How to maximise your historic wedding venue

If you’ve chosen a venue that is steeped in history, the period in which it was crafted can inspire your entire ceremony. Pagan, Tudor, Edwardian, Victorian… all time periods have a fascinating history, full of plenty of love stories too!

You could go all-in and embrace the period in your invitations, table settings, food, outfits and entertainment. Or if you prefer the venue to do all the talking, keep the other elements neutral so the interiors and architecture can shine.

Chances are you already know a fair amount about your venue’s history – perhaps that is part of the reason you chose it. So think about the best bits of that history and ways in which your wedding day and ceremony can celebrate its story.

There’s sure to be plenty of picturesque spots at your venue, and most venues can be quite flexible about where your ceremony takes place. So it you’re planning an outdoor ceremony at an historic wedding venue, you may be spoilt for choice!

Venue staff and suppliers can guide you when it comes to ceremony spots that usually work well, taking you on a tour around so that you can choose for yourself.

If the venue’s gardens are what you love, a ceremony in the heart of the grounds could work well. Or perhaps the main feature of your venue is an historic country estate or castle, in which case you may wish to make this the backdrop for your ceremony. Ceremony photographs with backdrops like this are absolutely stunning.

Traditional wedding rituals like handfasting have a rich history and can help add a historical and beautiful twist to your wedding.

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ritual that traditionally took place before the marriage ceremony, but in recent years it has seen a revival in celebrant-led weddings. A couple’s hands being bound together is a wonderful symbol of their commitment to one another, and can also be a great way to involve family and friends in the ceremony. Plus the handfasting cords and ribbons come in a wide variety of styles, creating a beautiful keepsake for the happy couple.

You may also wish to research some other wedding rituals that were commonplace during the time period you’re focusing on. Drinking from a two-handled cup called a Quaich is another ancient Celtic custom that symbolises the trust between the people getting married and can make a lovely addition to a ceremony. Or you may prefer a pagan ritual such as jumping the broom to celebrate your union. The list goes on!

Most historic venues have a well-documented story to tell about the people who used to live on or frequent the land. There are sure to be one or two historical love stories to tell too! So perhaps there are ways you can make their story part of your day.

For example, if you’re marrying at a venue that belonged to a famous writer, could you include one of their quotes or poems in your ceremony? Perhaps a musician used to live there and there’s a piece of their music you could play as you make your entrance. If it’s famous for its art collection, could you incorporate some of the artwork into your wedding invitations or table dressing?

Weaving in these references is a great way to pay respect to your venue’s rich history, making your day part of the narrative that has lived on for so many years.

Entertainment for your guests is a key consideration for your wedding day – you want them all to enjoy the day as much as you. So why not maximise your historic wedding venue by laying on some fun and games that tie in with the venue’s history?

Think about which sports and pastimes were popular at the time your venue dates back to. Archery, croquet and giant outdoor chess are all real crowd pleasers and tie in well with a historical theme. Just make sure there are undercover options so that games can still be played if the heavens open!

One of the best parts of outdoor ceremonies is of course, the gardens and wildlife! If you are looking for inspiration for your bouquet, table arrangements, and even your colour scheme, make sure to take a look around the gardens of your historic venue as you may find the perfect solution.

If your venue’s gardens are full of roses, why not make roses the feature of your bouquets and centrepieces? If crops are grown in the garden, could you embrace a seasonal theme and choose fruit, vegetables and herbs grown on site? Or if the garden contains floral archways or water features, perhaps these could make good backdrops for your ceremony.

It goes without saying that a wedding at an historic venue equals stunning photographs for your wedding day. So a key way to maximise your historic wedding venue is to relish the opportunity to have photos taken throughout the day, taking plenty of time just the two of you to wander around with your photographer and find the most scenic spots.

Photographers relish taking shots during the twilight hours with the light conditions being optimal in the early evening, so try to escape for a while before the sun goes down to capture some real moments of beauty at your historic venue. You may even be lucky enough to get a sunset backdrop.

There is no better way to create an atmosphere than with music. Hearing a certain instrument or style of music played can instantly transport you into another period of time. Think trumpets and harps for the regal renaissance period, classical piano to capture the essence of the 18th century, or opera singing to conjure up 19th century vibes.

Don’t forget to research your venue to find out whether certain pieces of music are a key part of its history. Of course it will all depend on whether you like that style of music or not! But if you do, it could be the perfect fit for your historic wedding day.

There’s nothing quite like the excitement and buzz that owners and team members at an historic venue have. When you meet with the team, make sure to get some inspiration from them about what can be brought into your ceremony.

They may know little secret spaces that can be used for photos, additional options for catering, as well as standout ways to maximise the history of the space.

Don’t forget to ask their advice on suppliers too. Suppliers such as celebrants and photographers who have worked at the venue before will probably be familiar with its history and know what works well, so they can guide you even further.

We hope this has helped offer some inspiration for how you can maximise your historic wedding venue. If you love the idea of an outdoor ceremony at an historic venue or anywhere else, why not browse our directories of outdoor venues and outdoor suppliers across the UK?