Getting Married on the Victorian Sloop - HMS Gannet

page down to see images from a wedding at HMS Gannet

• Chatham Historic Dockyard
• Three Million Pounds of Restoration
• Very Unique feel to this amazing wedding location

For a wedding with a difference you can enjoy the spleandour of HMS Gannet in the Historic Dockyard at Chatham, Kent.

A truly unique setting for a ceremony

The writing on the deck "Deeds Not Words" - a very fitting tribute to a lovely occassion

Your guests can relax, and everyone has a decent view of the proceedings as the bride and groom become husband and wife centre stage high upon the deck of this amazing ship

After the ceremony it is almost as if the couple are going to leave aboard the ship as they can look down on their guests leaving for the reception

The groom and best-man await the arrival of the bride on the deck of HMS Gannet - the restoration is extremely authentic, as one would expect it should be

Be aware that it can get all "wind-swept and interesting" on deck!

The register is signed on deck, the table is set back from the balcony so your guests will not see this unless they clamber up the near vertical stairs - speaking of which - you must be prepared for a steep climb onto the deck - which can be tricky in a wedding dress

There were plenty of re-enacters available in the historic dockyard and these 1940's firemen just popped by, unannounced - which was really nice for the newlyweds

Prior to the marriage, we took the groomsmen around the historic dockyard for photographic opportunities, here they are with some re-enactors with their authentic uniforms, fire engine, and equipment

We approached a group of female 1940's singers and they happily obliged with an impromptu kiss for the groom

the smile on their faces and the lipstick on his cheek tell a story

I would recommend HMS Gannet for your wedding - The Ship and Trades pub is nearby for the groomsmen to meet beforehand (it also has 11 en-suite rooms), there is the Dockside Outlet Centre closeby just in case the Bride needs any last minute accessories - Commissioners House is where some of the legal paperwork is signed prior to the ceremony on the ship - there is plenty of parking for your guests, even when a large event like the 1940's Salute to the 40's is on