Can you get married in a field?
We get asked all the time, “Can I get married in a field?” or “Can we get married in the tipi?”. We’d love to say a big yes! But, while you can hold your ceremony in a field or tipi, it isn’t the legal wedding.
So, What are the Rules?
Currently, the Home Office rules state that a legal marriage must take place in a suitable roofed structure. Which is licensed by the relevant County Registrar and approved by the Fire Officer.
However, these rules are evolving. We’re hopeful that soon, celebrants may be able to legally marry couples anywhere they choose. right now, though legal weddings can’t take place inside a tipi or marquee.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Many venues offer alternatives to enable you to have your wedding outdoors. Using appropriate outdoor structures such as summer houses, gazebos, and bandstands that have been approved using the guidelines above. This has recently been expanded so that if there is a licensed permanent structure on site, the license could be extended into a temporary structure such as a tipi or marquee, allowing you to have your legal ceremony inside.
As an alternative option, many couples are now choosing to hold an outdoor blessing or a celebrant ceremony. This ultimately gives them the freedom to have their wedding where they want. With this type of ceremony, the location can be held in any place you choose, maybe the field you enjoy walking in or somewhere that was special in your childhood. Even the tipi structure that you can’t stop thinking about!
What are the Limitations?
Unfortunately, blessings and celebrant ceremonies do not create a legal marriage. This type of ceremony still requires some official ‘paperwork’. Many couples choose to have a small registry office ceremony a few days before their outdoor wedding, and celebrate this with just a few close family members. Then, a few days later the real celebration takes place! You have your ceremony on-site, in front of all of your nearest and dearest, with a unique ceremony to reflect your own personalities.
The registry office ceremony is just the signing of the contract and it often holds no more importance to the couple involved than just making it legal. Having your ceremony conducted by a celebrant means that you have the freedom to express your vows to each other in your own words. As well as choosing readings and music which mean something to you as a couple. And think about it – this way you get to have two weddings.
Those That Have
We have had the privilege of supporting many couples with their outdoor wedding ceremony. Here is some gorgeous weddings that did just that.
Tipi Ceremony after plan A was too windy to be outside
Garden Ceremony followed by Tipi Celebration
Want to chat about your own Outdoor Wedding?
If you’re dreaming of an outdoor wedding or looking for something unique like a tipi or sailcloth celebration, we’d love to help make it happen. Get in touch with our team today, to begin chatting through your own ideas.
