We might be biased, but we think the UK boasts some of the most beautiful scenery of anywhere in the world. From the rugged mountains of the Lake District to Kent’s Garden of England, we’re blessed with a landscape so staggering it’s sure to make any newlywed couple go weak at the knees. For those looking to make the most of this country’s natural beauty with one of the UK’s best outdoor wedding venues, make sure to check out our essential guide.
While an outdoor wedding sounds great on paper, there are lots of extra things you need to think about. The great British weather is one of the biggest (and most temperamental) considerations, and it’s important you’re protected if the heavens do decide to open on your big day. Catering, decorations and cost are all major points of action, not to mention choosing the perfect venue for your wedding. Take note: not all wedding venues are licensed to host outdoor weddings, so read on to find out exactly which wedding venues are open to you.
If you’re worried about the cost of an outdoor wedding, you can always consider hosting a twilight wedding instead, which skips the wedding breakfast altogether and transitions straight from the ceremony to the reception. These can still be hosted outside and allow you to focus on the fun stuff like entertainment!
To help you with your planning, we’ve outlined everything you need to know when planning an outdoor wedding, from décor to noise to how to troubleshoot any issues that might arise on the day. We understand how important your wedding day is, and we’re here to make sure it goes off without a hitch! Check out our top tips below and remember, we also offer a free wedding concierge service to help you find the venue of your dreams.
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You may not know, but we have our very own free concierge service who can do the hard part for you. Once you've narrowed down all your specifications, just get in touch and we can help find the perfect wedding venue for you.
Outdoor wedding ceremony laws: Can you get legally married outdoors?
The simple answer is yes, you can! However, there are a few limitations to exactly where you can get married – not all venues are licensed for outdoor weddings so it's important to double check before you book.
The pandemic had a huge effect on outdoor weddings in the UK. Due to the limitations on social indoor gatherings during covid, the rules surrounding outdoor weddings were relaxed to allow people to get married outdoors. Before then, people had to hold civil ceremonies indoors, or outside under an enclosed, permanent structure in order for it to be legal. The good news is that these new regulations now apply to UK weddings indefinitely! You can find a full list of approved premises on the gov.uk website.
Do note that outdoor wedding laws vary in the UK between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scotland is an exception: legal outdoor ceremonies are allowed with a religious or humanist celebrant and landowner permission.
Can you get married in a public park?
You can hold a wedding celebration in a public park, but legally binding marriage ceremonies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland must take place at a licensed venue. Most public parks are not licensed, though some contain pavilions or buildings that are. So, you’ll need to find a licensed structure within the park or legally marry elsewhere beforehand. That said, for a celebrant-led ceremony or blessing, most councils allow park use with a permit. You’ll need to contact the local authority for permission.
Can you get married in a field?
You can host a wedding celebration in a field - many couples do so, especially on private land - but for a field with no licence, you’ll need to legally marry at a registry office beforehand. You’ll also need landowner permission, and you should plan for toilets, power, shelter, and possibly a Temporary Events Notice if serving alcohol.
Can you get married on a public beach?
You can hold a wedding celebration or blessing on a public beach in the UK, but most beaches are not licensed. However, if you want a symbolic ceremony or celebrant-led service, it’s generally allowed, though again, you’ll need permission from the local authority or Crown Estate, depending on ownership. Consider tides, accessibility, and weather, and plan for seating, sound, and shelter. For ease, most couples marry at a registry office first.
15 things to think about when planning an outdoor wedding
From decorations to catering, planning an outdoor wedding is a little different to planning an indoor one. Consult these tips beforehand to ensure you're well and truly prepared.
1. Picking your venue
Before you start thinking about the finer details, it’s really important to find a wedding venue that’s, first and foremost, licensed to host outdoor ceremonies, but also boasts lots of experience in outdoor weddings. Some venues will offer contingency plans if it rains, while others boast a wealth of built-in facilities suited specifically to outdoor occasions, so you don't have to worry about renting loads of stuff.
Remember to look at both the indoor and outdoor spaces when you're viewing venues to make sure you're happy with both. If it rains, you may need to move celebrations inside, so it's important you're happy with its indoor spaces too!
![Outdoor wedding wedding with half covering]()
Want to marry outdoors in London? 100 Barrington offers seclusion, intimacy and a gorgeous semi-covered courtyard.
Another thing to note is that because the season for outdoor weddings is fairly limited (i.e. the warmer months), you’re likely to find there’s more demand for these sorts of venues. Prepare to hire your venue a long time in advance if you want to nail down the location of your dreams. That said, the UK offers some fantastic winter wedding venues too.
2. Be aware of the cost
Outdoor weddings are often trickier, and and more expensive compared to what an average wedding costs because of all the extra elements they require. Many venues won't offer everything you need from the off, and you’re likely to have to outsource multiple elements like tents, a caterer, décor and lighting, which can all add up. Of course, if you're planning a back garden wedding with a small number of guests, then outdoor nuptials can actually be a cost-effective way to go. Depending on the scale of your wedding, you’ll need to account for this in your budget.
3. Plan for bad weather
The question on everybody’s lips: What do I do if it rains? The UK is notorious for its temperamental weather and even if you’re planning a summer wedding, the odds of it raining are still pretty high.
![clearwell castle indoor and outdoor weddings]()
Country House Weddings venue, Clearwell Castle, offers various alfresco locations throughout the grounds, in addition to gorgeous indoor ceremony and reception spaces.
‘Don't compromise on plan B - it's easy to get carried away with how fantastic the outdoor ceremony and reception will be on your special day - but the reality is it rains in the UK on average 164 days of the year so when choosing your venue make sure the plan B is just as amazing as your plan A! Our collection of Country House Wedding venues are perfect in this regard as our bad weather options, whether it’s a former royal ballroom, a Victorian orangery, or an ancient Tudor barn, are in no way at all a compromise!’ - Nick Bramer, Marketing Director and Co-Owner of Country House Weddings
We recommend discussing this with your venue from the off. It might be a good idea to hire a marquee or covered structure, either way, so you know there’s somewhere for guests to take cover if the heavens do decide to open, or even to find some shade on a really hot day. You can always cancel it at the last minute once you have a better idea of what the weather will be like, although beware that this might mean the loss of a small deposit.
![stretch tent at wasing estate wedding venue]()
Some wedding venues, like Wasing Park, come with a stretch tent included, just in case you need to shelter before moving indoors.
It's also important to remember that if it does rain, it's not the end of the world! We spoke to Tanya Somerset, of Tan House Newland, to discover the realities of rainy-day weddings.
‘I personally got married in the pouring rain and what I loved about it (other than the sound of a monsoon on canvas) was that it brought everyone together. No one was wandering around the gardens or outside spaces, they all huddled and danced and laughed a lot.’ - Tanya Somerset, Managing Director of Tan House Newland
If it does decide to pour down, she suggests 'getting matching brollies, wellies and rain chimes - these will help embrace that the rain may come but it won't put a dampener on things!
'We had one wedding where it didn't rain and everyone sprayed each other with hoses instead so they could use all the things we set out just in case.’
Of course, it's not just rain that can put a spanner in the works. Even if it’s set to be a scorcher, it can get a little chilly in the evening, so have a think about how you’re going to keep guests warm and comfortable. While we’re sure that dancing into the night is sure to work up a sweat, how about laying out blankets for guests to snuggle up under if they get chilly? Less environmentally friendly, but worth a shout, are outdoor heaters. Or, for a rustic touch, a fire pit is a fun way for guests to keep toasty (leave a few bags of marshmallows out too for a sweet snack later on).
4. Think about accessibility
Whether it's a beachy coastal wedding venue, a classic and elegant lawn wedding, or a rustic UK woodland location, you'll need to think about how guests will manage spending the day outdoors. Guests with mobility issues, elderly persons, wheelchair users, and children might confront distinct barriers when it comes to spending extended periods outdoors on uneven terrain. It might be that you need to think about hiring a temporary walkway, offering additional seating and cocktail tables, or setting up a shady tent area (or requesting indoor space) so that guests can seek respite from the sun and rest up.
5. Ask about noise restrictions
Music is a key part of any wedding, but there might be noise restrictions depending on the location of your venue. If your venue is really remote, such as being surrounded by fields or set in acres of parkland, you probably won’t need to worry too much. However, if you’re planning on getting hitched in a residential area, then make sure to check out sound limitations and curfews. Some enact a sound limit on music to a specific number of decibels, while others require you to turn off the music by a certain time.
6. Check out your catering and food options
If your venue already offers an in-house catering team, great! They’ll already be familiar with the rules of the venue and understand what’s possible within the existing space and facilities. It gets a little trickier if you’re hiring external caterers, but it's by no means an impossible task. You’ll just need to ask them a few questions beforehand to check they’re able to cater for your outdoor event. Make sure to ask how many outdoor weddings they’ve catered for in the past, as well as what sort of facilities they can bring with them and what might need to be rented separately. If your venue boasts a kitchen, they might be able to use this to prepare food. If not, check to see if they’re comfortable cooking in an outdoor tent.
Just don't forget about insects and flies. Especially if you're looking at a waterside wedding or a woodland venue, you'll need to ask caterers about mesh food covers, and might need to buy some yourself.
While you can absolutely host a more traditional sit-down meal around a table, being outdoors offers plenty of opportunities to get creative with your catering. Hire a pizza oven, host a big BBQ or go all-out with a hog roast, for example. There are lots more ways to include food and drink at your wedding than just the main meal. Food trucks are a really popular option, or you could hire an ice cream van if you’re planning a wedding at the height of summer. This is your chance to think outside the box!
7. Be practical with your drinks
For drinks, consider hiring a mobile bar or drink cart, but don't forget to think about staffing and triple-check that any portable bar service can cater for the number of guests. Alternatively, you might want to think about creating one of two signature cocktails to keep in large Kilner jars, so guests can serve themselves - a slightly cheaper and much more affordable option! Top tip: leave the ice separate in a cooler with a scoop. And, if the weather gets a little colder in the evening, think about having a tea, coffee, and hot chocolate station ready.
8. Buy wedding insurance and check vendor contracts
Outdoor weddings can be unpredictable, so insurance is strongly recommended. It can cover issues like weather cancellations, vendor no-shows, or accidents. Make sure all vendor contracts are detailed about setup requirements, timelines, and contingencies for bad weather. Confirm that vendors have their own insurance as well. Review cancellation and refund policies in advance. A well-planned paper trail keeps everyone aligned and helps you recover losses if something unexpected arises on the day. Still unsure? Check out all you need to know about wedding insurance.
9. Remember to check power, lighting, and sound
Wedding venues well-versed in hosting al fresco events will likely have all the tools already, but in case you're hosting your wedding on your own property, a public area, or have chosen a less-typical outdoor wedding venue, you'll need to think about power. You may need to hire generators for lighting, sound equipment, and catering. Check if the site has noise restrictions and test microphones in advance, as outdoor acoustics can be unpredictable. For evening events, ensure paths are well-lit with lanterns, string lights, or LED walkways. Soft lighting can add ambience, but functional lighting is essential for safety. Work with a technician to manage power distribution and avoid outages.
10. Think about complementary decorations
One of the benefits of hosting an outdoor wedding is being able to take advantage of a natural setting. Ideally, you want your decorations to complement, rather than cover, the beauty of your surroundings. Tents are likely to feature heavily within celebrations, so have a think about how you’d like to decorate these. Some will allow for the likes of chandeliers and proper wooden flooring, but if you’d rather keep it less formal, then twinkling lights and garlands will go a long way to making it feel magical. You'll also find plenty of wedding table decor ideas can be easily adapted for alfresco wedding breakfasts.
Of course, decorating your outdoor space will vary hugely depending on the setting, but we recommend using your existing landscape to your advantage. Consider hanging lanterns from tree branches, lighting up specific pathways, or incorporating a theme. DIY signage is a rustic, fun and cost-effective way to spruce up your surroundings, as well as upcycling mason jars with tealights, which can be used to line the aisle.
![floral wedding arch at art'otel]()
A floral wedding arch, like this one at art'otel London Battersea Power Station, creates an extra special backdrop for saying 'I do.'
11. Scout for photography opportunities
Natural light offers stunning photo opportunities, but timing is crucial. Work with your photographer to plan around the ‘golden hour’ (just before sunset) for the best light. Scout the venue beforehand to find ideal spots for portraits and group shots, and avoid harsh midday light if possible - it can cast unflattering shadows. Provide shaded areas for photos and have a backup plan if the weather turns. Also consider drone shots for sweeping views of your outdoor setting.
12. Communicate clearly with your guests
It's really important to tell your guests in advance that the entire wedding will be outside. You can do this on the invitations or on your wedding website if you have one. Especially for older guests who are more susceptible to the elements, giving people a heads up will ensure people are able to plan their attire accordingly, but also know what to expect from the day in general. Let them know if there might be a long walk from the ceremony to the reception area, for example, and whether they need to think about wearing specific footwear.
13. Consider the toilet facilities
It might seem like a small detail, but ensuring there are enough toilets located within easy distance of your main wedding area is vital. No one wants to have to traipse endlessly for the bathroom, so have a think about whether they’re easy for guests to reach, and if you need to hire extra portaloos (don’t worry, you can hire luxury facilities) for your wedding.
14. Offer weather-related essentials
With outdoor weddings, it's important to plan for your guests' comfort. They'll know from the invitation to wear suncream and dress accordingly, but there's no harm in putting together a hamper with backup suncream, or even parasols (if you're feeling extra fancy). At the same time, if it looks like the weather might turn, it could be a fun idea to bulk buy some colourful rain ponchos.
When planning an outdoor wedding, you'll also need to think about bugs. Possible solutions include citronella candles, insect repellent, and essential oils like lemongrass, lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus. To protect yourself while walking down the aisle, you might consider adding marigolds to your bouquet - they're a natural repellent.
15. Don't forget about yourself!
With all the planning involved with outdoor weddings, it can be easy to forget that you'll want to maintain your look, too. If you're having your makeup done professionally, ask for your makeup artist's opinion on sweaty-weather makeup, primers, and setting sprays. Then, put together a small ‘burnt-bride bag’ with suncream (face and body), blotting paper, extra setting spray, deodorant, and insect repellent. Keep it nearby, and get enough for your entire bridal party.
Planning to get hitched in London? These are the best outdoor wedding venues in the capital. And, if you're wanting to stay on top of all things wedding-related, sign yourself up to the SquareMeal wedding newsletter.