Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-check-you-can-actually-legally-get-married">Check you can actually legally get married</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-05-2021-53-1000x666.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142930" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-05-2021-53-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-05-2021-53-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-05-2021-53-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-05-2021-53-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-05-2021-53.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Marrying under the open sky in the UK used to be a faff of rules and regulations, with debates over permanent structures and foundations (seriously, zzzz). After outdoor weddings became less of a choice and more of a requirement in 2020 and beyond, rules were loosened, and the changes were made permanent last year. Hurrah! </p>



<p>Wait, though &#8211; that doesn&#8217;t mean you can legally say your vows just anywhere. Your al fresco spot of choice will still have to be licensed to be legally binding, and anywhere else will have to be followed up by a legal ceremony elsewhere. For example, at <a href="https://www.horwoodhouse.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Horwood House</a>, the Rose Arbour in the Blossom Gardens (above) is licensed, but if you wanted your ceremony to be anywhere else in the grounds, you would have to have a blessing or vow renewal, then do the actual signing of the documents another time. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Check your venue has back-up</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-Spring-2022-Creation-Bureau-4-copy-1536x1024-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142931" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-Spring-2022-Creation-Bureau-4-copy-1536x1024-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-Spring-2022-Creation-Bureau-4-copy-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-Spring-2022-Creation-Bureau-4-copy-1536x1024-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-Spring-2022-Creation-Bureau-4-copy-1536x1024-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-House-Spring-2022-Creation-Bureau-4-copy-1536x1024-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Image: Jun Tan Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>Tell anyone you&#8217;re planning an outdoor wedding in Buckinghamshire (or anywhere in the UK, really) and you&#8217;ll generally hear, &#8216;cor, that&#8217;s brave.&#8217; With the British weather being finicky at best, it&#8217;s important to scope out where you&#8217;d hold your ceremony and reception if the heavens open (or if it&#8217;s blowing such a gale no-one can stand in their heels). </p>



<p>While most wedding venues will have some indoor space as back-up, it&#8217;s key to check that a) it still fits your requirements, such as number of tables, and b) you actually like how it looks. At Horwood, if it&#8217;s tipping it down on the day &#8211; or so much leading up to the day that you&#8217;d be sinking into mud &#8211; then you have three options (the Manor Drawing Room for ceremonies, Eyre Suite for ceremonies or wedding breakfast,  and Cook Suite for ceremonies or wedding breakfast), so the likelihood is you&#8217;d find something that worked for your party. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Add thoughtful touches</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1228" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/pexels-kerem-kslr-13616503.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142932" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/pexels-kerem-kslr-13616503.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/pexels-kerem-kslr-13616503-800x655.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/pexels-kerem-kslr-13616503-1000x819.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/pexels-kerem-kslr-13616503-400x327.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/pexels-kerem-kslr-13616503-641x525.jpg 641w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If your guests are going to be outdoors all (or most) of the day, then providing a few extras for the weather is always going to be appreciated. Consider renting parasols, putting paper fans or sunglasses out, or popping bottles of suncream or insect repellent in the bathrooms. Inevitably someone will wear spike heels &#8211; and although it&#8217;s our name, muddy stilettos at a wedding can ruin the vibe somewhat, so make heel guards available in the bathrooms too. Even something simple like remembering to have water available during mingling can head off fainting guests at the pass. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Be creative with your dining</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-house-outdoor-wedding.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142947" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-house-outdoor-wedding.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-house-outdoor-wedding-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-house-outdoor-wedding-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-house-outdoor-wedding-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Horwood-house-outdoor-wedding-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Image: Jun Tan Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>If your venue offers outdoor wedding breakfasts (not all do), then you might want to re-think your classic three-course meal. A buffet or barbecue where guests come up and help themselves is more informal and suits the outdoor setting; Horwood suggests an afternoon tea for a real English country garden feel. If you can take advantage of seasonal produce or a venue&#8217;s kitchen garden for your dining, even better &#8211; it&#8217;ll feel like a real celebration of the outdoors. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Always look for the photo opps</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Olivia-Stanley-Previews-17-sm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142948" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Olivia-Stanley-Previews-17-sm.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Olivia-Stanley-Previews-17-sm-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Olivia-Stanley-Previews-17-sm-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Olivia-Stanley-Previews-17-sm-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/Olivia-Stanley-Previews-17-sm-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Image: Emily Little Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>One of the best things about an outdoor wedding? The photos, naturally. When you&#8217;re on the hunt for a place to tie the knot, make sure you&#8217;re scoping out all the al fresco photo opportunities &#8211; the more, the better. Ideally, there&#8217;ll be a range of gardens, woodlands or water features (you know what they say about variety being the spice of life), and away from the main outdoor location so you&#8217;re not trying to perfect your posing in front of all your guests as they enjoy their Pimm&#8217;s reception. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Don&#8217;t forget the practicalities </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/HH-087.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-142949" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/HH-087.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/HH-087-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/HH-087-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/HH-087-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/HH-087-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Image: Jun Tan Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>If any element of your day is outside (ceremony, breakfast or the whole shebang), bear in mind you might need electricity run for lighting, microphones for speeches or music. Microphones in particular aren&#8217;t to be overlooked &#8211; no-one wants to strain to hear the vows over a water feature or blowing wind. Horwood provides power to their gorgeous Lilypond area, making it ideal for ceremonies, drinks and wedding breakfasts. </p>



<p>Want to take a look at Horwood for yourself? There&#8217;s a Wedding Open Day on <strong>Thurs 4 May</strong> &#8211; <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wedding-open-evening-tickets-542677401717" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">book your free admission here</a>. </p>


How to plan an outdoor wedding

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