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Original poster

Has anyone got married in your back garden?

17 replies

Anothernamechangeee · 17/09/2023 16:38

What was it like? Logistics and organising easy etc?

id be getting a wedding planner. Wondering if it trashes your house anyway and things to be aware of

OP posts:
trevthecat · 17/09/2023 16:39

You would need a celebrant or similar and legally get married at a registry office or church etc

BertieBotts · 17/09/2023 16:40

It's not legal in England, is it? I think it is in Scotland and some other countries.

Original poster
Anothernamechangeee · 17/09/2023 16:45

Oh crap. I’ve been reading too many American magazines

apparently you cannot. Maybe we could get married at the register office then come back for the party at home

OP posts:
Bristolnewcomer · 17/09/2023 16:47

You have to do the legal bits elsewhere but you could have a ceremony in your garden with anyone presiding - a humanist celebrant or your grandad or the local busker.

I know a few people who’ve done the reception at home and that’s most of the work anyway so don’t see why you shouldn’t do this if you have the space. Could be really lovely.

RampantIvy · 17/09/2023 16:49

Anothernamechangeee · 17/09/2023 16:45

Oh crap. I’ve been reading too many American magazines

apparently you cannot. Maybe we could get married at the register office then come back for the party at home

A couple of family members did this and they were the best weddings I attended.

ohfook · 17/09/2023 17:09

Anothernamechangeee · 17/09/2023 16:45

Oh crap. I’ve been reading too many American magazines

apparently you cannot. Maybe we could get married at the register office then come back for the party at home

I know someone who got legally married in a registry office then had a religious ceremony in their garden. I wasn't there though so I don't know if it was nice or not!

merryhouse · 17/09/2023 17:56

My sister had speeches and the first bit of the party in my dad's garden, after the legal bit in town (this was before the rules were relaxed, so it was RO or church and she was an atheist).

Have you never held a party at your house? That's all it is.

Original poster
Anothernamechangeee · 17/09/2023 19:52

merryhouse · 17/09/2023 17:56

My sister had speeches and the first bit of the party in my dad's garden, after the legal bit in town (this was before the rules were relaxed, so it was RO or church and she was an atheist).

Have you never held a party at your house? That's all it is.

Well yes, but I’ve never held a party for 100 with a formal dinner and a bar etc etc

OP posts:
Blinkingbonkers · 17/09/2023 20:19

Get the best portaloos you can afford - no one wants to be in their best outfit in standard ones and you don’t want the entire guest list traipsing through the house. Had a friend who tried to save themselves the cash and let the guests use the loos in the house….the weather was atrocious and her carpets were ruined by the many coming in to use the loos with seriously muddy shoes from the garden!!

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 17/09/2023 20:24

You just need to do the legal bit elsewhere a couple of days before.

I went to one wedding at someone’s parents house. It was fab. But yes to the portaloos. They didn’t let anyone inside the house (garden was vast)

ButterMyParsnip · 18/09/2023 08:58

I went to a wedding party at the bride's parents' house. The ceremony was in a church 30 minutes away. The party was lovely. They had a marquee set up. The food was cooked outside. Baked potatoes, spit roast pig and a LOT of sides. I'm a vegetarian and it was the best wedding food I've had. They had a mix of home made caked for desert- Victoria sponge, chocolate fudge, lemon drizzle etc. They also had a tiered cake made of cheese rounds. Drinks were bought on a booze cruise to France and guests were told a donation was optional (most of us put in £50 each, less than we spend on weddings with bars). The bride's dad and brothers manned the drinks station for a couple of hours but as the night went on we all helped ourselves instead.

BarnacleBeasley · 18/09/2023 09:02

I have but I live in Scotland so we did the whole thing in the garden, and it was in the part of the pandemic where you could only have 8 people anyway.

doodleygirl · 18/09/2023 09:03

Yep, Rabbi’s are legally allowed to marry people in the garden. Portaloos are your friend, as is a great marquee and a planner. You want to make sure the planner is the go to person on the day.

CharSiu · 18/09/2023 09:22

My friend had her wedding reception in her in laws garden, it was a converted water mill with an enormous garden. They had a marquee and the weather was good. They had a garden loo so an old outside one that they used for gardening usually so that was used, had about 80 guests there. I have attended weddings in America where the marriage ceremony is in the garden, then the tea ceremony is in the house and then the reception is in a hotel. These are Chinese weddings hence the tea ceremony. These houses are huge though, My niece married under a beautiful flowered arch.

Huckleberries73 · 18/09/2023 09:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Ragwort · 18/09/2023 09:29

My first wedding was a garden party (register office in the morning for immediate family only) - but it was very low key ... scout marquee and afternoon tea style food, plenty of champagne but no band, dancing, late night etc. it was very enjoyable (shame the marriage didn't last Grin).

MollyRover · 18/09/2023 09:30

Did this recently and it was amazing. Registry office first and then home to party the night away in the garden. There are guides online to see how much space per person is comfortable, if you know the square footage of your garden then your capacity is easy to determine. The band wrapped up by 11pm and after that it was a Spotify playlist, just not too loud. We warned the neighbours and invited them to celebrate with us. Make sure that you have people to help clean up etc, we did but there was a lot we didn't factor in to be honest. Rented a decking to keep grass (and ankles!!) protected. Two toilets was enough for about 70 people.

Congratulations and hope you have a lovely day 😁

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