Our Wedding Support to you

We love how personal each Elmley wedding is, and are always excited to hear our couples' unique ideas for their special celebrations. Our passion lies in working creatively to ensure each and every wedding reflects the couple's story and personalities, and making the process itself enjoyable for you, rather than overwhelming. We are here to help you create, and most importantly, enjoy your wedding, your way.

Drawing on our combined 14 years of experience, we will guide and support you, offering advice and informed recommendations for all aspects of your wedding plans. When you book, we'll share our Elmley Planning Guide, along with our online library of helpful planning resources and videos.

Whether you thrive on detailed 'wedmin' spreadsheets or prefer creative moodboards, we'll work to you. And of course, you're welcome to visit as often as you like, in person or via video call. We're also here for you via WhatsApp, email or phone throughout your planning process; never more than a quick message/call away.

We'll never insist that you do things a particular way - instead, think of us as a hand-holding service; you can drop us a line any time to ask us a question, sense-check an idea, or for just a friendly ear to listen to any planning worries that you may be having.

We will help you work through an entire plan for your time with us, from arriving and welcoming your guests, to setting up spaces, to supplier co-ordination and a seamless wedding day flow.

To ensure we are supporting you effectively, we like to arrange a Pre-wedding Planning Meeting with you 6 weeks before your wedding day, during which we'll work together to help craft and understand your vision.

Our friendly team will then touch base with your suppliers and tie up logistical elements to ensure you and your guests’ time with us is focused on what matters: enjoying your celebrations.

In the run up to your wedding, we'll be in touch with your suppliers to confirm logistical details, and ensure that all teams involved are working to your vision.

We have a list of recommended suppliers, all of whom we've worked with and are always impressed by. We'll suggest teams who we feel would work well with your style and budget. You are, of course, very welcome to bring in suppliers that haven’t been here before – we love meeting new people!

From selecting your ideal suppliers to on-the-day coordination, we'll be here to support.

We are here throughout the entirety of your 2-night, 3-day hire. Elmley is your home for your stay, and we'll blend seamlessly into the background to take care of the details so you can relax and enjoy special time with your friends and family.

Day 1: The Day Before

When you arrive at Elmley the day before your wedding we will be there to greet you. While you decompress from your journey, we'll re-confirm your set-up plan and make sure you have everything you need for the wonderful days ahead.

Once you are happily settled in, we will take a step back and you can enjoy catching-up with your friends and family, but we will be on hand as you need throughout the day.

• Your guests will check-in with our Overnight Stays team who will act as a point of contact for anything they may need
• We’d recommend that you try to finish dressing Kingshill Barn by the afternoon of your arrival. This allows you plenty of time to check-in to your accommodation, relax, and soak up Elmley’s peaceful atmosphere
• If you’d like to arrange a welcome supper for you and your overnight guests, our wonderful chef can offer delicious woodfired pizzas and a selection of side salads, with a sweet treat to finish; alongside an Elmley-hosted bar

Day 2: Your Wedding Day

The day we'll have been waiting for arrives! You'll be enjoying waking slowly, savouring breakfast with sunrise views, and getting ready with your closest friends and family.

We'll be taking full control of co-ordination; we'll meet your suppliers, ensure that everything is set-up according to your vision, and perfect final touches.

• We would really recommend that you enjoy your morning getting ready rather than putting any final touches to Kingshill Barn. However, you are very welcome to!
• We will meet your registrars/celebrant and coordinate your ceremony. This includes seating your guests, overseeing music and of course, preparing with you for your walk down the aisle
• We'll work closely with your chosen catering team to ensure food service, including timings, is spot on
• We'll liaise with your chosen suppliers to ensure the day runs seamlessly to plan
• We'll work with any of your guests taking on key roles, such as ushers
• We'll greet any guests arriving today who are due to stay in our Bell Tents
  
• We'll blend into the background; discreetly transforming spaces between ceremony and reception, and between reception to the evening party
• And we will, of course, continue to be your point of contact for anything you may need throughout the day
  

Day 3: The Day After
Wake up after a night of celebrations as a newly married couple, looking out onto the peaceful reserve. Don’t forget breakfast is included for all guests who have stayed overnight so it’s the perfect time to soak up the memories made from the day before ahead of your guests’ departure.

Whilst you enjoy your morning, our team will take care of the clear down for you. We will prepare for your suppliers to pick up their items and remove any decorations we can. If you have brought in lots of things, do be prepared for a little bit of sorting out, however, we know that the day after your wedding can be a wonderful blur, so we will be here to help!

You are very welcome to stay another night, and we highly recommend you do so as a couple to take everything in and share those precious first moments as newlyweds. Again, our wonderful kitchen team can take care of your food requirements to relieve the stress of cooking (and washing up!). What better way to end your wedding than with a crisp glass of bubbles looking out onto the reserve next to your partner.

Whilst we’ll be sad to say bye after many months of getting to know you both, we love keeping in touch with our couples and welcoming them back to Elmley, so you'll enjoy a lifelong 10% discount on any future stay for two at Elmley.

We can't wait to start planning your wedding celebrations with you! If you'd like to get in touch, feel free to reach out to us on our contact details below. You can also book your Wedding Viewing at Elmley by clicking on the button above. We look forward to hearing from you!

weddings@elmleynaturereserve.co.uk / 07494790291