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Your guide to choosing your wedding marquee...

So you know that you want to have an outdoor wedding (or garden wedding) but you have no idea what kind of wedding marquee you are looking for! That is where our guide to choosing your wedding marquee comes in.

We’re here to break through the jargon and give you a simple guide to all the different types available (and there are lots). And we’re going to give you the names behind those Pinterest images you’ve saved down.

I’m going to share with you some of the weddings we’ve done over the past seven years, as well as some inspiration from some of the great marquee suppliers we’ve met along the way. So get ready to start choosing your wedding marquee!

Featured Photo Lee Daniels Photography with Cheltenham Yurt Hire and Photo Chris Fossey Photography with Boutique Marquees

Tipis

Let’s start our guide with Tipis. We love Tipis because they are super flexible. They consist of ‘Giant Hats’ which are interlocked together to produce the final structure. There are numerous seating variations available to accommodate the number of guests you required. And with most marquees you have options to choose round or rectangular tables and there are several types of chairs available too!

You can also get smaller ‘Chill out’ Tipis which come complete with log fire and cosy seating. Perfect for S’mores later in the evening or just chilling with family & friends at the end of the evening.

Tipis are great for relaxed, informal wedding vibes including festival weddings. They also look great with street food vans lined up out the front and perhaps an outdoor bar!

Find more tipi wedding inspiration below.

Sailcloth Tents

Sailcloth tents are another option for your garden wedding. They are a type of pole marquee and we LOVE them for the sleek white lines of the roof and clear sides to take maximum advantage of your location. They look great in the grounds of a country house or on private land.

The size is usually determined by the number of poles and they provide a gorgeous open and flexible space. We love having areas for bar / lounge, dining and, of course, dancing!

Sailcloth tents are great for bringing the outside in and making the most of your surroundings. We love them decorated with tall trees (or branches) and floral installations. They equally look as good with bunting and pom poms (pictured).

Find more Pole Marquee and Sailcloth Tent wedding inspiration below.

Yurts

One type of marquee I have not yet had the pleasure of having a wedding with yet is a Yurt (can a couple please book one for me!). Luckily the lovely team from Cheltenham Yurt Hire were happy to give me some more details about their gorgeous range of Yurts!

Yurts look totally unique and I didn’t know that there are only a handful of Yurt makers in the UK. They come with an intricate interior framework which is perfect as a blank canvas. Did you know that you can get yurts with a double height roof (The Pavilion Yurt) and even a long one (aptly called the Long Yurt) which is perfect for seating on long banquet tables or ceilidhs. Get multiple yurts to create a festival feel!

We love Yurts for rustic weddings with lots of greenery or why not add in a pop of colour? And if its a warm sunny day you can remove the sides to admire the views! Perfect!

Stretch Tents

We LOVE Stretch Tents for summer weddings and relaxed wedding celebrations. They are also a great option if you need additional marquee space, for example, a garden drinks reception, or are looking for a marquee for a smaller space, for example, a back garden.

The canvas is placed to suit the weather conditions. So for the summer wedding pictured it was 30 degrees so the sides are fully up to allow for ventilation. If there is the risk of a shower or wind, the sides can be angled down to protect the guests inside.

There are some venues which have semi-permanent stretch tent installations like the gorgeous Oaktree Farm in Nottingham which has a South African stretch tent installed.

Find more Stretch Tent wedding inspiration below.

Clear Span Marquees

Next up clear span marquees! When I first started in the industry I always thought this meant that the marquee had a clear roof – it does not! A clear span marquee is a steel framed marquee which has no interior poles which means that you get a totally open space to create your perfect wedding.

We LOVE clearspan marquees for their wide open spaces to hold indoor wedding ceremonies, dining areas, as well as, dancing for later in the evening. Go for clear gable ends and clear roof panels to make the most of views or create a stunning ceremony backdrop like the one pictured.

Glamping & Camping Options

Looking for extra accommodation for your guests for your wedding celebrations? Perhaps you want to make a weekend of it?

You can also get glamping tents to create the perfect festival vibe for your wedding day. Most companies offer a range of interior options which include everything from ‘Bring Your Own’ to luxury glamping set ups.

The ones pictured are bell tents but you can also get other types including mini tipis! Most companies offer a larger bell tent which can be used as a ‘Getting Ready’ area for your guests.