Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capacity of the farm? 

We host weddings of up to 120 guests.

What is included in the wedding package?

Our offering includes coordination, florals, farm-sourced catering, staffing, rentals (from stoneware to furnishings to sound systems), games, and our farm, fields, and tent for your ceremony and reception.

What would we need to provide outside of the wedding package?

All you’d need to plan for is your photographer, dessert (we recommend our favourite cake bakers!) and band or DJ.

What happens if it rains?

In addition to the barn, the farm has a beautiful stretch tent that provides plenty of covered space.

RE: fires

When the fire-ban is lifted, we love to light campfires around the barn area to create cozy gathering spots. The months that this is generally available are May and October. You can check the current conditions here.

RE: smoking

We provide a designated smoking area and we ask that all guests who smoke keep it within that area. In the dry heat of summer, irresponsibly disposed cigarette butts are the leading cause of fires on our island.

RE: candles

Our candles are locally sourced, handmade beeswax candles. They are carefully selected to ensure the scent does not overwhelm the florals or food, and that the burn is clean. We will provide all of the candles; we ask that no outside candles are brought in.

When do you host weddings?

We host weddings from late May to early October with the exception July when the farm hosts summer camp!

Do the flowers and catering have to be provided by the farm?

Yes. We host weddings to showcase our unique floral design and incredible organic produce. We wouldn’t have it any other way!

Are children welcome on the farm?

We love kids, and kids love the farm! We have an outdoor kids play area (sand pit, games) and plenty of room for them to run around.

What does the timeline look like?

2:30pm guests begin to arrive

3:00pm ceremony

3:30 to 5pm cocktail hour, lawn games + lounging 

5pm to 6:30pm dinner

9:45pm optional: late-night pizza served from our cob oven

6:30pm to 11:00pm dancing and traditions

I need help finding vendors on the island! Cake, DJ, Band, Photographer…

Happy to help! We provide a list of vendors on the island for you to contact upon booking.

Can we have a live band?

Yes! We ask that they are approved by us first. We love having live bands, but large ones or heavily amplified ones we can’t allow. Send their information our way and we will connect with them to discuss the logistics.

Can we serve a vegetarian or pescatarian menu?

Absolutely! That’s the beauty of our family-style service. There will be many options for everyone with dietary restrictions and allergies. In addition to our traditional menu, we do offer a completely pescatarian menu as well as an all-vegetarian menu. As our service is family-style, one menu style will be chosen for everyone, and guests will help themselves to the dishes that suit them.

When do you need to know our final numbers?

Two weeks before your wedding date. We also need to know the breakdown of any allergies, dietary restrictions and number of children attending at that time.

Can we have our ceremony only at Bullock Lake Farm? 

Yes! Contact molly@bullocklakefarm.com for more information.

Will we have access to the lake?

On the rehearsal day, yes - yourselves and your wedding party are invited to have a swim and enjoy the lake! On the wedding day, we restrict access to the lake to only accepting arrivals by canoe, to ensure everyone’s safety, especially the kids. Guests are not permitted to return by canoe and must pickup the canoe the following morning.

Are there accommodations nearby?

Yes, many within a very short walking distance (or canoe ride)! Hastings House, The Cottages, Harbour House, and even a Bed and Breakfast next door.

Is your farm wheelchair accessible?

Yes! We are accessible, though we don't have paved paths - packed gravel and earth. With help, our wheelchair guests are able to get around the entire farm. We do have a wheelchair accessible washroom in the barn as well (however, we will note that it is a taller toilet as it is also a composting one!).

Do you have a sound system for our use?

Yes! We have an in-house Bose sound system, capable of projecting speeches, background music etc. It’s even suitable for your DJ to hook up to, for when it comes time to dance!

Is your farm dog-friendly?

Yes! We allow a few dogs per wedding to be present. We ask that they are kept on a leash or within sight and under control at all times. We have livestock that must remain undisturbed for their health and wellbeing. 

How does alcohol work at the farm?

The couple will supply all of the alcohol of their choosing, and we will supply everything else needed to serve it. A bar, bartenders, glassware, ice, citrus, mixes, artisanal sodas, organic juices etc. In order to legally be allowed to serve alcohol at your wedding, you are required to provide a Special Events License. The Permit Holder must be named as someone who remains sober at the event, and has completed Responsible Beverage Service Training by the event date. The Wedding Director will assist you with any questions that arise during this process, and we will send you an information sheet to help you fill out the permit successfully. It should be applied for as soon as possible, no later than 4 weeks before the wedding date.

After the Special Events License is obtained, you are legally allowed to purchase alcohol from the BC Liquor Stores, as well as local sources of wine, cider and beer. We recommend placing an order with our local BC Liquor Store on Salt Spring Island, to make transportation easy. Their contact information, as well as local wine/cider/beer makers will be listed on the Vendors List that the Wedding Director will send you upon booking.

What is the cost of having a wedding on your farm? Venue, rentals, staffing, etc.?

Please contact our Wedding Director, miranda@bullocklakefarm.com, for the complete wedding package with pricing. We have carefully considered every detail to stay true to our farm values. You will notice that our package is all-organic, locally sourced and has many special touches contributed by island artisans. You'll see there is the cost for the package which includes the exclusive rental of the farm and more, and then the cost per person for our on-site farm kitchen catering and beverages. You are simply left to add in the alcohol and your own ‘personal touches’ (cake/DJ/band etc.). 

Do you require us to take out event insurance?

Yes. This is important for you as the hosts of the event, as well as for us. In our experience event insurance costs roughly $100-150.00 for the day. We include the contact of an advisor familiar with our farm and this process on the Vendor List you will receive after booking with us.

What if we need to cancel our wedding?

While our deposits and payments are non-refundable, we’ll do our best to work with you to find a postponement option that works for your situation.

 Is a Wedding Planner required for the day-of?

No, it is not a requirement - though we love working with Wedding Planners! Our Wedding Director will handle the farm logistics on the day-of. Hiring a weekend-of Wedding Coordinator is a great idea to ensure your entire weekend is seamless.