A funfair wedding at Marleybrook House

Bringing that Disney magic to the Kent countryside

Have you ever been to Disneyland? That *butterflies* feeling as you stroll down Main Street, and see the castle for the first time. The imagination that goes into every detail, the infectious energy, the joy, the magic. Well, with Andy and Milly’s wedding at Marleybrook House, that’s how it felt…

Like magic.

Honestly, this wedding was insane! We had an outdoor ceremony, and a rollercoaster reception (literally- there were *actual* rollercoasters). It was stylish, silly, and fun; imaginative, endlessly detailed, and completely unforgettable.

Oh, and did I mention? The groom has the best job in the world…

Andy is a Disneyland Imagineer.

Marleybrook House wedding venue in Kent

If you’re dreaming of a fun, relaxed wedding in Kent, Marleybrook House is the perfect venue.

The house itself just oozes character. Open the door to the 17th Century farmhouse, and you half-expect to find 7 little mine-workers, and a sleeping princess inside.

And then there’s grounds: five acres of landscaped gardens, lawns, paddocks, and woodland for you to explore. Not to mention the utterly idyllic outdoor ceremony space!

There’s an old oak ceremony barn (in case it rains), dressing rooms for your morning, and an Event Suite for your reception.

But the jewel in the crown of Marleybrook House wedding venue? The completely epic vintage fairground! You’ve got dodgems, swingboats, teacups, a carousel, (just to name a few!) And as the UK’s largest private funfair, you have the whole place all to yourselves!

Now don’t get me wrong, every wedding day is special. But a wedding at Marleybrook House is an experience.

LOTR and EoA

We began our day in the dressing rooms of Marleybrook House. M&A had booked a second photographer (my other half, Adam). And it meant we could capture both of their mornings.

Milly’s morning was wonderfully slow, and intimate. She had just one bridesmaid – her sister. And it meant she could take her time, enjoy her moments, and soak it all in.

And oh my, *that* dress!

Milly wore a stunning lace gown from Essense of Australia, with removable sleeves for multiple looks throughout the day. She completed the look with natural makeup, and waves in her auburn hair. She looked beautiful, relaxed, and elegant. And perfect for a wedding at Marleybrook House.

Meanwhile, Andy was getting ready with his boys. And already, the attention to detail was on point!

Andy is a big LOTR fan, and he’d had cufflinks made as a present for his groomsmen. He’d picked a character for each of them; their character on one cuff, their section of the map on the other.

They had 3-piece suits from Jack Bunneys. And in black marker on the bottom of their trainers (inevitably), “Andy”.

Love letters

The morning sun shone; birds chirped in the trees. And waiting patiently by a half-open gate: Andy.

Then came the crunch of footsteps on the gravel. An excited “Hi!” from behind the gate. And Milly’s hand, reaching out for his.

They stood on each side of the gate, reading their letters to each other. Laughing, chatting, and holding hands as they read.

It was just a few minutes, you know? A few minutes to make a core memory together; a few minutes just for them. And of all the incredible moments in this day, I know this will be one they’ll never forget.

And then a few minutes later, they said their goodbyes. Milly headed off to have a first look with her parents, and her brother; Andy went over to welcome their guests. This is just one of many examples in this blog about why having two photographers is a great idea – Adam photographed the guests arriving whilst I spent time capturing many emotional moments with Milly & her family.

An outdoor wedding at Marleybrook House

Milly and Andy had their ceremony in The Walled Garden of Marleybrook House. And once again, the attention to detail was incredible!

A spectacular floral arrangement hung from the wedding gazebo. They had a “Grand Opening” welcome sign, spilling over with reflexed roses, and peonies. There was an Andy and Milly ‘face-in-the-hole’; their order of the day, a Disneyland signpost. They even had Pimms and popcorn for the guests!

And the ceremony itself was beautiful- intimate, personal, and relaxed.

A violinist played Milly and her dad down the aisle. They had tons of readings from their friends and family (honestly, it was super handy having two photographers!) And as the celebrant made it official, a huge cheer filled the sundrenched gardens.

A little while later, we were gathered in front of Marleybrook House. Andy and Milly kissed, and confetti filled the air.

The sunny gardens of a Kent Wedding Venue

The next couple of hours saw us sipping prosecco, enjoying yummy canapés & catching up with friends and family in the sunny gardens of Marleybrook House.
We obviously captured those all important group photos, but who said they needed to be boring?! If you’re looking for fun group photos at your wedding, you’ve come to the right place!

Be…our…guest (be our guest)

If you’re having your wedding in Marleybrook House, this is all the inspiration you could ever need! The reception styling was exquisite– the perfect blend of personal, stylish, colourful, and fun.

They had ‘Fastrack’ passes to help their guests find their seats. There were Love Heart place settings. The tables were named after different Disney Parks, with photos of A&M in a Disney photo-sleeve.

The cake was three-tiered, covered in florals, and insanely delicious! And behind the head table, a stunning floral arch of peonies and roses.

You walked into that room, and you couldn’t help but smile.

We had some hilarious speeches, and some tasty food. And with the rollercoasters calling, it was time to hit the funfair…

A funfair wedding at Marleybrook House

Want your guests to have fun? Take them to a funfair!

We spent two glorious hours running like kids from ride to ride- laughing, screaming, and smiling till our faces hurt! There were dodgems, and a waltzer; a carousel, and a rollercoaster.

Andy rode until he made himself feel sick (ironic for a rollercoaster designer!) It was just *the best* way to spend a sunny afternoon. And as a wedding photographer, I was absolutely in my element!

All too soon, the evening started closing in. And one by one the rides shut down for the night.

A&M left the fairground through a tunnel of golden sparklers. And a little while later, we were gathered on the dance floor for the first dance.

Dancing and golden hour

The evening party was awesome! I couldn’t believe the guests still had any energy left after the fairground, but man, those guys partied the night away!

The DJ brought the tunes, the guests brought the dance moves. And as the sun began to set, oh-so-tempting light of golden hour streamed through the open doors.

So while the guests slut-dropped and caterpillared, I took a stroll around the grounds with Andy and Milly.

The golden light of sunset poured through the branches. Birds sang from the trees, the smell of popcorn lingered in the air. And Andy and Milly walked hand-in-hand as husband and wife.

You’ve never had a friend like me.

Fun fact: this was the first wedding I ever filmed! As a little extra something-something, I made Milly and Andy a mini-film of their wedding in Marleybrook House.

If you’d like a mini-film of your own wedding (for your socials, your memories, or just for fun), let me know and I can make you a bespoke package.

Or maybe you’re just looking for a straight-up, good-old-fashioned wedding photographer? I can do that too!

If you’re having your wedding in Marleybrook House, I’d be so excited to hear from you. Get in touch today for a chat, and let’s see if you’ve got a friend in me.