The Nitty Gritty

Your basic booking will include, your initial Viewing, two pre-booked site visits, and access for preparation the day before the event. On the day of your celebration you will have full access from 11:00am, with exclusive use of the Dell, Marquee, Paddock, Birch Garden and Barn for up to 100 guests with parking for 20 cars, overnight camping and then depart on Sunday by 11:00am.

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A non~refundable deposit is required at the time of booking as confirmation.  The balance is then arranged into instalments leading up to your chosen date, with the balance cleared 8 weeks before your booking. This initial deposit and instalments are designed to reflect the commitment between the Client & Venue and also to be a representation of the costs incurred by the Venue at that point in the procedure. 

 

Two pre-booked visits prior to your celebration are included in the price. These are useful if you want to show special family or friends and for tastings with your caterers. We also use these Visits to sit with you, answering any questions you may have, running through the day and writing up your own personal Wedding Plan. Should you require any further visits these will be charged for. For the smooth running of The Keeper and the Dell and our own privacy we insist that you & your family refrain from making any impromptu visits.

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Access for preparation is from 11:00am to 4:00pm on the day prior to the wedding and then from 11:00am on the day, for Caterers and other vendors to begin their prep for your Celebrations. If you need access outside of this time or have deliveries before this, you will need to let us know in advance.

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We operate a strict ‘Leave No Trace’ policy, and ask that you remove all your own decor, camping gear, rubbish, bottles, food waste items and anything else you may have brought with you from the site. We ask for a bond to be paid to us before your event. Once you have returned The Keeper and the Dell to us in the same condition as you hired it, with all rubbish cleared, all decorations removed, with no major breakages of rules or property and no loss or damages, we will happily return this to you in full. The guidelines are to help you  have a successful event and also ensure this bond is happily returned to you.

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Absolutely no naked flames or smoking is allowed in the Barn, the Marquee, Cabin, Den, Caravan, Huts or Bell Tents.  Smoking can only be on the gravelled Terrace. Cigarette butts must all be extinguished & put in the buckets provided. Any fires must be booked in advance and may only be lit in the designated areas.  Only firewood that you have been allocated may be used and wood must not be taken from other areas. We ask that only natural petal or seeds is used for confetti and not sequins, plastic, or rice.

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Whilst we are lucky not to have any very close neighbours, The Keeper and the Dell is a private home and we ask that all behaviour & noise is kept to a respectable level. There are fields of livestock nearby & we are surrounded by woodland ~ therefore all sky lanterns & fireworks are strictly prohibited. We do allow sparklers on the Terrace.

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Music of your own choice can be played throughout the ceremony and at the reception. Amplified music needs to wind down & finish by 11:00pm, with all guests having settled in the Camping Area or peacefully left the site by 11:30pm

 

You are free to enjoy the Barn, the Dell, the Paddock & the Birch Gardens.  The cottage with its own garden and any storage sheds are out of bounds. Entry into the woodland behind The Keeper and the Dell is strictly prohibited as this does not belong to us but to a private country estate. It is very important that any young guests are looked after at all times, do not let them stray from the designated areas and that there are kept safe around the fires etc.

 

Dogs and other animals are not allowed to visit The Keeper and the Dell, apart from any assistance animals. 

 

You are welcome to decorate the venue to compliment your own wedding style. All decor must be carefully hung and removed so as to not cause any damage to the property. Please ask permission before using any nails or tacks. All decorations, adhesives and tacks must be removed fully after your event.

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You are responsible for your guests safety and behaviour. Please be careful not to allow minors to drink or for any guests to get too drunk or anti social in their behaviour. 

 

In keeping with the natural setting & a low carbon footprint we are limited to parking of up to 20 cars on the Paddock. We ask that all cars are driven slowly & carefully and parked neatly in the designated area. You are welcome to hire a coach, bus or camper for your guests. Cars must not park or unload on the Birch Garden or in the Dell. Extra caution must be taken by all vehicles when entering & leaving the property. Please respect the nearby villages and neighbours by being courteous and quiet when leaving the venue. 

 

There are electrical points on site ~ any equipment used must be properly checked. If you are wanting a lot of extra lighting, catering equipment etc, please advise us of this in advance as you may need to bring in and pay for extra generators to cope with the extra load.

 

There is cold running water on site and we‘re lucky enough to have a proper outside flushing loo. This runs to a septic tank and must be treated with special care. We also have a Compost Loo & Dressing Room in the Washroom on the Birch Garden. This is also must be treated with care with instructions on how to use followed carefully. 
 

If camping, all guests must depart by 11:00am the day after your celebration.  All rubbish, empty bottles etc needs to be properly bagged up and taken away, and all personal items packed and cleared away ready for collection.  Please be careful that none of our own props or pretties get broken or mislaid. Any breakages must be reported.  You are welcome to arrange for all hired items to be collected by the Monday morning. Once the site is cleared & has been inspected by us as having been returned in an acceptable condition and on time, we will happily return your paid bond to you.