Booking Process

My partner and I would like to meet up with the wedding planner and see what the venue can offer us.  How do we do this? 
Kerrie Gibbons our Wedding and Events Manager can conduct visits Monday to Friday, 11.00am until 4.30pm and occasionally evenings/weekends by special request.  Visits must be booked in advance by calling Kerrie on 01795 510214 or eMail kerrie@theferryhouseinn.co.uk

How long will the meeting take?
The first introductory meeting will take about an hour.   Kerrie will check that the date you require for your wedding is available in the wedding calendar, discuss all your wedding day requirements and show you around the venue and accommodation.   Following this meeting she will create a wedding quotation based on all the information you have discussed and send it to you via eMail within three working days.   

How long can you provisionally hold a date for us?
Once you've been for a visit to the Inn, we can provisionally hold a date for you for seven working days. If we haven't had any other interest in that date by the end of the seven days, we can extend the hold for you but if we do have another couple interested in the same date then we will contact you to find out if you would like to book or release the date.

What deposit do I have to pay when I confirm the date?
Once you have confirmed your wedding date we will require a deposit of £500 which is non-refundable. Your outstanding balance will be invoiced eight weeks prior to your wedding day and full payment must be received two weeks prior.  Alternatively, we are more than happy for you to pay by installments.  The choice is yours!

Will I have one contact at the Ferry House Inn when planning my wedding or will I deal with a number of different people?
Kerrie works full time at the Inn and will work with you step by step, right up to your big day. After your initial meeting with Kerrie she will invite you to come for another meeting approximately six to nine months before your wedding day to discuss all the logistics. There will be another meeting to finalise your day one month beforehand but Kerrie is more than happy to hold meetings with you as and when you need them.

Can I contact the wedding planner anytime to ask her questions about my wedding day?
Yes, you can contact Kerrie anytime via eMail and she will be happy to answer your questions.  You can also call her during office hours.

Will the wedding planner be at the Inn on the day of our wedding?
Both Kerrie and Alex Burden the proprietor work very closely together and will be available on your wedding day to ensure everything runs to plan.

We are on a fixed budget, what can you do?
The first thing to do if you have a fixed budget in mind is tell us what it is so we can tell you exactly what we can offer and help you keep to your budget.

Money is tight, but we really want to get married here, what can you do to help us save money?
Don’t worry, we will do all we can to put together your perfect day to fit your wedding budget.  Some instant money savers are:
Choose an ‘off peak’ date - peak is April – September
Choose a weekday
Choose the right menu
We are always more than willing to help you keep your day to budget and are always very upfront about all the costs involved in our quotation.

We’ve have received our quote and wonder if there will be any further costs added along the way?
No, not unless you change the details, i.e. invite more guests.  If there is a VAT increase from that stated on your quote then this will be passed on accordingly.  There are always items that can be added or taken off as we go along, for example you may decide after you book that you want our DJ, no problem we can just add it on to the bill.  All the compulsory charges are always included in your quotation and there will be no hidden extras.

Which room would we have our Civil Wedding Ceremony in?
The Barn is licensed for Civil Wedding Ceremonies and going forward the Gazebo will be licensed from the Spring of 2012.

How many guests can we invite for a Civil Wedding Ceremony?
The maximum capacity for the Barn or Gazebo is 150 guests for the Ceremony.

Do we have to pay any extra for the Civil Wedding Ceremony?
Yes, the cost of using the Barn or Gazebo is £500 and there will be a fee to pay directly to K.C.C. in order for them to conduct the ceremony for you.

Do we have to book the registrar separately?
No, once you decide on the date of your wedding and have paid your deposit, we do it all for you.

How long does a Civil Ceremony take?
A Civil Ceremony normally takes around 25 minutes, a little longer if you include readings.

We would like a Gazebo Ceremony, what happens if it rains?
Gazebo ceremonies can only take place during summer, and when the weather is on our side!  If the weather is bad the ceremony would be conducted in the Barn.  The cost of both the Barn and Gazebo are the same for a ceremony, so there would be no additional fees to pay.

When do I let you know exactly what our requirements are for the day?
During your first meeting with Kerrie she will discuss your wedding day in detail.  Finding out exactly how you want the day to run, timings, menu ideas, drink options, etc…  Following your meeting, Kerrie will provide you with a written quotation based on all the information you discussed with her. If you are happy with the quotation you let Kerrie know and she will then create a full itinerary for your wedding day including all costs.

When do I have to confirm final numbers?
Kerrie will need confirmation of your final numbers approximately six weeks prior to your wedding date.

When do you need our guest’s food and drink choices?
Kerrie will need confirmation approximately four weeks prior to your wedding day including a table plan showing where your guests will be sitting and the menu options they have requested.  If you are not sure about how to go about doing this speak with Kerrie as she has an excel template which she can send to you via eMail that enables you to capture your guests requirements with ease!

Can we bring our own wine in?
No, unfortunately we do not allow this; all alcohol must be purchased on site.

Can we taste the wine before we select it?
Yes, you can purchase any of the wines from our extensive wine list to taste before choosing.

Can we put money behind the bar for our guests?
Yes, no problem at all.  We have a till system that enables you to run a tab and can let the bar staff know when it’s running low!

We have no idea what we want for our wedding breakfast, help?!
Do not fear, we have a huge list of dishes available and can help you form the perfect menu.

I know exactly what I want for the menu, even down to the recipe I wish to use; can I choose my own menu?
Of course!  As long as all the dishes are feasible this is absolutely fine.

Can I only offer my guests one choice of starter, main and dessert?
No, we are more than happy for you to offer your guests up to three options per course or you can just offer them one course.  The choice is entirely yours!

I know exactly what menu choices I want - do you need to check it first before I send it to my guests?
Definitely!.  We need to check the dishes offered on the menu are feasible to freshly produce for a large numbers of guests and we need to check the cost matches the price per head you wish to pay.

Can we bring our own caterers in?
We do not allow this because it is essential that we consistently offer the highest standard of food provided by our own team of chef's.

Can we have a menu tasting session with the Inn?
Tastings can be arranged as required, by prior appointment, but there will be a charge for this service.

Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
We are more than happy to cater for any dietary needs that may arise, however, we must know in advance!

What age do you classify as a child?
This is entirely your decision as we will supply a half portion to those you classify as 'children'.

What time do we have to finish the party?
In order to conform with our premises license and out of consideration for local residents, all wedding parties should finish by 12 midnight.

Do we need to use a marquee for the evening reception?
If you are using the Barn for your wedding breakfast then you don't need a marquee unless you are inviting over 120 guests to your evening celebrations. If you are using the Marquee for your wedding breakfast - up to 250 guests then you would also need to use the marquee for your evening celebrations.

Would you provide a buffet at the reception?
We can provide a buffet, all made here at the Inn by our team of chefs, to suit your requirements.

Can you organise us a traditional hog roast instead of a buffet?
Yes we can provide a hog roast, price per head is dependent on the amount of guests and a minimum guest total will apply.  If you are having an intimate wedding and do not have enough guests for a spit roast then we can cook the hog roast in our kitchen and serve buffet style.

We’d like to provide our own entertainment for the evening, is this allowed?
Yes, however we have a strict policy on outside entertainers.  They must be insured (public liability up to £1M) and they must have all their equipment PAT tested.  We need to see both these documents minimum 4 weeks prior to your wedding.  It is very important that we stress that any outside entertainment supplier must have both these regulations in order to be allowed to use their equipment at our venue.

Do you have a Bridal Suite?
We don't have a specific bridal suite; all three double bedrooms are beautifully and individually appointed so the bride and groom will normally choose their favorite room and then allocate the other rooms to their guests accordingly.

How many people can stay overnight in the Inn?
We have 4-star en-suite accommodation which offers unrivalled views over the North Kent Downs, with three doubles and one twin, all individually furnished to a high standard including one with a four poster bed and another with a Spa bath. For larger parties we can also offer Mocketts Farm Cottage Complex, a group of Visit Britain ‘Gold Award’ properties, which can accommodate from 2 guests up to 36 guests and is situated just two minutes away.

Can my guests call independently to book a bedroom?
Yes, guests can contact us directly to book bedrooms as long as this does not jeopardize your own plans.

Can we have breakfast in bed?
Unfortunately not, breakfast is served in the Bar or Barn the following morning, normally at around 9am.

Do you have other hotels / B&B's locally?
Yes, there are other hotels and B&B's locally. We can give you the contact details of all local accommodation when you book.

Can we get ready in a room at The Inn?
Yes by prior arrangement.

I’d like to stay the night before, and get ready in the room with my hair and make up artist, who want to come at 7am, is this ok?
Of course, just let us know in advance.

I’ve booked a room at the Inn, can other guests go up to my room during the day and night to use it?
No, only guests who have booked accommodation are allowed upstairs.  Brides getting ready in their room may of course have their bridal party and family with them.

I’ve booked a room at the Inn for my wedding night, but it says check-in is from 6.30pm, can we use it during the day?
By prior arrangement we do allow early check in, usually from 12 noon.

Do you allow children in the accommodation?
The accommodation at the Inn does not allow children under 10 years old.  There is self catering cottages suitable for families two minutes away.  However, if you were to block book out all the rooms at the Inn it would be ok for children to stay.  All we ask is that they are not left unattended in the rooms at any time.

What time can we arrive at the Inn on our wedding day?
Generally from 11am onwards, however you may be able to arrive earlier by arrangement

Can we drop off things for the wedding the day before?
Yes, please arrange this with Kerrie.

 What is the maximum number of guests we can have for the Wedding Breakfast?
We can comfortably accommodate 70 to 80 guests in the Barn or 250 guests in the Marquee for a sit down meal.

Can we have a traditional long top table?
You can have a long top table in the Barn or the Marquee but a long top table takes up the space of three round tables, reducing the capacity to 70 in the Barn and 200+ in the Marquee.

Can we have one long table for all the guests?
You can, but this reduces the barn capacity significantly, so please contact us to discuss.

Can we decorate our own napkins?
Yes, we are more than happy for you to decorate your own napkins. Please note that we do provide white linen napkins which we tie with a ribbon to match your colour scheme. This is provided at no extra cost.

Do you allow children at the Inn?
Yes, we welcome children to the Inn but ask that they are supervised at all times, inside and outside.

Do you have any high chairs we can use?
Yes, we have four high chairs which you can use.

Can we have breakfast or lunch at the Inn whilst we are getting ready?
Yes, we can provide meals for you while you are getting ready.

What time do we need to leave the Inn the next day?
We serve breakfast at around 9:00am and all rooms will need to be vacated by around 10:00am. This is so that we have time to clean the rooms before the next event that day.

Will I need a microphone for the speeches? If so, do I have to provide my own?
A microphone is not needed for speeches in the Barn. We would recommend you use a microphone in the marquee. We do not provide a microphone, however the entertainment we/ you book should be able to provide this for you.

Can you provide an easel to hold our table plan?
Yes, we can provide an easel free of charge which can hold your table plan.

Can you provide a cake knife for the wedding cake?
Yes, we can provide a cake knife free of charge for your wedding cake.

Can you provide a postbox for our wedding day cards?
No, sorry we do not provide a postbox as every wedding has a different theme. 

Can we decorate the Barn and/or Marquee?
Yes, we are more than happy for you to decorate the barn, gazebo or marquee.  However we insist that any decorations must not cause any damage, i.e no large nails in our vintage oak beams please!!

Do you have a cloakroom we can use?
We don't have a cloakroom but we do have a hanging rail which your guests can leave their coats on if required.

Can my photographer come to the Inn before the wedding to look round?
Yes, we just ask you make an appointment beforehand with Kerrie.

Do you recommend having a break between the day and the evening?
We recommend that your day rolls into your evening without a big break.

Do I have to decorate the tables on the morning of our wedding or can you do that for us?
We can lay the table with your name places, wedding favours, menus etc... as long as they are given to us in table order and in advance.  Your tables will be dressed for you on the morning of your wedding.  Kerrie will meet with you at the Inn on the eve of your wedding to finalise all your decoration and table details.

Can we have fireworks?
Yes, we can supply fireworks for you.

Can we launch Chinese lanterns?
Unfortunately we don't allow Chinese lanterns to be launched as the debris impacts on our local residents and farmland. It also causes harm to local livestock. This ruling is in line with recommendations from the Country Land Association.

We welcome your ideas and input into decorations in the Inn but please bear in mind the following:

Candles
Candles can be used as long as they are in a safe candle holder (a maximum of 5 candles per table) and there is sufficient protection to stop the wax dripping onto the linen table cloths.

Confetti
We don't allow confetti inside the Inn or Marquee but outside is perfectly acceptable.  We request that confetti used is biodegradable, or the paper varieties.  Not the ‘foil’ types which do not breakdown quickly, therefore have a negative impact on the surrounding wildlife and farm land.