Outdoor weddings

In England you may have a civil wedding ceremony in an outdoor structure if the structure is licenced. The Bride, Groom and Registrars must be in the licenced area but the guests may be completely outdoors. Bracken Bank Lodge has two liecenced areas for guests to be outdoors.

The very romantic Garden Room at the end of the south wing looks out onto the large ornamental pond and fountain. This flagged stoned room leads directly out onto the lawn from a magnificent archway with a dove cote and a church bell above. Guests may be seated on the lawn to watch the wedding ceremony taking place under the arch.

The stone temple on the lake is a magnificent structure. It is situated on an island on one of the estates private lakes, it is accessed by huge stepping stones. Guests may be seated for the ceremony by the side of the lake looking out over the water to the temple.

Guests would need to know in advance of arrival if the ceremony is planned for the temple on the lake as it accessed by a four minute walk across grass. The temple on the lake and the Garden Room can be used throughout the year when conditions are suitable. For winter weddings guests would obviously need to be warmly dressed as well as having appropriate footwear.

There is no vehicular access to the lake, a horse drawn carriage needs to be booked to take the Bride, the person giving away the Bride and any bridesmaids and pageboys to the lake and to bring the Bride and Groom to the Lodge after the ceremony. If there are elderly guests etc. who may not be able to walk to the lake and back the horse drawn carriage should be booked to make a few more trips.

The suitability of holding a wedding ceremony outdoors will not be known until the day of the wedding. There are various factors that would make an outdoor wedding inappropriate including rain, wind, wet ground, flies or other insects.

The Bride and Groom will be asked to have chosen a couple of trusted friends or family to go to the outdoor site a couple of hours before the ceremony and make a decision as to the suitability of an outdoor ceremony. They will be required to sign a disclaimer if the outside site is chosen as the venue cannot be held responsible for adverse outdoor conditions.

The Registrars has the final decision on whether an outside location is appropriate on the day.