It’s easy to see why couples love outdoor wedding ceremonies! With so many beautiful locations around the UK, it’s not hard to find a spot you’ll both fall in love with. But how do you make your outdoor wedding ceremony a roaring success?
First up, the location is key — it should mean something to you both. Love trekking in the woods, or camping in the Peak District? Start with areas you adore and search within that proximity. Remember, don’t restrict yourself to well-known wedding venues — there are some gorgeous small-business gems in the UK that just take a little searching to find. Be prepared to put in a bit of time and effort. Use your family and friends’ network to discover locations that often fly under the radar. Don’t feel bound by the rules — this is your day, and anything goes!
Consider how you’ll be legally married. Many outdoor locations don’t have a civil wedding licence, which means you’ll need to complete the legal aspect on another day and time (an excuse for another celebration?). If it’s important to you that your legal wedding happens on the same day, this will limit your venue options.
The weather always plays an important role in the UK. As much as we enjoy some glorious summer days, sometimes you have to dodge the showers — or worse. Don’t be afraid to adjust your start time by ten minutes to take advantage of a dry spell. Make sure you have both a wet- and dry-weather plan for your ceremony, and remember that shade is important too if the weather is hot.
Your plan should also include seating. Chairs, benches, and hay bales are all options, but think about how you’ll get them into position. Sometimes you might even need to set up at short notice to make the most of a break in the showers — do you have enough manpower for that? Can the chairs be stored nearby to keep them dry? If you’re reusing chairs for your wedding breakfast, how will you get them back into the main area? It can be fun to get your guests involved — everyone grabs their own chair to take out and bring back!
One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen with outdoor ceremonies is not having a PA system. Speakers often think they’re loud enough, but once you’re outside it can be hard for everyone to hear. I’d always recommend having a good PA system so that everyone can follow what’s happening. Do a test run the day before to get the volume just right.
Once you’ve considered all the practicalities, it’s time to make your outdoor wedding ceremony space your own. Think flowers, arches, candles… the ceremony sets the tone for the rest of your wedding day!
Personal touches for outdoor wedding ceremonies — our top tips
- Provide parasols and fans for warmer, sunny days. Your guests will thank you, and they make great props for photos too! Colour-coordinate them with your wedding palette for extra style points.
- Consider a ‘pre-wedding’ drinks reception. Instead of kicking off with the ceremony, why not treat your guests to drinks on arrival? You could hand out custom shots of your favourite apéritif, or roll a booze barrow down the aisle with Aperol spritz.
- Don’t overlook an order of service. It may sound old-fashioned, but it’s a wonderful way to let guests know what’s happening. You could print a wedding newspaper with the full day’s plan, or channel Bridgerton vibes with your own version of Lady Whistledown’s society papers.
Get In Touch
Find out how Linzi at ‘that black & white cat’ can help with your big day:
'that black & white cat' weddings
thatblackandwhitecat.co.uk
07399 081776
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Imagery courtesy of:
Kirsty Rockett Photography
kirstyrockett.com
Martin Cheung Photography
www.martincphotography.co.uk
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Matt Moore Photography
mattmoorephotography.co.uk
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