From Singapore to Newark | J&J's Marquee Wedding

An outdoor wedding ceremony at the family farm, followed by a beautiful marquee celebration in the Nottinghamshire countryside.

Planning a wedding from Singapore was never going to be quite as straightforward as planning one closer to home, but for J&J, there was nowhere they’d rather celebrate than at the groom’s family farm near Newark.

With family connections at the heart of their plans, J&J booked my Full Wedding Planning package to help bring everything together from overseas. From the early planning stages and site visits, through to coordinating the suppliers and managing the wedding itself, I was there to make sure all the details were taken care of.

A key focus was making the most of the beautiful gardens and open spaces, creating a wedding that flowed naturally from the outdoor ceremony through to the marquee celebrations. And, as with any large marquee wedding, there was plenty happening behind the scenes!

An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Beneath the Willow Tree

The garden provided a beautiful setting for J&J’s ceremony, with semi-circular seating arranged around a statement willow tree and surrounded by meadow flowers.

The groom’s mum had put an enormous amount of effort into getting the gardens ready, carefully improving the flower beds in the months leading up to the wedding. Any remaining gaps were skillfully filled by Fran from Limewood Flowers, bringing everything together beautifully.

But the British weather had other ideas!

With showers passing through on the wedding morning, the outdoor ceremony was looking a little uncertain. After discussing the options with the groom, we decided to go for it during a break in the rain. Having the ceremony in the garden was such an important part of their plans, and we were determined to make it happen if we could.

A keen eye might notice the chairs didn’t have their usual seat pads. That was deliberate! We didn’t want them getting soaked if another shower came through. Thankfully, our gamble paid off.

The ceremony itself was led by the groom’s sister, making it wonderfully personal and heartfelt. And in one of my favourite moments, the groom’s niece, announced, “You may kiss the bride!” much to the delight of everyone there.

Champagne, Singapore Slings and a Musical Procession

Following the ceremony, the garden was repurposed for the drinks reception, with live music from Bangers and Brass, free-flowing Champagne, Singapore Slings (of course!) and canapés from Thomas the Caterer.

The Singapore Slings were a lovely nod to the couple’s life overseas, bringing a little piece of Singapore to the Nottinghamshire countryside.

When it was time for dinner, guests weren’t simply directed towards the marquee. Instead, they were led through the gardens by the trumpet player, following a path towards the celebrations.

Along the way, they passed through a beautiful floral arch created by Fran from Limewood Flowers, designed to complement and accentuate the natural planting already in place.

A Four-Pole Marquee Filled with Flowers and Personal Details

Creating a marquee wedding at home involves rather more than putting up a tent!

For J&J’s wedding, the build began on the Monday before the celebrations, with the installation of a stunning four-pole marquee from Inspired Event Structures. Over the following days, everything else arrived on site, from the refrigeration trailer and floral installations to furniture, vintage glassware, two separate bar set-ups and more.

Each element needed careful coordination, not just for the wedding itself but for the breakdown afterwards. Eight days after the build began, everything had been removed and the farm was back to normal.

Inside the marquee, long wooden tables and bistro chairs created a relaxed dining space. Vintage mismatched glassware, glass lace charger plates and vintage floral motif tableware brought a sense of the English countryside to the tables.

The flowers were a real feature of the design. A large floral arch framed the marquee entrance, while tree-like installations appeared to grow up the internal poles. The meadow flowers from the ceremony were repurposed at the ends of the tables and around the bar, with bud vases completing the look.

Wedding favours have fallen out of trend recently, but when favours have a story I’m all for them!

J&J had chosen handmade napkins from Penduka Development Trust in Namibia, a social enterprise supporting women through training and opportunities to earn a sustainable income. Each napkin featured animals inspired by the couple’s travels, with a note at every place setting explaining where it had come from and the work of the charity.

A lovely personal touch, and something guests could take home and use long after the wedding.

From Farm-to-Table Dining to a Proper Party

Food was another important part of the celebrations, with Thomas the Caterer creating a menu that reflected both the farm and the couple’s story. The main course featured lamb reared on the family farm, cooked four different ways, while vegetarian and vegan guests enjoyed their own menu featuring aubergine served three ways.

Later in the evening, guests were treated to black pudding and Lincolnshire sausage rolls (with ketchup, of course!) alongside a cheese board featuring six different cheeses. And this wasn’t just any cheese board. It’s the only wedding where I’ve had numerous guests asking me afterwards where the cheese came from!

As the evening celebrations got underway, a horsebox served custom cocktails before guests headed onto the dancefloor.

Then came the first dance. J&J had chosen Tina Turner’s Simply the Best, with four confetti cannons carefully coordinated to fire at exactly the right moment as the music took off. And they did. Spectacularly!

In fact, the force of the cannon I was firing caught me so much by surprise that I fell backwards and managed to knock over one of the photographer’s lights. Not quite the behind-the-scenes moment I’d planned!

Thankfully, the confetti looked incredible, the dancefloor filled, a personalised shot-ski provided excellent photo opportunities, and the party continued well into the evening.

A brilliant celebration, full of family connections, thoughtful details and a few moments none of us will forget.

What J&J Said About Their Wedding

“We want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Linzi for making our wedding journey nothing short of incredible. Having the full wedding planning package was truly a lifesaver for us. From start to finish, Linzi was a constant source of support and calm, expertly guiding us through every step of the process. What should have been an overwhelming experience became an enjoyable one, thanks to her professionalism and warm approach. Our regular catch-ups … helped us stay on track, organized, and—most importantly—sane!

Being overseas during the planning process could have been a logistical nightmare, but Linzi made it so easy. She managed site visits on our behalf, provided regular updates, and kept us in the loop every step of the way. Her communication was always timely and clear, making the distance feel like no issue at all. In the end, our day was absolutely perfect, and we know we couldn’t have done it without her. We are endlessly grateful for Linzi’s expertise, dedication, and kindness.”