The Woods Farm Jervis Bay

The grounds at The Woods Farm are beautiful, but our wedding experience was deeply disappointing for the premium price. The staff were kind during service, and one bar staff member kept making sure we had the drinks we liked. Still, my husband and I missed out on the canapés, entrée, and dessert, and Sunday's recovery breakfast didn't match what we'd seen on social media. Communication before the wedding was extremely poor. Most emails went unanswered, and on five occasions nobody joined the virtual consultation we'd arranged. We were told we wouldn't need a coordinator, but on Friday night we were informed that staff wouldn't help set up the reception and that we'd have to do it ourselves. At the same time, we learned alcohol had been left off our invoice and we owed several thousand dollars more. The new invoice arrived within half an hour while we were setting up the space. We were promised enough pizza for 140 guests at the welcome night, with plenty left for breakfast. Around 45 adults and 20 children attended, but just five pizzas were left at the end. On the wedding morning, after my daughter had a nappy blowout, I washed the sheets and asked for a replacement while getting ready. They handed me a folded sheet and expected me to remake the bed on my wedding day. Less than an hour before the ceremony, our designated coordinator was showing the grounds to a prospective couple. She arrived 20 minutes late to collect the bridal party, and we couldn't start on time. No Woods Farm staff answered phone calls throughout the wedding day. On Sunday I was physically stopped from entering the pool area while a staff member showed another couple around, even though it was our event space. My husband was also reprimanded for driving somewhere staff wanted to photograph. The Woods Farm has stunning grounds, but the service didn't match its luxury level fees. For a wedding, where timing, privacy, communication, and care matter so much, this fell well short.

Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had at The Woods Farm. The grounds have loads of character and lovely places to wander, and both the ceremony and reception looked dreamy. We felt supported throughout, and everything ran smoothly on the day. The team was warm, organised, and happy to help. From the moment we arrived, we felt we'd picked somewhere special. It was a magical, unforgettable wedding, and we can't imagine celebrating anywhere better. If you're considering it, do it! ✨💕

The glamping tents had no fans or ventilation, and the tin shed used for the reception had no cooling or air circulation either. In summer heat, the venue seemed unprepared for guests' comfort. I know staff can't control the weather, but for a premium-priced venue, basic cooling measures seem worth considering. Food handling also concerned me. At the welcome pizza night, the recovery breakfast, and the reception grazing board, food was left uncovered and exposed to flies, with no visible effort to protect it. In hot conditions, that was particularly worrying. The Woods Farm looks beautiful in photos online, which is why I was excited to attend a wedding there. As a guest, though, I found the actual experience underwhelming and disappointing, and it didn't meet the standard I'd expect from a venue of this calibre.

Having all our guests stay with us at The Woods Farm was wonderful. We got to spend time with everyone over the weekend instead of rushing around on the wedding day. The property is beautiful, the food all weekend was great, and our guests loved the venue and accommodation. People in the glamping tents were comfortable and happy. Rochelle and the rest of the staff were thoughtful and fantastic to work with. They helped our vendors get set up, kept the weekend running smoothly, and made it easy for us to be present with each other and our guests. They even saved us a plate while we were out taking photos and checked that we'd eaten enough. It was a very relaxed weekend, and we didn't have to think about much. Communication in the lead-up can be a bit tricky, but I think the team puts their focus on the couple over the weekend and making sure things go smoothly. My husband and I just got married there, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. If you're thinking about getting married at The Woods Farm, you won't regret it.