Ceremony & Capacity

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What is the maximum capacity?

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The Garden room has the capacity to sit up to 250 guests for the wedding breakfast with the ability host a further 50 guests in the evening. 

We request that each guest regardless of age counts as a sit and is included in your numbers.

The tables are round and seat up to 10 guests, we also have the option to have square and rectangular tables (this may alter the maximum number of guests).

 

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Are additional evening guests allowed?

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Whilst we can provide for 250 seated guests for your wedding breakfast, there’s room for 300 guests in the evening so evening guests are welcome to join you for drinks and dancing and to continue your celebrations.

Is the wedding venue available for exclusive hire?

The Chesterton can of course be hired on an ‘exclusive use’ basis, this means we only permit your guests to be onsite between specified times. Exclusive use includes all 18 bedrooms, grounds and facilities. Price is £6,000 in addition to the package price. Accommodation can of course be charged to guests directly and will be credited. 

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Are we able to hold a civil ceremony / civil partnership at The Chesterton Hotel? 

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Yes, we are licensed for up to 250 guests and can host both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. Indoor ceremonies take place in one our beautifully decorated rooms.  Our outdoor ceremonies can take place on any day of the year, as long as the weather remains warm and dry and use the stunning hotel grounds.

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Who do we contact to book our civil ceremony / civil partnership?

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The Oxfordshire Registration Service. They are contactable on Tel: 0345 241 2489

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Can we have a Church wedding?

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Yes. If you do choose to get married in a church, you can then return to the hotel for reception, photographs, wedding breakfast and evening party.

 

 

 

Entertainment / Decoration:

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What do we do about music and entertainment?

 

There are several options for music – the most popular is to hire a DJ or a live band. For DJ’s in particular, we have a designated company to look after you who have years of experience working alongside the hotel and further details can be sent on to you.  Some of our packages include the DJ.

You can choose a live band to play at your wedding and the acoustics in the Garden Room are fantastic.  

Should you wish, you are also welcome to put your own playlist together and plug in your own iPod.

Other forms of entertainment can also be used.

 

What time is your music license until?

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We have an entertainment license until Midnight 

An extension can be arranged at and additional charge of £300 for 1hr (only available with exclusive use)

 

Do you have a sound limiter?

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Like most venues we do have a sound limiter in place.  It is set at 87.5 decibels.  Please don’t worry, your wedding band or DJ will know exactly what this means. It’s simply a maximum volume limit that they can play to, and most professional entertainers will be able to tailor the volume of their act/equipment to our venue’s limit.

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Does The Garden room have lighting?

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Room up-lighting is available and is included with some of our packages, should you wish to add this to your special day we can of course arrange this.

The room uplighters host a variety of 64 colours that can match the décor of the day

Uplighters provide a beautiful ambience to the space

The gardens also have lighting that brings the outside in

Your DJ/Band would have their lighting as part of their package giving you the party atmosphere

 

Is there a dancefloor in the room?

 

A dancefloor is provided within some of the wedding packages, a starlight dancefloor to twinkle in the evening.

We also offer the option to have a bespoke personalised dancefloor

The Garden room has a wooden floor, if you did not wish to have a dancefloor then you will still have a perfect space for dancing the night away

 

 

Can we bring our own suppliers / decorations?

 

The Garden room provides you with a wonderful space in which you can style, dress and decorate as you wish to meet your vision for your special day. We only ask that nothing is attached that cannot be removed at the end of your day. 

We have a list of ‘Recommended Suppliers’ that would be happy to assist you on your way but they are just that ‘recommended’ and you are more than welcome to select your own.  

 

Are fireworks, smoked machines & confetti allowed?

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Unfortunately, fireworks are not allowed at the venue.  Sparklers are allowed to be used outside.

We do offer dry fireworks that can be used for the first dance

Smoke/Haze machines are not permitted

With regards to confetti, we only allow biodegradable confetti within certain areas of the grounds/hotel.

Bubbles are a fantastic alternative to confetti

 

 

 

Food & Beverage:

 

Can we use our own caterers?

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We fully understand that the catering plays a vital role throughout the course of your wedding day and as such we are passionate about delivering each element to a very high standard.  With the fabulous team of chefs, all of your food requirements are taken care of.  Our menus have been created with attention to detail and the highest quality of produce. Couples are able to arrange a menu tasting to sample dishes before confirming decisions on their menu selection.  We cater to all dietary requirements and are well-informed about the special conditions that may need to be in place regarding certain allergies.  Please see the menus featured

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What do you offer for the evening buffet?

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Following on from your canapes & wedding breakfast, then dancing your guests will then begin to feel peckish.

We offer a selection of options for your evening food.  From your finger buffet to a hog roast and everything in between

Sometimes its just as simple as bacon baps and fries

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Do you offer a cake stand and use of a knife?

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The Chesterton hotel offers two options, your more traditional stand (silver) or a beautiful rustic log for your wedding cake and the use of a cake knife.

 

 

Is corkage available?

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We have an extensive choice of all alcohols for your wedding day we can be provided to you at request.

We also have a well-stocked bar with a good selection of wines, spirits, lagers, ale and soft drinks.  We love to support local vineyards and distilleries and have a number of locally sourced and made Gins, Ales, wines and Champagnes on our shelves. 

If you choose to supply your own wine for the day then we do charge a corkage fee. 

Our bar accepts both cash and cards including American Express.

 

 

General:

 

Is parking available at the venue for guests? 

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The car park at The Chesterton Hotel has plenty of parking space for all guests. Cars can remain in the car park overnight until 10am the following morning.

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When does the venue close and guests need depart? 

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This does depend on which day of the week your wedding is booked but for a weekend wedding The Chesterton Hotel the contract allows couples and their guests to party on until midnight. Just before midnight the bar will call last orders. The option may be available for an extension.

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Do you have a wedding planning service or a point of contact?

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With 15 plus years of experience helping you plan and organise your day is a key part of what we do.  

From your initial enquiry and first viewing right through to the days following your wedding we are there to support/assist you.  

We are contactable by phone, via email and whenever you arrange to visit us our dedicated wedding manager is here.  

An important part of our planning process is the in-depth meeting we hold with all our couples in the months leading up to your day during which all elements of your day and the timings will come to life.  We are always here for you should you wish to make any adjustments following the final meeting and minor tweaks/changes can be made right up until the week prior to your wedding.

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Is there flexibility with the timings / structure of the day if we don’t want a traditional wedding?

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Yes.  Your wedding is about you. It is about what you have always dreamed about and we will with to make this dream a reality.

Every couple is different and have their own ideas, we will help you create your bespoke day, no two weddings will ever be the same. We may on occasion step in and suggest some tweaks in order to make things run smoothly for you.

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Will we have someone to run our day?

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At the meeting prior to the wedding, if you haven’t already done so, you will meet with your Wedding Manager and Operation Team Leader who will look after you and your guests at your wedding, and will run your day, and make sure everything goes smoothly.  

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Can we come and visit the venue?

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We would love to show you around and offer private viewings of the venue throughout the week and at certain times during the weekend.  We ask couples to arrange an appointment prior to their showround.  To arrange a visit please give us a call on 01869 326550 or by email enquiries@thechetertonhotel.com

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If we love the venue can we provisionally hold a date?

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We allow couples who have visited the hotel for a viewing and are seriously considering The Chesterton Hotel as the venue for their wedding to place a ‘provisional hold” on a date.  This gives couples time to consider their options, is free of charge and will be in place for 10 working days.  Whilst on a provisional hold is in place, no other booking can be made on that date.

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Should we take out wedding insurance?

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Couples invest a considerable amount of money into their wedding day and we always advise looking into the various insurance policies on offer.  On rare occasions couples can be faced with unforeseeable circumstances or may find they need to cancel their wedding.  Wedding insurance isn’t just about a change of heart, it’s about making sure you’re not left out of pocket if something goes wrong and we suggest that it may well be worth considering wedding insurance which can offer peace of mind in case of something unexpected.

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Does the hotel Public Liability Insurance?

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Yes, we do, up to £5 million

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Do You Have Disabled Access?

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Yes, we have access and toilets for disabled and elderly guests.

We also a disabled access bedroom on the ground floor

 

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Where is The Chesterton Hotel? 

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The Chesterton Hotel is situated on the outskirts of a small village near Bicester.

We are approximately 1hr from both London and Birmingham and a five minute drive from Bicester Village.