Outdoor Wedding Venue Inspiration – Pynes House

Guides, Inspiration, Outdoor, Planning Advice

Whether you’re opting for an outdoor ceremony, trying out some lawn games or enjoying some late afternoon drinks in the open air, an outdoor wedding venue can be pretty incredible. So, from sparklers to outdoor ceremonies, cocktail hours and afternoon croquet, we’ve put together an ultimate guide with all the outdoor wedding venue inspiration you need…

A bride and groom enjoy a confetti shot at their English outdoor wedding venue

Celebrate with an Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

One of the huge benefits of an outdoor wedding venue is the chance to celebrate the wedding ceremony in the open air. While the weather may not always allow for such an event (a plan B is always useful!), outdoor ceremonies are always lovely to see when they do take place. We’ve been lucky enough to have seen a number of outdoor wedding ceremonies at Pynes House over the years – head over to our Pynes House Instagram (here) for some images from recent open-air ceremonies.

In terms of timing, early summer and autumn are your best bet for providing the mild weather which is ideal for an outdoor ceremony. When it comes to decoration, while the outdoor surroundings will can naturally offer a striking backdrop, you’ve also got as much or as little scope to make it your own, if desired. Here at Pynes House, we’ve seen couples opt for a flower adorned aisle, which leads up to the grand front doors. This is a beautiful look, especially when the wedding party make their way down the aisle, with the tree-lined driveway behind them.

See more: Your ultimate guide to planning an outdoor ceremony

Opt for an Outdoor Reception Too

Here at Pynes House, we’re lucky enough to have a beautiful rose terrace on the south-east facing wing of the house. Overlooking the gardens and the rolling hills of the Exe Valley beyond, many of our couples choose to celebrate their drinks and canapé reception in this gorgeous spot. Plus if the weather doesn’t quite permit an outdoor affair, there’s always an option to move into the Drawing Room which overlooks the rose terrace, if needed. So come rain or shine, you’ll be able to make the most of our English country house.

Lawn Games and Outdoor Activities for an Outdoor Wedding Venue

Having a few outdoor entertainment options can be a great way to add to the wedding day, while also encouraging guests to get outside and enjoy the beautiful surroundings on offer. The afternoon reception or early evening can be a great time to get the lawn games out, following the formalities of the day.

For those who love the idea of a quintessentially English wedding, croquet is always a good option. We’ve also seen some carousel weddings at our outdoor wedding venue over the years – the novelty never quite wears off! The front courtyard of the house proves a great location for carousels and fairground games alike.

The Photos

Another benefit of an outdoor wedding venue is that you’ll most likely have a multitude of options when it comes to backdrops for couple shots and group photos. At our outdoor wedding venue, the venue extends far beyond the house itself and we invite our guests to explore the extensive lawns, magical woodland and parterres. If you’d like to come and see our venue yourself, please get in touch to book your private showround. Otherwise, head over to our gallery (here), to see our gardens for yourself.

The Night Before Your Wedding

To finish, we thought we’d add in a few words about festivities on the night before your wedding at an outdoor wedding venue. As we offer a three day wedding weekend at Pynes House, many of our couples stay at our wedding venue in Devon from Friday through Sunday and choose to celebrate a small dinner and drinks with their close friends and family on the Friday night. We’ve seen this work beautifully with couples opening up the whole house to their guests, enabling everyone to mix between the stately home interiors and the outdoor parterres throughout the evening. For more on food recommendations for the night before or the day after your wedding, do contact us to see our recommended suppliers list.