midnight. You don’t need to clear everything away on the day – just be sure to have organised some of your nearest and dearest to come back the next morning to clear up.

Can we throw confetti?

Yes, within the walled area of the barns you are free to throw confetti though we do ask that you consider environmental alternatives (especially as our roaming chickens will come pecking around afterwards). It will be your responsibility to sweep up and dispose of any remaining confetti during the clean-up the next day.

Can we have real candles?

We think that the lighting from candles makes the barns look magical and beautiful. So, within reason, we permit the use of candles inside the barn, but they must be well away from any hay bales or other flammable décor.

Can we let off Chinese lanterns or fireworks?

As well as the thatched buildings on-site, our animals are precious to us, so we request that you respect their wellbeing by refraining from using Chinese lanterns and any types of fireworks or pyrotechnics during your time on site. We do, however, allow sparklers and ask that you ensure the used ones are disposed of safely.

Can we smoke on site?

Cogges is a non-smoking site during our public opening hours of 10am to 5pm. We are happy to allow smoking after 5pm, and ask that you signpost your guests to the controlled outside space provided and request that cigarette butts are disposed in a safety sand bucket and cleared away after the event. As this is a working farm (you’ll see the chickens parading around and joining in your festivities!) we ask for your cooperation and diligence so that animals don’t accidentally pick up any wedding debris or rubbish.

When are payments due?

A £500 deposit will save the date for you, with the final balance payable two months before the wedding date – this final balance will include additional, optional items such as corkage, straw bales etc.  Many couples like to spread the payments, so you are welcome to pay additional amounts to your own payment plan – just ask and we can raise an invoice!  Should you wish to cancel, provided we have time to take another booking (i.e. at least 6 months before) we will refund all payments made less any reasonable administration costs.  We recommend you take out weddings insurance in the unfortunate event of having to make a late cancellation i.e within 6 months of the wedding date, as we would be unlikely to find another couple at such short notice and would be grateful if a claim could be made to cover our fees.