Yorkshire celebrant Piers Lane talks outdoor weddings

We asked Yorkshire's Piers Lane Celebrant about your options for an outdoor wedding ceremony...

There's something really special about being outdoors for your wedding ceremony, isn't there? A summer meadow, the grounds of a stately home, a peaceful woodland, or simply a special family garden – being outside allows you to say your vows in a setting that's romantic, timeless and deeply personal. But you're right, the law in England and Wales states that a legal marriage ceremony cannot take place outside. Problem? Not necessarily!

Look at it this way – when a baby is born, the birth is registered before a christening or naming ceremony, in the same way that you can separate the legal registration of your marriage from your ceremony. Unless you choose to make more of it, the legal occasion can be short with only a couple of witnesses. This means you can save your vows, exchange of rings and any other elements you'd like to include for your al fresco ceremony.

As a professional celebrant, it's been my privilege to create and lead many outdoor weddings – under ancient trees, by lakes, on hilltops, in vineyards and in private gardens. There are so many options to explore.

Piers Lane | Piers Lane Celebrant | www.pierslanecelebrant.eu