Is Summer Really The Best Time for an Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in North Wales?
For couples planning an outdoor wedding ceremony in North Wales, it’s long been accepted that summer is the best month to do so. But what if it isn’t? Increasingly, summer weddings are coming with a host of their own challenges, and getting married out in the elements of Snowdonia or Anglesey might just be better suited to a different time of year. Ultimately, it comes down to what you picture for your outdoor ceremony, and ‘summer’ isn’t automatically the right answer to your question - when should we do it?
What actually constitutes ‘a nice day’ for an outdoor wedding ceremony, anyway?
When you picture a summer outdoor wedding ceremony in North Wales, you’re probably envisioning something quite specific in terms of the weather conditions. Blue skies and sunshine, yes, with a temperature around the 24ºC mark and the gentlest of breezes wafting through the trees. A few clouds too, creating the perfect shaded patch for your guests to sit in during the ceremony, just enough that it’ll give you amazing photographs but not so much that it feels overcast. No rain for a few days, so the ground isn’t muddy - but it did rain about a week ago, so the grass and trees look lush and there’s no dry dust flying around, and the lake, river or waterfall nearby is running at its ideal level.
Breaking it down, the perfect weather conditions for an outdoor ceremony are actually quite specific - if what you’re looking for is a textbook Welsh summer afternoon. You might actually have something much more rugged and dramatic in mind, hoping for moody skies or Wuthering-Heights-style winds or a stormy day at the beach, all of which bring their own kind of flair to a wedding.
Whatever the vision, your idea of the perfect day is going to look very different from the next person’s - but in almost all cases, there are a few ‘tick boxes’ you’re probably looking at:
Temperature
Wind
Chance of rain
Cloud cover
Underfoot conditions
Daylight hours (because you don’t actually have to get married at 1pm, you know!)
Scenery
If there’s one guarantee I can make about the North Welsh weather on your wedding day, it’s that we can never truly know what it will do. That’s part of the beauty of having your ceremony in this part of the world, and one of the biggest reasons why summer is not always the best time of year for your wedding here.
Why summer is no longer the obvious choice for North Wales outdoor wedding ceremonies
It’s true that the best-laid plans do often go awry, so while summer weddings mean long days, a good chance of a glorious golden hour, the possibility of sunset vows, warmer weather, lots of light and the chance to be in the outdoors, you can never guarantee any of the above. You’ve probably noticed it’s been hot this year, and we should expect the trajectory of ever-higher temperatures to continue as the years go by. I certainly don’t expect it to suddenly get significantly cooler in the summer months, and it’s worthwhile planning on this basis.
Someone very wise once said that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad preparation, so as long as you keep these things in mind, there’s no reason you can’t have the beautiful summer wedding you’re dreaming of in the incredible North Wales landscape. It’s probably more important than ever to think about:
Is the area you’re planning your outdoor ceremony likely to be shaded? It’s worth trying to visit at the time of day you’re marrying, or at least asking for photos.
Are there wet weather options in case it does rain? I go into this in more detail later.
If you’re going inside for part of the day, does your venue have air conditioning? Does the place you’re getting ready have air conditioning, or is there some other way to get relief from a burning hot day if needed?
If you’re inviting guests, plan for fans, parasols and cold water (not just alcoholic drinks) to keep them comfortable
Are you having flowers at your wedding? They don’t tend to do well in exceptionally high temperatures, so bear in mind that what you’re imagining may not be possible
Tipis get hot (hotter than the sun hot), so if you’re planning a tipi wedding in the summer, really think about how you’ll cool it
Choosing to get married in a lush green garden or lawn? There’s no guarantee it will still be green after weeks of hot weather
You’ll also find that North Wales gets very popular in the summer months, and the tourists love it as much as we do. If you’re marrying at an exclusive use wedding venue, you won’t have any issues, but if you’re planning for a wild elopement you may find yourself sharing space with curious visitors.
Summer is no longer the obvious choice for outdoor wedding ceremonies in North Wales, but of course it can still be a fantastic choice - as long as you’re realistic, prepared, and a little bit flexible. Meet four of the couples I’ve had the pleasure of leading ceremonies for, and see how they worked with the Welsh weather rather than against it at their summer weddings:
Add images of the below if you have them!
Jacob and Lucy handed out personalised fans to their guests, to help them keep cool.
Ariane and Sam passed out bottles of cold water to their loved ones as they entered the ceremony space
Tom and Louise made the most of the longest day and had a summer solstice ceremony, a beautiful way to enjoy conditions that only this time of year can offer
And Rich and Sian had their summer wedding deep in the forest, which gave us shade and cover without worrying about muddy dresses
I've been lucky enough to work alongside local photographer Alessandra from Ariel in Blue a few times. When I asked her what she thought about summer weddings in North Wales, she said this:
“I would encourage people not to be limited by the idea you HAVE to get married in the summer.”
This seems like a lovely way of saying that if your vision for your outdoor wedding is not of a bright sunny day with birds tweeting, there might be a better time of year for you. Why not consider…
Could spring be the perfect time of year to have an outdoor wedding ceremony in North Wales?
Spring in North Wales generally means it’s mild enough to be outdoors but without the aggressive summer heat, and the big bonus is that there are far fewer tourists than in the peak months. You’ll find bluebells in the woods, cherry blossom trees in full bloom, and two bank holidays in May - what’s not to like?
In my experience, planning for outdoor ceremonies any earlier than May means unpredictable weather, and you may find the ground is wet underfoot and that the light fades fast at the end of the day. Popular dates like Easter and those two bank holidays get booked up fast, and on national holiday days we do see a spike in the number of visitors in North Wales.
My advice for outdoor wedding ceremony plans in spring is to make sure you have a plan for if it does rain, and don’t rely on perfect conditions. If you’re the kind of couple who’s happy to go with the flow to a certain degree, and might even be happy to embrace a spring shower, you’ll find this a lovely time of year in North Wales.
Autumn is a strong contender for the best time to get married in Wales
September is always incredibly popular for weddings, since the weather is good but not too hot - and the scenery is something to write home about. It’s almost audaciously good in North Wales, where the changing leaves make everything look completely spectacular in the soft light.
Alessandra commented that “because of the way the earth sits in the solar system, on a clear day the light is perfection” - in other words, your wedding photographs are going to be gorgeous.
This time of year offers the opportunity for harvest-inspired weddings and Pagan “Mabon” celebrations for the Autumn Equinox, which in itself is a lovely occasion to marry thanks to the equal length of the day and night. You’ve got a rich range of colour schemes to choose from, and can really lean into the cosiness of the season before things turn starker in the winter.
Chloe and Richard’s outdoor wedding ceremony in the Conwy Valley looked beautifully autumnal, with the burnt orange of the flora and the dried floral arrangements on their arch and in her bouquet. They married in the gardens of an Air BnB, leaving themselves with enough flexibility to change the time of the ceremony to avoid the incoming rainfall - this can be hugely beneficial in the Northern Welsh climate.
You can probably guess where we’re going next - into potentially the most interesting month of all for an outdoor wedding: winter.
Can you get married outdoors in winter in North Wales?
Don’t be scared of outdoor weddings between December and February in North Wales. It’s the quietest time of year with tourists, meaning you’ll have all of those incredible natural landscapes to yourselves if you’re happy to roll with the weather. Low prices combined with wide availability actually make this a very appealing time of year, and with a little bit of preparation you can have a really wonderful wedding.
You should, of course, think about how to keep yourselves and your guests warm - but people get married in the Scandinavian snow all the time, so it definitely can be done! Of course the weather may present its challenges, so while snow, wind and rain (and, yes, hail and sleet too) are definitely possible, you do also get the most pristine, crisp winter days where the sun makes the frost sparkle - a real winter wonderland, if you ask me.
Some people say that the outdoor landscapes of North Wales look less impressive in the winter, and while it’s certainly true that the trees are bare and things can look a little harsher and starker, you might find a more austere, gothic backdrop attractive in its own way.
I spoke to Alessandra for her advice on winter weddings, and she said:
“Since it gets dark so early, golden hour happens around 4pm - we can do sunset portraits earlier in the day, and sparklers at 8pm!”.
Altering your timeline to accommodate the winter weather is the best way to get the most out of the daylight hours you have, and working with your natural environment is going to give you better results for an outdoor wedding, ten out of ten times.
The best time of year to get married outdoors in North Wales is not universal across all locations:
One of the loveliest things about North Wales is the variety of different landscapes you can choose for your outdoor wedding, and the weather considerations vary widely with them. This is why there’s no one right answer for the best time of year for a wedding here, because it really depends on your plans.
Weather conditions change much quicker up in the mountains of Eryri because of the elevation, for example, so you may need to expect or be prepared for unpredictable conditions or unreliable weather forecasts. You may set off up the mountain in sunshine and find a different microclimate higher up.
Coastal areas such as Anglesey get more stable temperatures and slightly less rain on average than inland areas, because of their geography, but are more susceptible to strong winds.
As a celebrant based here, I’ve seen all sorts of conditions and how they change hour on hour, and my single biggest tip for couples planning an outdoor wedding in North Wales is to remain relaxed and flexible about the weather. Having the right attitude increases the likelihood of a fantastic wedding much more than having the right weather, and if you’re very conscious of not getting ‘rained off’, we have plenty of wonderful indoor wedding venues to choose instead.
Choosing an indoor wedding ceremony in North Wales is not a compromise - even for nature-lovers.
If the idea of gambling on the weather really doesn’t appeal to you but you still want that outdoorsy feel, you’re in luck. North Wales has plenty of wedding venues that will keep you dry but still offer you a view of the outdoors, or the opportunity to split your day between indoor and outdoor - always with a backup plan in case Mother Nature enacts her prerogative to switch things up!
One of my favourite North Wales wedding venues for nature lovers is Llyn Gwynant Barns, set in Snowdonia by the Llyn Gwynant Lake. Inside this 18th century stone barn, you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows and a door that opens up directly onto a lake terrace, plus a campsite if you want to really embrace the natural environment.
As a recommended wedding celebrant at Llyn Gwynant Barns, I know it’s a venue that works beautifully whatever the weather - and there’s a shower, the lake still looks gorgeous in a dramatic sort of way from your cosy spot inside.
So, is summer really the best time of year for your North Wales outdoor wedding ceremony?
Because you and your outdoor wedding plans are utterly unique, there’s no perfect time of year for your North Wales nuptials - and you shouldn’t assume that the summer will automatically give you the best conditions. I suggest discussing your priorities and willingness to make last-minute changes if the weather switches up, and working with local suppliers who know the area and will help you get the most out of your outdoor celebration.
If you’d like a personal outdoor ceremony in North Wales, with a celebrant who’s married couples in rain showers on beaches, on windy mountainsides and in serene sunny valleys, I’d love to hear from you - get in touch and we’ll craft a ceremony that’s just as impressive and impactful as the landscape setting you’ve chosen.
Kate Rostance is a humanist wedding celebrant based in North Wales. She creates ceremonies that are relaxed and full of meaning - with a touch of humour and plenty of heart. She works across North Wales, including Snowdonia, Anglesey, Gwynedd, the Llyn Peninsula, Cheshire and beyond.
