Hello from The Team at
TOKB
We love florals and working with florists for happy couples, and happy days.
Meet The Team
If you have any questions, we’re always happy to help directly.
Coordinating Team
The coordinating team are responsible for managing weddings before and on the day.
Office Telephone: 01303 844 270
Email: events@theoldkentbarn.co.uk
Office Manager
Kerry oversees all wedding management and operations.
Office Telephone: 01303 844 270
Email: events@theoldkentbarn.co.uk
Planning
We love hearing about couple's plans and new ideas too.
Sometimes there’s questions that need answering when designing weddings, including measurements and timings.
Measurements
We’ve included quick links to common measurement requests. Please view the measurement information below, if the measurement you require is not there, please contact us directly.
Wedding Breakfast Table Sizes
Garden Ceremony
Barn Ceremony
Virtual Tour
Our virtual tour software is helpful for exploring spaces remotely. The software includes a measurement tool for inside the New Barn if you’re looking for measurements not already provided.
Click here for Virtaul Tour
Considerations
We recommend you’re familiar with the barn’s policies and further information below while planning and designing.
Beams
We ask if any florals and garlands are applied to beams using floral foam, we require you to use a clear backing such as cellophane to protect the beams. If any garlands are wet or contain water, we require these also to be backed. Water and floral foam stain the oak.
Dry/waxy foliage garlands (such as ruscus, olive and eucalyptus) work well without backing.
We cannot pin into any beams. You can use string, ribbon, or cable ties.
Above Top Tables
There's no beam above the top table.
You can string or fishing wire from beam to beam. Due to the width of the space, it often sags or bows. A taut rachet strap (covered) is a tested solution.
Alternatively, you’ll need to use over table display bars or table clamps.
Table Centres
We have some table centres such as log slice and mirror plates couples can use complimentary.
View items we have available here In-House Accessory Guide. Couples can request these via their planning portal. We’ll prepare these on the day before arrangements are applied to tables.
If you're providing mirrored centrepieces, we're happy to place these on the tables ourselves, we kindly ask they’re polished before placed on tables.
If you’re using moss on any tables, please advise the couple to request sticky back plastic is added by the morning team before you set up.
Multi Use Items
Top Table Arrangements
We’re very happy to move top table arrangements or sections from indoors to the registration table and return following.
Table Arrangements
These can be multi-purpose for the aisle (indoor and outdoor ceremonies) and also tables and other locations.
We’ll happily return arrangements from the ceremony area to other locations such as in front of the top table, top table, tables, in front of the cake table, foyer tables and foyer entrance.
Large Items
We cannot move large items such as canopy trees. It is possible to move some ceremony backdrops. This depends on the size and weight and ease to move.
If you are unsure, please call or email the team, we’re happy to help.
Working At Height
If you're installing at height, we require advance notice.
You must provide evidence of both working at height qualifications and insurance prior to the wedding and dated to cover the installation date.
We'll not be able to provide team members or any equipment, such as ladders or towers, this is not covered by our insurance.
If you’re planning to work at height, please call the team, we will chat through set up timings with you. We will ask at height work is installed early.
Any installations at height will also need to be removed, this will need to be removed either after midnight or early the following day.
Confetti
We permit biodegradable confetti; dried or fresh petals are preferable.
This protects the health of our gardens and surrounding livestock fields.
We do not allow silk petals outside, nor confetti cannons outside. Push pops filled with biodegradable confetti are permitted.
Weather
The weather can be unpredictable.
We watch the weather carefully before and on the day. If the weather is appearing uncertain, we may set up in two locations, outdoor and indoor.
Many couples choose the barn for garden ceremonies. If the weather is appearing uncertain and they have planned an outdoor arrangement/arch, we’ll discuss with you on the day the best decision based on that day.
If any pieces can be re-purposed inside, we’ll happily move inside from outdoors if the weather changes after installation (if possible, with foam pieces or tied garlands)
If the gazebo arrangement cannot be moved after install, we’ll recommend to the couple to have photos outdoors later in the day when the weather improves.
Site Visits
If you’d like to visit the venue with or without couples we’d be happy to arrange a viewing appointment for you.
Email the team here.
Contact
(usually 4 weeks prior)
Once the couple has been allocated their coordinator, the coordinator will be in touch with you before the day to introduce themselves and send this information as a reminder. It maybe repetitive for frequent visitors, it’s always good to have a refresher.
Our couples have a helpful portal to store and log all their wedding notes, including floristry.
If we have any questions, we’ll be in touch.
Delivery & Installation Arrival
Our address
The Old Kent Barn Smersole Farm
Swingfield
Kent CT15 7HF
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Follow the sign for Main Car Park & Deliveries
You’re welcome to use the loading-unloading (please be mindful of other suppliers wishing to also unload and access the barn)
We endeavour to have a preparation space/table for you before your arrival.
Please do not place any boxes/items on any linen tables
All the event linens have been ordered and triple pressed for the day, linens will mark, this can be avoided by using the preparation tables. If a table is not already there for you, please ask a team member who will assist.
Placing Centrepieces
We’ve got a keen eye for detail and happy to assist. If you are supplying table arrangements, we’ll happily place on guest tables for you.
Water for Vases
You're welcome to fill jugs of water from the sink at the bar. If you don’t have your own jug or watering can with you, a team member will be able to assist.
We kindly ask any water filling takes place on preparation tables. Any spills can then easily be wiped rather than damp linens. The arrangements can then be taken to the guest tables.
If there’s wet spills, please advise a team member who will assist.
Arrival Times
You can access the New Barn from 8.00am.
You can access the Main Dressing Room from 8.00am
You can access tables from 8.30am – 9.00am (a coordinator will advise if available sooner).
The set-up team will start from the Top Table and work methodically by table 1, 2, 3.
You can access the outdoor ceremony area from 9.00am.
We ask that you are finished setting up by 11.30am for both partners to have time to view the room before their final preparations and guest arrivals.
For Twilight Weddings, you can access the barn and outdoor ceremony area from 10:00am. We kindly request that you finish setting up by 2.30pm.
Bouquets
We have a dedicated bouquet station located on the landing outside of the dressing room. We recommend this location for bouquet deliveries. The fresh air circulates in this space and is often cooler and a less busy space than the main dressing room.
Buttonholes
Please check in with a coordinator when handing over buttonholes.
They’re required to check the quantity and confirm who each is for (even if labelled)
We keep all the buttonholes and corsages together downstairs.
We keep them cool until it’s time for a team member to allocates and apply them to their recipient.
We use small pins to apply buttonholes.
We end of up with a volume of long pins through the year, if you’d like to save on pins during the year, we do have supply of small pins.
Large Arrangements
If couples have large fresh arrangements, we suggest during planning to pre-arrange pinning a label in the arrangement in the evening to gift to a family member or friend or a reminder to leave have space or have multiple vehicles to return home with the arrangements.
Arches
We appreciate most outdoor arrangements are often built or completed in place.
Our grounds team will be cleaning the space for the wedding. If installing after they’ve completed their work, please leave the space clean and tidy.
If there’s wet spills, please advise a team member who will assist.
Before You Depart
Please let the coordinator know you are leaving; they’ll check with you with their notes from the couple.
Please make it clear before departure items you wish to keep the following day, and items that belong to you. This includes table scatters and moss. Please leave containers for the end of evening clearing. The barn’s policy is to carefully tidy away all belonging and store everything. We do not dispose of items.
Please also advise if the couple are returning any of your items, in this instance we will take your items to the Old Barn for their departure the following day. We recommend leaving packaging for any of your items and advising couples have space for all of their belongings and any return items.
For delicate vases you’re welcome to leave packaging such as boxes or wrapping.
For multiple small vases and candles leaving crates or tubs is helpful for us to put into at the end of the evening.
Collection
You’ll collect your belongings from the New Barn either in the foyer or stage area.
If you're choosing to collect at the end of evening collection, please arrive from midnight, no earlier. We do not tidy tables away until the guests are departing.
If there is a wedding the following day, you can collect from 7.30am.
If there's not a wedding the following day, you can collect from 8.45am.
We ask all items are collected by 10am the following morning. We’re often preparing for another wedding or meetings the following day and wish to keep the barn free of belongings.
For a big barn we have limited storage space, we are not able to store items beyond overnight.
If you have any questions about delivery or collection times, please contact the team.
Lost Property?
Please ask a team member on the day if any items appear missing.
We’re careful when packing away all belongings are returned to their owners.
Occasionally, an item may have gone over to the Old Barn. We would like to ensure all items are returned.
w: theoldkentbarn.co.uk t: