August 18, 2021

Outdoor weddings are legal!

Outdoor weddings are legal!
Tiz Prentice
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Outdoor weddings have long since been a favourite of nature lovers such as us, and we couldn't be happier to hear the Government announcement that weddings outside would finally be legally binding! You have until April 2022 to make the most of this change in UK wedding law (we hope the rumours of extended this turn out to be true), so we took the opportunity to go through the archives and put together a bumper crop of beautiful outdoor wedding photos to give you all the inspiration you'll need to plan the perfect summer wedding outdoors...

Indian Outdoor wedding ceremony in a white mandap on the lawn in front of the house
Rob Tarren

Outdoor wedding ceremony ideas

In the past we have been slightly more confined when it comes to holding the ceremony outdoors due to the legality of it needing to take place under a permanent roof which is why many outdoor wedding ceremonies take place on the front lawn with the couple saying vows under our large porch.
But now with this new change in law you are free to marry anywhere you choose!

So whether you feel drawn to a druid style ceremony under a tree, a wild wedding amongst the rewilding grounds, a garden ceremony on the manicured lawns, a ritual under canvas, or a festival wedding amongst the flowers in the meadow you can take your pick.
We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Here are some beautiful outdoor wedding ceremonies we've held over the years...

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Outdoor druid wedding ceremony with ritual release of balloons at the front of Elmore Court
Tiz Prentice
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Outdoor Food & drink ideas

We've seen so many fun and creative food and drink ideas at outside weddings over the years. Food trucks and tents serving a variety of tasty treats, pizza at midnight, refreshing help yourself drinks stations, and of course every kind of marshmallow toasting and 'smores based fire pit activity! 
Here are some of our favourite food and drink ideas from real life outdoor weddings at Elmore...

  • Pizza monkey with their stone baked pizza oven in a tent is the perfect way to keep guests warm and fuelled throughout the long cool summer nights
  • BBQ wedding breakfast is the ideal meal for a laid back garden party wedding
  • Drinks station with big icy glass pitchers of refreshing tipples for guests to help themselves to
  • Ice cream stand (possibly stocking our local fave Wholly gelato?!)
  • Huge dishes of paella cooking outside for all the festival feels (and smells!)
  • Pretty pimp my prosecco (or gin?) station for guests to get interactive with their drink making
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Let the games begin!

Bring all the fun of the fair to your outdoor wedding by going BIG with the games. Old favourites are always giant Jenga (which makes for some fabulous photos) and croquet on the lawn but take a look at some of the other fabulous ideas pictured below and let the fun begin!

  • Table football
  • Beer pong (swap the drink to your favourite. Gin pong is twice as fun)
  • Cricket
  • Boules
  • Blind mans buff
  • Tug of war
  • Traditional funfair games such as coconut shy
  • Bubbles
  • Golf!

We've seen it all!

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How to create different areas and chill out spaces

To really make the most of the sprawling grounds we have here it's a lovely idea to create various 'rooms' and different spaces for sitting, chilling and interacting.

We love to add a little festival magic to proceedings with mysterious signs, chill out furniture, interactive games and even glamping in the meadow. Here's some of the wonderful ways you've made the most of the outdoors...

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Outdoor wedding decor ideas

The beauty of nature shines brightly all around the grounds at Elmore, but that doesn't mean you can't add to it! Lighting trees, hanging lanterns and pom poms, carefully placed fairy lights all make the magic of the outdoors even more wondrous.

Just look at these beautiful ideas to decorate your outdoor wedding...

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Music and entertainment ideas

Entertaining your guests is just as important outside as it is inside, and with the magic of the natural world all around you it's even more atmospheric and fun!

There's nothing better than singing round the campfire, but how about adding some more festival fun with walkabout entertainers, roaming musicians, live bands dotted about the grounds or a little bit of theatre with circus performers on the lawn!

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Whatever style you choose you'll end up round the fire

No matter what kind of outdoor wedding style you choose there's no doubt you will all end up round the fire pit - and what better place on a summer's evening!

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By April 2022 we know we will have seen some truly fantastic and creative wedding outside and we just can't wait!

Summer love & outdoor magic,

Team E 

xx

Indian wedding ceremony outdoors in a mandap decorated with pink and red roses
Matt Willis
Drinks station with big kilner containers of refreshing drinks for outdoor wedding reception
Naomi Kenton
Sparkler sign for an outdoor wedding
Through The Woods We Ran
Guests playing Garden games at an outdoor wedding
Gary Nunn
Pink balloon with roses on the string to decorate an outdoor wedding in the UK
Eve Dunlop
Guests chilling outside under a pretty mosquito net chill out seating area at an outdoor festival style wedding
Gemma Williams
Rock my wedding founders at their outdoor wedding at Elmore Court in the UK
Ann-Katherin Koch
Rock My Wedding founders married outdoors at Elmore Court in 2016
Outdoor wedding food ideas. Waffles from a truck
Naomi Kenton
Funny outdoor wedding photo props bride and groom cat and fox masks
Gemma Williams

Related reading

10 Ways to Bring Glastonbury Festival to Your Wedding
January 31, 2017

10 Ways to Bring Glastonbury Festival to Your Wedding

How to Plan a Festival Wedding
July 05, 2017

How to Plan a Festival Wedding

Outdoor Wedding Inspiration
March 22, 2017

Outdoor Wedding Inspiration