Unique Weddings at Elmley

Even before you arrive at Kingshill Farm to be greeted by the team, the magic of Elmley is evident. Lapwings line the two mile drive, while Kestrels curiously eye you from their posts. The wider world is firmly left behind.

Having weaved your way through wild expanses of marsh and meadows you’ll be enveloped by the warmth of Kingshill Farm, a charming cluster of historic buildings.

Kingshill Farm sits in the heart of the 3,300 acre Elmley National Reserve, surrounded by wildlife and under huge skies, and couples have exclusive use of these unique spaces. We always suggest that our couples spend time together on the Reserve, soaking up the wildlife and allowing them to envisage how they will use these remarkable settings for their wedding.

Kingshill Barn is a vast, romantic space with a dramatic vaulted roof and infinite views out across the marshes. The huge window on the East of the barn transforms this magnificent historic building into something magical.

This breathtaking black barn is a blank canvas for you to create your wedding vision, and make your wedding truly yours. As such a beautiful historic space, and with that view - it doesn’t need much - and shines with simple splashes of colour in bud vases, particularly when you add the excited hubbub and laughter of all your favourite people in their glad rags. If you’d like to create something extraordinary, this remarkable space is bold enough to hold large statement sets, dramatic linen ceiling drapes and heart-stopping floral installations. We have an exclusive list of trusted creatives and suppliers to recommend if you’d like inspiration or guidance.

The barn’s open layout lends itself to several different types of seating plans for your wedding breakfast, from majestic central trestles to elegant round tables, depending on whether you’d like a feasting menu or a more traditional plated three course meal. Our carefully curated list of amazing recommended caterers offers something for all styles of menu, tastes and budgets, although we’re always excited to work with someone new if you already have a caterer in mind.

Kingshill Barn also houses the main bar, where on the wedding day you can supply all drinks with no corakage to 7pm, before we run our full Elmley Bar until midnight. After we’ll light the firepit and set out the all important late night marshmallow station for you and your guests to unwind around however long you'd like.

The West end of the barn is made for bands, DJs and dancing. With no worries about waking the neighbours we don’t have sound limiters, and you can even choose to move your dancing outdoors! A magical first dance under the stars.

Kingshill Barn’s glass double doors open out onto the pretty lawned Courtyard and The Linhay. Along with intimate drinks receptions, and late night dancing, The Courtyard is also a beautiful place for your wedding ceremony. The path that leads to The Linhay creates an enchanting aisle, a scene completed with neat lines of wooden chairs, beautiful pillars either side of the couple and The Linhay’s charming flint backdrop. Another option for The Courtyard is to create an aisle leading to the neighbouring Kingshill Barn, where you can say your vows in front of the vast black barn doors, and enhance this stunning ceremony place with beautiful floral displays.

The Linhay, is a former cattle barn that’s now a rusticly stylish and versatile space that plays a central part in many weddings at Elmley. Used for all-weather drinks receptions, The Linhay can be cosy in cooler weather thanks to its wood burner or bring the outside in for those long summer nights.

The neighbouring Farmyard is an enchanting setting for Friday night welcome parties, where the pizza shack (complete with vintage tractor) serves guests as you enjoy a relaxing evening of introductions and catch ups under the twinkling festoon lights with the soundtrack of your choice.

With views across the Reserve and beyond, and with the backdrop of the 17th Century Farmhouse, the Farmhouse garden is a stunning option for your wedding ceremony at Elmley. With your wedding party, exit the picturesque Farmhouse door before walking down a softly curved aisle ending at the perfect spot to make the most of the views during the vows. The peace here is sometimes entertainingly disturbed by ducks quacking mid service and distant yachts and historic Thames barges passing in the swale often make it into wedding pictures. But that’s all part of the Elmley experience.

Of course, a key question that every couple wants to know the answer to is “What happens if it rains?”. Fortunately our team are experts at both keeping an eye on the weather for every ceremony and smoothly orchestrating an indoor Plan B if necessary. The team do their very best on the day to make weddings happen at their original location or quietly choreographing a move to host the ceremony in front of the barn’s big windows. A spot so perfect it will feel like it was planned to be held there all along.

With Elmley’s captivating accommodation a key part in the exclusive site wedding use, it's also important to explore it as you plan your wedding.

Elmley Cottage, which can sleep ten, is often where the groomsmen and the groom’s family stay and get ready. But with its large open plan kitchen, dining and living room looking out across the reserve it's a great spot for relaxed socialising and suits all kinds of groups.

Towards the Old School House, summer sees our luxury bell tents nestled in the woodland and meadows. These are available to house additional guests, with a dedicated camp kitchen, loos and showers and a dressing room next door in the Swale Studios building, complete with ironing boards, hair dryers, mirrors and clothing rails, so they can get ready in comfort.

Elmley’s iconic huts, of which there are ten in total, are all totally different and designed for the spot on the reserve in which it sits and feature luxurious interior design touches and an outdoor roll top bath. While they are all designed for two guests, some of the larger huts can also accommodate smaller children.

Kingshill Farmhouse is the jewel in the crown of Elmley’s accommodation and as such is often the place where the bride, bridesmaids and bride’s family will usually stay and get ready. The stunningly-renovated Farmhouse sleeps 12 with the option of extra fold out beds for children.

Each room features the elegant interior design of Francesca Rowan-Plowden, with The Elmley Room proving a firm favourite for the newlyweds’ wedding night thanks to its four poster bed and vintage bathtub with unrivalled views through dual aspect windows. The Farmhouse features two staircases which makes it perfect for couples keen to stay in the same property but wanting to avoid laying sight on each other on the morning of their wedding.

The Farmhouse Dining Room is also now a licensed space for smaller weddings for up to 16 people. This elegant room is transformed for a small, stylish ceremony, before being magically reworked for an intimate wedding breakfast while the guests enjoy drinks in the Drawing Room. This wedding package includes the hire of the whole house and the closest two huts.

When engaged couples first book their wedding with us, we send them the Elmley planning bible and curated suppliers list and we are always at the end of the phone or on email to guide you through your planning.

The Reserve is the most captivating backdrop for your celebrations and photographs. Our team know the best spots for those treasured moments and golden hour pictures and will advise on day timings according to your vision and the time of year to ensure your day runs exactly as you dreamed, and you make the most of this extraordinary setting.

As you’ll have the reserve to yourself for a few days, our team can suggest ideas to inspire how your family and friends will experience their time here beyond the ceremony and wedding breakfast itself, from welcome drinks in the courtyard to wildlife walks and wild swimming at our private beach.

Our couples are also welcomed to hold a pre wedding shoot with their photographer to capture engagement shots and you are welcome to visit Elmley as often as you like in your planning, exploring the Reserve and soaking in this special place.

Over the big day and the stay, Elmley’s wedding team offers a coordination service, we are there taking the pressure off and dealing with the details, however big or small. We are experienced in making sure all suppliers are running to time, and coordinating the day, but we are always calm and discreet. Our job is to allow you to relax and enjoy the day, whilst feeling like the place is yours. Elmley should feel like your home for your wedding, so we won't ever take over or be intrusive. If you’d prefer your family and friends to make announcements, and bring your own personal touch, that’s absolutely fine, but we’ll be in the background looking after the logistical details, and coordinating those little surprises and extra touches you plan.

We understand that it’s not just about the day, but about a connection that lasts a lifetime, and so many of our couples regularly return to stay at Elmley.