Can I get married in the woods in the UK?

For a legal wedding in England and Wales, the ceremony must take place at a register office, an approved venue, or a religious building registered for marriages. Since 2022, approved venues can hold civil ceremonies outdoors within their grounds, so if a private estate or licensed outdoor venue includes woodland, you can marry there with a registrar. You cannot use public woodland, national parks or unregistered private land without specific approval. In Scotland, weddings can take place almost anywhere agreed with the registrar or celebrant, including woods, so an outdoor woodland ceremony is possible with the right permissions and a registered celebrant. In Northern Ireland, the venue must be approved or a religious building, so woodland is only an option if it is part of a registered venue.