What is a garden wedding?

A garden wedding feels personal and relaxed. You are surrounded by familiar space, and you can decorate it exactly how you like. But a garden wedding is not automatically a legal wedding venue. In England and Wales, a civil ceremony cannot take place in a private garden unless the garden is part of an approved venue's licensed grounds. So if you want to marry in your own garden, you cannot have a legal civil ceremony there. You would need to have the legal ceremony at a register office or approved venue, then celebrate in the garden afterwards. In Scotland, you can legally marry in a garden if your registrar agrees, as long as you have given notice and the location is acceptable. In Northern Ireland, check with your registrar. A garden wedding also means thinking about the practical side: toilets, power, water, parking, access for suppliers, and what happens if it rains. You may need a marquee or indoor backup. You will also need permission from the landowner if it is not your own garden. With good planning, a garden wedding can be a lovely, intimate day.