Getting Married at Doddington Hall
Doddington Hall
A few details that we think maybe useful to know...
Viewings & Appointments
Provisional Bookings
Booking your wedding with us
Wedding Ceremonies
Civil Ceremonies
St. Peters Church Doddington
Getting married at Doddinton but having yourreception elsewhere
Having your reception at Doddington but gettingmarried elsewhere
Meetings & Planning
The Venue
Our Philosophy
Bar Facilities
Canapés
The Wedding Breakfast
Evening Food
Menu Tasting
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Alternative Wedding Breakfast Options
Feeding Entertainers
Wine List
Suppliers
Photographers
Flowers
Wedding Cake
Confetti
Fireworks
Ceremony & Drinks Reception Music
Evening Entertainment
Staying on the Doddington Estate
Estate Shops & Catering
Sample Schedule
Location
Car Parking
Terms & Conditions
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Begun in 1595 by Robert Smythson, one of England’s
foremost Elizabethan Architects, Doddington Hall was
completed in 1600 and has never been sold or cleared out
since. An example of a fine late Elizabethan Mansion, it is still
a lived-in and much loved family home, alive with history
and interest.
Originally built for Thomas Tailor, the registrar to the Bishop
of Lincoln, Doddington’s mellow brick exterior with its
walled courtyards has barely changed. However, in 1749,
the Hall was inherited by John Delaval of Seaton Delaval in
Northumberland and he carried out an extensive internal
re-decoration, incorporating the light & elegant Georgian
style still seen today.
In 1830 Colonel George Jarvis inherited the house from
Sarah Gunman, heiress to the property, and the present
owners are direct descendants of his.
More recently, the old Coach House, sitting just yards
away from the Hall, was completely refurbished to create
a wonderful wedding venue. Along with this we have
converted a number of Estate properties into rental
accommodation. This has allowed numerous couples to enjoy
a wonderful & memorable wedding weekend here on the
Estate within the grounds of Doddington Hall!
Doddington Hall
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We offer our wedding clients complete exclusivity of the
Coach House for the day of your wedding along with access
from midday the day before, allowing you plenty of time to
personalise the venue.
We only ever have one wedding over the course of a
weekend; this means you get our undivided attention and
the best possible service.
You and your guests will also be given the opportunity to
stay on-site in our stunning Estate accommodation. Why
not turn your wedding day into a weekend celebration!
A few details that we think maybe useful to know...
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Our Wedding Manager will meet with you to discuss the
details of your day and show you around our facilities.
Depending on bookings, weekdays and early evenings work
well for us. Please email [email protected] or call
01522 812501 to make an appointment.
Provisional Bookings
After an initial viewing to talk through your ideas and the
options available, we can put together a bespoke quote
based on your specific requirements. Offering help and
advice, we will do all we can to help you create your
perfect wedding day.
We are happy to hold a provisional date for 14 days
while you contact the Registrar or Church to enquire
about availability and book your ceremony (you do have
the option to have just your reception with us and your
ceremony elsewhere). After this period, we require a
signed copy of the booking form along with the deposit
in order to secure your chosen date.
Booking your wedding with us
Once you have provisionally booked your ceremony with
the Registrar or Church, and agreed in principal to a quote,
you will then be asked to sign a booking contract and pay an
initial 30% deposit. There will be nothing more to pay until
6 months before the wedding when we require a further
40% of the balance. The remaining balance will depend on
your final guest numbers, so this is not payable until 3 weeks
before the wedding. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions
on the back page for our payment terms.
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Viewings & Appointments
Wedding Ceremonies
To be legally married in the UK you are currently
obliged to have a religious or Civil Ceremony.
THE COACH HOUSE, GARDEN ROOM - 70
The Garden Room is the perfect setting for
a romantic & intimate ceremony.
LONG GALLERY - 180
The Long Gallery occupies the top floor of
the Hall and offers a breath-taking venue
with wonderful paintings down the East
side of the room along with charming views
of the gardens from the huge West facing
windows. It can seat from 8 to 180 people.
THE GARDEN PAVILION - 20
In the Gardens, our Pavilion (built by the
current owner’s father in memory of his
parents) is in the romantic wild gardens of
Doddington Hall and overlooks the parkland
beyond. Perfect for a small wedding, it offers
the chance of an outdoor ceremony but only
in good weather!
EAST PORCH - 20
The stunning East Porch within the East
Front Walled Garden provides a romantic
setting and stunning backdrop for an
outdoor ceremony. Again, this location is
weather dependent.
Civil Ceremonies
The Bride & Groom are responsible for all payments connected with the Registrar. If the
Registrar is available on your chosen date, then you can confirm your booking with us.
Doddington Hall holds a license to host Civil Weddings at a number of locations on site, each is
restricted by the number of guests who join you.
We have four special licensed sites:
If you would like a Civil Ceremony at Doddington Hall, please check the current notice
requirements directly with the Registrar for Lincolnshire. You will need to book the Registrar
well in advance to ensure your chosen date & time. Once you have chosen Doddington Hall as
the venue for your Wedding Ceremony and pencilled in a date with us, you will need to contact
the Registrar’s Office on: 01522 782244 or e-mail: [email protected] . They will provide
all the assistance and necessary information you will require for planning the ceremony itself.
You must inform the Registrar of the location for your ceremony as each venue has its own license.
St Peters Church Doddington
St Peters Church is set just steps away from the Hall
and the Coach House. It is available for ceremonies
if you or your close family live or have lived within
the parish. Alternatively, you may opt to have a
Civil Ceremony in the Hall or Garden Room and
a blessing in the Church. Please contact Reverend
Billinghurst if you would like to discuss this further:
T: 01522 682520
Getting married at Doddington but having your reception elsewhere
It’s something that we do allow but it may alter the Civil
Ceremony venue hire fee, so best to check with us first.
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Having your reception at Doddington but getting married elsewhere
That’s absolutely fine by us as you may have opted to
have your ceremony in your own local Church.
Outside locations (only suitable for good weather and small guest numbers!):
Meetings & Planning
We are happy to offer help and advice at every stage of your
planning. Three weeks before the wedding we will hold a
final planning meeting to discuss all aspects of your big day
in detail and to finalise the itinerary. During this meeting we
will discuss and finalise:
• Timings
• Your guest numbers
• Menu choices & special dietary requirements
• Drinks provision
• Relevant suppliers- florist, entertainers, cake maker,
photographer, venue stylist etc.
(You will need to provide a full list of contact details for all
suppliers who will be coming to Doddington Hall)
• Your accommodation booking. We require a full list of
those staying on-site along with the location in which they
will be staying
• Pre-wedding feast catering and Sunday breakfast numbers
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The Venue
The Coach House is a stylishly refurbished Elizabethan
building with its own secluded garden and delightful, light,
airy and modern extension.
Standing just metres from Doddington Hall, it is a light,
flexible and tasteful space suitable for either a small intimate
gathering or a larger wedding party. It can seat from 20 to
120 people and our own kitchens provide delicious, quality
catering and hospitality.
The Coach House consists of 2 main rooms; the Garden
Room (licensed for Civil Ceremonies) & the Green Wing
for dining.
The Garden Room is used for Civil Ceremonies (maximum
of 70 guests), drinks receptions and as the evening disco or
entertainment area.
The Green Wing is a large, spacious and stylish room with
huge sliding glass doors that open onto a private and pretty
walled garden. The maximum capacity is 120 for seated dining.
For an evening reception, your guests can make use of
all rooms along with the private garden. For an evening
reception the maximum capacity is 180.
Due to noise restrictions, all music, either pre-recorded or
live, must take place in the Garden Room. We know from
experience that this works perfectly as those guests wanting
to chat and catch-up can enjoy a quieter environment in the
Green Wing.
The Coach House has full disabled access along with a
ground floor toilet & baby changing facility.
Canapés
We offer a selection of
hot and cold canapés for
your drinks reception.
It’s not something you
need to include but they
are delicious and always
welcomed by your guests!
The Wedding Breakfast
Each year we devise a delicious choice of dishes for you to build
your bespoke Wedding Breakfast menu. You can offer your guests
a pre-ordered choice of 2 dishes for each course. This excludes any
dietary requirements or vegetarian options which we are happy to
cater for separately.
Tea, fresh coffee and home-made petit fours are served as standard
to finish off the meal.
Evening Food
Your evening guests also get to sample our award winning catering as there is a good variety of evening
food options devised with those late night munchies in mind!
Menu Tasting
We hold a complimentary Wedding Breakfast menu ‘tasting’ in the March of the year of your wedding.
You will be offered a choice of 3 Thursday evenings were we invite you, the Bride and Groom, to
enjoy your chosen 6 dishes. The tastings take place in our stylish Restaurant and invitations for this are
sent out in early January. Along with the food, you will also get to select your wines. We recommend
you come on an empty stomach and either organise a lift or book a taxi home!
Here at Doddington Hall we are proud to
showcase quality, seasonal produce from our
own estate and local suppliers.
We have our own herd of Lincoln Red Cattle
for all our beef dishes, plentiful game, our
own honey and foraged wild garlic along with
fantastic year-round produce from our Walled
Kitchen Garden.
Beyond the Estate we seek out the best local
growers and producers from Lincolnshire and
surrounding counties.
Our menus are just a starting point in creating
your perfect Wedding Day.
Our Philosophy
Bar Facilities
The Coach House has its own fully stocked & staffed bar, selling a full range of premium spirits, soft
drinks, bottled ales along with draught beer & lager.
If there are any specific drinks you would like to offer your guests then please check with us as we will
do all we can to accommodate your requirements. The bar is situated at one end of the Green Wing.
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Feeding Entertainers
It’s entirely up to you if you feed any suppliers who will be
with you for the day. We can provide ‘food for entertainers’
(generally the photographer) at £10pp. This consists of
a delicious salad, a slice of quiche and Pipers crisps. Any
evening entertainers are generally catered for within the
evening guest numbers. Occasionally a band will request
something specific and we are happy to discuss it with you
should this be the case.
Wine List
Small but perfectly formed our Wine List contains a selection
of wines, sparkling wines & champagne.
Our wines are sourced from Fields Morris and Verdin,
a division of the England’s oldest wine merchant, Berry
Brothers and Rudd (BB&R).
BB&R was founded in 1698 and holds two Royal Warrants.
Buying from such an ’august’ company means that should
our core range not match your needs, we can recommend
and source wines from the country’s finest cellar.
All alcohol & drinks must be purchased from us. We do not
offer corkage but all our wine and alcoholic beverages are
reasonably priced.
Alternative Wedding Breakfast Options
If you would prefer a more informal Wedding Breakfast, we
have several menus and options for either a BBQ, buffet or
high tea (complete with pretty vintage china). We cannot
offer a tasting for this style of menu but we are happy to sit
down and discuss the options with you.
Suppliers
The things you need to ‘buy’ from us are the venue, disco (if needed), food & alcohol/drinks, everything else you can source
yourself. However, we have a long list of preferred & trusted suppliers that we are happy to recommend.
Photographers
We would prefer that you use one of our ‘in-house’ photographers as they are familiar with the gardens and know just the best
spots to get great photos without keeping your guests waiting! If you choose to bring your own photographer we would need to
meet with them at least 28 days before the event so we can liaise and explain exactly where they are allowed access.
Access to the East Front for all your group shots is limited to 45 minutes and the formal gardens are made available for a
maximum of 1 hour during the afternoon of your wedding for the immediate wedding party only.
Flowers
We have a wonderful in-house florist, Catkin, run by Rachel Petherham. Rachel actually grows her flowers here at Doddington in
the Walled Garden. Zero ‘flower miles’- how green is that?! Rachel can work with you to create beautiful seasonal displays and is
happy to offer Doddington clients special preferential rates. We also have a full list of other talented florists, all local to Doddington
and who offer great customer service along with beautiful flowers.
Fireworks
Please note that due to livestock in the area we do not allow fireworks or Chinese lanterns.
Wedding Cake
Our preferred cake maker can offer guidance and
help you create a memorable wedding cake. Again
you may choose to provide your own cake and for
this we do not charge.
Confetti
We request that only flower petal confetti is used. Due
to its detrimental effect on the grounds, there will be a
charge of £50 plus VAT if any of your guests use paper OR
biodegradable confetti.
Ceremony & Drinks Reception Music
We have a good quality iPod dock for use during your ceremony
along with an in-house sound system in the Coach House to
play music for the drinks reception & dinner. We just ask that you
provide an iPod containing music for both and we are happy to do
the rest.
If your ceremony is taking place in the Long Gallery, we do
recommend you choose a live musician as it has the most fabulous
acoustics. Plus, we have a stunning Steinway grand piano that is just
bursting to be played!
Evening Entertainment
If you opt for a disco then this is something we organise for you.
We use a reliable Lincoln based company who have been coming
to Doddington for many years. They create a fantastic atmosphere
for a great party with special effect lighting and a sparkly disco
ball! As soon as you book your wedding with us we can send
your details over to them. You will then be contacted and asked to
submit a set-list.
If you would prefer to have a band or live entertainer we can
recommend a selection of talented acts that have performed here
over the last few years. We are happy for you to source and hire
live entertainment, all we ask is that any electrical equipment
brought into the building carries a current PAT test sticker and
that we are provided with both a PAT test certificate and a copy of
the suppliers Public Liability Insurance document.
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Staying on the Doddington Estate
You and your guests will have the option to book
Doddington Estate accommodation for the weekend of
your wedding. Staying on site is much more fun and so
much easier than the taxi journey back and forth to another
location! We are happy to give you 2 months (from the date
you book your wedding) to book your accommodation.
This should give you enough time to notify your family and
friends of the accommodation options available. After this
time, we will advertise the accommodation to the general
public but we do prefer that we fill the cottages and rooms
with wedding guests.
We have a total of 3 cottages and 7 individual bedrooms
accommodating up to 44 people.
The cottage accommodation hire is based on a minimum of
a 2 night stay. The individual rooms are based on a 1 or 2
night stay but staying for 2 night’s results in a sizeable saving.
If you or any of your guests choose, you are welcome to stay
for longer either before or after the wedding weekend.
Please talk to us if you would like to come earlier, stay for
your honeymoon or make it a wedding week!
A full set of linens and towels etc is provided in each location.
For more images and detailed information about each type
of accommodation, go to our webpage
www.doddingtonhall.com/onsite-accommodation.php
To book or for further information contact us:
01522 812510
Your guests will be pleased to know they can indulge in some
quality retail therapy whilst enjoying their weekend stay on
the Estate! We have a wonderful Farm Shop, stuffed full of
delicious produce, a tasteful Interiors Store, a stylish Country
Clothing Store and a Giant Bike Shop. Along with our retail
offer we have 2 cafes and an award winning Restaurant.
You have the option to pre-order from the Farm Shop if
you would like to have your food and drink ready for your
arrival. Or why not let us create a delicious pre-wedding feast
on the Friday night in the Café for those guests staying on
site. Plus, we can offer you a bespoke buffet breakfast, served
exclusively in our Restaurant to you and your guests, on the
Sunday morning.
Estate Shops & Catering
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Sample Schedule for a wedding weekend
on the Doddington Estate.
This schedule is an illustration of what we are able
to offer you;
Friday
12.00pm Bride & Groom get access to the Coach House to personalise the venue. We are on site until 6pm so are happy for you
to spend the afternoon decorating the venue and adding all the finishing touches.
2pm Guests are allowed to check into the accommodation.
7pm Pre-wedding feast in the Farm Shop Café for guests staying on site. For guest numbers above 15 you, your family and friends
can enjoy a get together over drinks. Let us serve you a delicious 2 course meal. Let us do the cooking and the clearing up! Guest
numbers can be finalised one week before when we kindly request pre-payment for food. However, drinks can be paid for on the
night.
Saturday
12.15pm Guests can arrive and make their way to the location of your ceremony.
1.00pm Ceremony in the Long Gallery or Coach House.
1.30pm Group photos in the East Front of the Hall.
2.00pm Drinks reception in the Coach House and Private Coach House garden for your guests, the bride & groom can then
wander through the formal Hall gardens with the photographer to capture stunning photos in beautiful surroundings before re-
joining guests in the Coach House for the remainder of the drinks reception.
3.15pm You and your guests will take your seats for dinner.
5.15pm Cut the cake and spend a few hours chatting and relaxing until your evening guests arrive.
7.00pm Welcome your evening guests and let the music and dancing begin!
8.30pm Time to enjoy the evening food before more dancing and celebrating until…
11.30pm The bar will close and the music will cease ready for you to…
12.00am Depart and walk quietly back to the accommodation where (for those who still have the energy to!) can carry on the
party in the privacy of our wonderful accommodation.
Sunday
9.30am Breakfast in the Restaurant for guest numbers above 15. You will be given exclusive use of our stunning Restaurant to
enjoy a full English buffet breakfast with your family and friends. Guest numbers can be finalised 1 week before and we kindly
request pre-payment.
11.00am Time to leave the Restaurant and say your farewells! 16
(Check out for accommodation is generally 10am but we may be able to offer a 12 noon check out. Please check 1 week before your stay)
Car Parking
Doddington Hall has exclusive, complimentary parking for you and your guests. We kindly ask you to park opposite the Farmshop
entrance, to allow room for our Farmshop and Café visitors.
All of our accommodation has its own parking for those guests staying on site.
Location
Doddington Hall is five miles West of Lincoln on the B1190.
It is sign posted from the A46 Newark to Lincoln Road. It
is also signposted from the A57 between the A1 and Lincoln.
If you are using ‘sat nav’, the post- code to enter is LN6 4RU.
A1 North 20 minutes
A1 South 20 minutes
East Midlands Airport 1 hour 30 minutes
Humberside Airport 45-55 minutes
Newark 20 minutes Lincoln 15 minutes
Nottingham 1 hour
Sheffield 45 minutes
By train Doddington is 20 minutes from Newark Northgate
and Lincoln stations, and 40 minutes from Retford station.
Trains from London take 1 hour 15 mins to Newark -
National Express East Coast. If you arrive by train to Lincoln
Central Station or Newark Northgate Station you can get to
Doddington Hall by taxi.
• 1a. The Long Gallery is made available, subject to the availability and attendance of registration officers, on an exclusive basis. The Registrars are in charge of all Civil Marriages in the Long Gallery at Doddington Hall
• The Client must contact and book the Registrar first and confirm that the registrar is booked. For License purposes please inform the registrar that the ceremony will take place in the LONG GALLERY
1. The rental period will be from 10 am until 12 midnight on the day of the function itself. Guests are asked to depart 12am. The fee also includes the use of the car park, as well as the private lawns at the back of the Coach House, where a marquee may be erected and the Farm Shop WCs for evening functions.
2. Wedding clients can also use the East Front of Doddington Hall and the Gatehouse lawn for photographs without extra charge. Access to the East Front of Doddington Hall for photographs is by prior arrangement with Doddington Hall and only for the wedding party, for a maximum of 45 minutes. The main formal gardens are made available for the bride & groom and immediate wedding party only for a maximum of two hours after the ceremony.
3. No glasses or drinks are permitted in the East Front whilst photographs are being taken.
4. Bookings are not confirmed until both the completed booking form, confirmation of booking from the Office of the Registrar, and a deposit of 30% are received by Doddington Hall.
5. In the event that the Client subsequently cancels a confirmed booking, the deposit is non-refundable.
6. The balance of the rental fee must be paid as follows: 40% of the balance to be paid six months prior to the event. The final balance must be paid two weeks before the event takes place upon receipt of invoice from Doddington Hall. Guest numbers are finalised two weeks before the wedding, after which no refunds will be made if guest numbers decrease.
7. In the event that the client subsequently cancels a confirmed booking, the deposit is non-refundable. If the client wishes to cancel a booking 3-6 months before the event, 70% of the total amount is payable. In the event of cancellation two months before the event 90% of the total cost is payable and if cancellation is within 4 weeks of the booked event, the full amount is payable.
8. Doddington Hall shall not be obliged to credit a forfeited deposit against a future booking.
9. Doddington Hall requires the right, only in the most severe of circumstances, to cancel a confirmed booking should circumstances outside its control so require.
10. Doddington Hall reserves the right to refuse any booking without reason.
11. Clients can arrange their own suppliers (except caterers, bar and DJ) but we do ask that you inform us of their details.
12. The Coach House is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks at a pay bar. If a pay bar is required Doddington Hall will arrange and provide all facilities.
13. Where Doddington Hall is requested to book facilities and/or services on behalf of the Client or its delegates with third parties, such as an entertainer, etc, on a client’s behalf, it will do so as a courtesy only. Doddington Hall is not responsible for any matters relating to the outside supplier such as content, quality of service, appearance or lack of.
14. The Client is responsible for ensuring that all music ends by 11.30 p.m. and guests have left the premises by 12.00am at which time the venue will be locked.
15. The Client must keep within the maximum numbers permitted by fire regulations. The maximum number of guests allowed in the Coach House without a marquee is 180. The total number for Civil Ceremony followed by a seated reception is 120.
16. No drinks are permitted during a Civil Ceremony.
17. If the Client wishes to use the service of a DJ then QL Discos are to be used and Doddington Hall will arrange this. If the client is to hire a ‘live band’ then this must be authorised by Doddington Hall and the band must adhere to Doddington Hall noise restrictions. All music to be provided must be approved by the venue in advance.
18. Smoking is not permitted indoors.
19. The Coach House and garden will be available from 12pm on the day prior to the event. All arrangements for setting up and dismantling flowers, chairs, tables etc must be agreed with Doddington Hall in advance and organised in such a way as to not interfere with other events.
20. The Client shall be responsible for any damage caused to the Coach House or the furnishing, utensils, and equipment or any part of the Coach House or garden, by any act, default or neglect of the Client, subcontractor or guest of the Client and shall pay to Doddington Hall on demand the amount required to make good any such damage and or loss of business caused as a result.
21. Where the Client employs subcontractors or third parties to assist them with their event, it is the Client’s responsibility to ensure that they are properly insured and they comply with all terms and conditions laid down by Doddington Hall and any current Health & Safety legislation.
22. If signs are to be erected in the Coach House, the Client must seek prior approval. No cellotape, blue tack or drawing pins may be used on the walls and doors.
23. Dried flower confetti only is permitted within the grounds of the Hall and Coach House. A fee of £50 + VAT will be incurred if paper or metallic confetti is used.
24. Doddington Hall will not be liable whatsoever to clients or any person claiming through clients, for any loss or damage caused by, or arising from, its failure to carry out any obligations under this agreement due to anything beyond the control of Doddington Hall.
25. The Client accepts responsibility for any extra charges incurred.
26. Doddington Hall reserves the right to have their staff evict any persons attending a function, who behave abusively, or unreasonably and any alcohol not purchased from Doddington Hall will be confiscated.
27. VAT is payable on all charges made by Doddington Hall.
28. Doddington Hall will not be responsible for the loss, damage or theft of any items belonging to any member of the wedding party such as cars, cameras etc or those of service providers, such as photographers, bands or transport.
29. We strongly advise that clients take out insurance to cover the unlikely event of cancellation.
30. Any change to this contract must be initialled by all the signatories to it.
31. All bookings made arising out of this agreement will be deemed subject to the above conditions.
32. Doddington Hall guarantees complete exclusivity of the Coach House with access from noon on the day prior to the wedding.
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Terms & Conditions
For any enquiries please contact Justine Shakespeare.
Tel: 01522 812 501 or 07981 155 266
(please call between 9.00am & 5.00pm)
Email: [email protected]
Doddington Hall
Doddington
Lincolnshire
LN6 4RU
With thanks to:Patrick Stubbs at Natural Expressions
Gary Skerritt at One Love Photography
Ed & Maggie Sewell