Your Kent Wedding - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 85)

HELP FOR HENS Set right on the seafront, Hythe Imperial Hotel is a gorgeous wedding location and is now giving brides-to-be a helping hand with their hen nights. If you book your 2020 wedding with Hythe Imperial by October 31 st , 2019, you’ll receive 50 per cent off a champagne afternoon tea in the hotel’s traditional Tea Parlour. Also included is access to the hotel spa. You can find out more about this fab offer and discover all the venue has to offer at its wedding open evening, taking place on 18 th July between 5pm and 8pm. Enjoy a glass of bubbly and meet with the hotel’s team of wedding coordinators, take a tour to see the impressive Imperial Ballroom and soak in the view across the English Channel. Check out hytheimperial.co.uk or call 01303 267 441. WEDDINGS: EXPERIENCED Earlier this year, we were back at the Kent Showground in Detling for the Wedding Experience. Once again hosts of the utterly fabulous VIP lounge, we were lucky enough to get a helping hand from expert venue stylists KC Weddings & Events to create a living coral-themed haven, inspired by the 2019 Pantone Colour of the Year. The catwalk was on fire with wonderful gowns from Yours Truly Bridal House and Victoria Grace Bridal, and we’re loving the illusion back trend with lots of lace. Our guests enjoyed plenty of treats, including a glass of bubbly courtesy of Premier Bar Runners, an ice cream from Tonibell and a cake from Crackpot’s Cakery. There was also plenty to keep our VIPs entertained, with a fun casino from Ace Casino Hire and photo booth from Photobooth Hire Faces. What’s more, for any brides-to-be whose engagement ring was starting to lack lustre, Rings Rock was on hand with their ever-popular clean and polish service. The next Wedding Experience in Detling will be on 20 th October, and there’ll be a new Boho Showcase featuring displays and inspiration from suppliers specialising in outdoor, woodland, rustic and festival style weddings. Pop along to wedding-experience.co.uk to find out more. Back to nature Following a year-long labour of love, renovations at Kingshill Farmhouse were recently completed. Sitting in the heart of the 3,300-acre Elmley National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, the 18 th -century farmhouse is so named because King James II was imprisoned on the site in 1688. In planning for more than seven years, this was a passion project for the Fulton and Merrick families along with the design team, which included Dunn Architects and interior designer Francesca Rowan-Plowden, who worked on Battel Hall and Goodnestone Park. The Victorian Barn, with its incredible vaulted ceiling, is available for weddings. The star of the show is the huge gable end window, which looks out over miles of unspoilt wilderness, making for an epic ceremony setting. Couples have the use of the whole farm for two nights, and guests can stay in the well-designed accommodation that, along with the farmhouse, includes a coastal cool cottage, six huts and up to 20 bell tents. For more information go to elmleynaturereserve.co.uk GUILT-FREE AND GREEN Launching this summer, the Tunbridge Wells-based Wedding Box Boutique is a one-stop digital wedding shop established by Clare Edwards, aiming to provide a 360-degree wedding planning experience that works on preserving the planet and minimising waste. From gluten-free catering to plastic-free weddings, every detail is considered, saving you time, money and ultimately delivering a guilt- free beautiful day. Check out theweddingboxboutique.com Check out the news that’s local to you Nearlywed NEWS rebeccacarpenterphotography.com YOUR ESSENTIALS 9