Outdoor elopement weddings
As you’ll know if you’ve been following the blog, we’ve been documenting the move by the Government from wedding ceremonies only under permanent covered structures to the temporary covid changes to encourage outdoor ceremonies to the permanent change confirmed in April 2022. You can read about the evolution of outdoor ceremonies in my previous posts here and here.
When we hosted big weddings (2014 to 2022) we offered outdoor ceremonies at the venue for couples who didn’t need or didn’t want to be legally married outdoors. Sometimes couples had already got married, sometimes they got married later that day in our licensed wedding barn after an outdoor ceremony.
During covid we had some outdoor ceremonies, generally they were immediately outside the wedding barn, literally just a few inches from where they’d always been held under the barn roof.
Since we’ve moved into elopement only weddings, we’ve refined our outdoor ceremony options depending on the number of guests. You don’t need to make a final decision about your ceremony location until the actual day of the wedding because well, the weather. But I do like to talk through your plan A and your plan B so I know in advance whether an outdoor ceremony is your preferred plan A option. If it is then we’ll talk about the location for that and your plan B option will be the wedding barn. I like to be prepared!
Outdoor ceremony options
There are 2 main options for an outdoor elopement ceremony here. The first is the riverwalk which is super popular. It provides a natural ‘aisle’ to walk up, either on your own, the two of you together or with your wedding party.
The riverwalk
Sama and Jamal got married just the two of them on the riverwalk in May last year in a beautiful ceremony under the willow tree.
They had an independent celebrant for their ceremony so we didn’t need to set up a Registrar’s table which we have to do at the ceremony if you’ve booked Tavistock Registrars to hold a legal ceremony for you.
Another riverwalk elopement
Stacie & Josh also got married with us last year, just 3 guests for them so there was space for them to have their ceremony on the riverwalk. As the riverwalk is narrow, there’s limited space for guest seating once we’ve got the Registrar’s table and chairs set up.
Here’s the riverwalk set up for their ceremony…
Extra flowers for the arch were provided by our elopement florist. They’re an optional extra – no pressure if you just want the arch and/or draping fabric on its own.
and the bench seat for their 3 guests…
Stacie walked down to the riverwalk with her bridesmaid daughter
Groom Josh was waiting on the riverwalk with the all important ring bearer
already wearing the rings safely clipped to his outfit (I know, supercute)
A beautiful ceremony on the riverwalk with personalised vows
And the handover of the rings
After the ceremony, paperwork…
Followed of course by popping the champagne corks…
Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave also got married on the riverwalk – later in the year, it was the third week of September 2022. Sam was pregnant with their baby and they brought their dog Mabel so there were 4 at the wedding – so lovely. The arch was set up with additional flowers by Flowers et al.
The weather was dry so the ceremony could take place on the banks of the river with just the sound of the water and birdsong.
We’d set up the Registrar’s table and chairs on the riverwalk too. If you gotta do paperwork, this is a place to do it.
The riverwalk with its beautiful willow tree canopy makes a great space for an outdoor ceremony.
All photos of Sam & Dave’s wedding by Freckle Photography.
Garden ceremony
That’s the riverwalk for an elopement ceremony. As I say, it’s really only suitable for couples without guests or those with very limited guest numbers. We can’t fit 10 guests on the riverwalk for a ceremony, we just can’t squish ’em in. So if you have a few more guests, the other option is the lower lawn. It’s perfect for up to 10 guests as it can be set up as an intimate space so you don’t feel too exposed in a large space.
Eve and Karl got married on the lawn in May this year with 10 guests. We set up the arch for them and one of our elopement florists (Jodie from Moss & Mushroom) brought in extra flowers ordered by the couple for the ceremony arch.
Here’s groom Karl waiting for Eve to walk in with her Dad (known as FOTB (Father of the Bride) in wedding lingo) – wasn’t that arrangement by Jodie in the background just lovely?
Eve, her Dad and her son just taking a moment by the house before walking in – check out the immense bouquet by Jodie the florist, that fab up do by the Hair Lounge, Eve looks amazing.
Eve & Karl at the arch with their guests all seated ready for the ceremony to begin – love that little look between them.
This shot gives you a good sense of the space on the lawns and how enclosed and intimate it feels and surrounded by green. Soooo much green…
After the ceremony, some quick pics by the arch with those flowers (did you spot the antlers?)
And onto the paperwork – again on the lawns. This lil elopement was super special and more photos from it will be going up on the gallery later this week so watch out for that. (Edited to add, you can see the elopement gallery here.)
Outdoor elopement
So if you fancy yourself an outdoor elopement, this is how it can be done. Email me at [email protected] and tell me your plans – I’d love to hear about them.
