Essential tips for planning the perfect outdoor wedding

As the weather warms up it’s only natural that the idea of an outdoor wedding ceremony and/or celebration becomes increasingly tempting.  Appealing as this idea can appear it does require a greater degree of planning.  In this post we flag up some of the practicalities and legalities you need to consider before getting too carried away.

The Island at Clevedon Hall

What’s the law regarding outdoor weddings in the UK?  

In many of your favourite rom-coms the happy couple conduct their wedding ceremony in a variety of idyllic outdoor locations.  But until recently you could only do this in England and Wales if the ceremony took place under a fixed shelter that was registered for this purpose – such as the gazebo in the gardens at Clevedon Hall.  The law in Scotland however was more lax – couples could marry anywhere provided the celebrant was licenced.

This law covering England and Wales was relaxed last year – it’s now legal for couples to hold civil ceremonies outdoors (provided the setting is deemed “seemly and dignified”).  If you want a religious ceremony, however, this must still be conducted in an appropriate place of worship.

Outdoors but undercover

In some parts of the world, at certain seasons the weather can be sufficiently dependable that you can hold your entire day under clear skies without requiring any kind of overhead cover.  England, however, is not one of them – so you have to plan accordingly. 

You can choose a venue, like Clevedon Hall, that gives you the option of outdoors if the weather is kind but also provides appropriate indoor spaces if it turns out wet, cold or windy (or all three!).  On the other hand you can pick a genuinely outdoor spot, like a friend’s field or a big garden, and give yourself the same contingency by erecting a marquee capable of accommodating all your guests.

The gazebo at Clevedon Hall. Image courtesy of Jodie Hurd Photography

You’ll almost certainly find that the ideal set up is a location with a mix of outdoor and indoor spaces that gives you flexibility on the day depending on the weather.  Somewhere you can have an outdoor ceremony, an indoors wedding breakfast, a sunny terrace for an alfresco drinks reception followed by an evening barbecue, a ballroom for dancing, and gardens so people can stretch their legs and kids have plenty of room to play.  Where are you going to find a venue that offers all that and more?  Look no further than Clevedon Hall!

Think about the extras

If you decide to have your outdoor wedding at a venue like Clevedon Hall that is already full equipped for hosting ceremonies and celebrations then they will also provide everything from furniture to glassware, cutlery to tablecloths.  If you go the marquee route in a field or garden then you’ll have to hire in all these extras.  There’s no shortage of companies who provide such services but the costs are not inconsiderable. 

Photo by Photos by Lanty on Unsplash

Also, consider access – a wedding in a woodland glade or in a secluded alley may be very romantic but how easy is it going to be to set up the marquee, and bring all these items in, given your chosen spot?  Then there’s catering – how difficult is it going to be to provide food for everyone?  Unless you plan on serving a cold buffet you are going to need some kind of preparing, or at least reheating, hot dishes.

Decorating your outdoor space

A marquee will protect everyone from the elements but it lacks atmosphere.  You’ll need to provide a lot in the way of décor to make it sufficiently welcoming and romantic.  The same goes for the outdoor spaces – you’ll need to do a lot of work to make the space your own, create the right mood and make it wedding-ready. 

Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

Decorations need to match your theme – and your theme should match the location.  If you want a classic and formal theme then the outdoors may not be the best idea – you might be better advised to go for somewhere with grand interiors.  However, if your theme is boho, festival or rustic an outdoor location is ideal.

Lengths of fabric draped from the marquee's ceiling can be used to soften the space or to create sectioned off "rooms."   Make the space more inviting and comfortable with lounge furniture and lots of pillows. If you don't have room to bring in couches and plush chairs, arrange your dining area with smaller 4-person reception tables instead of larger 8 or 10 person tables to create a more intimate look and feel.  Big flower arrangements and strings of festival bunting work well too.  The more you dress the area the warmer and cosier it will feel.

Let there be light

Lighting is another crucial factor to bear in mind – it not only sets the mood but is pretty essential once the sun has set!   You can enhance the ambiance by adding things like paper lanterns, candles, pinspot lighting, twinkling lights or stately chandeliers. Think luminaries and small up-lights along the paths, and mason jars or tea lights hanging from nearby tree branches – the effect is magical!

The Orangery at Clevedon Hall

Look no further than Clevedon Hall

We’re biased, but in our humble opinion there’s nowhere better than Clevedon Hall to host your outdoor wedding.  Our outdoor gazebo is the perfect setting for the ceremony, the extensive gardens offer a wide range of beautiful opportunities, the terrace is ideal for a drinks reception or barbecue.  The orangery gives you the best of indoors and outdoors, whether for the ceremony, drinks or even dining.  Want to have a fireworks display, set up a bouncy castle or play croquet?  No problem.  Plus our team have hosted more than a few outdoor weddings so they are not short of great ideas to make your day extra special.