Where can I find cheap outdoor wedding venues in the UK?

You can keep costs down by choosing a venue that is not marketed as a wedding venue. Look at your local council's website for parks, gardens, allotments or community centres that hire out spaces for events. Village halls often have a patch of lawn and a low hire fee. Farms, orchards, campsites and scout huts sometimes welcome weddings, especially midweek or off-season. In Scotland, you have more freedom to marry outdoors anywhere the registrar agrees, so a friend's field or a public beach could work. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the outdoor spot must be an approved venue for a legal ceremony, so you may need a short civil ceremony elsewhere.

Ask about hidden costs: hire of chairs, tables, a marquee, toilets, insurance, a licence for music, and a cleaner. Some venues charge a corkage fee if you bring your own drinks. You can save by marrying on a weekday, in spring or autumn, or by having a smaller guest list. Consider a garden party at a family home, but check whether you need temporary toilets and parking. For the legal part, a register office ceremony is often the cheapest option, then you celebrate outdoors nearby.

Be flexible and creative. A cheap venue does not mean a less lovely day. With fairy lights, bunting and potted flowers, an ordinary garden can feel special.