FAQs – Booking and Venue

Viewings must be scheduled in advance, as there could be another event onsite. Contact us at 0118 932 0914 or weddings@stanlakepark.com to book. This applies to visits with suppliers, friends, or family.

To schedule your viewing please contact us at 0118 932 0914 or weddings@stanlakepark.com.

Our experienced team will guide you through the venue, tailoring the tour to your wedding season and plans. You’ll receive plenty of information and options based on your needs. Viewings usually last around 45 minutes, and our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Yes! After your viewing, we can hold your preferred date for three days, giving you time to review the Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) for both the venue and event management and catering, and to arrange payments. This also allows time to contact your church or registrar.

• A signed booking form and agreement to Stanlake Park & Fingers & Forks’ Terms & Conditions.
• A 20% deposit towards the venue hire fee.

Additional Information:

• All prices include VAT and are subject to change until the booking is confirmed.
• Registrar fees are separate and must be arranged and paid directly with the Registrar.
• 13 months before the wedding, the remaining 80% balance will be due.
• Catering and event management payments are made directly to Fingers & Forks Ltd.

• A dedicated Fingers & Forks team member will reach out to issue their Terms & Conditions and a deposit invoice to secure the catering booking. 
• You’ll be invited to your menu tasting (choice of autumn or spring event).
• 6 months before: Your Fingers & Forks planner will go through planning documents and book a meeting.
• 8-10 weeks before: A detailed planning meeting will take place.

We understand that wedding planning can be busy, so don’t worry if we don’t hear from you for a while! In the meantime, we recommend using online tools like Hitched and Bridebook, as well as our own planning resources, which you can request from your Fingers & Forks planner.

You are welcome to appoint a wedding planner or coordinator to help you plan your wedding before the day.

On the wedding day, however, the Stanlake Park Event Manager has final authority over all operational matters at the Venue, including timings, the run sheet, venue set-up, supplier activity and health & safety. Your wedding planner, coordinator and suppliers must follow the instructions of the Stanlake Park Event Manager throughout the day.

Your venue hire and catering package includes:

Tables & Seating

• Round tables
• Trestle tables (for a long top table or buffet stations)
• White-washed Chiavari banqueting chairs (used for the ceremony and wedding breakfast in indoor areas only)

Dining Essentials

• White table linen (tablecloths & napkins; other colours available at an additional cost)
• White crockery, cutlery, and glassware (upgrades available at an additional cost)

Venue Accessories

• Wine barrel cake table & cake knife
• Wooden easel (for table plan display)
• Coat rail with hangers
• High chairs

Outdoor Furniture

• For the Vineyard Barn terrace and Coach House courtyard
• Additional seating for grass areas can be hired via our trusted suppliers
• Chairs used for outdoor ceremonies are charged separately

Sound & AV Equipment

• Microphones & sound systems

Full Staffing

• Stanlake Park and Fingers & Forks Event Managers
• Waiting and Bar staff
• Full catering team
• Facilities manager/technical support
• Stanlake Park and Fingers & Forks planning team

Tasting Event

• Group food and drinks tasting at the venue
• Choice of autumn or spring event

More information on each of the above points is provided below, or in our Catering & Drinks FAQs section.

We strongly recommend taking out wedding insurance as soon as you book. Weddings are a significant financial commitment and, while unexpected problems are rare, suitable insurance can give you valuable peace of mind. There are lots of different policies available, so make sure you choose cover that is appropriate for your plans and circumstances.

We have two licensed ceremony spaces:

• The Coach House – Guests can sit inside or outside, facing you as you marry just inside the barn.
• The Vineyard Barn & Courtyard – Ideal for larger ceremonies, either indoors or outdoors, overlooking the beautiful vineyards.

Your guest numbers may determine the best option.

Outdoor ceremonies are subject to Stanlake Park’s approval. Outdoor ceremony chairs are provided for an additional charge (£2.50 per chair), which must be paid in full in advance. You can also hire your own outdoor chairs, and your supplier will be responsible for setting up and packing down.

You’ll need to book the Registrar directly through Wokingham Council as early as possible: 👉 Wokingham Council Marriages & Civil Partnerships

Alternatively, you can book a Celebrant – see our approved suppliers list.

We provide white folding ceremony chairs for outdoor ceremonies for an additional charge. The outdoor chair fee must be paid in full in advance.

You are welcome to provide your own outdoor furniture. Your supplier will be responsible for all setting up and packing down.

Outdoor Ceremonies Policy

We will always do our very best to host your ceremony outdoors, but the comfort and safety of you, your guests and our team, as well as weather and ground conditions, must come first.

Outdoor ceremonies are always subject to the approval of Stanlake Park and cannot be guaranteed.

We’ll keep a close eye on the forecast with you in the run-up to the wedding and will normally make the final call around 24 hours beforehand. If conditions change after that, we may need to reconsider – but we’ll always do everything we reasonably can to make your outdoor ceremony happen.

The registrars conducting your ceremony may also advise that conditions are unsuitable for an outdoor ceremony. We will take any such advice into account, together with weather, ground conditions, health and safety and operational considerations. The final decision on whether the ceremony can proceed outdoors rests with Stanlake Park.

If we decide that an outdoor ceremony cannot safely or practically go ahead, the ceremony will be moved indoors.

If your guest count is 100 or fewer, the indoor ceremony will normally take place in the Coach House. For larger weddings, the ceremony will normally move to the Vineyard Barn, which requires more notice as it affects the wedding breakfast set-up.

If you would like to use Stanlake Park’s outdoor ceremony chairs, these are charged at £2.50 per chair and an invoice will be issued once the outdoor ceremony is requested. You are also welcome to arrange your own outdoor chairs through an approved supplier. If you have paid for Stanlake Park’s chairs and we subsequently decide that the ceremony cannot take place outdoors, the chair hire fee will be refunded in full.

Any suppliers affected by a change to the ceremony location, such as florists or musicians, will need to be notified by you.

• St James the Great Church (Ruscombe)
• St Mary’s Church (Twyford)
• United Reformed Church (Twyford)
• St Nicholas Church (Hurst)
• St Lawrence Church (Waltham St Lawrence)

There is flexibility with the timings, particularly if your ceremony is off-site. However, if you’re having an onsite ceremony, this is our Recommended Wedding Schedule for Onsite Ceremonies.

Feel free to discuss further details with the Stanlake Park Weddings Team for more information.

Yes, but you will need to use professional suppliers for:

• High ladder work
• Floral installations
• Bunting from rafters

Suppliers must bring their own ladders and provide required information in advance if they are not on our approved list (see Information for Suppliers).

Please note hay bales are not permitted due to cleanup difficulties.

To protect the fabric of our historic buildings, drawing pins, tacks, nails or any other fixings that damage walls, woodwork or other surfaces are strictly prohibited. A charge of £25 per pin, tack or nail used will be invoiced following the event.

All decorations, displays and temporary installations are subject to Stanlake Park’s approval. We reserve the right to refuse or remove anything that we consider unsafe, unsuitable, likely to cause damage, or that obstructs access routes, emergency exits or fire safety equipment.

For health and safety reasons, all lighting installations must be carried out by our approved suppliers.

Access on the wedding day is strictly from 8am, and all decorations and other items must be removed by midnight.

Unfortunately not. All deliveries and set-up take place on the morning of your wedding, with access from 8am. Your suppliers will need to set up and pack down on the wedding day, and their equipment must be removed before the end of their permitted access time. We recommend discussing collection arrangements with suppliers before booking them so everyone knows what to expect.

Most couples delegate setup to ushers or family members on the wedding day. 

Fingers & Forks setup includes arranging tables according to your table plan, placing name cards, favours, table names or numbers, and any other simple table decorations you provide.

To make setup as smooth as possible, we ask that name cards or tags be organised by table in advance. Some couples choose to box up decorations by table, which is extremely helpful.

A dedicated card and gift table is positioned to the right of the Vineyard Barn entrance, which you are welcome to decorate with any additional touches.

For your table plan, there is a main easel available in the Vineyard Barn.

Suppliers must remove all of their equipment, stock and other property from the Venue by midnight on the wedding day. Supplier collections the following day are not permitted.

Personal belongings, decorations, gifts and other items belonging to the Couple or their guests that remain at the end of the night will be moved by our team to the Green Container for collection the following morning.

Please make sure your suppliers are aware of the requirement to complete their pack-down and remove their items before midnight.

11:00pm – Bands and DJs finish. Music is reduced to background levels. Last orders are called.
11:30pm – All drinks must be consumed and background music finishes.
Midnight – The Venue closes and all guests must have departed by then.

We kindly ask all guests to leave promptly and quietly out of consideration for our neighbours. Please ensure transport is arranged in advance so that everyone can depart by midnight.

Please ensure transport is arranged in advance so that everyone can depart by midnight.

The Stanlake Park Event Manager has final authority over the operation of the Venue on the wedding day, including timings, the run sheet, venue set-up, supplier activity and health and safety.

They will always work collaboratively with you, your planner and your suppliers, but where an operational or safety decision needs to be made, the decision of the Stanlake Park Event Manager is final.

• Exclusive hire of Stanlake Park’s wedding venue areas:
  • Vineyard Barn with terrace and lawn
  • Walled Garden
  • Coach House with courtyard
  • Bow Loft
• Car park (shared with Wine Bar customers)
• Heating across the venue
• Standard lighting across both barns, with the option to add fairy lights or other decorative lighting

For health and safety reasons, all additional lighting installations must be carried out by our approved suppliers. You’ll have access to the relevant wedding spaces throughout the day, with timings confirmed in your booking documents.

• Catering and associated catering services are provided by Fingers & Forks and charged separately through them. On the wedding day, the Stanlake Park Event Manager has final authority over the operation and use of the Venue. (more information on the Food & Drinks FAQs section).
• Drinks Packages are provided by Stanlake Park and invoiced separately
• Any personalised elements such as flowers, décor, additional lighting, vintage crockery, and entertainment must be booked and paid directly with third-party suppliers.

There are many beautiful photographic locations within the areas included in your Venue hire.

Photography is permitted within the Venue, and depending on the season and activity on the estate, you will have access to selected vineyard locations. The production areas, private houses, private gardens and other areas of the estate are not accessible unless specifically approved by us.

Our team will be happy to advise your photographer on suitable locations on the day. Stanlake Park’s approved photographers are highly familiar with the best spots on the estate. If you are using your own photographer, they are welcome to arrange a visit by appointment beforehand.

The Manor House is a private residence and is strictly off-limits.

No. Your booking gives you access only to the areas defined as the Venue in your Venue Hire Agreement.

Stanlake Park is a working wine estate and also includes private residential and operational areas. Guests and suppliers must not enter vineyards, production areas, private houses, private gardens or any other restricted areas unless expressly authorised by Stanlake Park.

No, the Manor House and its grounds are private and off-limits.

Yes, by prior agreement with Stanlake Park. Dogs must remain under the control and supervision of a responsible adult at all times. We reserve the right to ask for an animal to be removed if it causes disruption or presents a safety risk.

Yes! The Bow Loft is available for the wedding party from 8 am. It includes:

• Dress hooks, dressing table & mirrors for hairdressers and make-up
• Comfortable seating, table & chairs 
• Coffee and tea facilities, & mini fridge
• Umbrellas for unexpected weather
• Nearby toilet 

Yes, Stanlake Park offers stunning accommodation options on-site. You can see all the details and lovely pictures on our Accommodation page.

How to book:

• North Lodge (one-bedroom cottage) – Perfect for the wedding couple, featuring vineyard views and stylish interiors.
• South Lodge (four-bedroom luxury accommodation) – Perfect for family and friends.
• The Old School House (four-bedroom period cottage) – Located offsite near Henley-On-Thames, with complimentary transfer to and from the venue.

More luxury ensuite rooms are being finalised and will be available soon.

All guests and suppliers are expected to follow the reasonable instructions of Stanlake Park staff while on the estate. We reserve the right to require anyone whose behaviour is unsafe, abusive, illegal, disruptive or likely to cause damage to leave the Venue.

• Coach House: Up to 100 guests
• Vineyard Barn: Up to 150 guests

If using the Vineyard Barn for your ceremony, guest tables for the wedding breakfast will need to be set up afterward. Please discuss this with the Weddings Team during your planning.

• Up to 158 (all round tables)
• Up to 147 (long top table with round tables)
• Up to 129 (all long banqueting tables)

For weddings with over 100 guests, tables in Section 2 of the Vineyard Barn may need to be removed before a band/DJ can set up. Please ask for a floor plan and discuss this with the team as part of your planning.

Yes, many couples invite additional evening guests. Our maximum onsite capacity is 200 people at any one time, including your guests and the staff and suppliers working at your wedding. If you’re planning a larger celebration, please speak to us – some outdoor arrangements may be possible with prior approval.

Please provide a rough estimate of evening guests early on, with final numbers confirmed at least one month before your wedding.

• Main car park: 50 spaces
• Coach parking available on request

Vehicles must only be driven and parked in designated areas. Parking on lawns, grass verges, vineyards or other landscaped areas is not permitted. A damage charge may apply where damage is caused.

Yes, but they must be collected before 9 am on the following day (Bank Holiday arrangements may differ). 

No, unfortunately this is not permitted as there are other residents at Stanlake Park.

No, you don’t!

One of our greatest advantages is our convenient location – just a 15-minute walk on paved paths from Twyford Train Station, which is served by both the Great Western Railway and the Elizabeth Line.

Popular rail routes to Twyford or nearby Reading include:

• London Paddington to Twyford – from 25 minutes
• London Liverpool Street to Twyford – from 40 minutes
• Oxford to Reading – 23 minutes
• Bristol Temple Meads to Reading – 1 hour 8 minutes
• Reading to Twyford – 7 minutes

Yes, both barns are fully heated, with underfloor heating in the Vineyard Barn and Coach House. All areas are preheated on colder days to ensure a comfortable arrival.

There are toilets in all different areas as per below:

• Coach House: one disabled toilet with baby-changing facilities
• Main Toilets (opposite Vineyard Barn): ladies, gents and an additional disabled toilet with baby-changing facilities.

Yes, the venue has:

• Step-free access with ramps around the venue
• Disabled toilets in both the Coach House and Vineyard Barn area
• Accessible parking near both Coach House and Vineyard Barn entrances

 Important note:

• The Walled Garden route to the Coach House may not always be wheelchair-friendly due to gravel.
• We recommend that wheelchair users be driven between locations for easier access.
• The Bow Loft’s upper floor is not accessible due to stairs.
• No Blue Badge is required for accessible parking.

Please discuss any specific accessibility needs in advance so staff can assist as needed.

• Two disabled toilets with fold-down changing tables and nappy bins (please do not dispose of nappies in standard toilets)
• High chairs available – their placement should be shown on your table plan
• With the couple’s permission, the Bow Loft may be used as a quiet space for feeding or for parents with babies
• Additional seating in the foyer in the main toilets for convenience

Please note: If you’re providing colouring books for children, please ensure that any pens or markers are washable. Any stains on hired table linen that cannot be removed will incur a replacement charge.

Children must remain under the supervision of a responsible adult at all times whilst on the estate.

No, sorry, as pegs cannot be driven into the ground anywhere on the estate.

Smoking is not permitted inside any building or within 3 metres of any building on the estate.

Please use the designated smoking areas and the ashtrays provided. Please do not move the ashtrays from the outdoor furniture or remove them from their designated locations.

All wedding-related items must be removed by midnight on the Event Date. However, if a personal belonging is accidentally left behind, please contact us as soon as possible and we will do our best to locate it.

Many “lost” items are simply picked up by someone in your party – please check with your guests.

Stanlake Park accepts no responsibility for the loss of or damage to personal belongings, decorations, gifts or other property brought onto the estate. High-value or sentimental items should always be taken home on the night.

Unclaimed lost property may be disposed of after one month.

The Coach House and Vineyard Barn are equipped with Bose sound systems suitable for ceremonies, speeches and background music, and microphones are available.

Coach House and outdoor areas: amplified music is not permitted. Background music inside the Coach House may only be played through Stanlake Park’s PA system at a reasonable background volume.

Vineyard Barn: bands and DJs should provide the equipment required for their performance, subject to our noise management requirements and sound limiter.

Please discuss any specific AV requirements with the Weddings Team before booking equipment.

• Set-up time depends on guest numbers and room layout
• If the dancefloor area is used for guest tables, setup may need to happen after the meal and speeches

Yes, our license requires the following:

• Live music must stop by 11:00pm
• Only recorded background music is allowed between 11:00pm – 11:30pm
• All music must stop by 11:30pm (automatic cut-off applies)
• A sound limiter is in place at 96dB max (as required by the council)
• Acoustic music is permitted outdoors before 6:00pm
• Drums and percussion are not allowed outdoors at any time

Please note that these timings cannot be extended due to licensing restrictions and out of consideration for our neighbours.

• All bands & DJs must sign the Noise Management Fact Sheet before performing
• You must send them this information before booking to ensure they agree to the terms

If they have any questions, we are happy to discuss details with them directly.

You are welcome to use your own suppliers for your wedding, with the exception of lighting canopies, marquees, gazebos and stretch tents. These services must be booked through one of Stanlake Park’s approved suppliers and cannot be provided by any other company.

Approved Lighting Suppliers

• Academy Productions
• Party Lights

Approved Marquee Suppliers

• LEX
• BroSea

Approved Stretch Tent Supplier

• Hurlingham

Our approved suppliers are experienced at working at Stanlake Park, are familiar with the venue, meet our insurance and health & safety requirements, and consistently receive excellent feedback. You can find our full list of recommended suppliers here: https://stanlakepark.com/our-preferred-partners-suppliers/

For all other suppliers, you are welcome to make your own arrangements. However, they must submit the required documentation for approval in advance. Your Weddings Team contact will advise what is required and manage this process.

Please provide your Weddings Team contact with a list of all your suppliers as early as possible, as approvals can take time. Any supplier who has not been approved before your wedding day will not be permitted to work at Stanlake Park. This includes any lighting, marquee or stretch tent supplier other than those listed above.

Stanlake Park accepts no responsibility for any deposits or payments made to suppliers who are refused access because they are not approved, fail to provide the required documentation on time, or fall outside our approved supplier policy.

Supplier Access & Set Up

All suppliers must set up and pack down on the day of the wedding. Set up the day before, or collection the day after, is not permitted. This includes the delivery or collection of any items such as décor, flowers, lawn games, furniture or other equipment.

Please note that your exclusive hire of Stanlake Park runs from 8:00am on your wedding day until midnight, and supplier access is only permitted within these times.

Yes. All suppliers engaged by you must comply with Stanlake Park’s Terms & Conditions and follow the reasonable instructions of our team while on the estate. You are responsible for ensuring your suppliers are aware of the Venue rules before your wedding day.

If you are planning something out of the ordinary, please discuss it with us before booking a supplier. Some activities require advance approval, such as:

• Animals as ring bearers
• Circus acts 
• External food & drink suppliers (see Food & Drink section for details)

We love creative and unique wedding ideas, but some activities may have limitations – please remember we are a working vineyard in historic buildings. We will always try to accommodate where possible.

Drone photography or videography is only permitted with the prior written approval of Stanlake Park.

Where approval is given, the operator must:

• hold any qualifications or permissions required by law;
• provide the required certification and insurance to Stanlake Park in advance;
• agree the flight date, time, location and duration with us; and
• operate only in the areas authorised by Stanlake Park and where conditions allow a safe flight.

Amateur or unauthorised drone flights are not permitted.

• Only natural rose petal confetti is permitted, in order to protect the environment and the estate. Although many paper confetti products are marketed as biodegradable, they do not break down quickly enough and are extremely difficult to remove from our grounds.
• Confetti may only be used outdoors. Additional restrictions may apply in lawn and grassed areas, and in locations close to the vineyard, to protect the vines and surrounding landscape.
• Confetti cannons are not permitted anywhere on the estate.

No, as they can trigger the smoke detectors, causing an evacuation of the buildings.

To comply with licensing regulations, we’re unable to allow alcoholic drinks to be given out as wedding favours on site, even if they’re small sealed samples. We’re happy to help you think of alternative keepsakes that your guests will love!

To protect the vineyard and winemaking, smoke bombs are only permitted in designated areas, such as the Coach House Courtyard, and only at certain times of the year.

Smoke can penetrate the skin of mature grapes, potentially tainting the wine – a fault that cannot be undone. In some cases, entire vats may need to be discarded!

Please speak with the operation team to discuss.

Food and beverages must not be brought onto the estate by you, your guests or your suppliers unless this has been expressly agreed with Stanlake Park in advance.

Deliveries can be made on the morning of your wedding from 8:00am onwards. This includes décor, flowers, lawn games, furniture, cakes and any other wedding-related items.

All suppliers and decorations must be set up and packed down on the day of the wedding. Deliveries the day before, or collections the day after, are not permitted.

Any items requiring refrigeration (such as wedding cakes or cheese towers) must be arranged with Stanlake Park in advance.

Please ensure all deliveries are clearly addressed to:

Stanlake Park
Twyford, Berkshire
RG10 0BN

As the estate is large, please make it clear that the delivery is for your wedding. Drivers may occasionally leave items in the wrong area. While we will do our best to help locate misplaced deliveries, Stanlake Park cannot accept responsibility for failed, missed or incorrectly delivered items, and responsibility for locating them remains with you.

Yes, as a heritage barn venue with wooden structures, we have specific fire safety precautions.

Fireworks are not permitted

Sparklers are allowed, but only with prior approval and under strict supervision – please discuss this with Stanlake Park Weddings Team.

Please note: in periods of drought or increased fire risk, sparklers are also not permitted anywhere on the estate. When this restriction is in place, it is your responsibility to ensure that your guests and suppliers are aware.

No, as they pose a significant environmental and fire hazard.

• Naked flames are not permitted
• Battery-operated tea lights, table candles, and lamps are allowed – they provide a similar ambiance, they are more sustainable and last longer

No, to protect the vineyard and buildings, fire pits are not allowed, even as part of a ceremony