Crown Lodge Wedding Photographer
I photographed Esmie and Josh’s wedding alongside my friend and fellow photographer Olly Knight, and I absolutely loved it. The bride and groom got ready at two separate locations and then met at the venue. It was my first time at Crown Lodge, and I was super excited from the minute I arrived at the venue. I loved the panoramic views, the beautiful ancient woodland which surrounds the venue, and pretty much everything else. I remember thinking to myself, Crown Lodge is a photographer’s paradise.
30 Wedding Photos I Took at Crown Lodge
Crown Lodge is a Fantastic Venue
Crown Lodge is one of the loveliest wedding venues in Kent. It’s based in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty, just outside the charming village of Wye. The beautiful panoramic views of the Kent Downs captivate you as soon as you set foot in the venue - needless to say a fantastic place for photos. The venue is intimate, rustic and has been created with natural, elegant beauty in mind. It’s great for weddings all year round. There are two licensed areas within Crown Lodge - The Gazebo and Inside the Lodge. The Gazebo is perfect for an outdoor ceremony in the woodland area, while the Main Lodge is a large indoor area, which can hold up to 90 people for your wedding breakfast. And no, you don’t have to be a part of the Royal family to get married at the Crown Lodge.
The venue is situated between Ashford and Canterbury, however, it is closer to Ashford - a mere 20-minute journey. There are plenty of lovely bed and breakfast places in the area where a bridal party could stay the night before and have your preparations photographed on the big day. Crown Lodge is ideal for local couples, but not only. There are plenty of hotels where your guests coming from far could stay and easily get to your wedding on the day. The venue has a great list of recommended suppliers, which includes overnight accommodation and getting-ready space recommendations.
Weddings at the Crown Lodge
Crown Lodge is only 12 miles away from my home, so I always stay later at weddings I photograph there.
The venue is ideal for small and medium-sized celebrations all year round. The Lodge, Gazebo and Woodland areas of the venue are perfect for ceremonies are receptions. The Main Lodge has an additional side room that opens up with bifold doors and makes for a great dancefloor space. For brides and grooms that are looking for something less traditional, Crown Lodge offer a Twilight Wedding package. Couples who love nature and the countryside will most certainly fall in love with the charming venue.
Food and drink are also available at the venue. The Wild Garden Catering Co. offer a carefully curated menu using locally sourced ingredients. A free onsite car park is also available for you and your guests and you can also leave your vehicles overnight.
Are you Looking for a Photographer to Capture your Crown Lodge Wedding?
As soon as I got to the venue, I remember thinking to myself, this is a photographer’s paradise. The first thing you notice as you approach Crown Lodge is the stunning view of the Kent Downs opposite the lodge. The next thing you notice is the tall trees on both sides of the side road leading up to the venue. I loved the leading lines and symmetry they provide. The lights in the garden area make for a dreamy backdrop for any image. The Main Lodge or the indoor part of the venue is cosy, featuring rustic wooden decor and the best thing of all - plenty of natural light. Sometimes, indoor wedding spaces can be quite dark. Combine this with a mixture of artificial lights and no natural light, and you’ve got a recipe for a hard time for any photographer. Crown Lodge’s main indoor area is nothing like this. The front side of the lodge is just made of huge windows that let plenty of light making for beautifully lit indoor images.
The beautiful field opposite the venue is fantastic for couple portraits. The views of the valley are simply breathtaking. One of the most amazing sunsets I’ve ever seen was right over the valley at Esmie and Josh’s wedding. It was October time but the sunset looked as if it were in Tuscany in August.
To sum up, Crown Lodge is a lovely, romantic, countryside venue that you should definitely consider for your big day.
Are you looking for a photographer who knows and loves Crown Lodge to photograph your wedding? Please do get in touch - I’d be thrilled to hear from you. I photograph weddings in a completely unobtrusive and hands-off way, and I fit the photography around your day, not the other way around.
