Cambridgeshire is the perfect place to choose for your outdoor wedding day! Boasting a beautiful blend of rural scenery and rich history, with picturesque countryside and a busy, vibrant city centre, there is a wide variety of venues to choose from. The distinguished University of Cambridge is located in Cambridgeshire, and it is surrounded by quaint villages, making it the perfect wedding location for any guests travelling or if you really want to make a full weekend of celebrations!
Cambridgeshire provides an array of grand venues which are perfect for outdoor weddings, from historic manor houses and country estates with grounds for structure of your choice, to quaint gardens and rustic barns, each offering it’s own unique charm and character.
One of the joys of having an outdoor wedding is being able to embrace the British seasons. In spring, blooming flowers and fresh greenery create a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony and reception. Summer, brings warmer days, perfect for late outdoor evenings, accompanied by a fire pit, whilst autumn offers a gorgeous palate of rich colours. We have a few options for you to look at a for venues who offer outdoor weddings in Cambridgeshire. Of course, don’t forget to always plan your wet weather option!
Histon Manor, Impington
A privately owned Estate, located in Impington and set within 11 acres of grounds and only 3 miles from Cambridge, Histon Manor offers dry hire for outdoor wedding receptions for up to 250 guests. A fully exclusive venue and surrounded by trees, it offers a tranquil and private escape from the city. The venue has lawns in front of the house, and an additional piece of land private from the house, to host your reception under a marquee or structure of your choice. You also have use of the formal gardens for your drinks reception and photos. There is space for a large elaborate wedding or a smaller gathering.
Currently, there is no license to host a ceremony at Histon Manor, however, there is a church in the village and the location of Histon Manor means that it is close to the city centre which offers a variety of options for your legal ceremony. You could also opt for a personal celebrant ceremony, which needs no license.
Histon Manor recommends various marquee suppliers and caterers for you to use on their grounds. They also recommend using a wedding planner, or at least a wedding day co-ordinator.
For accommodation, there are various places and airBNBs in the local vicinity and you could also venture back into Cambridge as it is only a 15 minute drive. The perfect venue for an outdoor wedding in Cambridgeshire and one of our favourites!
Waresley Park Estate, Waresley
Another privately owned estate, nestled in the heart of the Cambridgeshire countryside, it is conveniently located surrounded by picturesque villages and an easy distance from the historic city of Cambridge. With over 120 acres of beautiful parklands, the house and grounds are a beautiful oasis offering impressive outdoor landscapes for your outdoor wedding ceremony and reception, including formal gardens, enchanting woodlands and stunning parklands. As well as being able to offer legal ceremonies within the grounds there are churches for religious ceremonies of all denominations, including the picturesque St James the Great church, situated in the nearby village of Waresley.
The park has a flexible approach to weddings and offers options for larger celebrations with lots of intimate tranquil corners, perfect for smaller more intimate gatherings. Waresley Park Estate offers weddings from May through to the end of September.
The main house sleeps 22 people, for you and a selection of your guests. There is even a swimming pool and hot for you to enjoy the hiring for the full weekend! As the venue is located close by to Cambridge centre, there are many options for accommodation for the remainder of your guests, which they won’t need to travel far to.
The venue even offers full weekend hire if you really want to make the most of your celebrations and host an event the night prior or the day after the wedding!
Rectory Farm, Cambridge
Just over 2 miles from the city of Cambridge, Rectory Farm is a perfect idyllic spot for an English countryside wedding. Beautiful English gardens, bordered with hollyhocks, honeysuckle and lavender, with Weeping Willows border the Rectory Farm Marquee. There is the option to host your legal ceremony in the traditionally styled ‘Folly’ with Norfolk Reed thatch from local reed beds and Eucalyptus timbers from South Africa. Sunny days allow guests to be seated on the lawn while the Pavilion ensures cover from wind and rain in the event of a summer shower. Alternatively, the House is licensed for smaller groups of approximately 50 guests.
The lawn and gardens provide an enchanting setting for weddings. The lawn and garden make a wonderful setting for reception drinks and garden games. As the daylight disappears into the evening, the garden lights up for the evening reception with tiny lights, the perfect backdrop to add your own personal touches.
Meadow Garden, Ely
Set within private 4 acres, the secret meadow garden offers a truly beautiful setting for your outdoor wedding day in Cambridgeshire, surrounded by a hedgerow, wild roses, tall grasses and trees, and home to a wildlife pond. The meadow is home to a Celeste Pole Marquee, with panoramic sides, giving stunning views across the gardens all the way down to the weeping willow tree. This means your structure is already included within the venue hire, so you don’t need to worry about hiring one! Toilet hire is also included, so another thing less to worry about.
The Meadow Garden offers a wooden gazebo and Moon Gate, which gives a stunning backdrop for an outdoor ceremony. The venue is full licensed for a legal, civil ceremony.
The venue is only a mile from Ely, so there are plenty of accommodation options for you and your guests locally.
Island Hall, Godmanchester
A lovingly restored 18th century Georgian mansion, surrounded by 3 acres of serene and secluded gardens, the old river waters curl through and around the gardens, adjourned with towering trees, home to a variety of wildlife; swans, herons, owls and blue flashed kingfishers. Island Hall can accommodate civil ceremonies as well as exclusive venue hire for receptions.
Island Hall offers the use of a beautiful island, surrounded by the River Great Ouse, which is most definitely unique! You can access the island using a Chinese style bridge. There are options for small intimate wedding breakfasts in the house for up to 48 guests or a larger reception in the marquee on the Island for up to 220 guests.
You can use one of their prefered caterers – either Portfolio Events or CDC Events who both know the venue well.
Want to make your wedding day even more unique? You can even add a boat trip up and down the river!
Have you booked your outdoor wedding in Cambridgeshire? You may have already booked the ceremony and still looking for a venue? Or looking to start planning your wedding but getting overwhelmed and not sure where to start?
We offer a complimentary consultation so you can find out exactly how we can work together and how we can help you. You can book this at a time suited to you here.