Outdoor weddings on farm - good idea?

[Bovine1251]

Is the idea of being a wedding venue appealing if someone else is doing the work? Might be ideal to earn a bit extra from some out-lying silage land!

Owner provides use of field and / or barn for a wedding or event.

Wedding planner looks after*:

• Online promotion through website, social media, digital advertising, photos etc.
• Site set up like where marquee is going, loos, generator, parking etc.
• Management on the day to ensure safety / things go smoothly and don't interfere with farm work

(*for a % of booking cost e.g. 15% of £2,000 barn and field hire fee)

I've worked in agriculture for many years but also recently started wedding planning. Thought it could be a good way for farmers to earn a bit extra on the side if they don't have the time or know-how to build their own website etc., but they have the facilities to offer people but wanted peoples thoughts on it.

Any feedback welcome, cheers

 

[Gordy1]

Can't say I have had any dealings with this but it goes on quite a bit around here.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Contingency plans will be the key to success for that 5% of weddings where the weather is a disaster, more in some parts of the country. Son of a friend of mine was married on a farm a few weeks back in northern England, llamas, the full works, poor Mother of the groom was a nervous wreck until she knew the ground was firm and the weather was set fair. Wouldn't have fancied a wedding on our farm for June 10th/11th this year......

 

[7610 super q]

Insurance ?

Does the place look like Glastonbury after the event ?

Alcy licence ?

Size of field required ?

 

[milkloss]

Can be a good earner from what I’ve heard. It is best:
With a building that has facilities, electric, toilets and potable water.
Isolated for music, parking and privacy.

£6k a weekend around here.

 

[Princess Pooper]

There are also a fair number of farms already set up to do this.

 

[Chasingmytail]

https://www.huntstileorganicfarm.co.uk/ do a lot of it whether they make money is something you need to ask them. Its a continual marketing exercise and publicity is the name of the game. If you love all that then it will suit you but I assume a big proportion of the profits goes on continual PR and marketing. Is not your takings it the end margin you need to consider. Labour is another thing to consider hospitality is a low paid and finding and keeping reliable staff is another. Whether you have the time and energy to put into this depends on how much free time you have.

I doubt its easy money.

 

[Chasingmytail]

Perplexed???? so 15% of booking £2000 is £300 so you would do all this prep, stress, driving, sorting out issues on day and management for 15% ummm? Id be rethinking this for a start. What hourly rate are you working on?

We had our wedding in the shed and outside on the yard it was extremely stressful and the amount of clearance required, Jet washing out barns, painting, hiring in specialist yard brushers, flower planters, sorting out the dodgy electrics, plumbing in water, Moving straw, fire extinguishers, RAMS (of course now).

 

[honeyend]

Do you like people and do you want ringing you all the time.
If you have the infrastructure to put in something entirely separate, but you will have to change far more to make it worth your while. The planning, the alcohol license, waste human and food, parking, H&S, insurance etc. If you are just renting a field you need some sort of prepayment damages money because if the council end up clearing up they will charge you and you get a bad name in the village. This happened down the road from me.
It can be a good income but I would want something like a campsite that operates for more months, so that could cover the basic costs, and then add a wedding venue on top

 

[Gordy1]

What's wrong with just hiring a field to put up a marquee then let them do all the organising etc, marquee company could handle the rest including the insurances required probably supply a generator as well, then just sit back counting the money without the worry,.......just make sure it's the field out of ear shot!!!! Most people just want a field to put up a big tent anyway!! ....sorted

 

[tullah]

What's wrong with just hiring a field to put up a marquee then let them do all the organising etc, marquee company could handle the rest including the insurances required probably supply a generator as well, then just sit back counting the money without the worry,.......just make sure it's the field out of ear shot!!!! Most people just want a field to put up a big tent anyway!! ....sorted

A friend, more of an acquaintance, has asked me if they could have a wedding party on the meadow at the other end of the farm in September. They would sort out their marquee, free bar, generator and loos.
Would it come under the 28 day rule and so not require planning permission?

 

[Nearly]

Yes.
@George from SJM Planning

I'd be looking to build a shed specially for the job if I was tempted to make it a regular ( 28x a year) thing.

 

[Flatlander]

i got married in a converted barn. Owner have it available to rent then outside catering is brought in by the renters plus what ever else is wanted. Very nice gardens and full facilities were a big bonus. I’ve been asked by a few home owners birdering field I own abour allowing cars to par in fields and the occasional marquee. Been tempted for a quick earner but the general public are messy disrespectful members of society that are best not dealt with if you have the chance not too.

 

[theboytheboy]

I looked seriously at this after my sister myself and my brother all got married on the farm. It was easy and fun.

Had a few family friends do it, more work but worth it.

Did the next one for an aqaintaince.....f**king horrible experience. Put me off completely. Zero respect for rules and what was agreed. To much work and stress for not enough reward. The general public mixed with alcohol (and/or drugs) are a bunch of tossers (I include myself in that as I'm sure I've been a dick when I have had to many)

If you have an isolated plot with no neighbours, and don't care that you will never finish picking up the fag buts and ring pulls etc it might be worth considering. I would plant a hedge of blackthorn around it to keep them from roaming and take a f**king massive deposit

 

[Grass And Grain]

Yes.
@George from SJM Planning

I'd be looking to build a shed specially for the job if I was tempted to make it a regular ( 28x a year) thing.

I've a feeling the 28 day rule only applies to land, and not buildings??? Mindst you, suppose a building is built on land.

@George from SJM Planning

 

[Hilly]

No ! You will make a 1/4 of what you think , you will end up regulated and taxed and just get hordes of half pee'd dickheads to deal with . So NO it’s a very bad idea

 

[Farmer Roy]

I would say the way to make the money is to be the one doing the organising, planning & dealing direct with the couple, not being the one who owns the land or building . . .

 

[George from SJM Planning]

I've a feeling the 28 day rule only applies to land, and not buildings??? Mindst you, suppose a building is built on land.

@George from SJM Planning

It is 28 days use irrespective of whether it is land or a building as far as I'm aware.

 

[Grass And Grain]

It is 28 days use irrespective of whether it is land or a building as far as I'm aware.

So I could build a mobile home type structure, but build it so it was outside the spec of a mobile home (e.g. taller or wider than allowed for a mobile home), then use it inside a building for up to 28 days? Then move it to a different building.

The above example was a bit silly really (although interesting concept to discuss). I'll try again... Use a barn for a wedding venue for up to 28 days a year?

 

[George from SJM Planning]

So I could build a mobile home type structure, but build it so it was outside the spec of a mobile home (e.g. taller or wider than allowed for a mobile home), then use it inside a building for up to 28 days? Then move it to a different building.

The above example was a bit silly really (although interesting concept to discuss). I'll try again... Use a barn for a wedding venue for up to 28 days a year?

Scenario A would be seen as deliberate subversion of planning laws and would risk enforcement action. I would imagine the structure you built to be the same structure and therefore you could only use it for 28 days in total.

Scenario B should be acceptable and is how many businesses diversify - we know of a Flower Nursery that does just that.