One of the Home Counties, Kent’s charm and appeal is quite clear —beautiful beaches and chalk cliffs, fruit orchards and grasslands, old castles and rustic barns… The area is a real gem and is imbued with charming English spirit through and through.
Xenia Motif finds its inspiration in many things, and not the least among them are history and architecture. So today we want to share with you the list of our favourite stately homes in beautiful Kent, perfect for a quintessentially elegant English wedding.
This privately owned stately home is now available for rent, following a thorough restoration, after 300 years of its rich history. Built in the early 18th century, it has witnessed an array of notable owners and guests, Jane Austin being one of the most prominent figures we’ll mention here. A great romantic, Miss Austin has frequented Goodnestone after her brother had married into the owners’ family. The house, as well as her brother’s double wedding, are said to be the inspiration for her arguably most loved and famous novel — Pride and Prejudice.
Nowadays, Goodnestone estate is fully renovated and available for private hire and events. Up to 24 guests can stay in the main house’s gorgeous rooms, with an additional 2 bedrooms available in Bonnington cottage.
You can choose to host your ceremony either outdoor in a beautiful courtyard and gardens, or inside one of the impressive reception rooms of the house.
Intimate reception dinners can also be hosted inside the house, while larger parties can enjoy the outdoors under a customised marquee.
A truly exceptional wedding venue for romantic souls, appreciating history and literature.
Next on our list — impressive Bradbourne House, exclusive-use property in the heart of Kentish countryside. The estate is owned by The East Malling Trust, a charity organisation with work aimed at supporting British fruit growers.
The estate itself is filled with fruit orchards and includes a lake, a waterfall, and even a vineyard. With multiple choice of both indoor and outdoor beautiful backdrops for your wedding festivities, Bradbourne house is a great and versatile wedding venue choice.
In addition to all this, by hosting your wedding in Bradbourne house, you will be supporting British horticulture, which is great, especially following the virus crisis in 2020.
This former Royal family history (once occupied by Price Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria and his family), is currently owned by Champneys. Following extensive refurbishment and investment, this stately home is now one of the most luxurious properties in south-east England. Stunning oak-panelled reception rooms and beautiful walled gardens are available for your choice of ceremony backdrop.
The house is available for exclusive hire, and the team here pays the utmost attention to the level of service in everything, whether their sumptuous custom dinner menus or the accommodation.
Mount Ephraim Country House and Gardens has been family-owned for its entire history, and it can be felt in the care and love that put into all details in the estate. Beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, classic English gardens, fruit orchards and even a small lake make its grounds a very desired wedding venue.
The house itself is equally impressive, with its famous winding staircase and light, elegant reception rooms.
Classic interiors and timeless elegance characterise this stately home. The Grade I listed building with 53 beautiful bedrooms and expansive gardens. With the capacity of up to 120 people for the ceremony and seated dining, Chilston Park is a great choice for an elegant country wedding, chic, yet soft and homey at the same time.
England is an amazing country to get married, with a whole array of venues, ranging from magnificent historical settings to charming countryside corners. With the right team by your side, your wedding will be unique, personal, stylish and unforgettable.
At Xenia Motif we will be happy to help with anything you need while planning the wedding: from venue search to finding the right suppliers, coordinating every step of the process, working on mood boards and styling, and orchestrating the day itself.
Reach out today for a free initial consultation.