Religious Outdoor Wedding: Tips For A Sacred Ceremony

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when you want to incorporate religion into an outdoor setting. There are a few ways to go about this, such as getting married in a church garden, choosing an independent celebrant, or having two separate ceremonies. If you attend a place of worship, ask your minister if they can perform marriages outdoors. If not, an independent celebrant can create a personalised ceremony that incorporates religion. While celebrants cannot legally bind marriages, you can complete the legal aspects of your marriage elsewhere and then hold a celebratory ceremony with a celebrant. Alternatively, you can have two ceremonies: one religious and one outdoors. This option may be more costly, but it allows you to have a combination of both settings.

Get married in a church garden

If you're looking to hold a religious wedding ceremony outdoors, one option is to get married in a church garden. In England and Wales, the rules around outdoor weddings have been relaxed to include the grounds of churches and other religious premises. This means that if a religious minister is authorised to perform weddings in a church, they can also do so in the church's garden.

If you attend a place of worship, ask your minister if they are able to conduct marriages in their outdoor areas. This can be a great way to incorporate your religious beliefs into your wedding while still enjoying the beauty of nature.

When planning a church garden wedding, consider the following:

• Scenic backdrop: Opting for a garden wedding means you'll be surrounded by natural beauty, with flowers and greenery already in place. This can save you money on floral decorations and create a relaxed and intimate atmosphere for your special day.
• Comfort of guests: Provide guests with information and simple attire tips on your wedding website. Suggest appropriate footwear, such as wedges or flats, if the reception will be held on grass. Also, consider offering parasols, hand fans, chilled water, blankets, or shawls to ensure your guests remain comfortable throughout the ceremony.
• Sound system: For larger groups, consider using a simple sound system or lavalier mics to ensure all guests can hear the ceremony, especially if there is wind or other outdoor noise.
• Weather contingency: Prepare a backup plan in case of inclement weather. This could include setting up a clear tent outside or moving to an indoor space. Stay updated with weather forecasts and be open to brainstorming portrait ideas with your photographer if it rains.
• Bug-proofing: Consider having the ceremony and reception areas professionally bug-proofed a few days before the wedding. Set up citronella candles or torches to enhance the ambiance and deter bugs.
• Lighting: Work with your photographer and videographer to make the most of the venue's view and lighting. Take advantage of golden hour for ultra-romantic photos and consider drone footage to capture breathtaking bird's-eye views.
• Transportation: If there is significant walking or driving between the parking area, ceremony site, and reception space, consider offering easy transportation options for your guests, such as golf carts or shuttles.
• Fashion and beauty: Choose weather-appropriate attire and hairstyles. For sunny days, opt for an updo and waterproof makeup to protect from sweating. For grass settings, avoid stilettos and instead go for wedges or flats to navigate the terrain easily.

Choose an independent celebrant

If you want to hold a religious outdoor wedding, one option is to choose an independent celebrant. Independent celebrants create and lead personalised, bespoke wedding ceremonies and are usually happy to incorporate religion if requested. They can also find creative ways to include more than one belief, which is ideal for couples from different faiths or cultures.

There are many celebrants to choose from, so you may wish to find someone with the same faith or cultural background as you. Celebrants cannot currently perform legally binding marriages, so you would need to complete the legal aspects of your marriage elsewhere, then hold a celebratory ceremony with a celebrant, which can take place anywhere you choose. You could complete the legalities at a register office, or hold a separate ceremony at a church or religious venue.

If you attend a place of worship, it is worth asking your minister if they can perform marriages in their outdoor areas, or if they can recommend an independent celebrant. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations, or search for celebrants online. When you have found a celebrant you like, be sure to ask them how they usually structure ceremonies and whether they are happy to include religious elements. You could also ask if they have experience with the specific type of religious ceremony you would like to hold.

If you choose to go with an independent celebrant, you will have the freedom to hold your ceremony anywhere you like. You could hold it in the garden of your wedding venue, or even in your own backyard. If you are holding your ceremony in a public place, like a beach or park, be sure to check if there is a site fee or donation required. You may also need to pay extra delivery fees if the site is remote.

As well as choosing a celebrant, there are many other things to consider when planning an outdoor wedding. You will need to think about lighting, sound, and temperature control. You may also want to provide parasols, hand fans, or blankets to keep your guests comfortable. It is also a good idea to have a backup tent in case of bad weather.

Have two separate ceremonies

If you want to hold a religious outdoor wedding, one option is to have two separate ceremonies. This can be especially useful if you want to incorporate multiple faiths or cultures into your wedding.

The first thing to do is to decide on your officiants. You may want to choose an independent celebrant who can create a personalised, bespoke ceremony for you. Celebrants can incorporate religion into the ceremony and can also find creative ways to include more than one belief. You could also choose a religious minister who is authorised to perform legal weddings outdoors.

Next, you should decide on the format of your ceremonies. You may want to hold one ceremony in a religious building or garden and another with a celebrant in a separate outdoor location. Alternatively, you could have one ceremony that focuses on your religious beliefs and another that focuses on you as a couple. If you have two ceremonies, there are usually no set rules for the second one.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you choose to have two separate ceremonies. Firstly, you will need to check which of your officiants is able to perform the legally binding part of the wedding. Secondly, having two ceremonies will likely mean additional costs. To reduce costs, you could make one ceremony a low-key affair with just close family and friends and have a larger celebration for the other.

Prepare guests for an outdoor setting

Preparing your guests for an outdoor wedding is key to ensuring they are comfortable and able to enjoy the day. Here are some tips to help you prepare your guests for an outdoor setting:

Provide Clear Information

Use your wedding website and invitations to inform guests about the outdoor setting. Let them know about the type of terrain they will be dealing with, such as grass, and suggest appropriate footwear. For example, you could say, "The reception will be held on the grass—wedges and flats encouraged!" This will help your guests avoid sinking into the ground if they wear stilettos or other narrow heels. You can also suggest they bring layers for changing temperatures, such as a "sweater or wrap" if it's expected to get chilly at night.

Keep Guests Comfortable

Provide items to help your guests stay comfortable during the ceremony and reception. Consider offering parasols, hand fans, or chilled water to keep them cool in the heat, or blankets and shawls for chilly weather. If your ceremony will be held on grass, provide plastic heel protectors to prevent shoes from sinking into the soil.

Plan for Bugs

Take steps to protect your guests from bugs, such as mosquitoes. You can have the venue professionally treated a few days before the wedding and place citronella candles or torches around the area. Choose flowers that mosquitoes don't like, such as lavender, marigolds, and peppermint, and incorporate them into your decor.

Manage Transportation

If there is a decent amount of walking or driving involved in getting from the parking area to the ceremony and reception spaces, consider providing easy transportation options for your guests. This could include renting golf carts or pedicabs or enlisting ushers to shuttle guests as needed. If your venue is remote, providing shuttles or vans can be a nice gesture to help guests avoid long waits for rideshare services.

Prepare for Weather Changes

Create a weather contingency plan and monitor the weather forecast in the days leading up to your wedding. If rain is expected, have a backup plan in place, such as a clear tent or an indoor space at the venue. Pick a few things you love about your Plan B to stay positive if you need to use it. If it looks like it might rain, brainstorm portrait ideas with your photographer or pick up some wedding umbrellas for romantic rainy-day photos.

Include religious elements in your ceremony

If you and your partner are religious or spiritual, you may want to incorporate your beliefs into your outdoor wedding. Here are some ways to include religious elements in your ceremony:

• Choose a Religious Venue: Opt for a church garden or the grounds of another religious premises. This can be a meaningful way to include your faith while still enjoying the beauty of an outdoor setting.
• Select an Independent Celebrant: Independent celebrants can create personalised ceremonies and are often happy to incorporate religion if requested. This option is ideal if you and your partner have different faiths or cultural backgrounds, as they can find creative ways to include both beliefs.
• Hold Two Separate Ceremonies: If you want to fully customise your religious outdoor wedding, consider having two ceremonies. For example, you could hold one ceremony in a religious building or garden, and another with an independent celebrant at your chosen outdoor location. This option allows you to have one ceremony focused on your religious beliefs and another centred on you as a couple.
• Incorporate Religious Traditions: Include religious songs, readings, and rituals that are meaningful to you. For instance, you could have one or two readings by chosen individuals, a gospel reading by a priest, and a sung psalm. You can also incorporate religious songs or hymns around the vows.
• Work with a Religious Officiant: Discuss your wishes with a religious officiant, such as a priest or minister. They can guide you on how to structure the ceremony, including prayers, blessings, and any traditions specific to your faith.
• Inform Your Guests: If you have guests from different religious backgrounds or none at all, consider letting them know what to expect. You can include details of the religious elements on your wedding website or programme. This can help your guests feel more comfortable and able to follow along during the ceremony.

Remember, the most important aspect is ensuring your wedding ceremony reflects your beliefs and values while also creating a memorable and meaningful experience for you and your partner.

Frequently asked questions