NEARLYWED NEWS

Folc, England’s highest ranking still rose, is set to launch its new 2021 vintage just in time for summer. Having launched last year, Tonbridge-based Folc impressed wine critics and accrued numerous awards both nationally and on an international scale.

Folc’ 2021 vintage is a blend of six different grape varieties all sourced from family-run vineyards in Kent, East and West Sussex and Suffolk: pinot noir, pinot meunier, chardonnay, pinot gris, bacchus and kerner. The grapes will then make a short trip to Canterbury where they meet Folc’s talented winemakers with a combined 60 years of winemaking experience.

The brand also brings issues such as sustainability and inclusion to the fore. The winery is accredited with the WineGB Sustainability Scheme, reducing the environmental impact of wine packaging and levels of greenhouse gas emission as well as the volume of water used and the carbon footprint per bottle. Each cork used to seal the bottles is plant based and carbon negative, and all of the packaging is biodegradable, recycled and recyclable. The company’s mission is to be fully carbon neutral within the next few years.

The word, Folc, is the Old English word for people, tribe and family and this is a wine designed to bring people together, best enjoyed chilled with loved ones! Check out www.drinkfolc.com

A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

A new sustainable shopping experience is arriving at Ashford Designer Outlet, as it welcomes pre-loved designer apparel store Bond Street to Your Street. The brand offers guests a chance to buy and sell their pre-loved designer clothes and accessories bringing a new breath of life to their wardrobes.

Launching in 2009, the brand began by hosting pop-up boutiques in private homes and offices across London, before spending the last five years managing bricks and mortar stores around the country. Bond Street to Your Street has become a trusted name within its market boasting a global following, and stocks designers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Gucci all with pieces at a fraction of their original price.

The new opening also elevates the centre’s current sustainable initiative: Recycle Your Fashion. Here, you’re invited to donate unwanted clothing items to guest services and as a thank you you’ll receive a 10 per cent discount voucher to use at participating stores. The pre-loved clothes are then either re-used or recycled, assisting in the elimination of two million tonnes of clothes from landfills every year across Europe.

Find out more at www.mcarthurglen.com

NEWS Nearlywed

Catch up on the latest from around the county

Sally Burtt-Jones

MINIMOON HEAVEN

Nestled just below the North Downs in a secluded setting boasting stunning scenery, you’ll find the new North Downs View Shepherd’s Hut, recently created by owners of the family-run Parsonage Farm in East Brabourne. The two-person hut has been crafted by a local team of experts using traditional designs and materials. It features a fully-fitted kitchenette with a two-hob cooker and fridge, electric log burner, king-size bed, en-suite shower room, double sofa and more. It also boasts a fully-integrated, temperature control system with underfloor heating to keep you comfy during those cooler nights. Outside, a chiminea and dining area offer the perfect setting for a romantic evening under the stars.

With idyllic Kentish seaside towns Hythe, Folkestone, Whitstable and Margate on its doorstep, the accommodation is also just a short drive from the historical cathedral city of Canterbury. So, it’s a fantastic base from which to see and explore all that our little corner of England has to offer. What’s more, the area also boasts two incredible country pubs within walking distance, The Five Bells Inn and The Tiger Inn, plus a vineyard in the adjacent field and plenty of local walks.

So, if you’re looking for a staycation minimoon with a get-away-from-it-all vibe, check out https://northdownsviewshepherdshut.co.uk

EDITOR LOVES

How special would it be to literally write your love across the sky on your wedding day? Well, now you can with AJ Pyrotechnics’ amazing heart fireworks. The company’s Adrian Walters says, “They each spin out of a firing tube at hundreds of miles per hour and it really is luck that they break the right way around! For the one in the picture, I angled it slightly into the wind and crossed my fingers!”

The heart is a specially-bought piece, which comes ready prepared to be loaded and fired. Adrian is finding that more and more couples are asking for them and is currently considering tailoring a dedicated section of the displays to them – “We could fill the sky with several of them joined together,” Adrian says. He continues, “I always strive to get the latest designs from abroad wherever possible, which is something that sets us apart within the industry. So, when I say ‘all shows are different and each delivers the wow factor,’ you know why!”

Find out more at www.ajpyrotechnics.co.uk

https://florenceberry.com YOUR ESSENTIALS

MEET AND MINGLE

Based in an idyllic spot near Ashford, Frasers Egerton is a wedding venue bursting with charm and elegance. Boasting panoramic views across the surrounding countryside you’re never short of a stunning photographic backdrop and the team, which prides itself on attention to detail, ensures every wedding is both beautiful and relaxing.

Since no drinks are allowed to be served in the licensed ceremony area an hour before the “I dos” begin, the venue recognised the need to provide a scenic spot for guests arriving in ample time to sit and relax while they wait for proceedings to start. The new garden area, complete with trendy upcycled bar and five covered pods is just the ticket, offering the perfect place to meet and anticipate the big moment. This beautiful new area is also the ideal place to enjoy pre-dinner drinks and tapas ahead of the wedding breakfast.

To find out more about weddings at Frasers Egerton, head over to www.frasersegerton.co.uk

Artist’s impression

VENUE NEWNESS

New to Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve’s wedding offering this year are two gorgeous on-site locations: The Pergola and The Orangery.

Tucked away in Port Lympne mansion’s ancient whispering walled garden is the newly-appointed garden pergola, a super-romantic spot for your “I dos.” Fully-licensed for civil ceremonies, this quiet setting can accommodate up to 120 loved ones for the vows, after which they’ll be able to follow you out into the tiered terraced gardens for a celebratory glass of bubbly.

The Orangery meanwhile, is a magical place to dine and dance the night away. The glass structure and terrace offer a creative salute to the theatrical entertainment style of the Gatsby era. Private and available for exclusive-use only, it has a capacity of 160 seated guests, along with a dancefloor, cloakroom, and luxury wash rooms. It also features a fully-incorporated kitchen suited to all fine-dining requirements, as well as the option to add marquees or a food station on the adjoining lawn.

Discover more at www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/weddings

Artist’s impression

RUMWOOD COURT EVENTS

The Walled Garden at Rumwood Court is a new and unique dry hire wedding and event venue available from 2022. The Walled Garden is your own private space with the Manor House providing a stunning backdrop. It is available for exclusive hire for a limited number of weekends between the months of May and October. With exclusive access to the grounds for your event along with help & guidance and food & drink from Invicta Food Design, lots of time for setting up and our list of recommended suppliers to choose from you will have all the ingredients for your perfect wedding day.

SUTTON ROAD, LANGLEY, KENT, ME17 3NN | INFO@RUMWOODCOURTEVENTS.COM | RUMWOODCOURTEVENTS.COM

FULL OR TWILIGHT WEDDING PACKAGES

STARTING FROM AS LITTLE AS £3,250!

A WEDDING AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE... Your wedding is one of the most exciting and important days of your life – one that you will cherish and remember forever. If you are looking for a dream wedding venue in Kent, St Augustine’s is where dreams come true. At St Augustine’s we believe that every wedding is different. With a wide variety of rooms and spaces from which to choose, St Augustine’s is a truly unique venue and can offer: Weddings perfectly tailored to your needs whether an intimate gathering or 200+ guests • Huge flexibility with many function rooms to choose from for your big day • Elegant outdoor ceremonies in our beautiful gazebo • Deconsecrated chapel for religious, civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts or reception • Spacious banqueting hall with capacity for 215 guests • Late licence until 1.00 am • Stylish bridal dressing room • Fabulous wedding cuisine, sumptuous banquets and deluxe buffets • A dedicated wedding co-ordinator • It’s your day and we promise it will be perfect, right down to the last tiny, exquisite detail. *Registrar fees are not included.