Romantic wedding venues in Kent: 10 of the best

Would you love to be married in a fairytale castle? Or in a beachfront gazebo? Or even looking out on a landscape of roaming wild animals? Kent has everything you need to make your wedding day memorable

The gazebo at Hythe Imperial, Hythe (Image: Archant)

Hythe Imperial, Hythe

A wedding with a stunning view is now more than a dream, but a reality at the Hythe Imperial hotel – following the opening of its elegant new gazebo. Set amid the new secret garden and with the grand façade of the hotel as a backdrop, the gazebo was opened by the Mayor of Hythe, Cllr Michael Lyons, on December 15. Available for wedding parties of up to 120, the gazebo is the latest addition to the on-going refurbishment of the landmark hotel, which has also seen the creation of the impressive Imperial Ballroom, the opening earlier this year of Kent’s only Moet & Chandon Champagne Bat and Belcourt Suite. The hotel caters for civil ceremonies and civil partnerships, with each couple being looked after by their own personal consultant to ensure the day is everything they ever dreamt it to be.

01303 267441, weddings@hytheimperialhotel.com or www.hytheimperial.co.uk

East Quay, Whitstable Harbour (Image: Archant)

East Quay, Whitstable

East Quay is at the end of the east quay harbour, facing outward onto the shingled beach of Whitstable. The venue can accommodate up to 100 guests for the ceremony and drinks reception, offering couples a variety of options for the latter, including the famous oysters which guests can enjoy on the beach. Couples can also opt for a wedding breakfast, which can be tailored accordingly. All produce is locally sourced, including the fish caught by local fishermen who work on the harbour. In-house catering is offered by the venue, although couples may bring their own home-made or catered evening buffets. The venue also offers extras including ice-cream bikes, candyfloss makers and popcorn machines to ensure you have the ultimate seaside wedding.

01227 772 157, info@eqvenue.com or www.eqvenue.com/venue/weddings

Eastwell Manor, Ashford (Image: Archant)

Eastwell Manor, Ashwell

Set in 3,000 acres of grounds, Eastwell Manor is a four Red Star Country House Hotel and Spa where you can enjoy both your eremony and reception at one stunning location. The four areas licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies include three oak-panelled rooms in the manor house rooms and the Italian walled Maid’s Garden with its own gazebo and a romantic bridge over the lily pond. The manicured lawns with views of the surrounding countryside are perfect for marquee weddings. The historic manor house sits at the end of a long tree-lined drive, and comprises 62 individually styled elegant bedrooms and suites, some with four-poster beds and views overlooking the picturesque grounds. Add award-winning cuisine, warming log fires and excellent spa and leisure facilities for a venue with everything.

01233 213025, weddings@eastwellmanor.co.uk, www.eastwellmanor.co.uk/weddings

Port Lympne, Hythe (Image: Archant)

Port Lympne, Hythe

On 19 February the award-winning Port Lympne Hotel is inviting couples in search of the perfect location for their special day to explore the rooms, grounds and meet the team and suppliers. A variety of accommodation is available, including romantic tree-houses, the four-star hotel itself and a cottage where you can book a short romantic break and make the romance last into the year.

01303264647, aspinallfoundation.org

Chiddingstone Castle, Edenbridge (Image: © Wild Weddings 2014)

Chiddingstone Castle

Award-winning Chiddingstone Castle is a hidden gem nestling in 35 acres of beautiful grounds, including a lake with a footbridge. One of Kent’s finest historic houses, it has three licensed areas for a civil ceremony – the Great Hall, the White Rose Drawing Room and the Victorian Orangery in the gardens. The castle and grounds are closed to the public for weddings and receptions, giving guests exclusive use of them throughout the day.

01892 870347, www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/weddings

Leeds Castle (Image: Archant)

Leeds Castle, nr Maidstone

Leeds Castle has been described as “the loveliest castle in the world” and there can be no more romantic place to hold your wedding. With dates still available for 2017, why not take the opportunity to visit on 18 or 19 March, enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and view the castle dressed for your wedding day? Appointments will be available to you on either of the two days from 10am to 5pm where experienced wedding co-ordinators will be on hand to discuss your requirements.

01622 767877 or weddings@leeds-castle.co.uk, www.leeds-castle.com/Weddings

The interior at the Pines Calyx (Image: Archant)

Tudor Park Marriot Hotel & Country Club, Maidstone

Nestled in 200 acres of beautiful Kent countryside, Tudor Park offers everything you need for the perfect wedding celebration, whether you’re looking for a grand reception or a quieter civil ceremony. A new dimension to the wedding experience is a licensed gazebo set in the grounds, where the Championship Golf Course, gazebo, natural reserve and wildlife pond offer a choice of backdrops for special photographs on the day.

01622-632006 or ruxandra.onea@marriotthotels.com, www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/event-planning/wedding-planning/tdmgs-tudor-park-marriott-hotel-and-country-club/

Secret Garden, Hythe (Image: Archant)

The Pines Calyx, Dover

Couples looking for a greener approach on their wedding day can seek comfort at the Pines Calyx. The award-winning venue which is run by the Bay Trust and located on the scenic white cliffs coast is close to St Margaret’s Bay beach and renowned as the venue with the lowest carbon footprint in the UK. Inside there are two light and spacious rooms, otherwise known as roundels due to their distinctive architecture. The lower roundel provides the setting for the ceremony and evening entertainment, while the upper floor plays host to the wedding breakfast. There is an airy, open-plan foyer and a cosy bar for guests to enjoy. The design is simple, allowing couples to customise and plan according to their tastes. Civil ceremony or partnership only.

01304 851 737, www.pinescalyx.co.uk

Kent Life, Maidstone

For the countryside couple who want to charm their guests in a venue full of heritage, period buildings, gardens and orchards. Kent Life (the other one) offers a unique Kentish setting. With a pink wedding chapel on site and lots to do, the team can even arrange lamb feeding, an animal cuddle corner and a tug of war. There are two or three function rooms, use of all attractions and exclusive use of the grounds after 6pm, in the summer and 3pm in winter. Couples can choose from three venues, Ulcombe Village Hall or the Wagon Store which both hold 110 guests, or alternatively the Old Wedding Chapel which holds up to 80 guests. In-house caterers Zest also offer a dedicated wedding co-ordinator who will assist couples with preparations.

07553 347184, www.kentlife.org.uk/venue-hire/weddings.aspx

Secret Garden, Hythe

Make your fairytale wedding come true at one of Kent’s most romantic locations. The Secret Garden is perfect for the bohemian bride and the main coach house offers a warm, romantic setting with large double doors that pave way onto a southerly terrace, overlooking the walled gardens. The venue is made up of the main coach house, which can seat up to 80 guests with an additional 50 in the evening, a marquee that holds up to 30 guests, however extensions are available for larger parties, or alternatively there is the Glass House, which is an indoor take on the outdoors, offering the best of both worlds and hosting up to 50 guests. Wedding guidance is offered throughout the planning process to ensure your day is stress-free and runs smoothly.

01233 501586 or events@secretgardenkent.co.uk, www.secretgardenkent.co.uk/weddings