Outdoor ceremonies could soon legally happen anywhere.
Outdoor wedding ceremonies already happen. I've filmed quite a few of them at venues with licensed outdoor spaces, and they're some of my favourite days to work on.
But the key word there is licensed. Right now, for a ceremony to be legally binding, it has to take place at a venue that holds an approved licence for that specific space. That means the couple's options are limited to whichever locations have gone through the process of getting approved. Plenty of incredible spots across Lancashire, the Lakes, and the Dales simply haven't, so they're off the table.
That's what's about to change.
In March 2026, the Government confirmed it's pushing ahead with one of the biggest overhauls of wedding law this country has seen. The change isn't about making outdoor ceremonies possible. It's about making them possible anywhere.
So what's actually changing?
At the moment, the location needs to hold the licence. Under the new rules, the person conducting the ceremony would hold the licence instead. That one shift is everything.
A consultation is expected later this year, with changes potentially landing in 2026 or 2027. Nothing is law yet, but the direction is clear.
What it means for couples planning a wedding
If your venue already has a licensed outdoor space, great. You've already got access to something a lot of couples don't. Under the new rules, that kind of option would extend far beyond the venues that have bothered with the paperwork.
Spots that currently have no route to hosting a legal ceremony could become fully viable. Think of places that are genuinely special but have never applied for a licence, or simply can't because they're not permanent structures.
- A clifftop or fell with a view that means something to you
- A private estate garden that isn't set up as a wedding venue
- A beach or riverside spot
- A marquee in a field on family land
- A heritage site or ruin that's never held a ceremony before
- Anywhere appropriate and dignified, which is the only bar the new law sets
The change isn't outdoor vs. indoors. It's licensed venues vs. genuinely anywhere. That's a much bigger shift.
What it means for Lancashire, the Lakes, and the Dales
There are already great venues with outdoor ceremony spaces up here, and couples are using them. But there's also a huge amount of landscape that isn't accessible for a legal ceremony right now, not because it's unsuitable, but because no one's ever licensed it.
Under the new rules, that changes completely. The fell, the private garden, the woodland clearing, the farm that doesn't run weddings but belongs to someone's family. All of it becomes a genuine option.
From where I'm standing as a filmmaker
I'll be straightforward. This is genuinely good news for the kind of films I make.
Natural light is different. It moves, it shifts, it wraps around people in a way that a function room never quite replicates. When a ceremony is outside, everything opens up. The way it looks, the way people carry themselves, the way the day feels on camera.
The films I'm most proud of tend to have space in them. Room to breathe. Outdoor ceremonies give you that naturally.
It's not about the ceremony being in a dimly lit room versus a bright one. It's about what the setting does to the whole feel of the day, and how that translates in the edit.
What to do if you're planning ahead
If your wedding is in 2026, your options are the same as they've always been for now. Nothing has changed yet.
If you're planning for 2027 and beyond, it's worth keeping an eye on this as the consultation develops. Your venue coordinator will be the best person to talk to once things become clearer on their end.
Either way, if you have a setting in mind that you've always wanted but assumed wasn't possible, it might be worth holding onto that thought.
If you're thinking about your day and want to talk through what outdoor filming actually looks like, I'm always happy to chat. Drop me a message on Instagram (@capturethatfilm) or get in touch on here.
TerryThinking about your wedding day?
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