Say “I do” to the UK’s 20 MOST POPULAR GARDENS that you can NOW GET MARRIED IN

The UK’s most POPULAR gardens that you can get HITCHED in

To celebrate National Garden Month, the leading wedding planning website shares the most popular gardens across the UK where you can tie the knot

• Almost a third of weddings in 2022 (29%) were held outdoors, following the law change to allow legally binding civil weddings and partnerships in the grounds of approved premises (as of April 6, 2022)
• The average cost of a wedding in the UK is now £18,400, while the average spend on a venue is now £8,400, up from £7,600 in 2021
• Less than a quarter of 2022 weddings happened in the Spring (22%), and this year, a fifth of couples are considering a weekday wedding to combat rising costs

The Marriages and Civil Partnerships: Approved Premises Amendment came into force on 6th April 2022, and states that legal outdoor civil weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can take place anywhere on the grounds of an approved premises – a Covid-19 update that was so popular the government decided to keep it around.

While these regulations only apply to Government-approved premises, the National Wedding Survey shows that since they came into effect, almost a third of weddings in the UK (29%) have been held outdoors. 

To celebrate National Garden Month this April, the wedding experts at leading wedding planning website Hitched.co.uk have analysed their marketplace of award winning outdoor wedding venues, against a number of external criteria such as: how many photos there are associated with the venue on Instagram, the number of TripAdvisor reviews, as well as the number of reviews on Hitched, to reveal the most popular outdoor venues across the UK.

Most Popular Outdoor Wedding Venues in the UK

1. Hever Castle and Gardens, Kent

The childhood home of Anne Boleyn is also home to the UK’s most popular garden venue, thanks to the 74,000 monthly Google searches per month, just over 85,000 images tagged at Hever Castle and Gardens on Instagram, and the number of reviews on both TripAdvisor and Hitched.co.uk. The award-winning Italian Garden is able to accommodate up to 180 guests, and the ceremony can take place under the arched columns of the Italian Loggia, overlooking a spectacular 38 acre lake.

2. Kew Gardens, West London

With more than 730,000 photos tagged with this location, London’s Kew Gardens is both the most Instagrammable spot for an outdoor wedding in the UK, and the most Googled too. At the UNESCO World Heritage site with renowned botanic gardens, couples can exchange vows in the colourful Princess of Wales Conservatory which has ten different climate zones before hosting their evening reception in the breathtaking Victorian glasshouse, home to 10,000 species of plants.

3. Le Petite Chateau, Northumberland

At first glance you might think Le Petit Chateau is a wedding venue in the South of France but it’s actually a lot closer to home in the idyllic Northumbrian countryside. With more than 17,800 photos tagged on Instagram and 71 reviews on Hitched.co.uk, the Mediterranean Terrace provides the perfect backdrop to celebrate any wedding in a gorgeous garden. 

4. RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

In fourth place is Surrey’s stunning RHS Garden Wisley, with almost 67,000 photos tagged on Instagram and more than 12,000 Google searches per month. Here, couples can choose from tying the knot in the Waterlily Pavilion, set upon a peaceful water lily-filled lake facing the iconic Laboratory Building, or alternatively, the Chinese-style Butterfly Lovers Pavilion located on the edge of the lake is also beautiful.

5. Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland

The Pavillion in Northumberland’s award-winning Alnwick Gardens is the fifth most popular outdoor wedding venue, with more than 33,000 photos tagged on Instagram and the same amount of searches on Google every month. Inspired by the Duchess of Northumberland and designed by the world renowned Belgian landscape firm Wirtz International, the location includes over ten different types of gardens within it.

6. Woodhall Manor, Suffolk
7. Micklefield Hall, Hertfordshire
8. Cowdray Walled Garden, West Sussex
9. Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire
10. Dewsall Court, Herefordshire

Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert and editor of Hitched.co.uk says: “Since the government changed the rules around getting married outdoors, and with the average cost of a wedding increasing to around £18,400, it’s no surprise that couples are looking for most cost-effective ways to celebrate their weddings than with a traditional venue. 

“It’s common knowledge that booking a wedding off-season or mid-week is one way to save money on your big day, and actually, Spring is one of the less popular times of year to tie the knot – less than a quarter of weddings last year happened in the Spring (22%), with couples preferring Summer (39%) or Autumn (33%) to say ‘I do’.

“With the blossoming trees and flowering blooms providing the perfect natural decor, a Spring garden wedding is the perfect solution for those looking to save on their wedding day – and what an Instagrammable bunch there is to choose from!”

For more information on outdoor wedding venues, please visit: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/outdoor-wedding-venues/