East Midlands Wedding Venues: Six Outdoor Wedding Venues
As a wedding photographer working across the East Midlands, I get to visit some pretty epic wedding venues the region has to offer. A lot of the weddings I have photographed this year have been at outdoor wedding venues, either a farm, barn or place to plonk a marquee or tipi. An outdoor wedding where you have full reign to put your stamp on it has been bang on trend for the summer months and I think will be a preferred option for many for a long while yet.
Where shall I have my outdoor wedding?
I often get asked for advice or questioned about my favourites, especially at a wedding fayre when plans are still being formulated. My answer always comes back to first know what style of wedding you are after. This year alone I have been to many different wedding venues and I find it hard to say which one is my distinct favourite. What I do know is that the weddings that have taken place there suited the style of the wedding really well. When it comes to getting banging wedding photos at an outdoor wedding, then I do have some top outdoor wedding venue recommendations.
East Midlands Outdoor wedding venue #1: Barnsdale Gardens, Rutland
I’m finding it’s a little-known fact that you can have a wedding here in these beautiful British gardens. You can! I’ve noticed it's not always listed in the popular online wedding directories for outdoor wedding venues in the East Midlands so I must bring it to your attention. It’s an outdoor wedding venue in Rutland where you can marry in the aptly named ‘Paradise Gardens’. There’s plenty of space to hold a marquee wedding or a tipi wedding for your wedding reception and you get full access to the featured gardens for the day, which means beautiful wedding photos! Check out my Barnsdale Gardens Wedding for more.
Outdoor Wedding Venues East Midlands #2: Halfmoon Farm, Hambleton
The perfect outdoor wedding venue to hold a tipi or marquee wedding in the picturesque village of Hambleton in Rutland. The views are stunning as it overlooks Rutland Water. There are pubs and Airbnb’s nearby to get ready in. And if you’d like a more formal building to have your ceremony in, there is a church up the road for a religious ceremony or Normanton church at Rutland Water for a civil ceremony. One couple who celebrated at Halfmoon Farm wed at Exton Estates (see below) before travelling up the road and around the corner to Hambleton, Rutland. You can, of course, get married on the farm, outdoors, if you opt for a celebrant ceremony. You could definitely have your wedding reception here if you were to have a civil or religious exchange of vows elsewhere. You could really put your stamp on your outdoor wedding here! And just imagine wedding photos with a stunning backdrop of Rutland. Check out Pete and Anneka’s wedding at Halfmoon Farm, Hambleton.
Outdoor Wedding Venues East Midlands #3: Exton Estate, Rutland
Talk about glam – this is it. If you didn’t know already the stunning Exton hall on the Exton Estate is actually a private home to Viscount Campden and his family. However, you can book the park to have your outdoor wedding here. You could also have either a religious ceremony or a civil one on the Exton Estate and your wedding reception can take place on the grounds around the home in a wedding marquee. The hall itself makes for a perfect backdrop to your wedding photos. Make sure you get a wedding marquee with windows so you can enjoy the beautiful views around. The swans are included and can be seen in the slideshow of the wedding that I photographed here in the late summer, head over to this Exton Wedding for more.
Outdoor Wedding Venues East Midlands #4: Molecey Mill, Market Deeping, Lincolnshire
Another outdoor wedding venue in the East Midlands with swans! The grounds here are huge, 12 acres in fact, and complete with a country house where you can get ready in (as well as stay in overnight!) a few bridges, a swing and miles of festoon lighting. It has everything for unique wedding photos and also allows you to take this canvas and make it your own. Wedding blessings can take place under the wooden awning. Marquees and Tipi’s fit well here with plenty of room for food trucks and outdoor entertainment too. Why not check out this outdoor wedding ceremony at the Molecey Mill to see all of the outdoor summer wedding deliciousness.
Outdoor Wedding Venues East Midlands #5: Castle View Farm & Stables, Market Harborough
A working farm in Leicestershire with views of Rockingham castle in Northamptonshire (hence the name Castle View) is a unique place to have a wedding celebration. It’s easy to get to after your wedding ceremony in the East Midlands, close to Rutland, Stamford, Northamptonshire and of course Leicestershire. Arrive there to have your wedding party in the barn or hold a marquee, tipi or even a funky tent on the 100, yes, one hundred acres, of land. You could easily choose to have your wedding blessing here and stay on-site for the whole wedding day. This place is rustic with beautiful views of Welland Valley. I adore the fairy lights that cover the barn, it gives a wedding a magical feel. You can see here a real wedding I photographed at Castle View Farms and Stables.
Outdoor Wedding Venues East Midlands #6: William Cecil Hotel, Stamford Lincolnshire
William Cecil Hotel is a luxury hotel in Stamford within the Burghley Estate. It is a lovely wedding venue for more intimate weddings. You can have both an indoor and outdoor ceremony, ideal for wet weather provisions! Not only is a walk in the gorgeous chocolate box market town of Stamford a perfect backdrop for your couple photos but, the garden in William Cecil Hotel is very pretty - especially in June when the roses are in full bloom. In autumn, it gets the most beautiful golden light that you can see here in this autumn wedding at William Cecil Hotel.
If you are thinking of having an outdoor summer wedding in the East Midlands, be sure to consider these outdoor wedding venues. If you are looking for a photographer to capture your outdoor wedding then pop over to the contact page and get in touch to check for availability.
Venues Featured:
