“a little piece of my heart

will always be there”

Poppy Maltby Photography — 32 — Cover image: Nicola Thompson Photography

W E LCO M E

Elmley has been our family farm for over 40 years and we are very proud that it is the only nature reserve in the UK that you can get married within.

We look after the Reserve and set up the wedding experience at Elmley in 2014. Eleanor is our Weddings Manager and has been a part of the Elmley family since 2015 and Amber is our super friendly and experienced Wedding Assistant. They’re supported by our long-standing farm and venue team.

We’ve all been captured by Elmley’s magic and are constantly inspired by how special a setting it is. We love welcoming couples and their guests to Elmley and helping them create their perfect wedding immersed in Elmley’s beautiful surroundings.

Georgina & Gareth

WEDDI N GS WITH US

You will be warmly welcomed to Elmley – we want you to feel completely at home. Our philosophy is to give you the space, time and support to create the wedding of your dreams. It is your special day, we would like you to do it your way.

We will be here to help make this happen for you. We want everything to be perfect for you, so you are able to relax and have fun. Our brilliant team will be with you, guiding you through your planning and will be there throughout your wedding looking after the details

We only hold a small number of weddings each year so we will take the time to ensure that your wedding is incredibly special.

Nicola Dixon Photography4 5

ELM LE Y

A vast wilderness, on an island. Yet, only an hour from London.

Elmley National Nature Reserve is a truly extraordinary place, with a stunning wild beauty and huge, evocative skies. The 3,300 acre private estate and nature reserve makes an utterly original setting for your wedding.

Elmley is a special place in all seasons, from the charm of wildf lowers in June to the warm golden light in September.

Kingshill Farm, with its lovingly restored farm buildings, sits in the heart of Elmley National Nature Reserve, and will be exclusively yours for two nights. We welcome you to use it as your home.

With a choice of enchanting ceremony locations inside and outside, stunning views for your drinks reception and the magnificent Kentish barn to feast and party in, Kingshill Farm is a unique venue for a magical wedding. Add to that exclusive use, plenty of space for family and friends to stay, breathtaking views and sunsets to only dream about, weddings at Elmley are unforgettable.

76 — Rebecca Douglas Photography

“we absolutely loved the stripped

back nature of the barn… please don’t

ever change it! it’s just perfect.”

98 — Nicola Dixon Photography

Kingshill Farm offers a range of spaces for you to

get married, gather, and party in.

TH E BA RN

Kingshill Barn is the heart of our farm. A huge vaulted space with its original features intact. It provides a beautiful rustic space on a grand scale – complete with a twinkling fairy light canopy. The gable end window looks out onto a stunning view of water meadows and huge skies.

The barn is licenced for ceremonies, with the window creating an extraordinary backdrop to say ‘I do’ in front of.

With space for 150 guests for a sit-down meal and up to 200 to party in, it is a barn with a wow-factor that still manages to feel intimate for smaller weddings.

TH E COU RT YA RD & LI N H AY

The barn is adjoined by a pretty walled grass courtyard, which you can use as a ceremony and reception space. With wildf lowers and lavender in bloom, it is the dream setting for a country outdoor ceremony, and just perfect for receptions with pimms and games.

Along one wall is The Linhay, a traditional open barn. It is also licenced for ceremonies and guests are welcome to sit under the rustic wooden beams, or perhaps watch your nuptials from haybale seating on the grass.

TH E FA RM H OUS E GA RDEN

The handsome Georgian house provides a splendid setting for more formal drinks receptions, making the most of Elmley’s breathtaking views.

10 11Steve Dunton

“you were there making sure

everything ran smoothly… everything

was completely seamless.”

12 13Ed Godden Photography — 13

Nicola Thompson Photography

YO U R W E D D I N G

Weddings at Elmley are about you. Every wedding at Elmley is entirely individual and we love hearing new ideas. Whatever you have in mind, we can help you make this happen, and will be here to guide and support you throughout your planning.

You will have access to our specially selected suppliers list and we will be delighted to tailor any suggestions to you. However, it is your wedding so if you would like to bring in other suppliers you are very welcome to.

Weddings at Elmley are relaxed and personal with few restrictions – we don’t charge corkage, and live music and good discos are always encouraged! The party doesn’t have to stop at midnight, after that you are welcome to sing songs around the firepit until dawn.

Throughout the wedding we wil l ensure everything is perfect for you, so a l l you need to do is get ready and enjoy yourselves

FOO D

We believe food is a really important and individual part of your wedding so have a carefully selected range of preferred caterers. They all understand that each wedding is unique and can tailor menus to you. We work closely with them to ensure the service is perfect for you.

Our in-house private chef will provide you with lunches, dinners and breakfasts throughout your stay.

Street food trucks are very welcome and sitting underneath the festoon lighting provide the perfect festival style backdrop.

D R I N K

Elmley is your home for the weekend so we wil l not charge you corkage for any daytime drinks. You can supply any drinks you like and work with your caterer throughout the day.

For the evening we have a licenced bar stocked with carefully selected Kentish wines, beers, ciders and beautiful spirits and can be run as a cash bar or with a bar tab. As with all we do, this can be tailored to your wedding and our wonderful bar staff love creating a bespoke experience.

14 15

“we had the most incredible day &

couldn’t have done it without you all.”

1716 — Nicola Thompson Photography

ACCO M M O DATI O N

Weddings at Elmley are about having time to relax. Up to 34 of your closest friends and family can spend two or more nights at Elmley and really enjoy a wilderness retreat. For the night of the wedding an additional 80 guests can stay in bell tents so you can all carry on the party and not worry about transport.

Staying at Elmley is an unforgettable experience in itself. All our accommodation is beautifully styled and our spaces offer wow-factor views across the Nature Reserve.

Our six shepherd ’s huts are regularly featured in national and lifestyle media and are known as one of the best glamping experiences in the UK. With gorgeous modern rustic styling and comfortable bathrooms, the huts are the best way to experience the wild at Elmley, in complete comfort.

Elmley Cottage is a coastal cool house, with an open plan downstairs and windows on three sides, it is an ideal space for families or a group of your friends.

The bell tent village has 20 beautiful canvas bell tents delightfully decked out. They offer the ultimate boho retreat, just a hop and a skip away from the party. The tents can be made up with comfy bedding, furnishing and have their own wash facilities, but the real treat are the sunrises they face – for those early risers (or very late revellers!).

The star of the show, however, is the newly renovated Kingshill Farmhouse. With 6 luxury bedrooms, it offers a truly fabulous stay.

Nicola Thompson Photography — 1918 — Nicola Thompson Photography

Nicola Dixon Photography

K I N GS H I LL FA RM H OUS E

This is about staying in style and complete comfort. Our aim is to make sure you feel utterly spoilt but completely at home and relaxed.

The 18th Century farmhouse was lovingly and extensively renovated in 2018 to offer you the experience of a luxurious private home. All rooms are utterly sumptuous and provide everything you could need. In keeping with the rest of Kingshill Farm, it is true to the heritage of Elmley, and the eclectic style is authentic and laid-back.

With plenty of living space for your friends and family, the house provides a hub to the farm and is a wonderful place to get together and host your guests – spill into the gorgeous gardens for bubbles with a view, have a pre-wedding breakfast in the awesome kitchen or some late night nibbles and whiskey in the library.

2120 — Rebecca Douglas Photography

WH ERE WE ARE

Elmley Nature Reserve is located on the Isle of Sheppey,in North Kent.

We are on a real island, yet easily accessible by major roads and high-speed rail, and only around an hour from London.

This coastal setting gives the light here a really special quality. And our South-Eastern coastal setting also means that we have more sunshine and less rain than the rest of Kent and the country, with an average of only 650mm of

rainfall a year.

G E T T I N G I N TO U C H

Thank you very much for your interest in getting married at Elmley. We would be delighted to f ind out more about your

wedding ideas.

Please get in touch to arrange a viewing.

Call Eleanor, Amber or Georginaon 01795 664896 or 07930 847520

Email us atweddings@elmleynaturereserve.co.uk

—

Georgina & Gareth

Kingshill Farm, Elmley Nature Reserve,Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3RW

2322 — Nicola Thompson Photography