When you’re hosting your big day in a marquee, you have the opportunity to create a truly unique space. Whether you’re opting for a rustic barn-inspired theme or something completely different, there are plenty of ideas to help bring your dream wedding vision to life. To help you get started, here are some top design ideas for your marquee wedding.
Top Tip: Create a Grand Entrance
A marquee entrance is a great opportunity to add some wow-factor to your day. Think about how you can make it look extra special – do you want to roll out the red carpet? A simple floral display could be perfect for this, or a meadow-garden hedging leading the way into your marquee. For Marquee Hire Near Me, go to goodintents.co.uk/marquee-hire-near-me/
Marquees are wonderful spaces with lofty ceilings that just call out for a bit of drama. Work with your wedding florist to create a hanging floral installation that will add a stunning focal point to your event. This can be as simple as a small bunch of flowers or something much more elaborate like a bespoke piece that hangs above the dance floor.
Greenery is this season’s big trend and there are lots of ideas for marquee decorations using natural elements. Speak to your florist about creating a bespoke greenery chandelier, or for a budget-friendly alternative try wrapping a standard hula hoop with some of your favourite greenery. Hang this from the ceiling or down the centre of your marquee, it’s a great way to add some colour to your party and will look beautiful in photographs.
Make the most of your marquee walls by adding some pretty paper lanterns or pom poms in your wedding colours. They’re easy to hang and give a gorgeous, glowing appearance. For a magical feel, layer these with fairy lights.
Another way to use your marquee walls is by installing a photobooth or selfie station. This is a great way to get your guests involved and create some fun memories to take home with them. You can even hire some vintage-style props for your guests to use.
As the evening draws in, every marquee should be lit up to truly transform into a romantic setting. Festoon lighting is a really effective and simple option, and you can have this intertwined around the wooden marquee beams for a more dramatic effect. Fairy lights are a classic, romantic choice and can be placed over your marquee roof for a soft glow that’s ideal at dusk.
Choosing a marquee style that suits the site
Before any styling decisions, it helps to know which type of marquee your venue can take. Traditional marquees have centre poles holding up the roof and need around five feet of clear ground on every side for guy ropes and pegs. Frame marquees have no guy ropes and no inner poles, so they suit awkward or tight plots and leave the whole floor free for tables, a dance floor and decorations.
For smaller touches, a pagoda with its pointed, oriental-style roof makes a handsome bar or buffet area, and transparent walls can be fitted to let in more daylight. A well pitched marquee also looks better in photographs. The roof is laid out with the door position in mind, the corner and centre poles are raised and secured, and the side walls are hooked on and pulled tight from the door round. Straight, firm guy ropes and neatly pegged wall bases give a clean outline that frames everything else you plan for the day.
Lighting and fabric ideas for the tent
Start with the tent itself. Its size should follow your guest numbers and budget, and the type sets the mood. Structure tents feel more intimate and private, while frame tents give a more open atmosphere. Pick a colour scheme that ties in with the dress or the location. Deep red, or black with white or silver, gives a simple and elegant look.
Lighting does a lot of the work inside. String lights, whether coloured, twinkling or tube lights, create a romantic glow, and tea lights in glass holders, one on each table, add warmth across the room. Mark out the dance floor with rice paper globe lanterns hung at different heights, which avoids a flat, uniform look. Tent poles can be wrapped in tulle and silk in your theme colours, and fabric often works better on poles than flowers do. Save the flowers for the tables, where guests will see them up close, and choose blooms that suit the season and the rest of your scheme.