Wedding venue inspiration - Unique and unusual venues

The Hop Farm, Maidstone

The Hop Farm is one of Kent's quintessential, landmark weddings venues. With the famous backdrop of the county's traditional oast houses, and surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, it's an idyllic location for your special day. The wedding gardens and terraces are exclusive to each wedding and provide a wealth of jaw-dropping backdrops for your photographer to utilise. You have the luxury of choice when it comes to your ceremony, with outdoor and indoor options available. In the gardens, the wedding gazebo can host 140 guests and indoors the Whites Wedding Suite can hold the same number. Receptions, on the other hand, can also be hosted in either of the above two places with capacity for 150 loved ones, or alternatively in the Shires Wedding Suite filled with beams and facing the outdoor terrace. It's a bright space and wonderful for hosting celebrations for 150 guests.

Tonbridge School, Tonbridge

Tonbridge School's main buildings feature original architecture from 1553 to the present day, which is all immaculately kept. Set in 150 acres, the site has a selection of beautiful gardens, sculptures, and tranquil spots. It's also conveniently located close to town with ample parking for your guests. There are six stunning locations to choose from for your vows from the headmaster's library, to the quirky cricket pavilion. For post-ceremony celebrations you have the option of The Lowry Room, with its vaulted ceiling, minstrel's gallery and large feature windows. It can accommodate 80 of your nearest and dearest for the wedding breakfast, with 120 joining you for the evening bash. Next the OBC Art Gallery is a modern space, boasting leaded windows, which provide a light and airy location for 120 diners and 150 reception guests. The Big School on the other hand is a traditional wood-panelled hall complete with stage and stained-glass windows. The space is ideal for seated buffet menus for 150 nearest and dearest, or evening celebrations for 300. Finally, there's the Orchard Centre. A fully air-conditioned, modern dining room, it overlooks the central school grounds, and can host 150 seated or 300 for the evening.

The Gardens, Yalding

With no less than 12 acres of beautiful grounds to explore, The Gardens, Yalding, is a living celebration of Kent's long heritage as the Garden of England. Couples have exclusive use of this stunning space as a wedding venue, which is divided into 16 areas demonstrating planting styles throughout the ages including Medieval, Tudor, 19th-century cottage, Victorian and Edwardian Gardens, all alongside orchards and a large fruit garden. The organic produce used by the venue's catering team is even grown here. Set in the heart of The Gardens, the gazebo provides a delightful setting for your outdoor ceremony with a 360-degree view of the venue's magnificent garden (130 guests). A lovingly restored barn is connected to quirky tipis, adorned in fairylights with two firepits, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The sides of the tipis can be lifted to reveal impressive views of the beautiful outdoor space. The Barn is suitable for 130 ceremony, 90 wedding breakfast and 240 evening guests, and the tipis can host 140 seated and also 240 for an evening buffet. There's also the Croft, situated on the upper level of the barn, a lovely ceremony spot for 80 guests. Use of the bridal dressing room is included within the wedding package. It's located on the upper level of the barn.