There is something really special about saying your wedding vows under a clear blue sky. Outdoor weddings in summer are particularly magical, with the sound of birds in the trees and the scent of flowers in the air. A wedding in the great outdoors is a chance to reconnect with the natural world around you and with one another.
From blissful beaches to gorgeous gardens, a secret glade in an ancient wood or on top of a skyscraper in the middle of the city, outdoor wedding ideas take you beyond the church or registry office and back to the Great Outdoors.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best outdoor wedding ideas, as well as some tips on having a wedding at any time of the year. We’ll look at the logistics of choosing an outdoor location, including getting permission, choosing the right time of year, and having a contingency plan if the weather turns on your special day. We’ll also check out some popular wedding locations around the UK, and answer a few of your most frequently asked questions.
Outdoor wedding ideas
The outdoors presents a huge range of options for memorable outdoor wedding ideas, whether you’re on a budget or throwing a lavish event for all your friends and family. Let’s have a look at the most popular, who it’s ideal for, the pros and cons, and the costs.
Garden weddings
If you’re lucky enough to have a gorgeous garden or have a family member or friend whose garden is a riot of colour all year round, garden weddings are a perfect choice. Spring and summer are the optimum times, although an autumn wedding in a garden full of golds, russets, and browns is just as charming. Perfect if you love the simplicity and natural beauty of a garden, they’re also ideal for a wedding on a budget. You may be limited on size (and you may have to invite the neighbours out of courtesy too), but the intimate feeling, cosy surroundings, and raw simplicity make a garden wedding top of our list.
Stately home gardens
If you want to take things up a level from a garden wedding, how about booking a stately home garden for that special outdoor wedding in summer? If you have more guests, the larger space will easily accommodate everyone. Most stately homes that offer weddings have in-house planners to help you get everything perfect and will also often have indoor facilities should the weather turn, or at least enough space for a marquee.
The drawback is that if you’re planning an outdoor wedding on a budget, stately homes don’t come cheap, especially if you go for some of the most popular, such as Blenheim Palace or Hampton Court. You’ll also find that most have long waiting lists. But the incredible backdrop for the ceremony and the photographs will be worth the extra expense.
Beach weddings
From a tropical beach with palm trees, a soft breeze, and the blue waters of the Caribbean to a Cornish beach where you first went surfing together, beach weddings are one of the most popular outdoor wedding ideas of all. The unspoilt beauty of a beach makes it an idyllic choice for outdoor lovers. Choose the best time for the most romantic effect, especially sunset or, if you’re an early riser, dawn.
You’ll need to ensure the location is licensed for legal ceremonies or arrange a separate legal ceremony at a registry office. Bear in mind that, while a tropical beach may seem like the ultimate wedding venue, costs for you and your guests are going to be high. But the memories will last a lifetime.
Vineyards
If you’re a food and drink lover, what could be more sophisticated than getting married at a vineyard? Whether it’s a sunny slope on the Sussex South Downs or a trip to a golden Tuscan village, vineyard weddings are an incredible outdoor wedding idea for the summer months. The photo opportunities are unique, and your venue should also be able to supply a plentiful supply of their own wine for the reception.
Opportunities for vineyard weddings are limited, and, depending on where you go, prices can be high. But vineyards that offer a wedding service are usually fully prepared to accommodate and help in the planning.
Golf course weddings
If you and your partner met on the 14th tee, what could be better than a golf course wedding? Many golf clubs offer wedding services, and the proximity of a clubhouse means that the reception buffet or sit-down meal is all just a few steps from the ceremony. With plenty of parking, guests arriving by car are accommodated, too.
If you want to really go for something special, a golf course wedding on a Caribbean island is the ultimate hole-in-one. Again, prices can be high, but with larger establishments like golf clubs, facilities are ideal for larger events. In-house staff can also help with the practicalities, such as setting up seating.
Outdoor marquees
For weddings in the summer, you expect blue skies and golden sunshine. But we all know what the weather can be like in the UK, and even in the middle of August, you could have grey skies and torrential rain. If you’re determined to go for an outdoor wedding, a good idea is to have a ‘Plan B’ and include an outdoor marquee, just in case things go wrong. If the sun stays out, the wedding can be held outdoors, while the marquee is ideal for the reception.
Marquee suppliers are plentiful and highly experienced in setting up a marquee for a wedding, and it’s a great choice if you want wedding ideas on a budget.
Our top tip: Shop around and ask bridal stores and caterers for recommendations for marquee companies.
Forest weddings
Saying ‘I do’ under the dappled shade of a forest of trees is a magical experience. With a natural backdrop and rustic arches draped in greenery, it’s a wonderful choice for couples with a strong connection to the outdoors. You’ll find woodland venues across the country providing dedicated ceremony glades, tipi spaces and more relaxed, informal surroundings, which is just right if you prefer something a little more intimate.
The downside is that forest weddings are very much weather-dependent. They’re only really suitable for summer weddings, as things can get a little muddy during the rest of the year. However, if fairy lights leading down a bosky path to a floral arch in the middle of a leafy glade appeal to you, some locations specialise in woodland weddings such as Wasing Park in Berkshire, Deene Park Estate in Northamptonshire, and Cheshire Woodland Weddings in Cheshire.
Clifftop weddings
The wild, rugged beauty of the UK’s coastline makes it a dramatic backdrop for a clifftop wedding. There’s no need for additional décor, as the scenery is your backdrop, offering panoramic ocean views, dramatic sunsets, and opportunities for atmospheric wedding photos. Clifftop weddings are just right for couples who love the outdoors or are keen ramblers, but like most outdoor wedding ideas, they are dependent on the weather.
The plus side is that they are an affordable option for smaller weddings, and with a wealth of clifftop locations all around the coastline of the UK, you’re spoilt for choice. Try Tunnels Beaches in Devon or Lusty Glaze in Cornwall for some Westcountry magic, or The Beacon House in Whitstable, Kent, for a more relaxed ambience.
Lodge weddings
If you want your ceremony, reception, and accommodation in one place, along with some magnificent rustic views and a boutique venue style, lodge weddings tick all the right boxes. From lakeside locations to mountain retreats, lodge weddings are a year-round option and a cosy option for a winter wedding. Think roaring fires, exposed timber beams, and natural decorations, and you have that chic boutique scenario for a smaller, more intimate wedding.
You’ll find lots of lodge wedding venues across the UK, especially in Scotland, the Lake District, and the wild and beautiful landscape of Yorkshire. Lodge weddings fall in the middle of the range pricewise, depending on the package you go for and how many guests you have.
Ancient and historical sites
If you love Gothic arches, atmospheric ruins, and a real sense of history, a wedding at an ancient or historic location is unforgettable. Whether you choose a medieval hall, a ruined castle or abbey, or an ancient monument, you’ll have the perfect backdrop for some incredible wedding photos. Bear in mind that many ancient sites are protected or Scheduled Monuments, so not all locations are available (you’re unlikely to be able to hold a standard wedding ceremony at Stonehenge, for example).
Abbeys and castles such as Tintern Abbey in Wales, Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, or the showstopping
Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland welcome wedding parties. If you want to go back even further, historic locations such as the Roman Baths in Bath or venues near Hadrian’s Wall are incredible locations for a memorable wedding. Price depends on location and time of year, and many of these locations are open to the public. Historical sites are a winner for small to medium-sized events.
Cityscape weddings
Outdoor wedding ideas don’t always have to involve trees, mountains, and ocean views. For undying urbanites, a dramatic cityscape is just as appealing as a lakeside retreat. Cityscape weddings use the drama and energy of a city backdrop from a rooftop venue. London is full of dramatic locations for a rooftop wedding. In the city, you’ll find sweeping panoramas and sophisticated surroundings at The Shard and The Gherkin.
For a more historic backdrop, try Tobacco Dock or the Battersea Arts Centre. For an intimate wedding with accommodation just a few steps away, luxury hotels, including the famous Dorchester in Mayfair, provide intimate locations for small weddings. Expect to pay a premium for these highly desirable locations, but if you live and breathe city life, a cityscape wedding is a year-round option.
Rustic barn weddings
The UK is rich with rural locations for weddings, but getting married in a barn? In fact, what might sound a little too rustic is, in fact, one of the most popular wedding ideas for summer events. England’s ‘Tythe’ barns are huge spaces where the village grain was kept, but today they are far more likely to be decked out with strings of fairy lights, floral table displays, and whimsical décor for a wedding. Great for larger weddings, you’ll find lots of these amazing venues in the south and Midlands, including the incredible 14th-century Tythe Barn in Oxfordshire, and Dodford Manor’s beautifully restored barns.
Where’s best for an outdoor wedding in summer?
In the UK, we cannot rely on the weather, even in the height of summer. Some venues are more flexible than others during the cooler months, but it’s always good to have an alternative lined up just in case. But when the sun shines, there’s nowhere quite like the UK for outdoor weddings, with fabulous locations such as the dramatic Dorset coastline, the stunning Lake District, the Peak District, and the rolling hills of Devon and Cornwall on offer.
These days, you don’t have to reside in the parish where you marry. If you live in London, for example, you can get married in a castle in Wales, a Lochside laird’s home in Scotland, or on a beach in Cornwall.
Tips on choosing the perfect location
FAQs
How much does an outdoor wedding in the UK cost?
Weddings in the UK can be very expensive, or you can look for wedding venues on a budget that will leave you more money in your bank account for the honeymoon. Keep it simple if you want to keep the costs down, with a small family affair in a garden, or go all out with a wedding at a country manor house that’ll make the society pages.
Can I have an outdoor wedding in the winter?
You can, but UK weather can be notoriously unpredictable. If you want guaranteed sunshine for a winter wedding, you’re going to have to go further afield, such as Thailand, the Caribbean, or the Seychelles.
What companies offer outdoor weddings in the UK?
There are hundreds of companies across the UK offering outdoor wedding ideas for all budgets. Pick the area you want to have your wedding in and do an online search in that area for venues, caterers, florists, and accommodation.
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