Port Lympne Wedding Venue: A Kent Guide
Set within 600 acres of rolling Kent countryside, Port Lympne is a wedding venue quite unlike anywhere else I have photographed. Part historic estate, part wildlife reserve, it brings together a Grade II listed mansion, a glass orangery, secluded courtyards and views over free roaming rhinos, giraffes and antelope. Having photographed a wedding here myself, I can honestly say it deserves a place on your shortlist.
The Grounds and Setting
Port Lympne sits high above Romney Marsh, with sweeping views across the Kent countryside towards the coast. The grounds combine formal gardens, terraces and parkland, giving every couple a genuinely different backdrop for their photographs, whatever the season.
Ceremony Spaces
There is a ceremony space here for every kind of wedding. The Pergola is a quiet, picturesque spot that comfortably seats up to 100 guests, while the historic Mansion can host ceremonies for 50 to 150 guests. For something more intimate, the pastel pink Moroccan Courtyard holds up to 20 guests, and the Iceberg Terrace seats up to 100.
Reception Spaces
The all glass Orangery is one of the venue’s most striking spaces, accommodating 160 seated guests with its own dancefloor and kitchen. For larger celebrations, the Lime Tree Avenue Marquee holds up to 250 for the wedding breakfast and 300 for the evening reception, while the historic Mansion offers a more intimate setting for up to 150 guests in the evening.
A Safari Like No Other
What truly sets Port Lympne apart is its wildlife reserve. Couples and their guests can head out on safari by jeep, passing rhinos, giraffes, antelope and wildebeest along the way. It is an experience your guests will talk about for years, and one I have never photographed anywhere else.
Celebrations Into the Evening
As the sun sets over the reserve, the grounds take on a completely different feel, all warm light and long shadows. It is one of my favourite times of day to photograph here, and the perfect setting for dancing the night away.
Why I Think Port Lympne Is the Perfect Wedding Venue
Port Lympne offers something I rarely see anywhere else: real scale and adventure alongside genuine intimacy. Whether it is the quiet of the Moroccan Courtyard or the thrill of spotting a rhino from a jeep, every couple who marries here gets a day that is entirely their own.
You can see the venue in action in my recent real wedding, a safari park wedding at Port Lympne. If you would like to see more of my work, take a look through my portfolio, or get in touch to talk about your own day at Port Lympne.
