Falconhurst Estate Wedding Photography – Capturing Timeless Celebrations in the Kent Countryside
Natural Falconhurst Estate wedding photography by Paul Read – capturing relaxed, romantic weddings across Kent and Sussex.
A Stunning Country Estate Wedding Venue in Kent
Nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside near Edenbridge — close to Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks — Falconhurst Estate is the kind of venue that immediately feels special. From the expansive gardens, ancient woodland and long views towards Ashdown Forest, this venue offers so many beautiful settings for a wedding day. The estate’s character, natural light, and relaxed atmosphere align perfectly with how I like to photograph weddings — storytelling, capturing emotions and those real, fleeting moments.
Detailed Venue Insights – Falconhurst Estate
Falconhurst Estate is one of those venues that feels timeless, authentic, and full of character at every turn. The estate itself dates back to the mid-19th century and sits within the High Weald, right on the Kent–Sussex border near Edenbridge - close to Tunbridge Well and Sevenoaks. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, a beautiful walled garden, and sweeping views towards Ashdown Forest, it’s the kind of setting that instantly elevates any wedding day into something magical.
From a photography perspective, Falconhurst offers incredible variety. The rustic barn provides a warm, intimate atmosphere for ceremonies and receptions, with its timber beams and soft, flattering light. For couples choosing a marquee wedding on the lawns, the open countryside backdrop gives you that perfect mix of elegance and informality. The gardens are a dream for portraits — with wildflower meadows, manicured lawns, and quiet woodland paths that change character beautifully throughout the seasons.
The estate can host both small, relaxed gatherings and larger celebrations of up to around 150–200 guests, depending on the setup. Hire prices typically start from about £4,500 for grounds hire, or around £6,600 including the barn, which makes it a flexible option compared to many country estates in Kent. Falconhurst’s rural charm, combined with easy access from London and Gatwick, makes it a favourite choice for couples who want a country escape without feeling remote.
Nearby Church Ceremony
Holy Trinity Church in Markbeech is a beautiful setting for a traditional ceremony, with its old beams, stone walls and soft, natural light. It feels warm and intimate inside, and the short woodland walk back to Falconhurst afterwards makes for lovely, relaxed moments between you and your guests.
The path leads you through quiet woodland, opening out onto the estate grounds — a lovely, relaxed way for guests to return after the service. It also creates a few great opportunities for natural, unposed photographs as everyone strolls back together.
Beautiful Spaces and Natural Light Throughout the Estate
Throughout the day, Falconhurst reveals a series of stunning backdrops for photographs. The expansive gardens, wild-wood edges and tree-lined pathways each have their own character, while the walled garden and ceremony lawn offer pockets of soft, flattering light. Whether it’s a quiet moment between the two of you or natural interactions with guests, the estate’s relaxed atmosphere means everything unfolds gently and without pressure — exactly how I love to photograph a wedding day. The marquee lawn, with its sweeping countryside views, is especially beautiful at golden hour, giving us warm, cinematic light that’s perfect for couple portraits.
The Charm and Character of a Falconhurst Estate Wedding
Falconhurst is a private country estate that opens its gardens and grounds for a select number of weddings each year. The ceremony lawn is surrounded by mature trees and wildflowers, offering a natural frame for your vows. The marquee site has sweeping countryside views — a dream for golden-hour portraits. Inside the barn, the rustic beams and soft fairy lights create a warm atmosphere that’s perfect for speeches and dancing as the evening light filters in. This wedding, they chose the garden marquee - and created a warm and intimate space for the meal, speeches and evening party.
Why I Love Capturing Speeches
Speeches are one of my favourite parts of any wedding day to photograph. There’s something incredibly honest about the way emotions unfold in those moments — the laughter, the nervous glances, the sudden tears, the stories that reveal who people really are. Nothing is staged, nothing rehearsed; it’s all real, and that’s exactly what I love.
As a photographer, I’m always watching the room rather than just the person speaking. The reactions from parents, the quiet hand squeezes between couples, the children giggling at jokes they only half understand — all of these small interactions help tell the true story of your day. The atmosphere during speeches also tends to be beautifully calm, with everyone gathered together and the light softening as the evening settles in, which makes it a perfect time for natural, unobtrusive photography.
For me, speeches are where the heart of a wedding really shows itself. They give me the chance to capture the connections between people, and those frames often become the images that couples treasure the most — the ones filled with warmth, personality and genuine emotion.
The Evening Party and Dance Floor
The evening party is where the energy really shifts, and it’s one of my favourite times to photograph. Once the lights dim and everyone relaxes, the dance floor fills with genuine, unfiltered moments — friends throwing their arms around each other, parents joining in, and guests who swore they’d never dance suddenly in the middle of it all. I like to stay close enough to capture the movement and emotion, but unobtrusive enough that no one feels aware of the camera.
As the night goes on, the combination of music, laughter and a few good drinks creates a brilliant atmosphere for candid photography. These are often the images couples look back on with huge smiles — the ones that show the joy, the energy and the brilliant chaos that make the evening unforgettable.
Venue Info – Falconhurst Estate
Location: Edenbridge, Kent (High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)
Venue style: Country estate with walled gardens, marquee lawns, and a rustic barn
Capacity: Up to 150 guests (barn) or around 200 with marquee setup
Ceremony options: Licensed for indoor and outdoor civil ceremonies
Typical hire price: From approximately £4,500 for grounds hire or £6,600 including the barn (seasonal variation)
Accommodation: On-site cottages and nearby hotels in Edenbridge and Hever
Setting highlights: Landscaped gardens, walled garden, views over Ashdown Forest, wildflower meadows, and flexible layout for marquee weddings
Website: falconhurst.co.uk/weddings
Planning Advice
Falconhurst’s grounds are at their most breathtaking between late spring and early autumn, when the gardens explode with colour and the lawns are framed by soft wildflowers. The estate faces the evening light beautifully, so if you can, plan your timeline to allow a short portrait session before sunset — that golden light rolls gently across the fields and creates some of the most flattering, cinematic tones imaginable.
If you’re hosting a marquee wedding, think about how the light will flow inside throughout the day. A white or cream-lined marquee keeps the space bright and airy for natural-light photos, and as dusk falls, fairy lights, festoon bulbs, or simple greenery make a huge difference to the atmosphere — especially once speeches and the first dance begin.
For couples planning an outdoor ceremony, it’s worth checking the position of the sun earlier in the day. The main lawn catches morning light directly, which can be beautiful but also quite strong by midday — I often suggest a slightly later ceremony time so the light softens and falls more evenly across the aisle.
Finally, build a little flexibility into your schedule. Falconhurst’s gardens, woodlands and marquee field each have their own mood, and the weather or sunset can change how they look within minutes. Leaving a small gap before dinner or just after speeches gives us a chance to step out for spontaneous golden-hour shots — the kind of unplanned, romantic images that really define a day here.
Planning Your Wedding at Falconhurst Estate
If you’re planning your wedding at Falconhurst Estate and you’re looking for relaxed, documentary-style photography that truly reflects your day, I’d love to hear from you.
You can explore more examples of my work on my featured weddings page or get in touch via my contact page to check availability.
If you’re still exploring wedding venues across Sussex and Kent, you might also enjoy my work at Highley Manor or Ravenswood.
Explore More Venues
If you’re planning your day in Kent or Sussex, you might also enjoy:
- The Vines of Rochester Weddings
- [Highley Manor Wedding Photography] - page coming soon!
- [The Gallivant Wedding, Camber Sands] - page coming soon!
Natural, storytelling wedding photography by Paul Read – relaxed, romantic, and full of genuine emotion.