Getting married in the great outdoors promises romance in abundance, with Gloucestershire offering a huge choice of picturesque wedding venues certified for outdoor ceremonies.
While, strictly speaking, a marriage cannot be conducted in the open air, it can take place underneath a fixed structure — with pavilions, porches and pergolas making for photogenic options.
Providing plenty of inspiration for outdoor-loving couples in the county, SoGlos handpicks 15 of the best outdoor wedding venues in Gloucestershire.
Outdoor weddings at Hatherley Manor in Gloucester
Crowned the UK's best wedding venue at the 2024 Hospitality Awards, Hatherley Manor offers a gorgeous space for outside ceremonies, with its pavilion in the hotel’s walled gardens making for an idyllic outdoor setting to say ‘I do’ — and space for up to 300 guests able to watch, too.
Outdoor weddings at Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham
With a fully restored stone gazebo located within perfectly manicured grounds, five-star Cheltenham hotel Ellenborough Park is an ideal choice for couples hoping for an alfresco wedding, with glorious views of the rolling Gloucestershire countryside.
Outdoor weddings at Elmore Court in Gloucester
Elmore Court, near Gloucester, boasts an impressive front porch which overlooks the stately home’s sprawling south lawn which is licensed for wedding ceremonies — providing a unique spot full of period character for couples to tie the knot.
Outdoor weddings at Manor By The Lake in Cheltenham
Offering 'weddings with the wow-factor', an outdoor wedding at Manor By The Lake in Cheltenham can be as large or as small as you like. Licensed for alfresco ceremonies, the venue's Italian Pavilion or Lakeside Pavilion make for stunning celebrations surrounded by beautiful gardens.
Outdoor weddings at Kingscote Barn in Tetbury
Set in 400 acres of private Cotswold grounds, exclusive use of Kingscote Barn in Tetbury provides a spectacular spot to exchange vows. Its award-winning team can help to plan the day from start to finish, with the chance to fully personalise the outdoor space — with the Linhay of the barn as a backdrop.
Outdoor weddings at Oxleaze Barn in Lechlade
Oxleaze Barn near Lechlade offers a charming country setting for Cotswold wedding celebrations. Couples dreaming of an alfresco do can exchange their vows in the 'wed shed' at the top of the wooded meadow on the site, as it's licensed for ceremonies — with 120 able to sit in the main barn that opens to a courtyard garden for an outdoor drinks reception.
Outdoor weddings at Painswick Rococo Garden
Offering an intimate and romantic venue in the heart of the Cotswolds, Painswick Rococo Garden promises a picture-perfect backdrop for celebrations, with a choice of characterful garden buildings which are licensed for civil ceremonies. It's also been recognised by The Independent as one of the top 50 wedding venues in the UK.
Outdoor weddings at No. 38 The Park in Cheltenham
Plan a bespoke wedding at No.38 The Park, with its glass-roofed atrium allowing for the ceremony to be bathed in beautiful natural light. With bifold doors opening onto a wide terrace, the space merges the hotel's luxurious interiors with a gorgeous outdoor area.
Outdoor weddings at Lapstone Barn in Chipping Campden
A beautifully converted exclusive-use, all-inclusive venue near Chipping Campden, Lapstone Barn can host outdoor celebrations for up to 200 guests in its picturesque courtyard under bright Cotswold skies.
Outdoor weddings at Matara Centre in Tetbury
With its very own cloistered courtyard licensed for civil ceremonies, the Matara Centre in Tetbury provides a truly original wedding setting, situated within acres of Japanese-inspired gardens and picture-perfect tranquil parklands.
Outdoor weddings at Water's Edge at Ewen
Located in the picturesque village of Ewen just outside Cirencester, Water's Edge offers a romantic setting complete with lakeside views, manicured lawns and spectacular scenery — and is licensed to hold civil ceremonies in its quaint lakeside lodge, with a large lawn area for seating.
Outdoor weddings at Hyde House in Stow-on-the-Wold
Hyde House in Stow-on-the-Wold boasts a beautiful, rustic arbour which is licensed to hold civil ceremonies, with a striking backdrop of the surrounding Cotswolds countryside.
Outdoor weddings at Bredon Manor in Tewkesbury
Overflowing with rustic character and steeped in history, Bredon Manor in Tewkesbury offers an intimate setting to profess your undying love — with the venue only hosting a small number of ceremonies per year. Though it can't offer fully licenced marriages, a celebrant can perform a blessing within its delightful grounds.
Outdoor weddings at Cripps Barn in Cirencester
A rustic, 18th-century stone barn situated within the glorious Cotswold countryside, Cripps Barn is licenced to hold outdoor ceremonies in its wonderful woodland glade, which overlooks bucolic rolling hills.
Outdoor weddings at The Painswick in Stroud
Another glorious Cotswold destination to tie the knot, The Painswick is a boutique hotel in Stroud that's ideal for a country house wedding. Its outdoor terrace provides the most breathtaking views of the Stroud Valley, making for outstanding photo opportunities with your nearest and dearest on your special day.
For more inspiration, see the Weddings section on SoGlos.
