Affordable venue in kent

princessbutterpea

Hey all

I am trying to organise my wedding and we were going to do it abroad and then wanted to do it here and we cant seem to find anywhere affordable. We would like to have about 100 guests in the day and a few more in the evening but no church. We would like it for 2011 maybe spring/summer.

Would really appriciate any help or advice

thanks

xxxx

Jenny_S

Have you looked at the Archbishops Palace in Maidstone, you would only be able to have a ceremony there as it is a registery office but you could have the great hall which takes 100 people. I have booked it for a saturday summer wedding (so peak time) and its costing around £650 I think.



If not have a look on http://www.akentishceremony.com/uk/a-kentish-wedding it lists all the council run buildings that are licenced and these tend to be cheaper than private venues. If i recal, there is a place in Dartford that also takes around 100 guests.

One other place I can think of is mount empraime gardens in Faversham

http://www.mountephraimgardens.co.uk/

They would let you have both the ceremony and reception there but you would need to sort out a caterer.

Hope some of that helps.

frannyann

Where abouts in Kent are you looking?

superfran_uk

I had a meeting for work at the Archbishop's palace, very nice.
Would help if you could be more specific? I take it you have already got a copy of 'A Kentish Wedding' from KCC? That lists all the places licensed to have civil ceremonies.

jenhug

have you priced up the king charles hotel? doesn't look much from the outside but the food is good. you can do the whole wedding there or have a funtion room only.
Also, the freemasons hall in duncan road in gillingham is nice, its set back from the road, but nicely decorated.
I had my wedding at the St George hotel in Chatham, which i was pleased with but it was over 10 years ago now!
Also look at gore farm in upchurch, stunning!

jenhug

upchurch golf club

alenax

It depends whereabouts in Kent you are.
King Charles hotel let you rent out the hall for free and charge for the staff but apparently the drinks are really expensive.
Dode Church is meant to be really nice but also really small.
If you're not too bothered about a place being "fancy", you could always hire out a social club hall (works out as about £200-300), that doesn't include food though obviously. And you could decorate it yourself however you like.

jenhug

The prices are pretty standard at the KC.

eve_1979

Best friend got married in Sept at Archbishops Palace - lovely pretty venue BUT when it comes to photos u dont get much of a chance to get lots right outside the front as the next wedding party is already there waiting to get in and use the same entrance that u all came out of. That said round the corner are some lovely areas to have the photos done of just u and OH.
If u need a photographer my best friend is one - not sure if i can put her webpage link on here though. But throughly reccommend her - shes been doing it for years. not just weddings but portraits, kids, family photos. She lives in Medway too and can travel in and around Medway/Maidstone!

She then had her reception at Bredhurst village hall - we had to decorate it and needed to get an outside catering company in and bar (but she knew people to get it cheap) but it looked lovely once decorated and had a gizebo outside for reception drinks and meet and greet.
DJ she had was very good - can find out details if you would like me to??

Good Luck and New Year Cheer! x

jenhug

the howard hall in wigmore is very nice and has a bar in there already. his kitchen facilities if required too.

princessbutterpea

thanks for all that it all looks good. i live in medway. i have been looking at the weddings that are £999 at the holiday inn so going to look into that as it looks a good deal

xxx