Fabulous quirky venues for small weddings

Now is a wonderful time to plan your wedding. Unusual venues and ‘outside the box thinking’ has opened up so much opportunity for couples looking to do things a little differently and to not follow the rules of a traditional wedding. In addition to this, humanist weddings conducted by celebrants mean you do not have to conform to the legal requirements of a licenced venue and can therefore choose to get married in a wonderful variety of locations, such as Scottish rugged beaches, or romantic enchanted woodland.

This is my favourite subject and I have so many ideas I would love to share with you (new blog idea). In the meantime, along with the other venue blogs I have written.

Boutique Hotels for Small & Intimate Weddings

London Town Hall’s & Back Street Pubs, perfect for small and intimate weddings

Here are some of the quirky venues I have enjoyed photographing and a few on my bucket list.

The Old Lighthouse in Dungeness, Kent

Some people dream of getting married in a castle, a church, or barn but how cool would it be to exchange your vows at the top of a lighthouse. The Lighthouse at Dungeness offers you and 10 guests this opportunity. Not only do you have the most amazing vista you also have the quirky and unusual backdrop of Dungeness and the beach for your photographs.

Kalia and Vasillis chose to elope with two of their very close friends as witnesses. Originally from Greece Kalia loved the idea of marrying in this very unique and bleak wilderness. Visited by many artists and photographers, Dungeness is really like no other place in the UK. It has a stark wild beauty with its shingle landscape, dotted with strange dwellings and deserted fishing boats, all in the shadow of a nuclear power station. It’s also a destination on the Hythe steam train line and a National Nature Reserve.

Kent Life in Aylesford, Kent

Okay so all I’m going to say is this, “let’s get married in a really cute, pink tin church with goats and horses as our guests and a tractor and trailer as our wedding car”. Kent Life is a heritage park and farm. It celebrates the people and buildings that have shaped Kent’s rural past. This makes it a really interesting and unusual wedding venue.

The Little Pink Chapel is so sweet and perfect for smaller weddings. Or, you can keep it really quintessentially English and decorate the restored village hall with as much bunting as possible. The farm and park are open to the public but that kind of adds to its charm. If you like the idea of sharing your wedding day with a few goats, pigs and horses then this could be a fun and alternative wedding venue for you.

Beacon House in Whitstable, Kent

I used to live in Whitstable and always dreamed of photographing a wedding at Beacon House. Nestled between Whitstable’s famous beach huts and right on the beach promenade, Beacon House is licensed for small weddings and elopements. Steps lead up from the beach onto its double fronted veranda and decking area. Its elevated position looks out across the famous Street (a natural street of shingle that runs out to sea for half a mile) and is such a lovely back drop to hold an outside ceremony.

It’s quirky and decorated as you would imagine a beach house to look. Really informal with seating dotted around for guests and a large grassed garden to catch some rays. Mark and Jenny hired a fish ‘n’ chip van and an ice cream cart for their guests. Played music from their iPhone and provided beach blankets to relax on whilst enjoying many a glass of bubbles. Super relaxed, informal and fun.

The Barbican Conservatory, Silk Street, London

I have many loves but one major love for me are plants and all things botanical. My house is full of them. Combine this with another love of mine; urban wedding photography and the brutalist architecture at The Barbican and I am a very happy wedding photographer. The conservatory is home to over 1’500 plants, trees and exotic fish. The juxtaposition between the botanical and pebble dashed concrete is, in my eyes, gorgeous and I would love to use it as a backdrop for your wedding.

Other really cool and quirky venues on my bucket list:

Escape to the magical world of nature and have your intimate ceremony overlooking the wild meadows as the sunsets across the woodland glade. Wilderness weddings at Preston Court Farm in Kent. Totally dreamy and really rustic!

FForest weddings coast – fforest Coast, known locally as Manorafon, is on the Pembrokeshire / Ceredigion coastline in Wales. Specifically set up for quieter, smaller, more intimate weddings for up to 60 guests. It is secluded in a valley with outstanding views and one of Wales’ best National Trust beaches on the doorstep.