PLANNING AN OUTDOOR WEDDING?
Planning an outdoor wedding? In England? Some may call you crazy, but there’s nothing like declaring your love in front of friends and family in the great outdoors. If you’re an outdoorsy couple, it will hold special significance to stage your nuptials in the open air.
Yet the unpredictability of British weather can put couples off. However, there are plenty of ways to weather-proof your day if it does begin to rain…
Have a backup option
When choosing your outdoor venue, it’s important to make sure there’s a backup option available. If the outdoor space belongs to a building or other indoor venue, check if you can relocate if the weather makes the day you’ve planned impossible.
Then, consider investing in event insurance. This can cover you from all financial losses due to bad weather including if, due to adverse weather, more than half your guests are unable to attend. Wedding insurance will also cover you financially if you have to cancel the event entirely.
Choose weather-proof decoration
One of the best things about having an outdoor wedding is that the decoration is already done for you, thanks to the natural beauty all around you. Enhance the setting with some of your own decorations too, but make sure they can withstand all kinds of weather.
Create an enchanting space with a range of ambient outdoor lights that will get even more magical as the sun sets. Choose LED candles instead of the real things. Make your own arch out of balloons or fauna that can be moved easily. Invest in a marquee that will shelter you should the weather start to behave in a typically British way.
Check the legalities
The legalities of marrying outdoors can be slightly more complicated than marrying at a specially designed wedding venue indoors. If you’re getting married in England, it is only legal to get married under a permanent roof structure. This can include outside features a veranda, a bandstand or a pavilion. The most important thing is that it has to be fixed. A ceremony in a marquee is usually not allowed although the law was temporarily changed during Covid. Keep an eye out for the Law Commissioners Report due in January 2023 which, it is expected, will make allowances for legal outdoor ceremonies to remain.
Do take this into consideration when designing your outdoor wedding. Make sure there is such a fixed roof at the location and if you’re unsure, ask your Registrar if your chosen spot is appropriate.
Get the food and drink right
It’s probably the most important thing to get right at a wedding, so it’s important to think about how you will serve food to your guests outdoors. It might be difficult to stage a 3-course extravaganza, so how about something quirky? Food trucks are a massive trend – Greek, Thai or Indian street food, BBQ vans, burgers, fish and chips or pizzas. You can also have desserts served this way. Waffle Vans, cup cakes, crepes, hot donuts or a traditional ice-cream van! Not only are they convenient outdoor solutions, but they’ll also add heaps of personality to your day.
Good luck and fingers crossed for that weather!
See more outdoor wedding tips here
