The Orangery, Maidstone – The Wedding Venue of Our Dreams
Where do I even begin?
From the moment we booked The Orangery around four to five years ago, right through to the moment we left as husband and wife, the entire experience was nothing short of exceptional.
Booking our wedding so far in advance could have easily felt daunting, but from day one, the team at The Orangery made us feel supported, valued, and genuinely excited about our wedding journey. They were incredibly accommodating and understanding, allowing us to secure our date years ahead of time and making the planning process feel manageable and stress-free.
One thing we were particularly grateful for was the flexibility around payments. We never had a formal payment plan in place, but the team were always happy for us to pay what we could, when we could. There was never any pressure, never any stress, and they made the entire process feel so easy. Thanks to their flexibility and support, we were able to pay off our wedding well before it was due, which took a huge amount of pressure off us.
Over those years, life happened. We bought a house, welcomed our beautiful daughter, and despite only seeing the venue when we first booked it, we never actually managed to revisit before the wedding day. Yet somehow, we never felt disconnected from the venue.
Through their social media, updates, newsletters, and communication, we were always kept up to date with everything happening at The Orangery. Whether it was improvements to the venue, updates to menus, exclusive viewing days, new additions to the grounds, or changes being made around the venue, we always knew what was going on. For a couple who lived so far away, this meant so much. Their marketing and media team deserve huge credit because they make couples feel connected every step of the way.
The communication throughout our entire wedding journey was genuinely second to none.
Every phone call was answered by friendly, welcoming staff who always seemed genuinely happy to help. Every email was responded to quickly and professionally. Every question was answered. Every concern was addressed. Every detail was noted.
Their online planning system was fantastic and incredibly easy to use. Whether it was making payments, updating guest information, adding extras, removing items, making changes, or checking details, everything was straightforward and accessible. If I ever had an issue or needed help, all I had to do was pick up the phone. The team would look into things immediately and most issues were resolved there and then. If something couldn't be fixed instantly, they always got back to me quickly. I never once felt like I was waiting around for answers or chasing people for updates.
I've heard so many horror stories from couples about wedding venues where communication is poor or where couples struggle to get hold of people. I can honestly say I never experienced any of that with The Orangery. Not once.
I always felt like I was in safe hands.
And then there was our wedding coordinator, Bryony.
What can I say about Bryony other than she was absolutely incredible?
From the moment she became involved, I knew our wedding was going to be looked after by someone who genuinely cared.
As a DIY bride, I brought in my own flowers, decorations, personalised touches, and ideas for the day. Bryony made sure every single detail was exactly how I had imagined it. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
While I was getting ready and couldn't see the room setup myself, she went out of her way to send me photographs and updates so I could see everything coming together. She checked in on me throughout the day, reassured me, kept me updated, and made sure everything was running smoothly behind the scenes.
What stood out most wasn't just how organised she was—it was how much she genuinely cared.
I never felt like another wedding on her schedule.
I never felt like a job.
I felt important.
I felt listened to.
I felt cared for.
She wanted my day to be just as perfect as I did.
There was even a point during the evening where I was taking a breather with my daughter and Bryony sat with me and we just chatted. It didn't feel like speaking to a wedding coordinator. It felt like speaking to a friend.
In fact, that's how I would describe every member of staff at The Orangery.
They don't make you feel like a customer.
They make you feel like family.
When Bryony eventually came to tell me her shift was ending, I was genuinely sad to see her go. That's how much trust and comfort she gave me throughout the day. She is an absolute credit to The Orangery and they should be incredibly proud to have her on their team.
But what makes The Orangery truly special is that it isn't just one person.
It's everyone.
From the accounts team who made the financial side stress-free, to the marketing and media team who kept us connected to the venue over the years, to the wedding coordinators, catering management, catering staff, bar staff, grounds team, and every person working behind the scenes—every single one of them played a part in bringing our wedding to life.
I want to thank every single member of staff because together they created the most incredible experience.
What I loved most was that I never once felt like I was asking for too much.
If I wanted to add something, it wasn't a problem.
If I wanted to remove something, it wasn't a problem.
If I had a question, it wasn't a problem.
If I wanted to personalise something, it wasn't a problem.
Nothing was ever treated like an inconvenience.
The team listened. They cared. They wanted to help.
Whether it was our personalised drink tokens, special napkins, lawn games, decorations, sparklers, flowers, or all the little details that made our wedding unique to us, the team embraced our ideas and worked with us to make them happen.
I never felt restricted.
I never felt limited.
I always felt heard.
The venue itself is simply breathtaking.
The gardens are immaculate and absolutely stunning. Everywhere you look, you can see how much pride and care goes into maintaining the venue. The Lapa overlooking the lake, where we got married, is one of the most beautiful ceremony settings I have ever seen. Standing there, surrounded by our family and friends, overlooking the water, was a moment I will never forget.
One of the loveliest touches was after the ceremony when we were able to take a quiet walk together around the gardens as newlyweds. Just the two of us. No photographers. No guests. No interruptions.
Just a few precious moments together to take everything in.
It was such a thoughtful touch and something that meant so much to us.
That moment perfectly sums up what The Orangery does so well—they truly put the bride and groom at the heart of everything.
We were incredibly lucky with the weather, and seeing all of our guests enjoying the gardens, relaxing on the patio, playing lawn games, taking photographs, and simply soaking up the atmosphere was wonderful.
The food was absolutely delicious and the catering team did an amazing job. Everything was beautifully presented, served seamlessly, and our guests are still talking about it now.
In fact, one of the biggest compliments I can give is that almost every guest commented on how incredible the venue was.
People talked about how beautiful it was.
How friendly the staff were.
How amazing the food was.
How smoothly the day ran.
How relaxed and enjoyable the atmosphere felt.
Everything flowed effortlessly.
Even now, I still find myself pinching myself that I got married there.
This was the biggest day of my life.
And somehow, it was even more perfect than I ever imagined it could be.
The weather was perfect.
The venue was perfect.
The food was perfect.
The staff were perfect.
Everything was perfect.
I can completely understand why The Orangery has won so many awards because it's not just the stunning venue that makes it special—it's the incredible people behind it.
To any future bride and groom considering booking The Orangery: you are so lucky.
You are choosing a venue filled with people who genuinely care about making your day unforgettable. A team who will listen to you, support you, guide you, and do everything within their power to make your wedding everything you've dreamed of.
If I could relive one day of my life, it would be our wedding day at The Orangery.
Without question.
Thank you for giving us memories that will last a lifetime.
The Orangery will always hold a very special place in our hearts.