Somewhere along the way, couples stopped booking the hotel ballroom and started looking for something a little more unique. Enter the camp wedding! In this guide we walk you through everything relating to camping, glamping and bell tents at your wedding, including what a camp wedding might look like, how to plan one, and why The Woods at Oakley might just be the perfect place to make it all happen.
The rise of the camp wedding
Have you noticed that outdoor weddings are having a bit of a revolution? As the wedding invites roll in, fewer celebrations are being hosted in hotels and traditional venues, and more are taking place at farms, in woodlands, and on campgrounds. And that’s because, in our experience, couples are swapping out formal receptions for something that feels casual and fun. Bring on the fresh air, the natural light, long summer evenings, and the freedom to celebrate without a stiff schedule!
A camp wedding takes that carefree and fun spirit even further. Rather than planning a single day that vanishes in a blur, camp weddings turn your celebration into a proper outdoor adventure. Couples are planning whole weekends under the skies, where their favourite people can celebrate in a laidback environment, explore a little and feel a sense of real togetherness.
There’s just something about gathering around a fire by night, sleeping under the stars and waking up the morning after still surrounded by the people you spend precious time with the night before. Plus, with glamping options like bell tents available all over the wedding market, camping weddings don’t have to mean roughing it; guests can do it all in comfort and style.
The time of the camp wedding has well and truly arrived!
Glamping vs camping: what’s the difference?
We know what you’re thinking; leaky tents, sleeping bags, the smell of damp and queuing for a lukewarm shower at 7am. But when we say “camp weddings” in 2026, we’re not talking about the kind of camping you might have done as a kid. Promise!
Glamping, short for glamorous camping, is exactly what it sounds like. You keep all of the joy of being outdoors and sleeping under the stars, but with proper beds and enough comfort that your guests will absolutely want to do it. Think beautifully dressed bell tents with comfy duvets and thoughtful touches that make your guests feel looked after rather than abandoned in a field (hello, breakfast delivered to your door).
With a glamping experience, your guests get the adventure and the togetherness of a camp wedding, without any of the suffering. The reality of a modern glamping wedding really is something else entirely!
Love the idea of a festival-style wedding? Check out our recent article.
How to plan your camp wedding
Planning a camp wedding is a little different to a traditional one, but that is half the fun.
Find a wedding venue that offers camping
Not all wedding venues offer overnight camping or glamping, so this is naturally your first step! Look for venues with dedicated glamping provision, proper facilities and experience hosting multi-day celebrations. You might want to consider, that even though some venues might offer camping options, they don’t always have all the facilities you need on site.
Take a look at The Woods at Oakley, in Wiltshire.
Think a little about your guest list
A camp wedding works best with guests who are up for an adventure and doesn’t work as well for those who find mobility an issue. Think about accessibility needs, older guests and whether there is a decent amount of people who would want to take part.
Plan the weekend, not just your day!
One of the joys of a camp wedding is the whole weekend experience, which has become more and more popular over the years. Think about the ceremony and celebration on Saturday as well as a relaxed Sunday morning and send-off.
Remember catering across the weekend
You’ll need to think beyond the wedding breakfast if you have guests on site for more than the day of the wedding. Evening food sure, but also the morning after breakfast and drinks across the weekend all need consideration.
Consider weather and practicalities
Outdoor weddings do need a wet weather plan. Some wedding venues will offer back up in the form of overhead covers, umbrellas and more, whereas some will be more rustic and require a little more thinking.
Styling your glamping space
Bell tents and glamping accommodation can be dressed beautifully and this is one way to truly make your wedding stand out for overnight guests. Have a think about how the overnight space and how it can become part of the overall aesthetic of your wedding.
Camping weddings at the Woods at Oakley
So, the party is winding down and nobody wants to go home. Good news, they don’t have to.
The thing about The Woods at Oakley is that the whole venue is already set up for exactly this kind of celebration. We have a total of 12 acres of private ancient woodland, an open air ceremony space beneath a canopy of ancient trees, a woodland glade for dining and dancing, fire pits and hidden gems throughout the woods and secret spaces to discover around every corner. Here, your wedding feels like a proper outdoor adventure from the moment you arrive (with all the comforts you could wish for!).
And when the night draws in, your guests do not have to go anywhere. Our Oak Grove glamping area sits on the edge of the woods with breathtaking views across the rolling countryside, where five luxurious bell tents are hidden amongst the trees and lit up with fairy lights to guide you back after a big night of celebrating.
While we don’t offer traditional camping facilities, these five ‘glamping’ bell tents can be booked for a one-night stay with a Weekday Wooding or a two-night stay with a Weekend Wooding. Our bell tents are located near onsite toilets, hot showers, and have lighting, proper beds with bedding and stunning countryside views. And if you really want to make a weekend of it, we can deliver one of our luxury breakfast hampers straight to your tent, filled with delicious local produce!
For the bride and groom, or the girls getting ready the morning of, our beautifully renovated WW2 Nissen Hut is the perfect place to hang out or stay. Spacious and full of woodland charm, it is a pretty special place to spend the night or get ready for the biggest day of your life.
Photo by John A Ball
Ready to start planning your camping wedding?
If you are ready to start planning your camp wedding, we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch with our team at The Woods at Oakley and we can start putting something together!