Penshurst Place and Gardens is right up there on my top ten list of favourite wedding venues in Kent and it’s one I’ve been lucky enough to work at many times. It’s a beautiful countryside manor house and gardens close to Tunbridge Wells that were once used as a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII. It’s a stunning wedding venue and one of the best in the area for wedding photography. It’s no surprise that it’s such a popular choice with couples. It’s a venue that delivers on both the grandness of a large manor house combined with a more intimate and exclusive feel.
The wedding team at Penshurst are well established and very experienced and everyone is really friendly and helpful. They work closely with wedding suppliers to make sure that everyone can deliver the wedding of your dreams.
I’ll tell you a little more about photographing weddings at Penshurst Place below, but first let’s catch up with the Penshurst wedding team themselves who tell us why the venue is a perfect choice for your wedding.
What’s special about Penshurst Place?
The whole village of Penshurst has a very tangible feeling of calm. It’s such a quaint and peaceful place and marrying at Penshurst Place is the best of both worlds – hidden amongst the hills of the Weald of Kent, but still just 10 minutes from Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells. We’re surrounded by a collection of formal gardens which have a mixture of sweet little nooks and sweeping vistas for a huge variety of photography opportunities.
What makes it the perfect wedding venue?
The team are brilliant, they work so hard and get so excited by every wedding it’s always a delight to see them chatting away about the next upcoming ceremony. They really get to know all our couples and are very committed to making that couple’s day as perfect as can be. The setting is also really unique, with an historical building, original medieval hall, Elizabethan rooms and now the opportunity for ceremonies in the gardens or the parkland.
What makes it different from other wedding venues?
The variety of settings and flexibility of the venue. We have hosted a huge variety of weddings at Penshurst Place, from elegant and formal to quaint and folksy, and even a few film-themed weddings thrown in for good measure! When couples book their wedding with us, they book Penshurst Place as a whole, there’s no set price per room, and all ceremony and reception spaces are available to make use of how each couple wants to use them for their big day.
What wedding options are available?
Your ceremony can be hosted in the upstairs Elizabethan Sunderland Room, in the intimate Buttery, outdoors in the private Inner Courtyard or in the magnificent medieval Baron’s Hall. Ceremonies can also now be hosted in the gardens or parkland. Your reception can be hosted in a marquee if you wish, as well as the Sunderland Room, or Baron’s Hall. You can also host a drinks reception in any of the rooms or outdoors immediately after your ceremony.
How do you ensure your couples get the wedding of their dreams?
Listening, and hearing. Planning a wedding is a great deal of work, and wherever we can we like to take some of the stress out of the process. Couples can bounce ideas off of us, ask us for advice, ask for help with scheduling etc. We also take over looking after suppliers in the lead up to the big day, arranging the logistics of their arrival, who will be meeting them and what they might need from us. A member of our team is on-site throughout the whole day, from set up to seeing you off so if you need anything at all we are always here for you.
What tips would you offer couples to ensure a stress-free wedding?
Don’t fret too much about the little things, because it goes so quickly! Invest in the things that will last or create lasting memories and make planning these your priority – a fantastic photographer (such as Penny!), a videographer if you want one, a great menu and of course, your dress or suit! Invest in suppliers who can help you capture memories that will last a lifetime first, and then look into table decorations, wedding favours and other smaller elements.
Thanks to the Penshurst team for their words of experience and wisdom!
Wedding photography at Penshurst Place
I’ve been lucky enough to shoot many weddings at Penshurst Place and can honestly say that I’ve loved every one of them. The team are organised, helpful and friendly which makes my job so much easier.
The gardens are stunning and they bloom in different areas at different times of the year giving a lovely floral element to incorporate into photos whatever the month of the wedding. You can also see Penshurst Church from the gardens which is lovely if you have your ceremony there and it’s also the side that the sun sets. There’s always something magical to find in the grounds which are set against the backdrop of the beautiful house. No two weddings are ever the same at Penshurst. I love taking couples for a walk around the gardens after their ceremony as it gives them a little quiet time to themselves before the party really begins.
I love the contrast between the gardens and the architecture of the house, it creates so many different opportunities for photos. If it rains, there’s no need to worry as Penshurst is a venue that’s photogenic on the outside but also works really well on the inside, it really is a venue for all seasons. There’s arches to stand under, there’s the grandeur of the Barons Hall or there’s umbrellas in the gardens, it’s up to you!
If you are considering getting married at Penshurst Place or have already booked, I’d love to hear from you. Please do get in touch and I’ll send you some more information.
