jo June 7, 2025
jo Planning a marquee wedding in the UK is a brilliant way to create a truly personal, flexible, and unforgettable celebration. Whether you’re dreaming of an elegant countryside affair or a festival-inspired party, marquees offer a blank canvas that can be completely customised to suit your style, guest list, and vision.
But while marquee weddings offer incredible creative freedom, they also involve a lot more planning than a traditional venue. That’s why, as experienced marquee wedding planners, we’ve put together this ultimate guide to help you plan a seamless and stylish celebration from the ground up.
Your first step is to find a suitable site for your marquee wedding. This might be a private garden, family estate, or dedicated marquee venue. When choosing your location, consider:
Accessibility for suppliers and guests
Ground condition and drainage
Space for multiple marquee sections (dining, dancing, catering, etc.)
Parking and power access
Scenic backdrops for your ceremony or photos
You’ll also need to ensure the site is level and large enough to accommodate your guest count, suppliers, toilets, and potential contingency structures.
There are several types of marquees available in the UK, and your choice will influence the look, layout, and logistics of your day:
Sailcloth / Sperry tents: Elegant with natural light and a luxury feel
Traditional pole tents: Romantic and vintage-inspired
Clear-span marquees: Versatile and perfect for all-weather weddings
Tipis or yurts: Boho, rustic, and full of character
Stretch tents: Flexible and great for festival-style weddings
Think about the vibe you’re trying to achieve and how your marquee will work with the overall aesthetic and landscape.
Unlike a hotel or wedding venue, a marquee wedding requires you to build the infrastructure from scratch. This includes:
Power and lighting – Generators and distribution boards are essential
Toilets – Luxury loo trailers are a must for guest comfort
Heating or cooling – Weather in the UK can be unpredictable!
Flooring – Especially important if the ground is uneven or prone to moisture
Catering tent – A separate space for your chefs and service team
Waste management and cleaning
An experienced marquee wedding planner will manage all of these elements for you, ensuring nothing gets missed and everything flows smoothly on the day.
One of the biggest perks of a marquee wedding in the UK is the ability to create a look that’s completely your own. Whether you envision opulent florals, statement lighting, or a relaxed garden party atmosphere, your marquee is a canvas waiting to be styled.
Key styling areas to consider include:
Ceiling installations and draping
Lighting (festoon, chandeliers, fairy lights, uplighting)
Flooring and furniture
Tableware, linens, and signage
Zones for dining, dancing, lounging, and the bar
And don’t forget the layout! A strong floor plan ensures a comfortable flow for your guests throughout the day and night.
British weather is famously unpredictable, which makes contingency planning non-negotiable. Consider:
Adding covered walkways to link multiple marquee areas
Using sides or clear panels to shield from wind or rain
Providing blankets, heating or fans depending on the season
Having umbrellas on standby and waterproof flooring in place
A well-prepared marquee plan allows you to enjoy your day, come rain or shine.
Planning a marquee wedding is a big undertaking—there’s more to juggle and more that can go wrong without expert coordination. That’s where we come in.
At One Curious Dream, we specialise in creating unforgettable marquee weddings across the UK, from full planning and design to on-the-day coordination. We manage the logistics, design the details, and deliver an experience that’s not just beautiful—but entirely stress-free.
A marquee wedding in the UK offers unmatched freedom and the opportunity to craft a wedding that’s as personal as it is stylish. But to bring your vision to life without the overwhelm, expert guidance is key.
Whether you’re dreaming of a romantic countryside setting or a private garden party, One Curious Dream is here to help make it happen, beautifully, calmly, and creatively.
Let’s chat! You can reach me at [email protected] or 0800 772 0765.
Why not keep up with all things behind the scenes at One Curious Dream on Instagram, where you’ll find lots of wedding inspiration and ideas?