Wedding Reform is about to make it easier to have your legal outdoor wedding ceremony anywhere.
There are changes afoot which mean the license to marry will be attached to the person doing the marrying (aka me, as an accredited Humanist celebrant) rather than the venue. This means that venues that don’t currently hold a license for outdoor ceremonies will soon be permitted to host legal marriage ceremonies on their land, so long as the celebrant holds the correct license.
In the meantime, remember that celebrant ceremonies (non legally binding, sometimes referred to as ‘symbolic’) can already take place anywhere. Whilst you’re browsing this list of my favourite North Wales wedding venues for outdoor ceremonies, it’s worth remembering that you can also have your ceremony in your back garden, at your favourite pub, or on the top of a mountain - so long as you have permission from the landowner.
Take inspiration from 8 of North Wales’ best outdoor wedding ceremony venues:
Tucked away in the Nant Gwynant valley in Snowdonia, Llyn Gwynant is one of the area’s most photographed lakes - with very good reason. It’s nestled at the base of Yr Wyddfa, and right there on its shores you’ll find the wedding venue Llyn Gwynant Barns and Campsite. If it sounds spectacular, that’s because it truly is - mountain and lake all in one frame, a quintessential image of North Wales’ natural beauty.
I’m a recommended celebrant for outdoor wedding ceremonies at Llyn Gwynant Barn, ceremonies which happen close to the shores of the lake with the option to arrive or leave by canoe. It’s pretty much the perfect Eryri wedding venue for nature lovers and adventurers, and you and your loved ones can make use of its campsite (from which you can walk straight up the mountain), in your own tents or in glamping bell tents hired in. You can even plant a tree on the site to commemorate your wedding!
Find out more about Llyn Gwynant Barns (link) and see some real wedding ceremonies I have led there to get some inspiration - both outdoor ceremonies down by the lake, and indoor ceremonies in the beautiful barn space. If it’s wet weather on your wedding day, everything can happen inside - without compromising on the views at dinner, down to the lake through the bifold doors onto the terrace.
On a private estate in Criccieth, Talhenbont Hall is set amongst ancient woodland and close to the River Dwyfach, offering a completely different backdrop for your wedding ceremony to Llyn Gwynant. You can hire the estate exclusively for a 3-day event, and choose to get married in The Coach House or at the bottom of its unique stepped amphitheater, under the wooden pagoda.
100 acres of woodland, gardens and terraces wind down and bring you right to the banks of the river, and the whole outlook still looks incredible even on a moody, rainy day.
Take a look at Emily and David’s wedding ceremony at Talhenbont Hall, which included a handfasting in the Coach House. Whether you choose an indoor or outdoor ceremony, you’ll love the setting for your photographs, on the terrace for your drinks reception, or just to breathe in some fresh, just-married air.
Outdoor wedding ceremonies work best in spring and summer - or at least, that’s what you’ve always been led to believe. Find out why summer is not always the best time of year to get married outdoors in North Wales.
Soughton Hall is one of North Wales’ best outdoor wedding ceremony venues, not least because of the unmistakable, opulent impression it gives as you approach up the driveway. It’s a grand Georgian building, and where Llyn Gwynant offers pure Welsh nature and Talhenbont Hall boasts spectacular views, Soughton Hall feels decadent and blends traditional and contemporary design beautifully.
The picturesque Secret Garden is home to an outdoor terrace under the watchful eye (and shade) of an old oak tree, and it’s particularly perfect for couples who love a period drama, or who want a Welsh country house wedding that’s easily accessible but feels exclusive.
I led Ariane and Samuel’s Soughton Hall wedding ceremony, bringing in the odd French word for their French-Canadian guests, all of whom had flown in from various parts of the world for their destination wedding in North Wales.
Find out more about making your friends and family feel involved in the wedding ceremony, even if you don’t all speak the same language, and read my guide to planning your own destination wedding in North Wales. (links)
Gwydir Castle in the Conwy Valley is a Grade I listed Tudor home, restored over twenty years - and now it’s available for you to say your vows in the 400-year-old walled formal garden. The Llanrwst wedding venue is steeped in history, and we can hold your ceremony beside a stone arch which was built to commemorate Charles I’s marriage.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the castle’s resident peacocks - you can expect a few extra guests wandering around at your outdoor ceremony. Of course, if it rains you can make use of the impressive, historic Tudor interiors.
If you’re looking for an outdoor wedding venue near Wrexham that also offers protection from the elements, you’ve found your best-of-both-worlds solution at Tower Hill Barns. This one is pretty special, as I’ll lead your ceremony under an old Victorian railway bridge - which used to be part of the Ruabon to Barmouth line, for those interested in the history!
My favourite thing about this outdoor ceremony venue is that you’re also somewhat protected from the weather. The railway arch itself offers shade and shelter, and there’s a purpose-built oak gazebo for your guests to sit under - meaning that a light sprinkle needn’t spoil your plans.
Of course, if the weather does turn inclement, there are indoor spaces available to you too. This venue is better suited to smaller guest numbers because of the available space.
Find out more about planning smaller and shorter-notice weddings in North Wales, saying goodbye to traditional timelines and long lead times. (link)
Deep in the Snowdonian countryside, close to the village of Beddgelert with its famous legend of Prince Llywelen, is Tŷ Afon River House. If getting married in a venue that feels straight out of myth and folklore feels right to you, you’ve found the perfect place here in Gwynedd.
The outdoor wedding ceremony space here is on the mountain terrace, framed by two tall trees forming a natural arch and Moel Hebog rising proudly behind. You can stay with a select number of guests in one of its 10 gorgeously decorated rooms (said to be inspired by the Welsh concept of hiraeth), or come here for a romantic elopement enveloped in nature, storytelling and Welsh charm.
Read my guide to planning your elopement in North Wales, and visualise your own wedding story unfolding at Ty Afon.
As the name suggests, this is the perfect North Wales wedding venue for an outdoor woodland ceremony - 15 acres of it, to be precise. Tucked away in a little clearing you’ll find a thatched shelter, and there’s a lovely waterside gazebo to have photos taken.
This is a great venue for outdoorsy and adventurous couples, as they can offer activities such as archery, falconry and segway, and also have birds of prey which can fly your rings to you during your ceremony - if you’re having rings, that is. You’ll also find camping and caravan facilities including glamping cabins, so this Northwich wedding venue has much, much more to offer than a pretty woodland clearing.
Get in touch to talk about hiring me as your celebrant for your North Wales wedding (link)
Last but not least on my shortlist of the 8 best North Wales wedding venues for an outdoor ceremony is Highfield Hall. It’s an exclusive use venue in Northop, and has an outdoor garden pavilion with a permanent structure for certificate signing. You’ll find accommodation on site, and lovely blank canvas indoor spaces to continue the celebrations - or in case of rain!
Outdoor wedding ceremonies in North Wales don’t HAVE to be at a venue:
It’s worth finishing with a little reminder that you don’t have to have your outdoor wedding ceremony at a venue, or indeed in your venue’s designated spaces. You just need to distinguish between where your legal ceremony can happen and where your symbolic, celebrant-led ceremony can, and they can very definitely be two separate occasions.
As your Humanist celebrant, I’m happy (and able) to lead your ceremony anywhere, but (for the time being) it won’t be legally binding. If you’d like to climb a mountain or go to the beach, I’m there - and if you book your wedding with me and the law changes in the meantime, I would be delighted to also perform your legal ceremony if you wish.
Find out more about celebrant weddings in North Wales led by me, and get in touch to chat.
