We’ve prepared the following information to help you understand everything you need to know about holding your wedding at Riverhill. You can use the links below to jump straight to the section you’re looking for, but please do take your time to read all the key information, as this page covers the most common questions we get from couples.
Jump to:
How It Works | Reception Information | Winter Weddings | Prices | Recommended Suppliers | Enquiry
How It Works
Location
Our family owned historic gardens are located just outside Sevenoaks in the lovely Weald of Kent. We are only a 38 minute train ride from central London and very close to the M25 but you will feel like you are miles from the city here.
We only hold 8 weddings per season to retain a bespoke, personal feel and so we can get to know our couples. We also always leave two weeks in between weddings so the lawn remains pristine.
Our aim is to create a warm, relaxed, fun backdrop for your day. We don’t have wedding ‘packages’ and we find we attract couples who are creative, with their own ideas about how they would like their day to be. We encourage you to make Riverhill your own and celebrate in your own style.
We are a dry hire venue. So you use our Gardens as your blank canvas and then create your own vision.
Timing
You hire Riverhill for a four day hire period, with one event day in the middle. (Thursday – Sunday for a Saturday Wedding).
During that time you have the ability to come and go as you please and really enjoy the setup process.
Ceremonies are from 2:30
Reception only arrivals are from 3:00
If you are having your ceremony with us you can choose a ceremony time from 2:30 onwards. You can also choose to hold your ceremony in our Walled Garden or Garden Room. After you are married you can enjoy drinks and canapes in the Walled Garden.
Your caterer will be ready with bubbly and canapes. People usually spend a couple of hours enjoying mingling on the terraces and taking in the views. It is also a great moment for you to slip away with your new husband or wife and enjoy some romantic photographs around the gardens. We have so many lovely spots, all the photographers love working here!
After this our couples like to head down to the marquee lawn for dinner and dancing. We suggest that you lead your guests along our fragrant Rose Walk and then down to your lawn. Giving them chance to take in more of the Gardens.
Our Gardens remain open to our day visitors until 5:00pm, after which you and your guests will have the gardens all to yourselves. The Walled Garden and Marquee Lawn are closed off for your exclusive use.
We love a party here so music is until midnight. We ask that all your guest have left by 12:30, suppliers by 1:00.
Facilities & Catering
You choose your marquee and caterers from our recommended suppliers list. These are all people we have worked with previously and who know us well. We feel confident in recommending them and believe that there is a lovey selection of options on the list.
We find that using a known and trusted supplier makes our couples feel more relaxed, knowing they are in safe hands. We review our list regularly and there is no way to ‘buy’ your way onto the list, the only way is to work here and do a great job!
We are a dry hire only venue. Your suppliers need to supply the marquee, catering tent, generator, toilets and all other infrastructure. You are also in control of your own set up and running the day.
We have ample on site parking for guests, plus easy access parking for those who are unable to walk far.
We do not charge any corkage.
We supply an evening attendant to ensure you are all safe. He will light the paths back to the car park and make sure all is well.
During the day we have a member of staff here to make sure that everything runs smoothly for you. We usually speak a few times in the run up to the day. It is really useful if you can keep us up to date with your plans and which suppliers you choose so we can advise and help where needed. We then sit down in the week before to go through your timings for the day, who is arriving when etc, the more we know the more we can help. We aren’t wedding planners and you are responsible for organising, sourcing and running your own day, we find that this works really well as it puts you firmly in control.
Other Details
There will only ever be one event here.
We welcome dogs!
Once you book with us you and your family are always welcome to visit your venue free of charge, just let us know when you are coming. We find it’s a really nice way for you to get to know the Gardens and feel at home here before your big day with us. Bring your bridesmaids for a picnic or wander with your parents and in-laws and get ideas and inspiration.
Another added bonus is because we are open to the public March - October you can always visit us. Perfect for an anniversary picnic, reminiscing about your day here whilst making new memories over the years with new family additions. We love to see our couples and watch their stories unfold.
Winter Wedding Receptions
Our Alpine Terrace is available for winter receptions between November and March. The top terrace provides wonderful views across the Weald and is entirely made of hard standing, making it the idea site for a winter marquee. Prices start from £1,500 for exclusive use of the terrace. Please contact us for further information.
Prices
To hire Riverhill for a reception is £3,750 (with no vat chargeable) between May - September 2023. To also have your ceremony here is an additional £500, plus vat. Please note we do not offer ceremony only.
Winter reception prices start from £1,500 for exclusive use of our Alpine Terrace. There is no option to have a ceremony here in the winter and this option does not include use of the Gardens.
Click here to view our full Terms & Conditions or here to make an enquiry.
Supplier costings
As we are a dry hire venue you get to choose your caterer and marquee. We have a variety of options on our suppliers list with a whole range of budgets. Obviously the cost is very dependent on number of guests, what kind of marquee you like and the sort of food you require. However, to try to give you some idea I have spoken to a range of our suppliers. Below is a very rough estimate which I hope will give you a starting point. Please do contact our suppliers direct for a more precise quote based on your needs.
Catering
Canapes, 3 course sit down meal - approx range: £60 - £156 per head
Marquee Hire
For 100 seated guests £5,860 - £8,485
Recommended Suppliers List
We ask that you choose your marquee and caterers from our recommended suppliers list. There is a great selection on there, with something for all budgets and tastes.
We don’t take commission from our suppliers. They are all on our list purely by merit, the only way to be on the list is to work here and do an excellent job! We believe that the proof is in the pudding and we are very confident in recommending all of our suppliers. We believe that this provides reassurance and confidence for you and is one less thing to worry about.
You are of course welcome to introduce us to someone new; we do charge a £300 ‘off list’ fee and request an onsite meeting prior to the event to talk everything through and get to know them.
When it comes to evening food, florists, cakes and music it is totally up to you, we are happy to recommend people we have found to be excellent if you need. We also don’t change corkage meaning you can source your drinks from wherever you like.
Additional Information and advice for our couples and their guests.
If you have already booked to have your wedding at Riverhill, please click below for some further information and tips that we hope will help you enjoy planning your day here.
If you are coming to Riverhill as a wedding guest please find some general information below.
Wedding Enquiry
“What an absolute gem. The whole team work so hard to make their clients’ day perfect. We wanted a blank canvas that we could make into a fun, autumnal day to remember. Riverhill certainly delivered! ”
