Finet’s Woodland Glade at Solton Manor

Across Kent, woodland wedding venues remain relatively limited in number, with only a handful of venues offering dedicated woodland settings and even fewer providing licensed ceremony spaces for larger guest numbers. As outdoor ceremonies continue to grow in popularity, couples are increasingly seeking settings that feel natural, immersive and considered, without compromising on guest experience or capacity.

Finet’s Woodland Glade responds to this shift by offering a romantic woodland ceremony space that combines scale, structure and setting, allowing up to 200 guests to gather within a natural environment.

Creating the Woodland Ceremony Space

Creating the woodland ceremony space at Solton Manor has been a significant estate project, carefully developed in partnership with Gary and his team at Garyson Contracts, the same contractors responsible for creating our beautifully restored Old Stables indoor ceremony room. The work has also been closely supported by Karl, our Head of Maintenance & Estate, helping oversee the ongoing development of the landscape and wider estate infrastructure.

The work has involved far more than simply clearing a space within the trees. Careful conservation decisions were made to remove only older or decaying trees, preserving the strongest and most characterful parts of the woodland while allowing more light, openness and long term health within the landscape. Extensive groundwork has also taken place beneath the surface, including the digging of drainage trenches and installation of underground pipe systems to ensure the woodland remains well drained during periods of inclement weather. The area has then been layered with gravel and top dressed with natural bark chippings to create pathways and seating areas that feel both practical and sympathetic to the surrounding environment.

As the landscape continues to establish and soften over time, the woodland ceremony space is becoming one of the most atmospheric and romantic areas of the estate, allowing couples to marry surrounded by nature while still benefiting from the careful infrastructure required for modern weddings.

Finet’s Woodland Glade has been carefully introduced as an additional outdoor licenced ceremony option, expanding how couples can experience getting married at Solton Manor.

Set within a natural clearing, the space allows couples to choose between Godric’s more formal garden setting or the immersive woodland environment.

As woodland ceremonies continue to grow in popularity across the UK, couples are increasingly searching for how to style a woodland wedding in a way that feels both elevated and authentic, allowing the woodland itself to define the structure of the ceremony.

• The trees form natural pillars
• The canopy of leaves creates a living ceiling
• Light filters through, shifting throughout the day

Styling follows this natural framework. Soft floral installations feel as though they belong within the woodland, natural textures such as wood, linen and moss add depth, and lanterns and festoon lighting bring warmth, creating a magical setting. A muted, nature led palette allows the surrounding landscape to take the lead, creating a setting that feels effortless, immersive and quietly refined.

Finet’s Woodland Glade is not a standalone space, but part of a wider estate experience. Ceremonies beneath the trees flow into celebrations within the Dutch Barn, followed by overnight stays across the Manor House and Dovecote Cottage. It is this continuity that defines Solton Manor, not a series of spaces, but a complete environment in which beautiful and romantic wedding unfolds.

Image credit Benjamin Toms Photography

Woodland weddings have often been associated with smaller, more informal gatherings. Finet’s Woodland Glade challenges that expectation by offering scale without losing intimacy, structure without losing freedom, and design without losing connection to nature.

In creating the new woodland area at Solton Manor, it redefines what a woodland ceremony in Kent can be, and the team looks forward to welcoming couples to experience this new setting for themselves.

A special thanks to Dover Media Group for the images showing the progress of the woodland