Hotels, wedding venues and suppliers have banded together to save the day after more than 50 weddings were cancelled at venues across the county.

This week, it was revealed Hadlow Manor Hotel in Tonbridge and The Blue Pigeons hotel in Worth, near Deal, were closing earlier than expected.

Hadlow Manor was forced to cancel 37 weddings after announcing it will close on January 29 due to financial difficulties.

The Blue Pigeons has "ceased operations immediately" and cancelled another 15 weddings.

Following the shock announcement, hotels, businesses, florists, entertainers and other suppliers have joined forces to help out.

Organised by Samantha Beaney, from Ashford, the suppliers are offering discounts on services to help any couples frantically re-organising their big day.

Samantha owns The Pretty Prep Studios – a place for brides and bridesmaids to get ready on the morning of their wedding – in Evegate Artisan Business Park, and has been in the wedding industry for a decade.

She said: "I'm part of a group from suppliers in the industry and floated the idea with them about offering cut prices to reduce the financial burden on couples.

"People will be trying to organise new dates, venues and possibly suppliers, so we want to help them as it must be really stressful for them right now.

"I started it as I just wanted to help them as much as I can. It's gone a bit mad with people offering to help and giving discounts."

The 30-year-old admitted she wouldn't be surprised to see other venues following suit and closing, claiming one wedding destination told her they were forking out £3,000 on heating.

Samantha has urged people planning for weddings to get insurance.

"It's the most expensive day of your life. It's worth the extra cost just to be secure," she added.

Bradbourne House, which is just 15 minutes from Hadlow Manor Hotel, is also offering to take on as many couples it can help.

Marketing manager Natalie Skingley, a former wedding and events director at Hadlow Manor, revealed she felt a personal need to try to accommodate as many people as she could as she booked most of the weddings.

Natalie left the Tonbridge hotel in June to go travelling before returning to the county and starting work for Bradbourne House in November.

She said: "We're just the village over from Hadlow Manor and are quite similar as we're a Tudor hotel.

"I've spoken to a few couples who remember me from my time at Hadlow and booking their weddings, so I feel a personal responsibility to help them out.

"I've spoke to my manager and we've said we will do anything we can to help them.

"One man I spoke to has to rearrange everything for his wedding at the beginning of April. We're going to try our best to match the prices, as changing everything could be costly for them."

Ross Bennett, general manager at Tonbridge Angels Football Club, has offered the club's marquee to any couples.

He said: "I read your story about the 37 couples who are affected by the closure of the Hadlow Manor Hotel and the subsequent wedding cancellations, and I wondered if we could help.

"At the football club we have a large year-round events marquee venue which can hold a large number of people, and we might be able to accommodate those couples who have lost out.

"We host a large number of weddings each year, so it’s something we’re very used to doing. Indeed, we’d actually like to offer the venue for free to all affected couples."

Kirsty Mackinnon, of Farthingloe Barn in Folkestone Road, Dover, says she also has a lot of availability after recently opening.

Matthew Cuoghi, of family-run Edenwood Place in Old Chatham Road, Aylesford, wanted to help couples as well as staff who are losing their jobs.

He said: "We are a relatively new wedding venue so do have some availability. We are family owned and the team are either extended family or friends and I know they would love to do anything we could to help."

Samantha Richards, who runs wedding style company A Touch of Kent in Maidstone, said: "We’ve decided to offer all couples 10% discount on our services booked between now and June 2023 for those who have had the unfortunate news of their cancelled wedding.

"As a bride who had her wedding cancelled three times during Covid, I know the disappointment and upset this has caused.

"We are a new company which launched in September 2022 and while we are getting very busy for the end of 2023, our beginning of the year still has availability on key dates."

Anyone who has had their wedding cancelled in Tonbridge or Deal can find discounts from suppliers, venues and more here.

So far, more than 40 companies have offered their services.