If you’re planning a wedding in Kent, check out these wedding venues which will be perfect for 2021
With its stunning seafront location, beautiful bridal suite and sophisticated boutique feel, the Dover Marina Hotel & Spa is a unique Kent wedding venue offering stylish interiors as well as stunning views across Dover beach, Dover Castle and the famous White Cliffs. Wedding packages have been designed to ensure that your wedding is as magical as possible. But you can also create a bespoke package that delivers your unique vision for your special day, including an extensive wedding menu created by the hotel’s skilled and experienced chefs.
This classic Grade I-listed British country house hotel, surrounded by 22 acres of private woodland and lawned gardens and with a grand interior filled with antiques and portraits offers plenty of gorgeous settings for your wedding photos. An elegant tree-lined driveway opens out to reveal the romantic 17th-century manor, fronted by a large lake and water feature. Public areas are elegant and brimming with history; bedrooms are unique and full of personality. A team of experienced wedding professionals uses a flexible approach to tailor celebrations to suit each couple’s needs, from creating bespoke menus to arranging arrival by helicopter. A variety of options is available to wedding parties, including special touches for the wedding couple, such as: a complimentary Executive bedroom for the couple on their wedding night, the chance to meet with the chef and trial your menu choice on a complimentary basis, a dedicated wedding coordinator and host in the lead up and on the big day. Wedding open days planned this year are 2 August, 27 September, 1 and 29 November, all from 1pm to 4pm – but please check first.
The Secret Garden, one of Kent’s most romantic venues, is a family run business based on the original Mersham le Hatch estate where photo opportunities range from a shepherd’s hut to cobbled courtyards, old archways and a clock tower. There is a choice of two outdoor and two indoor spaces for your ceremony: The Glasshouse, The Chapel, the Walled Gardens with a licensed bar or for larger parties, The Coach House.The venue is typically hired on an exclusive basis meaning the wedding party has the entire place to themselves for the day, but it can also be hired on a non-exclusive basis for smaller and more intimate gatherings from two up to 150. The next planned open day is on 27 September 2020 – but do check first.
This imposing hotel set in one of Kent’s most elegant resort towns, right on the seafront, boasts uninterrupted panoramic views across the English Channel from the back, while the perfectly manicured garden at the front houses an ornate Victorian gazebo where ceremonies are held from April to September. Given it’s micro climate, it’s a great venue for an outdoor ceremony. Recently having undergone a multi-million-pound investment, all 92 bedrooms have been refurbished to the highest standard. They range from spacious and decadent, intimate and cosy, sea or garden view to cottage-style suites and family rooms. The Belcourt Suite, first choice of many couples, is at the top of the hotel and gives spectacular sea views. This four-star hotel is also home to Kent’s only Moët and Chandon Champagne Bar and has the tallest chandelier in Europe, created by Kent Royal Warrant holders Wilkinson and Co, a stunning confection of 25,000 individual crystals.
One of the few Kent wedding venues on the North Downs, London Golf Club makes a picturesque and private venue for your special day. Set in the heart of 700 acres, the clubhouse is approached from the gatehouse by a one-mile driveway. You enter via the oak-beamed Great Hall before proceeding to the Long Bar where guests can be welcomed with canapés. The patio and terrace offer an outdoor area for a drinks reception and wedding photographs with a view over lakes and two Championship Golf Courses, is going to make some memorable group photographs. There is parking for up to 230 cars and even a designated helipad if you’re that way inclined.
Marleybrook House in the pretty village of Preston near Canterbury is a stunning 17th-century thatched farmhouse, former home of the legendary Eartha Kitt. It’s even got a private festival-style fairground to entertain wedding day guests in memorable fashion, with rides, stalls and an indoor beach. With three different ceremony areas and a dedicated coordination team, Marleybrook House is a great all-round wedding venue with its own very different style.
Nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside and surrounded by 150 acres of stunning landscape combining rolling hills, woodland and orchards, The BarnYard is an enchanting setting for your most memorable of days. Licensed for ceremonies, choose from the permanent marquee which can host receptions for up to 300 guests and a charming barn for slightly smaller gatherings. The team is happy to pull together a totally bespoke wedding and will shortly be announcing an exciting new addition to The BarnYard’s offering, which will cover all budgets, large or small. Keep an eye on the website for further ‘pre-announcement’ details.
Situated in the village of Shoreham, with a backdrop of the Darenth Valley and 10 acres of vines, The Mount Vineyard presents picture-perfect photo opportunities and relaxing surroundings for a romantic wedding. There’s an oak terrace for blessings and unofficial ceremonies, or if you prefer a church wedding, the Grade I-listed St Peter and St Paul Church neighbours the vineyard. Choose from four different locations for drinks receptions and a courtyard with a fully retractable roof for an al-fresco wedding breakfast. Wedding blessings and receptions can be accommodated for up to 100 people, with room for an additional 50 evening guests, and on your special day you can enjoy a selection of award-winning wines made from the grapes grown at the vineyard.
This privately owned family home in Hernhill, close to Faversham, with spectacular views of the gardens and estate and an elegant, sweeping staircase leading into the main hall, makes a romantic setting for your wedding day. Mount Ephraim can accommodate ceremonies of up to 100 people in the house or garden. For a reception in the house there is space for 100 for a sit-down wedding breakfast with room for a total of 175 evening guests. For a marquee reception in the gardens, there is space for more than 250 guests. There’s a wedding suite with four additional en-suite guest B&B rooms, or the new Garden Wing sleeps 12 and has its own kitchen/diner, sitting room, snug, games room and private terrace overlooking the gardens. No weddings are ever held on consecutive days, so couples can relax, take their time and enjoy their moment. Viewings can be booked direct with the wedding co-ordinator and at the time of writing, the next Open Day is on 25 October, from 2pm to 5pm. As ever, check first.
Tonbridge School, set within a magnificent 150-acre site, with beautiful gardens and architecture, offers six locations licenced for ceremonies and a variety of contemporary and traditional function rooms..There is a range of catering options to complement the style of your day, from hog roasts and afternoon teas to three-course wedding breakfasts and bespoke menus. Supporting local suppliers, the school prides itself on providing the very best locally sourced ingredients. An experienced event team is on hand to help and work with you from start to finish.
