Kent Island Resort Wedding Guide
Updated October 2025
Why Couples Choose Kent Island Resort
A Kent Island Resort wedding feels like a true Maryland celebration. Just across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from Annapolis, the property combines waterfront views and wide-open grounds with a polished guest experience. Couples can shape a weekend around two signature spaces on site: the Farmstead, with its warm architecture and golden fields, and the Pavilion, a chic tented space ideal for larger gatherings. Each offers its own mood for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions, giving you the flexibility to design a celebration that feels both elevated and seamless for your guests.
For couples planning a multi-day event, the resort also makes it easy to host welcome receptions, rehearsal dinners, after-parties, and farewell brunches, all while keeping guests on site. Private yacht charters are available for those who want to add something unexpected to the experience.
As a Baltimore wedding photographer, I’ve seen how a Kent Island Resort wedding photographs beautifully at every stage. Mornings often begin in the historic Manor House with calm, natural light. The Farmstead fields glow at sunset. The Pavilion transforms into a romantic backdrop once the evening lights come on, setting the stage for unforgettable receptions.
Event Spaces at Kent Island Resort
The Farmstead at Kent Island Resort
The Farmstead is where refined style meets warm architecture. Vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and sweeping fields set the tone for an evening that feels elevated yet inviting. For couples planning a Kent Island Resort wedding, the Farmstead offers a balance of rustic character and black tie sophistication, perfect for a celebration that feels both personal and polished.
Why couples love it
The Farmstead is designed for flow. With separate rooms for getting ready, a ceremony space, cocktail area, and a dedicated reception hall, there’s no need for room flips or rushed transitions. Everything is prepared before guests arrive, which lets you stay present with your friends and family. Couples love that the setting adapts to both modern palettes and timeless floral designs, making it easy to create an atmosphere that feels uniquely theirs.
How it photographs
The golden field behind the Farmstead is one of the most iconic spots on the property. We often schedule a quick portrait session there just before dinner, capturing the softest light of the day without pulling you away for long. Inside, candlelight against the wood beams creates depth and warmth, giving editorial portraits and reception candids a polished, timeless feel.
Real wedding proof
See Nicole and Jason’s summer Farmstead celebration complete with golden hour portraits and a candlelit reception, or Gracie and Ari’s Black Tie wedding which ended with a sparkler exit in custom sweat sets that felt perfectly true to them.
The Pavilion at Kent Island Resort
The Pavilion is the resort’s signature tented reception space. With white draping, chandeliers, and soaring ceilings, it gives couples a blank canvas to create a Kent Island Resort wedding that feels sophisticated and memorable. Natural light filters through during the day, while evening lighting transforms it into a romantic backdrop for larger guest counts.
Why Couples Love It
The Pavilion is versatile enough to host both ceremonies and receptions, which keeps the guest experience seamless. Its scale works beautifully for black tie events, and custom florals, chandeliers, or draping bring a personal touch. Guests flow easily from the ceremony to cocktails to dinner and dancing, all in one central location.
How It Photographs
The clean lines and height of the Pavilion photograph elegantly, whether it’s a chandelier-lit reception or a lively dance floor. Petal tosses, champagne welcomes, and grand entrances all look striking in this setting.
Real Wedding Proof
See Taylor and Zach’s Pavilion wedding with a modern classic palette. Guests were welcomed with chilled champagne and petal toss cones before celebrating under chandeliers, where Taylor changed into a second look dress perfect for dancing.
Getting Ready at the Manor House
The Manor House sets the tone for a Kent Island Resort wedding day, with its historic charm and flattering natural light. The suites are ideal for hair and makeup, private letter readings, and quiet first looks with family or the wedding party. Clean lines and timeless architecture create a refined backdrop for portraits and details that anchor the beginning of your story at Kent Island Resort.
Best Photo Locations at Kent Island Resort
No matter the season, a Kent Island Resort wedding benefits from a handful of signature spots that deliver variety, elegance, and a narrative arc through your gallery.
Farmstead Field at Sunset
This is the golden hour anchor. We time portraits here so you get that glowing light firsthand, then return to the party with minimal disruption. It’s also a chance to capture motion, connection, and cinematic skies.
Waterfront & Docks
A few steps over to the water gives you classic portraits with a salty breeze, gentle reflections, and the charm of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It adds variety and a sense of place to your images.
Manor House Lawn & Steps
The Manor House offers a timeless backdrop. The lawn and front stairs are ideal for family portraits, bridal parties, and romantic duos. Clean lines, architecture, and natural framing elevate images beyond the obvious.
Inside the Pavilion
Once inside the tent, the space becomes artful by design. Chandeliers, draped fabric, soft candlelight, and tent lines give texture and atmosphere to first dances, entrances, and toasts. These interiors let you tell the story of your celebration in motion.
Real Weddings That Show the Experience
These celebrations highlight the range of what a Kent Island Resort wedding can look like, from joyful summer gatherings to black tie evenings filled with style and energy.
Joyful June at Kent Island Resort
Nicole and Jason’s day was full of emotion and laughter, with happy tears flowing during toasts and wide smiles on the dance floor. Their June wedding closed with a golden sunset that matched the spirit of their celebration. See their wedding day here!
Black Tie at the Farmstead
Gracie and Ari created a wedding that balanced tradition with a lively reception. Eucalyptus and white florals softened the Farmstead’s wood tones, while their grand entrance, spirited Hora, and a “dancing on clouds” first dance made the evening unforgettable. See their wedding day here!
Modern Meets Classic in the Pavilion
Taylor and Zach blended timeless details with modern style. Guests were greeted with champagne, celebrated their vows under a tent lined with chandeliers, and showered the couple in petals during their exit. Later, Taylor changed into a chic second look that set the tone for a night of dancing. See their wedding day here!
Timeline and Weather Strategy
A Kent Island Resort wedding flows best when the timeline is designed with light, celebration, and guest comfort in mind. Many couples choose a first look, which opens space in the day for portraits and lets you enjoy more of cocktail hour. Golden hour is ideal for portraits in the Farmstead field, often scheduled for just a short window before dinner so you return to the party without missing a moment.
If weather shifts, both the Pavilion and the Farmstead can easily transform into ceremony spaces. Each photographs beautifully and keeps the celebration feeling just as intentional as it was planned. The staff and planning teams here are experienced in creating transitions that keep the atmosphere polished, so your guests experience the day exactly as you imagined.
Design Notes for Kent Island Resort Weddings
The Farmstead
The Farmstead is at its best when design contrasts with the wood tones. Black tie attire, white florals, and layers of candlelight create an atmosphere that feels striking and refined. Long tables with elevated centerpieces also play beautifully against the architecture, adding depth and balance to the space.
The Pavilion
The Pavilion shines with thoughtful lighting and florals. Chandeliers, draping, and clean palettes make the tent feel timeless, while color or texture in the florals can personalize it. Large-scale installations, like hanging greenery or floral chandeliers, transform the Pavilion into a memorable reception setting.
Details That Elevate
The couples I work with often incorporate experiences that keep the evening feeling fresh and editorial. An oyster bar or pasta course creates interactive moments for guests and ties beautifully into the celebration. Outfit changes, from a formal gown to a chic reception look, photograph beautifully and signal the transition from dinner to dancing. Late-night surprises, like a champagne tower or a well-curated lounge setup, give the evening a second wave of energy.
Cost and Planning Considerations
A Kent Island Resort wedding is an investment in a celebration that feels polished and seamless from start to finish. While costs depend on guest count, event design, and whether you host a full weekend of festivities, most of my couples begin planning here with budgets starting in the six-figure range.
Working with a planner is the best way to bring your vision to life. They handle the logistics so you can focus on enjoying the experience, and together we create a timeline that makes space for portraits, family moments, and room reveals without ever feeling rushed. My role is to collaborate with your planning team so the photography feels effortless while documenting the scale and beauty of your celebration.
Ready to Plan Your Kent Island Resort Wedding Photos?
Kent Island Resort is one of Maryland’s most timeless and versatile wedding venues, from golden fields at The Farmstead to candlelit receptions under The Pavilion. As a Baltimore wedding photographer familiar with every corner of the property, I know how to capture its light, movement, and emotion with intention.
If you’re drawn to celebrations that feel as effortless as they are elegant, I’d love to hear your plans. Together, we’ll create a photography experience that reflects your vision and lets you be fully present on your wedding day.
