faqs
General
What is the Venue Capacity?
Baylys' Farm has a capacity of 130 guests total, including the wedding party and excluding vendors.
Do I need to Schedule a Tour or Can I Just Stop By?
We kindly request that all venue viewings are by appointment only. You can request a tour here.
What Happens if it’s Raining on my Wedding Day?
If rain is forecast for your wedding day we will discuss the various options with you ahead of time and will assist in implementing any alternative plans on the day. Some ceremony alternatives include the lawn directly in front of the marquee for in-between showers, or inside the marquee for persistent rain. We will show you around the various ceremony locations during your first venue viewing. We also provide umbrellas and our bar can be placed inside if needed. The marquee is a large, waterproof space so you do not need to hire in extra tents in the case of rainy weather. Please feel free to read more about wet weather planning in this blog post.
What Times Do I Have Access to the Venue?
Please find the venue access times for your booking with us listed below:
Day Before Wedding (Set-Up / Ceremony Rehearsal): 12:30pm - 5pm
Wedding Day: 9am - 11:30pm (events must operate within 10-hour period)
Day After Wedding (Item Collection): 9am - 11am
Do You Allow Dogs at Events?
While we love our furry friends our property is in a kiwi protected zone, which unfortunately means that both DOC and the Far North District Council have specifically advised that we are not allowed to host outside animals at the venue.
Where Are You Located?
We're based in Waitangi, right in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands - a tropical region within New Zealand know for its spectacular coastal landscape. The region is easily accessible by both car and plane. Our property is:
10 Minutes Drive from Paihia
30 Minutes Drive from Kerikeri Airport
3.5 Hour Drive North of Auckland
40 Minute Flight North of Auckland (to Kerikeri Airport)
How do Guests Travel to the Venue?
As an operating farm it is important to us that we keep our farm roads in good condition, and we also want to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the night. Therefore we ask that you book bus transport for your guests to arrive and depart in via Clarks Coaches. We are able to provide recommendations on bus numbers and timings.
Please note, the wedding party and vendors are able to drive onto the venue and we can provide parking for these vehicles. Other guests may drive under special circumstances, please contact us if you would like more information on this.
What is your fire and candle policy?
The Northland region generally has a fire ban throughout the spring and summer months, which means we do not allow any open flames at the venue (e.g. fire pits, braziers). Gas heaters are okay to use in outdoor areas and we can recommend indoor heating options if needed. We provide a large basket of woollen blankets for guests to use and recommend advising your guests to bring a jacket for after dark in cooler months.
Fireworks are not permitted, including sparklers. We don’t want to scare our animal neighbours and we want to keep the fire department happy!
Candles are permitted under the following conditions. All candles must be placed in an individual holder that is taller than the candle wick and has a base to catch wax. Candle plans must be approved by us prior to your set-up day to avoid disappointment.
Bookings
What is the Venue Hire Fee and What is Included?
Our venue hire. fees vary depending on the package and dates that you are looking at. Please send us an email and we will happily send through all of our package and pricing information.
What Dates are Available?
Our wedding season runs between Labour Weekend in October through to the end of April. Between this period we host weddings on Thursdays and Saturdays. Please contact us to request our date availability for the time period that you are interested in.
Can I Pencil a Date?
Out of fairness to everyone we do not pencil dates ahead of a booking being made. All bookings are confirmed with a 20% Booking Deposit and signed contract.
How Do I Reserve a Date?
If you are keen on securing a date with us (exciting!) we will first book in a venue viewing which can be done either in-person or over a video call. This allows us to walk you through the venue and answer any questions that you have. From there all bookings are confirmed with a 20% Booking Deposit and signed contract.
We Plan to Have Our Ceremony or Reception Somewhere Else, Does the Venue Hire Fee Change?
Because we only host one event per day, our fee structure remains the same whether you hold your ceremony, reception or both onsite. We do have our Elopement Package available for small ceremony-only events.
Planning
Do You Include a "Wedding Day Coordinator?"
If you're trying to compare venues "apples to apples" we feel like this is a tricky question to answer as a ‘wedding day coordinator’ can mean so many different things! As part of your booking with us we provide a Venue Manager, whose job is to ensure everything is running smoothly at the venue end for the full duration of your wedding. This includes duties such as setting up venue furniture (ceremony bench seats etc), liaising with your MC and vendors, opening/closing marquee doors based on weather conditions, cleaning the bathrooms etc.
If you’re looking for an extra pair of hands to pass some duties onto we can highly recommend some local wedding day coordinators or planners who would love to work with you.
Do You Offer Wedding Planning Services?
We do not offer wedding planning as part of our services, however you will have full access to our experienced team who will happily answer any questions and provide advice throughout your planning journey. We also provide detailed planning resources such as our Planning Guide and Planning Spreadsheet which previous couples of the venue found incredibly helpful. If you would like extra assistance with wedding planning we can recommend some great Planners who have planned events at the venue before.
How involved are Baylys’ Farm staff?
From our initial meeting we are here to help you throughout your wedding planning journey and are happy to answer any questions you have. Upon your set-up day we will greet you once you arrive to the venue, and you will have access to us should you have any questions throughout your set-up and pack-down.
There will also be Baylys' Farm staff available for the full duration of your event (see above). They will manage venue inventory and also liaise with your vendors and MC to ensure everything runs smoothly on your wedding day from a venue perspective.
What do couples and guests do for accommodation?
While we not have any onsite accommodation the property is a 10-minute drive from Paihia, which is the tourist and accommodation hub for the Bay of Islands. A lot of our couples book the larger holiday homes for themselves and wedding party, while guests can choose from a huge variety of hotels, motels, holiday homes and campgrounds which are all available at different price points. Please contact us if you would like more information on our accommodation recommendations.
Are you able to recommend local vendors?
Absolutely! We are lucky to have some very talented vendors in the region who would be thrilled to work with you.
We have a set list of vendors you can choose from for your Catering and Bar. Outside of these items you are welcome to use any vendors you wish for your wedding day. Please contact us if you would like to review our recommended vendors list.
Are there toilets at the venue?
Yes, we provide a two-bathroom luxury toilet trailer that will be at the marquee for the duration of your event. Toiletries are provided and we will service the toilets throughout the event.
Please note, Baylys’ Farm toilets are not wheelchair friendly but we can hire a disabled toilet on your behalf for the day if required (additional fees will incur).
Does the marquee have power?
Our beachfront marquee has a large permanent silenced generator installed which will service all of your power needs for the event. Baylys’ Farm staff will take care of the fuel and maintenance on the day. Please note, there is no power on The Point.
What are your requirements for cleaning and rubbish?
We like to keep the pack down as simple as possible for you. We take care of all of the cleaning and rubbish removal. From there, you have access to the venue between 9am - 11am the day after your wedding to come and collect any leftover items. All external hire items also need to be collected within this timeframe.
Can I Use Confetti at my Ceremony?
Yes absolutely! Natural confetti, such as flower petals, is fine to use however we do not allow artificial or biodegradable confetti at the venue.
Can I Bring in Extra Furniture in Addition to your Inventory List?
You are welcome to bring additional furniture onto the venue for your event. We ask that these items do not require installation that may cause damage to the grounds or existing equipment (for example, by putting holes into the grass). Please note, we do not allow hay bales at the venue.
Is There Parking at the Venue?
We have a small carparking space available for those who need to drive into the venue (up to 10 cars, excluding vendors).
Catering & Beverages
Can We Self-Cater?
We do not allow self-catering at the venue. Please contact us to learn more about our catering options.
Who Are Your Approved Caterers?
We have partnered exclusively with some fantastic caterers, each with delicious menu options at a variety of price points. All of these businesses come highly recommended by previous couples, and are happy to tailor their menus to suit your tastes and preferences. All catering enquiries and bookings are to be made directly with your chosen catering company.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to learn more about our approved caterers list and review their sample menus.
Can I Bring In Drinks for the Event?
We are a BYO venue which means you are able to bring alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages into the venue for your event and we do not charge a corkage fee. Please note, BYO applies to you only and guests are not permitted to bring their own beverages for the event.
All bar service at Baylys' Farm is to be managed by the local bar maestros at Kindred Spirits. They can provide a variety of services and inventory for your wedding day, including friendly and experienced bar staff, glassware, beverage planning + purchasing and more.
Who Will Run the Bar?
Do I Need a Chiller Trailer?
We highly recommend booking a chiller trailer for your wedding day. Not only is it the best place to keep your beverages cool but it also acts as a storage room.
