Can you legally get married outdoors in Kent? A 2026 guide

Yes. Since 2022 you can legally get married outdoors at a licensed venue in England and Wales. Before that, the legal ceremony had to happen inside a building, even if the venue itself was set in beautiful outdoor grounds. Couples who wanted the outdoor moment often had to split the day into a quick indoor signing followed by a symbolic outdoor ceremony, or work around it with a humanist celebrant handling the outdoor part while the paperwork was done separately.

That changed. And most couples planning weddings in 2026 and 2027 still don’t know it changed.

This guide covers what the law actually says, what “licensed outdoor” means in practice, how to find a Kent venue that offers it, what a genuinely outdoor ceremony looks like on the day, and what happens if the weather turns. Stone Circle Vineyard runs throughout as the worked example because we’re one of a small number of Kent vineyards where the entire ceremony, legally and symbolically, happens outdoors.

The 2022 law change explained in plain English

The rule that governed weddings in England and Wales for decades required the legal ceremony to take place inside a permanent building. A gazebo, a marquee, or an outdoor arch didn’t count. Couples had to say their legal vows inside four walls.

In July 2021, during the pandemic, the government introduced a temporary change allowing outdoor civil ceremonies at licensed venues. It was popular. In April 2022, the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Approved Premises) Amendment Regulations made the change permanent.

The effect is that any venue holding an Approved Premises licence can now include outdoor areas within its licensed footprint. Couples getting married at those venues can legally exchange vows in the open air, with a registrar attending and signing the paperwork on the spot.

The change applied to civil partnerships and civil marriages equally. It didn’t affect religious ceremonies, which have always been able to happen wherever the relevant religious tradition allows.

What “licensed outdoor” actually means

Here’s where it gets more specific, and where couples booking venues should ask harder questions.

An Approved Premises licence covers a defined physical footprint on the venue’s land. That footprint is drawn up in advance, submitted with the application, and approved by the local authority. The licence permits ceremonies within that footprint and only within that footprint.

For an outdoor licence, the venue has to specifically include the outdoor area in its licence application, with a clear map of the boundaries, plans for the layout, and evidence that the space works for a ceremony. Local authorities can (and do) inspect the space before approving it.

That means “outdoor ceremonies allowed” can mean different things at different venues:

• Some venues have a permanent structure outdoors (a permanent pergola, an outdoor pavilion, a fixed arbour) that sits inside their licensed footprint
• Some venues have a specific outdoor location (a garden, a courtyard, a specific spot on the estate) that’s been licensed as a defined ceremony space
• Some venues have licensed multiple outdoor locations across the property, giving couples a choice of ceremony spots
• Some venues advertise “outdoor weddings” but actually mean a covered outdoor space with three walls and a roof, which technically still counts as an indoor licence

The difference matters. A ceremony under a covered pergola with three walls is legally similar to an indoor ceremony with a view. A ceremony in a garden, with open sky above, is what most couples picture when they hear “outdoor wedding”.

What to look for when you’re comparing Kent venues

The 2022 law change opened the door, but not every Kent venue has walked through it. A surprising number of venues that advertise “outdoor weddings” still hold indoor-only licences, and the ceremony they’re offering is really an indoor ceremony next to an outdoor view.

Five questions worth asking every venue before you book:

1. Are you licensed for a fully outdoor civil ceremony?

The direct question. Answer should be yes or no, with the specific licensed outdoor location named.

2. What’s your licensed outdoor footprint?

The specific area covered by the licence. Ideally the venue can show you a map or walk you around the actual boundaries.

3. What’s the ceiling above the ceremony space?

Fully open sky, a permanent structure, or a temporary cover. Fully open sky means a genuinely outdoor ceremony. A permanent structure with a roof usually means the ceremony is legally happening under cover.

4. What’s your rain plan and is it also licensed?

This is the one couples miss. If the venue moves the ceremony indoors when it rains, the indoor location also needs to be licensed. Some venues have both, some only have the outdoor licence, some only have the indoor licence with a plan to postpone if it rains. Very different implications for your day.

5. When was the licence granted?

Post-2022 outdoor licences are more common than pre-2022 outdoor licences (because they weren’t really possible before). Some venues are still working through their licence applications. Ask directly and ask for an expected approval date if it’s not confirmed yet.

What a genuinely outdoor ceremony looks like in Kent

At venues where the licence covers a full outdoor space with open sky, the ceremony feels genuinely different to an indoor one.

You arrive at the ceremony location by walking through the venue rather than entering a building. Guests are seated in the open air, on chairs set out on grass, gravel, or a defined ceremony area. The registrar arrives around 30 minutes before the ceremony and sets up in the space. The couple exchange vows facing each other, with the venue as the backdrop rather than the walls of a room.

The legal paperwork (the signing of the marriage schedule) happens on a small table set up at the ceremony location. Photographs of the signing are taken outdoors. Confetti moments happen where guests are already standing, rather than having to shift the whole party outside afterwards.

The whole ceremony typically runs 25 to 40 minutes depending on how much of your own content you’ve included. Registrars are used to outdoor ceremonies now and generally handle the wind, the sun, and the logistics well.

What happens if it rains

The single most asked question about outdoor weddings in Kent. Kent isn’t a Mediterranean climate. Some ceremonies will happen in rain.

Well-run outdoor venues have three approaches:

The full rain plan. A second licensed location, indoors or under permanent cover, that’s ready to host the ceremony if the weather turns. The couple decides on the morning of the wedding, based on the forecast. Some venues even let couples decide as late as an hour before the ceremony.

The proceed regardless plan. For light rain or drizzle, some couples choose to proceed with the outdoor ceremony and provide umbrellas for guests. Registrars are usually happy with this if the couple confirms in advance.

The delay plan. Some venues offer the flexibility to delay the ceremony by an hour or two if the weather is genuinely bad but expected to pass. Uncommon but occasionally possible.

At Stone Circle Vineyard, the ceremony happens inside a stone circle in the vineyard. The rain plan is a covered marquee area on the estate that couples can specify as the fallback location. Both spaces are being licensed together so couples have flexibility on the day.

The paperwork side

Getting legally married outdoors involves the same paperwork as getting legally married indoors. Nothing complicated, but worth understanding.

You need to give notice of your intention to marry at your local register office. Both partners give notice separately in their own local authority area. Notice has to be given at least 28 days before the wedding, though most couples give notice around 3 to 6 months before.

The venue you’ve chosen has to be listed on your notice as your approved venue. If the venue’s licence is still in progress at the time you give notice, this can create timing issues worth talking through with your register office.

You need to book the registrar separately from the venue. This is the number one thing couples forget. The venue books the space. You book the registrar to attend the ceremony. Registrars book up 12 to 18 months in advance for peak Saturday dates in Kent, so book them early.

On the wedding day, the registrar arrives around 30 minutes before the ceremony, has a short pre-ceremony chat with both partners (separately, to confirm you’re both entering the marriage freely), then leads the ceremony itself. After the ceremony, both partners plus two witnesses sign the marriage schedule. The registrar takes the signed schedule back to the register office, and your marriage is registered within a few working days.

A checklist for booking an outdoor Kent wedding venue

If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony in Kent, this is the checklist worth working through before you commit:

• Confirm the venue holds a specific outdoor licence, not just an outdoor space next to an indoor licence
• Ask to see the licensed footprint on a map
• Understand what’s above the ceremony space (open sky, permanent structure, temporary cover)
• Understand the rain plan and whether the rain plan location is also licensed
• Check licence status if it’s post-2022 (some are still in progress)
• Book your registrar as early as possible for peak dates
• Give notice at your local register office at least 3 months before the wedding
• Confirm the venue name and outdoor location matches what you put on your notice
• Ask the venue what they’ve learnt from previous outdoor ceremonies
• Visit the ceremony location in different weather conditions if possible

Where Stone Circle Vineyard fits in

Stone Circle Vineyard is a 25 acre working Kent vineyard with a stone circle at its centre. The stones are the ceremony location, and the licence for a fully outdoor civil ceremony inside the circle is currently in progress. Once granted, we’ll be one of a small number of Kent vineyards where the entire ceremony, legally and symbolically, happens outdoors.

We’re now taking bookings for 2027 with the outdoor ceremony as the intended plan for every wedding. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding in Kent and want to see the space in person, [get in touch] or come along to a viewing.

Common questions about outdoor weddings in Kent

Can I legally get married outdoors in Kent?

Yes, at any Kent venue that holds an Approved Premises licence covering an outdoor area. Ask specifically about the outdoor licence before you book.

Which Kent venues are licensed for fully outdoor civil ceremonies?

A growing number since 2022. Any venue you’re considering should be able to confirm their outdoor licence status directly. Ask for the details rather than accepting a general “we do outdoor weddings” answer.

Do we need permission from the church to have an outdoor wedding?

No, unless you specifically want a religious ceremony. Civil ceremonies (which the 2022 change applies to) don’t need church involvement. You can add religious elements symbolically if you want, but the legal marriage happens with a civil registrar.

Can we have an outdoor blessing after an indoor legal ceremony?

Yes, and this was the workaround before 2022. Some couples still choose it because it gives them a smaller, formal legal ceremony at one location and a bigger outdoor celebration at another. Less common now that the fully outdoor legal ceremony is available.

Do we still need to sign a register outdoors?

Yes. The marriage schedule (which replaced paper registers in 2021) is signed at the ceremony location. Outdoor signing has become very normal. Registrars carry weather-protective folders and the signing usually takes two or three minutes.

Can our ceremony be legally married by a humanist celebrant in Kent?

Not yet in England and Wales. Humanist ceremonies are not legally recognised as marriages here (though they are in Scotland). Couples wanting a humanist ceremony in Kent have to do the legal paperwork separately with a registrar. This has been under review for years and may change, but hasn’t as of 2026.

What’s the earliest we can book a 2027 outdoor Kent wedding?

Now. Most Kent venues offering outdoor ceremonies are taking 2027 bookings, and peak Saturday dates in June, July, and August fill first.

One last thing

If you’re planning an outdoor Kent wedding, the single most important thing is to see the ceremony location in person. Photographs on a website look consistent. Real ceremony spaces vary hugely once you’re standing in them. Walk the space, look up, imagine your guests seated where they’ll actually be seated. That five-minute walk-through tells you everything a brochure can’t.

Stone Circle Vineyard is now taking viewings for 2027 bookings. Book a viewing or get in touch for our brochure.