I have been photographing weddings for over 10 years now and there aren’t many wedding venues I haven’t yet been to. The southeast of England is full of many amazing places to get married, from barns, gardens, manor houses and castles there is something for everyone and I do have some favourites! I’m going to share five of the most picturesque wedding venues in Kent that I absolutley love to photograph weddings at.
My top destinations for stunning wedding photography
Winters Barns:
Known for its cozy period barn and gardens, Winters Barns is full of gorgeous well kept grounds and plenty of locations for your wedding photos. Offering both gardens, orchards and some really pretty structures such as the iconic winters barns door and bridge this venue is one of my favourites to work at, not only because it’s beautiful but because the venue is extremely well run and everyone always makes you feel so welcome.
The Gardens Yalding:
Situated in the heart of Kent’s countryside, The Gardens, Yalding is a bit of a hidden gem! This wedding venue boasts some of the most beautiful gardens I’ve had the chance to photograph in. If you love Wisteria and have a wedding in late May or June you will be in awe. I love to shoot here and with such vast gardens to explore there is always something new to work with. If you haven’t got a venue booked yet this ones worth putting on your shortlist.
Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve:
Port Lympne is a gorgeous wedding venue with some breathtaking views out to sea. Not only does it have amazing views, well-kept gardens and a mansion with heaps of character but it has so many really unique places for photos that you will never get to explore them all in a single day. This venue is a dream for a wedding photographer and if I had to shortlist some of my favourites I would say that the Moroccan courtyard and rear of the mansion would be two of my must go locations. If you are looking for a venue that’s stunning, unique and you have a love for wild animals then Port Lympne should be top of your list! If you do book your wedding here make sure you take full advantage of the dedicated Safari for you and your guests, its a once in a lifetime experience and one you won’t forget.
Cooling Castle Barn:
Cooling Castle Barn is always an amazing venue to photograph weddings at. Its historic barn, courtyard, and well kept grounds create gorgeous backdrops for your wedding photos. I always love to use the Castle gate house as a backdrop for some of my more dramatic photos especially if the conditions are right and we get a good sky. With this said there are so many great places for photos here and a nice alternative in the summer months is just the other side of the road in the vast field full of corn, these are perfect for portraits at sunset. Cooling castle barn is one of the most popular wedding venue in Kent and there’s a reason for this! It can have a waiting list, especially for prime summer dates so why not arrange a booking to come view this amazing venue and see what all the fuss is about.
Hever Castle:
Steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking gardens, Hever Castle really is a fairytale setting for a wedding. Its stunning architecture, castle moat, and stunning rose gardens make it an epic location for your wedding photos. The Italian gardens are not only the perfect place for a romantic wedding ceremony but are some of the prettiest places I’ve photographed in the south east of England.
So there you have it, five of my favourite wedding venues that combine gorgeous grounds and impeccable service! Combine any of these wedding venues with a creative wedding photographer and you have a recipe for success. If you do this expect nothing but exceptional wedding photos.
If you wanted to see examples of wedding photographs taken at some of these venues be sure to check out some of my recent work here Love Stories
