Bodiam Castle Weddings

The National Trust is a registered charity no. 205846

National Trust

Na onal Trust Images/Linda Hauff 

Introduction A perfect day calls for a perfect setting….

Bodiam Castle forms the ideal backdrop for what will probably be one of the most unforgettable days of your lives. This 14th Century medieval castle, one of Britain’s most romantic and picturesque, is situated in the heart of the East Sussex countryside.

Set in rolling grounds and surrounded by a wide moat, our fairytale castle boasts spiral staircases, battlements, a portcullis and ruins that were once trodden by knights and ladies.

Whether you decide to just get married in the castle, to hold your Wedding Breakfast or Reception here, or indeed do all three, you can be assured of our personal attention at all times to ensure you all enjoy your special day.

Like all National Trust properties, Bodiam Castle is of cultural and historical importance to the nation, and as such there are a few conservation considerations of which we would like you to be aware. These considerations exist to help us conserve the castle for future generations. Please talk to our bookings team, who will be happy to show you around the castle and grounds and answer any questions you may have..

Na onal Trust Images/Peter Muhly 

Na onal Trust Images/John Millar 

Na onal Trust Images/Peter Muhly Na onal Trust Images/Peter Muhly 

Ceremony We are licensed to hold civil ceremonies in the main gatehouse of the castle. However, as we are open to the public for 363 days of the year, it is only possible to get married in the castle before or after our usual opening hours, which vary depending on the season.

However, in certain circumstances, we will close the castle and grounds to the public for a wedding. Prices for exclusive use of the castle for a day start from £30,000 depending on the season.

The cost of using the castle for two hours for your ceremony excludes registrar fees, which are paid directly to the registry office. We will arrange seating for your guests within the castle courtyard for the ceremony and set up an area to serve champagne and cut your cake. Whilst the bride, groom and photographer have access to all the usual public spaces within the castle, the towers are closed to the guests for health and safety reasons.

Na onal Trust Images/Megan Taylor 

Na onal Trust Images/Megan Taylor 

Na onal Trust Images/M Taylor 

Wedding breakfast and reception Wedding Breakfasts and Receptions are held in a marquee within the grounds, with a choice of two main and one secondary sites. Alternatively, our Terrace Room is available if your entire wedding party consists of less than 25 people .

Most receptions take place on an area of grass adjacent to the ticket office overlooking the castle. An alternative site for larger weddings, as well as those with themed entertainment, would be in our Events Field beside the vineyard behind the Ticket Office. The secondary site is situated below the castle near the river.

Included in our site fee is floodlighting parts of the castle to create a spectacular backdrop for your reception. This also ensures a safe passage for your guests past the moat.

Na onal Trust Images/Chris Ward 

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering 

Na onal Trust Images/Chris Ward 

Catering We always strive to work with suppliers who encourage sustainability, environmentally sound sourcing and production methods and considerate logistics.

For this reason, and with safeguarding the castle and grounds in mind, we have formed an exclusive partner-ship with Anise Catering to provide a wide range of top quality services. This includes the provision of marquees, portable toilet facilities, bar hire, furniture hire and, of course, wonderful food.

All their ingredients are sourced locally and any fish used is sustainably farmed. We recommend that you contact them direct in order to obtain a quotation at www.anisecatering.com . They will give you advice on menus, assist you in choosing wines from their highly commended wine list and arrange a complimentary food tasting for both of you at their kitchen in Charlwood, Surrey. All their dishes can be tailored to suit any special dietary requirement, or indeed any specific wedding theme.

Na onal Trust Images/Kerry Cranage 

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering 

Na onal Trust Images/Linda Hauff 

Menu

The following sample menus offer a wide selection of food to suit most tastes and budgets. The price would include the provision of contemporary cutlery, large white modern china, white linen table cloths & napkins (where applicable) and the service of an Event Manager as well as Event Chefs. The price would exclude wines, liquor and soft drinks, which are charged on a consumption basis, flower arrangements, table decorations, speciality & coloured table linen, service staff and VAT.

EVENING BUFFET MENU (SERVED COLD) 12 items per person

Bagels & Deep Filled Baguettes (Smoked Salmon, Cracked Black Pepper Chicken, Coriander & Lime, Somerset Brie with Plum Tomato & Purple Basil, Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry & Sage)

Char-grilled Vegetable Crudités with Sour Cream & Chive Dip

Selection of Mini Quiche with various fillings

Sandringham Pie with Mild Pickle Dip

Sun blushed Tomato, Feta & Basil Tartlets

Oriental Basket of Prawn Crackers

EVENING BUFFET MENU (SERVED HOT) 12 items per person

Crisp Chinese Pancakes filled with Shoe-string Vegetables and served with Plum Sauce

King Prawns in Filo Jackets

Yorkshire Puddings with Rare Roast Beef & Horseradish

Mini Vegetable Samosas with Minted Yoghurt

Thai Fishcakes with Dipping Sauce

BOTH SERVED WITH A SELECTION OF MINI DESSERTS & TROPICAL FRUITS

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering 

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering  Na onal Trust Images/David Levenson 

Menu PRE– WEDDING BREAKFAST CANAPES - 4 items per person

Cold Fish & Shellfish (Crostini with Peppered Smoked Mackerel & Horseradish Cream, Mini Brioche Buns with Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese, Fresh Salmon & Cucumber Kebabs with Lime & Fresh Ginger Dip, Cones of Crayfish Tails & Marie Rose Sauce*, Carpaccio of Highland Salmon with Pasties Crème Fraiche, Smoked Salmon on Blinis with Blueberry Cream Cheese, Quails Egg & Sevruga Caviar Tartlets)

Cold Meats (Mini Poppadums with Creamy Chicken Tikka or Coronation Chicken, Chicken Caesar Salad Tartlets with Parmesan, Asparagus Tips wrapped in Parma Ham with Tarragon Dip, Grilled Beef Fillet with Salsa Verde Croutes*, Salami with Soft Cheese on an Olive Biscuit, Carpaccio of Beef with Candied Horseradish & Parmesan*)

Cold Vegetarian (Crostini with Rocket Pesto, Goats Cheese & Sundried Tomatoes, Bloody Mary Gazpacho with a Celery Salt Rim & Celery Stirring Stick, Parmesan & Rosemary Shortbread with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Feta & Olive, Porcini & Parsley Crostini, Roasted Garlic Scones topped with Baby Roasted Tomatoes, Goats Cheese & drizzled with Aged Balsamic, Boscojcinne Mozzarella & Slow Roast Tomato Skewers, Herb Bruschetta with Tomatoes & Mozzarella Tian with Thyme Infusion, Giant Cheese Straws with a selection of Dips, Croustade of Marinated Char-roasted Vegetables, Fig & Roquefort on Crostini with Onion Confit, Red Onion Tatin with Balsamic Vinegar)

Sushi (Selection of Fish & Vegetable Sushi with Rice Vine Teriyaki Dip)

Hot Fish & Shellfish (Sesame Prawn Toast with Soy Dipping Sauce, Thai Fish Cakes with Sweet Chilli Chutney, Seared Tuna on an Oriental Spoon with Soy Sauce & Sesame Oil. Mini Fish & Chips Newspaper Cones with Salt & Vinegar, Smoked Haddock & Spinach Tartlet, Emmenthal Glaze Prawn & Monkfish Tartlets with Sun-blushed Tomatoes in Herb Pastry, Snow Pea Wrapped Chargrilled Prawns with Sweet Chilli, Monkfish Satay with a Spicy Peanut Sauce*)

Hot Meats (Roast Belly of Pork with Crispy Crackling & Crushed Apple Dip, Mini Cheeseburgers with Tomato Relish in Sesame Seed Bun, Mini Poppadums with Tandoori Chicken & Raita Leek, Bacon & Gruyere Tart, Teriyaki Meatballs, Fresh Ginger & Lemongrass with Mango & Chilli Salsa, Crispy Duck Pancakes served with Plum Sauce, Hand-made Sausages served with Honey & Grain Mustard Glaze, Slivers of Fillet Beef with Béarnaise Sauce*, Baby Hot Dogs with Mustard, Toad in the Hole—Minis Yorkshire Puddings filled with Pork Sausages & Cheese Mash, Grilled Water Chestnuts wrapped in Smoked bacon, Baked Chicken & Chorizo Skewer with Aioli, Rare Beef Skewers with Dijon Aioli Dip*, Gressingham Duck Breast Skewers with Plum Dip*, Prosciutto wrapped Scallops with Sauce Béarnaise*, Malaysian Chicken with Satay Sauce, Mini Marinated Lamb Kebabs with Tahini & Honey Dip*)

Hot Vegetarian (Filo Tartlets with Brie & Cranberry, Spring Rolls with Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce, Carrot & Coriander Soup served in a Shot Glass, Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Wild Mushrooms & Tarragon, Rocket & Cambonzola served on Warm Garlic Toasted Olive Bread, Baby Dolcelatté Quiche with Mascarpone & Red Onion, Wild Mushroom Pate on Mini Brioche Bread, Thai-style Hot Pumpkin Soup served in a Shot Glass, Baby Herb Tartlets filled with New Season Asparagus & Hollandaise, Mini Vegetable Samosas with a Lime Pickle Dip, Baby Jacket Potatoes served with Chive Sour cream Dip, Aubergine & Pine Nut Pizzarette, Roasted Vegetable Skewers with Pesto Dip)

Chinese Spoon Food (Phad Thai Noodles with Prawns, Coconut & Chilli)

Sweet Items (Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Caramelised Apple Tartlets, Pimms Jelly in a Shot Glass, Miniature Banoffee Pies, Lemon Meringue Tarts, Mini Ice Cream Cones*, Fresh Raspberry & Clotted Cream Tartlets, Gooey Chocolate Brownies)

* Supplement

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering  Na onal Trust Images/Anise  

Menu The price of your three course meal would depend on your choice of main courses. The three-course seated meal includes: Starter, Speciality Bread Rolls, Main Course with vegetables and Potatoes (where applicable), Dessert, Freshly Brewed Coffee and Hand Made Petit Fours.

Below is a sample of available dishes:

Starters (Antipasti, Warm Mushroom Filo Money Bags, Char-grilled Asparagus & Plum Tomato Salad, Crisp Parmesan Cheese Basket, Spiced Confit of Duck Tartlet, Fillet of Wild Salmon, Cream of Harvest Vegetable Soup, Caramelised Balsamic Red Onion Tart, Warm Tart of Sun blushed Tomato & Dolcelatté, Tian of Crab & Avocado, Grilled Pumpkin, Parmesan & Rocket Salad, Warm Salad of Sautéed Woodland Mushrooms, Fresh Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli, Warm Thai Fishcakes, Hand Carved Smoked Salmon, Fresh King Scallops, Warm Tiger Prawns Tempo Gushi, Roast Diver Caught Scallops, Monkfish Medallions)

Meat & Fish Main Courses (Herb Crusted Fillet of Cornish Cod, Breast of Corn Fed Chicken, Barbary Duck Breast, Whole Roast Poussin, Prime Fillet of Scottish Beef, Rump of English Lamb, Loin of Lamb, Tenderloin of Pork, Teriyaki Marinated Fillet of Salmon, Roasted Fillet of Salmon, Roasted Fillets of Monkfish Wrapped in Parma Ham and Sun-dried Tomatoes, Slow Cooked Lamb Shank, Roast Rack of English Lamb, Pan Seared Fillets of Sea Bass, Sautéed Breast of Chicken, Roast Sirloin of Beef)

Vegetarian Main Courses (Home-made Rustic Filo Tart, Brie, Redcurrant, Mushroom & Rocket Filo Purse, Timbale of Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables, Truffle Scented Porcini Mushroom Ravioli, Individual Mushroom & Butternut Squash Crumbles, Wild Mushroom, Artichoke & Stilton Tart, Butternut Squash, Wild Mushroom & Blue Cheese Risotto, Open Field Mushroom, Aubergine, Sweet Potato & Goats Cheese Gratin, Cheddar Cheese Basket Filled with Wood Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables)

Desserts (Individual Apple & Blackberry Pie, Individual Vanilla Cheesecake, Summer Berry Meringue, Dark Chocolate Tart, Toffee Chocolate Trio, Pavlova, Chocolate Parfait & Lemon Tart Trio, Study of Raspberry, Chocolate Brownie, Knickerbocker Glory & Strawberry tart Trio, Summer Pudding, Hazelnut & White Chocolate Cheesecake, Banoffee Cheesecake, Triple Chocolate Mousse, Treacle Tart, Fresh Summer Berry Tartlet, Classic Tarte Au Citron, Roasted Fig Tart Tatin, Caramelised Lemon & Lime Tart)

Children's Main Course (Cumberland Sausages, Chicken Nuggets, Fish Fingers, Vegetarian Option)

Children's Desserts (Raspberry Ripple & Chocolate Ice Creams with Chocolate & Fruit Sauces)

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering 

Themed entertainment In addition to providing the ideal location and superb catering on your special day, we are also able to provide themed entertainment for you and your guests.

These include medieval games, talks from our medieval characters or even a medieval jousting tournament. Our local Hawking Centre are able to provide a falconry demonstration to entertain your guests and you can even have your wedding rings delivered by an owl.

We are happy to provide costing for these events, which are charged separately.

Na onal Trust Images/Stuart Meopham 

Na onal Trust Images/Stuart Meopham 

Na onal Trust Images/Helene Marler 

Na onal Trust Images/Stuart Meopham 

Na onal Trust Images/Megan Taylor 

Exclusive boat hire Bodiam Boating Station is situated on the Kent & Sussex border and operate boat trips along a four and a half mile stretch of the River Rother between Newenden and Bodiam Castle. A return trip from either location takes approximately 90 minutes and provides a unique way of transporting the bridal party to the castle.

They have recently acquired a new vessel which is available for private hire. Irene was hand built by 18 year old Ted Appleyard in 1920. She is constructed from a mixture of Mahogany and Oak and has been fully restored to her original beauty, with a new, quiet engine capable of reaching speed of up to 10 knots.

This delightful vessel is booked directly through Bodiam Boating Station.

Please visit www.bodiamboatingstation.co.uk for more details and prices or contact Vanessa on 01797 253838.

Na onal Trust Images/Bodiam Boa ng Sta on 

Na onal Trust Images/Derek Croucher Na onal Trust Images/Derek Croucher 

Our gift to you... Couples who hold their wedding ceremony or reception here will automatically receive free National Trust membership for one year as a gift from us. If you are already a National Trust member, you will receive two Admit One Annual Visitor Passes for you to pass on to a member of your bridal party.

Na onal Trust Images/Alasdair Ogilvie 

Na onal Trust Images/Peter Muhly Na onal Trust Images/Helene Marler 

Contact Bodiam Castle

Bodiam

Robertsbridge

TN32 5UA

Jane.Coveney@nationaltrust.org.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiamcastle

01580 831325

Na onal Trust Images/Linda Hauff 

Na onal Trust Images/Peter Muhly 

Na onal Trust Images/John Millar 

 

Bodiam Castle is a very special place and we are delighted you are considering it for your civil ceremony/wedding reception venue. Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers, as well as an outline of the next steps you need to take in order to obtain an accurate quotation. Please note that prices shown are valid for the duration of 2015.

Q Does the Castle hold a wedding licence?

Yes, we are licensed to hold weddings in the main gatehouse.

Q How much does it cost to hold a civil ceremony at the castle?

The cost of using the castle for the ceremony starts at £1,400 including VAT. This does not include the fees for the registrar, which are paid directly to the Registry Office.

Q How much does a typical wedding reception cost?

Every wedding is unique and costs vary depending on numbers and what you’d like to have happen on the day. Our site fee is £3,425 including VAT. This can be reduced for receptions for fewer than 25 people, including the bridal party, if you are happy to use our function room. Included in our site fee is floodlighting to part of the castle to create a spectacular backdrop for you and your guests. This also ensures safe passage for your guests past the moat after dark.

Q Do we have to pay a deposit?

A 10% deposit is payable to secure your booking, with the balance due one month before your wedding day or reception.

Q When can we use the castle?

Due to the fact that we remain open to the public 363 days a year, weddings are only held before we open at 10.30am or after we close at around 6pm. You are then allowed 2 hours inside the castle to have photographs, speeches, cake cutting, drinks reception or just time for your guests to explore the castle.

Q Do we have access to the entire castle?

The Bride, Groom and Photographer have access to everything that is normally open to the public, however due to the fact that most guests will have had a drink the towers are locked to everyone else on health and safety grounds.

Q Can we book the castle for an entire day?

Yes, in certain circumstances we will close the castle to the public for a wedding. Prices start from £30,000 although this may increase depending on the time of year you are looking at.

Weddings at the Castle 2015 Prices and Information 

Q Who provides the catering quote?

You are requested to contact the catering company direct via their website www.anisecatering.com. Simply click on the ‘Contact Us’ button, complete the form and they will provide you with all the details and prices for a wedding reception at the castle, with the exception of the £3,425 site fee mentioned above, as this is in addition to their fees. They will provide the marquee, food, bar and staff.

Q Where will the wedding reception take place?

We have two main sites and one secondary site depending on the time of year you are looking at. Most wedding receptions take place on an area of grass adjacent to the ticket office overlooking the castle. Larger weddings, or weddings with themes requiring more space, are held in the events field alongside the vineyard behind the ticket office. There is plenty of room for children to run around in the field and you will be undisturbed by other members of the public. The secondary site is situated below the castle near the river.

Q What time do we have to finish?

We ask that the music stops by 11.45pm so we can start to send people home at midnight.

Q Is it possible to have the information video running for my guests?

Yes, we are very happy to keep the video running on a 15 minute loop for your guests to learn more about the history of the castle and the estate.

Q What happens if it rains?

We have no wet weather alternatives to offer at this time - obviously the marquee is watertight but unfortunately the castle is not. However we are always happy to have a good supply of umbrellas ready for you and your guests for the time you are in the castle.

Q How many weddings receptions are held each year?

We only offer a few wedding receptions a year due to restraints on our grounds and out of politeness to our neighbours; the number varies year to year (around 3 a year) and is done on a first come first served basis.

Q Can our wedding have a specific theme?

We are happy to provide extras on top of your wedding package such as medieval games, talks from our costumed interpreters or even organising for our local Birds of Prey handlers to do hands-on demonstrations with your guests. These are all charged separately and prices vary depending on your requirements.

Q Who can I ask for more information or if my question has not been answered above?

Please contact us at bodiamcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk or on 01580 831325.

Jane Coveney

Support Services Manager

Jane.Coveney@nationaltrust.org.uk

Na onal Trust Images/Megan Taylor 

Na onal Trust Images/John Millar 

Na onal Trust Images/Rob Matheson 

Na onal Trust Images/Peter Muhly 

Na onal Trust Images/John Millar 

NT Images/Andrew Dyer 

NT Images/Linda Hauff  Na onal Trust Images/Bodiam Boa ng Sta on 

Na onal Trust Images/Kerry Cranage  Na onal Trust Images/Kerry Cranage 

Na onal Trust Images/John Cole 

Na onal Trust Images/Helene Marler 

Na onal Trust Images/Kerry Cranage 

Na onal Trust Images/Anise Catering 

NT Images/Linda Hauff 

Printed on paper from responsible sources.

Please recycle this leaflet after use.

©National Trust 2014