Let Your Love Bloom With A Spring Wedding

Celebrate the springtime with an outdoor venue.

Choose a place with a garden or grounds, where (weather permitting) your guests can mingle.

Trees in blossom are a real plus point! However, at this time of year, we’re not guaranteed dry days and sunshine, so opt for a place that blends indoor and outdoor spaces, such as a country house wedding venue. 

Having a garden, terrace, or wider estate for a spring wedding is lovely. Young leaves and spring grass have a beautifully fresh tone, while tree blossoms and the year’s first flowers add pops of colour. Outside smells fresh and new (and even faintly warm…) and there’s a sense of romance in the air.

Even if it’s simply for photographs or a glass of champagne, try to incorporate the outdoors into your spring wedding plan. If you’re getting married in March and are worried about the weather, look out for wedding venues with covered outdoor areas and dry underfoot surfaces, such as terraces, courtyards and driveways. Bandstands, archways and gazebos are lovely indoor-outdoor spaces for your vows or speeches.

• A spring flower wedding, with blossom arches, garlanded aisles and sumptuous floral displays in pastel shades 
• An outdoor ceremony under the blossom trees 
• A spring festival, with food and drink stalls, live music and garden games 
• Exotic foliage and tropical brights (perfect for a May wedding) 
• A traditional spring feast in a barn or great hall, festooned with blooms and foliage 
• A twilight wedding for a cosy and romantic feel 

Pastels are perfect at this time of year; however, if you’re not a baby blue or pale pink person, don’t worry. Lemon and citrus shades bring a subtle pop of colour to the occasion, or try other fresh colours such as mint or ice blue.

Peach and blush are warmer than classic pastel shades, and we love brighter accents like teal and deep pink. Simple neutral tones (cream, fawn and muted greens) also look lovely at this time of year, especially for a natural-themed or eco-friendly wedding.

The latest spring wedding dresses are simple and graceful, in white, cream, or pale pastels. Understated styles let your springtime floral accessories blossom. Because there can be a chill in the air in spring, add a chic little cape or bolero jacket: an embroidered piece is a lovely partner for a simple white wedding dress.

Spring wedding guest dresses come in gorgeous floral prints and fresh new colours. Summery fabrics look light and elegant – just make sure there’s a jacket, cardigan or pashmina to hand when the sun goes in.

Vintage floral prints and pastel colours are perfect for the groom’s tie, pocket square and even waistcoat. Choose mid-weight fabrics for the suit and shirt; grey always looks good with pink, lilac and blue.

• Flower crowns made with fresh spring flowers and young foliage
• Sprigs of flowers to tie back long hair
• Floral ties and pocket squares to go with suits
• Pastel-coloured shoes for the bridal party
• Embroidered details
• A subtle extra layer over the wedding and bridesmaid dresses, such as a bolero jacket, cape (trimmed with lace rather than faux fur) or shawl
• Baskets of flowers for the flower girls
• Bright or printed wellies for those spring showers!

What little gifts can you give your guests?

• Posies of seasonal flowers
• Dried lavender or rose petal sachets
• Fresh-scented candles
• A bespoke bottle of pink fizz or juice
• A bespoke mug with a sachet of tea (try chamomile or a rose infusion)
• Traditional sugared almonds
• Hand-made chocolates in a bespoke box

April showers can easily catch us unawares, and even in May, the British weather can be unpredictable (and that includes suddenly becoming unseasonably warm!). In early spring, many rural areas still experience frost, and it’s not unheard of to have snow right up until April.

When you’re choosing your spring wedding venue, always ask them what their contingency plans are. Can they move the ceremony and celebrations indoors at short notice (and importantly, into a space that doesn’t feel hastily prepared)? Do they grit the driveway and car park when there’s frost, and at the opposite end of the scale, do they have fans and ice at the ready if it suddenly turns hot in May?

Even if the ceremony and reception are to take place indoors, most weddings have at least one outdoor element (often the photographs), so it’s always worth speaking to the venue about contingency options.

You can always add a quirky extra detail to your spring wedding, with a rack of colourful umbrellas and even welly boots on hand for guests to use!