Overwhelmed planning a wedding? A leading wedding planner shares top tips
Matthew Shaw, a leading wedding and events planner and founder of sauveur....
CHAPEL HOUSE ESTATE
01843 881 290 | www.chapelhouseestate.co.uk
This former private residency has been carefully designed and renovated, with new buildings added, all with you and your guests in mind. Established in 1290 this 35-acre estate, offers you the opportunity to host an intimate wedding in The Walled Courtyard or a large affair in the Thorne Barn. Also included is on-site accommodation for up to 34 people.
Surrounded by natural beauty, the very private grounds include a lovely Arts and Crafts-style garden, wild apple orchard, meadows, three paddocks, on-site modern lodges providing accommodation and even a helicopter pad. Based around one of the oldest buildings in Thanet, this is a venue with a beautifully romantic and timeless feel.
WHERE TO WED
The Wild Apple Orchard, 150 guests
This is such a peaceful outdoor space for your ceremony or blessing. For the ultimate al fresco “I dos,” walk from the Beauty & Treatment Lodge, down the long border, through the wrought-iron gate, and say “I do” under the licensed, purpose-built oak gazebo with microphones allowing your guests to hear you above the bird song. The orchards are among the venue’s oldest and most beautiful gardens where the apple trees create a gorgeous natural canopy for your guests. It’s available for weddings during British summer time or for twilight nuptials.
The Old Malt Granary, 150 guests
Previously used to change cereal grain gathered on the Thorne Farm into malt to be used in brewing beer, the building has been lovingly converted to create a gorgeous ceremony space, set up all year round. With a mezzanine floor, you can say your vows while your videographer and photographer capture you from above. You could even book a choir to sing from the glass-panelled upper tier. After the ceremony, the bi-folding doors can be flung open as drinks and canapés are served on the lawn.
The Walled Courtyard, 50 guests
With its own car park and private entrance, The Walled Courtyard is available Monday to Wednesday. The white-framed glasshouse is perfect for photo opportunities and the courtyard provides a secluded sun trap, ideal for intimate al fresco weddings with an Italian vibe. The space features two former sheds that have undergone a massive transformation. The ceilings have been raised to create a comfortable and private Lounge Bar for drinks receptions, and the No9 Restaurant has been created for relaxed, buffet-style wedding breakfasts for 34 loved ones.
The Vaulted Room, 10 guests
Inside the 1290 Chapel House, you can book a tiny, stress-free, luxury wedding for two to 10 people. The carefully restored Chapel is a Grade II listed Medieval building with endless charm that provides an unforgettable setting for you to say “I do” in front of your nearest
and dearest.
The Thorne Barn, 200 guests
You can host your wedding breakfast and after party in this new, purpose-built structure. This air-conditioned and heated banqueting barn with its large bar is perfect for seating 70 to 150, with a further 50 guests welcome for the evening revelries.