A woodland wedding is a magical opportunity to make your day uniquely connected to nature. Have you considered a celebrant led wedding surrounded by trees?
With the arrival of spring, I love wandering through woodland paths and discovering hidden glades and dells. The delight of sunlight filtering through the bright green of new leaves. On the air, the heady heavenly scent of bluebells.
Summertime shade on hot days, the crunch or autumn leaves, stark winter boughs. Woodlands hold the seasons.
In Europe there are pine woods that reach down to the coastline. Or the Mediterranean orange and lemon groves with strongly scented blossoms in abundance in April and September. Almond groves, like apple orchards, in the UK provide delicate background of spring blossoms.
Anyone with a love of nature and trees might be drawn to a wedding surrounded by trees in a wood, forest, or an orchard. So how might you go about tying the knot in a woodland?
How to find a suitable woodland
Woodlands are in abundance in the UK, and you may have a special one in mind. Many are on private land, often with footpaths running through them. Maybe you have walked along a woodland trail and fallen in love with the place. Where is your favourite one?
If you are seeking a woodland, organisations such as the Woodland Trust, Forestry England, and the National Trust have lists of woodlands that they manage in the UK.
What do you need to think about when organising a woodland wedding?
If you are organising your own woodland wedding that isn’t a specific wedding venue then there are some practical issues to consider.
Firstly, you need permission from the landowner. Some woodlands are used for breading game (e.g. pheasants) and there will be restrictions on seasonal access.
Secondly, think about access. How are your guests and suppliers going to arrive? Is there somewhere to park cars or minibuses? Are guests, suppliers, and you able to walk safely to the spot where you want to hold the ceremony? Do they need to wear wellies?
Thirdly, consider the weather. How will you mitigate or work around rain or high wind? Can you create a canopy to shelter if it rains? Is there a risk of branches or trees falling if it is windy? You may want to have a bad weather alternative venue lined up too. However, if your wedding is in Europe or further afield, you may need to consider the heat or humidity
Are there any woodland wedding venues?
There are lots of venues that specialise in providing weddings amongst the trees and they don’t need to be a remote location.
One of my favourite venues, which is local to me, is Arnos Vale Cemetery not far from central Bristol (UK). Yes, you can have your wedding amongst the trees and graves! The Underwood is a special canopied ceremony area set amongst native woodland and wildflowers. Combine the ceremony with an outdoor reception with picnic or BBQ style food.
As I often holiday in Weymouth (Dorset, UK) I had discovered the leafy waterside garden of the Wishing Well before becoming a celebrant. This delightful tea room is an lovely wedding venue surrounded by trees and water garden.
Other venues take a different path into the woods. Check out Weddings in the Wood in the New Forrest, Hampshire (UK). This magical venue has a choice of indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces suitable for intimate and larger scale weddings. Devon (UK) boasts a silver birch church at Higher Holcome. Completely escape from the world at Fforest Farm in Pembrokshire in Wales, for a delightfully dreamy natural wedding. Or if you want a little closer to the middle of England, have a look at the really Enchanting Woodland Weddings in Warwickshire. This venue offers luxury Nordic tipis set within the ferns and trees that are suitable for up to 150 guests.
What about woodlands abroad?
If you want a warmer venue amongst the trees, then there are numerous finca-style venues across Spain. Personally, I would recommend the island of Mallorca, because it is a place where I have found great tranquility and happiness. The Finca Bilingual is an up-market destination wedding dream with indoor and outdoor ceremony opportunities in the rural heartland of Mallorca. On the mainland, the Villa Almanita, near Barcelona, is another stunning luxury destination wedding venue surrounded by lush vegetation.
Of course there are many other wonderful destinations beyond Spain, but I’ll save them for another blog!
What about the ceremony?
This is where the benefit comes from choosing a celebrant-led wedding. Weddings can be designed around the woodland space of your choice, and at the time of day that you want. The woodland doesn’t have to be a licensed wedding venue, although many are. You can do the legal part separately, at a time that suits you.
Part of the ceremony planning with your celebrant includes how you use the woodland space throughout the ceremony. You might want to surprise your partner and guests by emerging from behind a tree, or you may be waiting in the glade for them to arrive. Do your guests know they are going to a wedding? Where are you going to lead them at the end of the ceremony? Maybe you will eat, drink, and party under the trees.
Nature can be part of the ceremony narrative. Think about words that connect to nature – growth, blossom, strength, rootedness, without becoming clichéd. Have moments of silence to listen to bird calls and wind in the trees. Use music that harmonises with the woodland.
Your celebrant will help you explore your love story and reasons for making a future together in writing the ceremony script. They will support you find the right words for your promises to each other. They will also help you decide who else takes part, and what rituals you might want to include. One ritual could be planting a new tree to grow with you both over time.
How to book me as your woodland celebrant
If you have been enchanted by a woodland venue, and want me to be your wedding celebrant, then give me a call, text, or WhatsApp on 07874 123951 or email hello@julietjaincelebrant.uk. I will be delighted to talk through your plans.
©julietjaincelebrant 2025
Additional photo credits Mihail Tregubov & Manon Pelletier
