Getting married in the great outdoors is a perennially popular choice, with Gloucestershire offering a picturesque range of wedding venues certified for outdoor ceremonies.
While, strictly speaking, a marriage cannot be conducted in the open air, it can take place underneath a fixed structure – with pavilions, porches and pergolas making for photogenic options for outdoor-loving couples in the county.
Promising inspiration galore, SoGlos handpicks 15 of the most stunning outdoor wedding locations in the county in this hot list.
1. Ellenborough Park
With a fully restored stone gazebo located within perfectly manicured grounds, five-star Cheltenham hotel Ellenborough Park is an ideal choice for couples hoping for an alfresco wedding – promising glorious views of the Gloucestershire countryside.
2. Elmore Court
Elmore Court, near Gloucester, boasts an impressive front porch which overlooks the stately home’s sprawling south lawn which is licensed for wedding ceremonies – providing a unique spot full of period character for couples to tie the knot.
3. Oxleaze Barn
Oxleaze Barn near Lechlade offers a charming country setting for Cotswold wedding celebrations. Couples dreaming of an alfresco ceremony can exchange their vows in the courtyard, with the legal declarations taking place just inside the barn. Alternatively, couples can get married in the licensed outdoor lean-to.
4. Painswick Rococo Garden
Offering an intimate and romantic venue in the heart of the Cotswolds, Painswick Rococo Garden promises a picture-perfect backdrop for celebrations, and has been recognised by The Independent as one of the top 50 wedding venues in the UK.
Nestled in a hidden valley and boasting panoramic views, Rococo Garden offers a choice of characterful garden buildings which are licensed for civil ceremonies, including the Red House, the Eagle House, and the Bothy, all located around the glorious gardens.
Meanwhile, with enchanting woodlands, a unique maze, eye-catching follies, and acres of stunning gardens to explore, the destination provides endless photo opportunities and plenty of stunning sights for guests to soak up.
5. Lapstone Barn
Lapstone Barn is a beautifully converted exclusive-use venue near Chipping Campden that can host outdoor celebrations for up to 200 guests in its picturesque courtyard.
6. Matara
With its very own cloistered courtyard licensed for civil ceremonies, Matara in Tetbury provides a truly original wedding setting, situated within acres of Japanese-inspired gardens and picture-perfect tranquil parklands.
7. Bittenham Springs
Located in the picturesque village of Ewen, Bittenham Springs offers a romantic setting complete with lakeside views, manicured lawns and spectacular scenery – and is licensed to hold civil ceremonies in its quaint lakeside lodge, with a large lawn area for seating loved ones.
8. Lodge Park
The stunning 17th century grandstand at Lodge Park offers a spectacular backdrop for saying ‘I do’. Couples dreaming of outdoor celebrations can get married under the Grand Portico of the National Trust property, followed by drinks receptions and games on the manicured lawn.
9. Glenfall House
Glenfall House, a restored manor house outside Cheltenham, offers seven places to tie the knot, including The Alcove, a romantic wisteria-covered archway in the beautiful gardens, with space for up to 150 guests to celebrate with you.
10. Hyde Barn
Hyde Barn in Stow-on-the-Wold boasts a beautiful, rustic arbour which is licensed to hold civil ceremonies, offering a striking backdrop of the surrounding Cotswolds countryside.
11. Cripps Barn
A rustic, 18th century stone barn situated within the glorious Cotswold countryside, Cripps Barn is licenced to hold outdoor ceremonies in its wonderful woodland glade, which overlooks bucolic rolling hills.
12. Hatherley Manor
Popular Gloucester wedding venue Hatherley Manor offers a lovely space for outside ceremonies, with its quaint pavilion set within the hotel’s walled gardens making for an idyllic outdoor setting to say ‘I do’ – and have those all-important wedding photographs too.
13. The Kingscote Barn
Award-winning wedding venue, The Kingscote Barn boasts a secluded location in the Tetbury countryside, allowing couples to exchange rings outside at its striking Oak Linhay, which provides views of the surrounding rural valley.
14. Stonehouse Court Hotel
Set within six acres of sprawling grounds, Stonehouse Court Hotel near Stroud offers an elegant pagoda licensed for outdoor civil ceremonies, with space for up to 150 guests in the gardens.
15. The Great Tythe Barn
Surrounded by 200 acres of countryside, The Great Tythe Barn near Tetbury invites brides and grooms to exchange vows under its pretty outdoor gazebo, and is the perfect venue for large affairs, with room for an unlimited number of guests on the sprawling lawn.
By Kathryn Purvis
