Marquees often used to be a cheap venue option whereas these days, marquees are a seriously stylish wedding venue option. Marquee weddings are a great choice, whether you're having a huge wedding celebration or a small, intimate reception.
Venues who have marquee space in the grounds are perfect for couples who would like a small marriage ceremony but would like to invite more guests in the evening. It may be that your venue has a permanent marquee on their grounds, or there’s simply space for you to choose your own to hire. In this case, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from in Bristol and Somerset. Will you hire a classic English marquee with roll up sides, or maybe a festival-style yurt or tipi? Most marquees are a blank canvas so you are able to add your own personal touches to it, including the flooring, colour scheme and choice of dance floor.
If you're thinking about having your wedding at a venue with a marquee in Bristol and Somerset, they're perfect for you if:
- A large area to fit lots of seated guests is required
- You want to marry in a outdoor space, such as a garden or woodland
- You want to add your own stamp to the venue you're getting married in
- You'd like to have a small ceremony but a large celebration for your wedding reception
FAQ's - Marquee Weddings Bristol and Somerset
Will my wedding venue put up my marquee for me?
Every wedding venue differs when it comes to what's included in the price. Some venues will just offer a space for the marquee to go and others will provide the tent itself. In some cases, the venue will only charge you for the hire of the grounds, and then you’ll have to arrange the marquee separately with a marquee hire company. If your chosen venue doesn't have their own marquee, they will often have recommended suppliers that you're required to use. Get in touch with them to ask about this before you research and find your own marquee supplier.
In other cases, your wedding venue in Bristol and Somerset may have a permanent marquee in the grounds, or one that is in use throughout the summer month, for example. This may be a simpler choice if you don’t want to arrange your wedding marquee directly.
You may want to double check with your venue what the cost will be for setting up the marquee if they have their own one.
Are marquees still suitable for getting married in the winter months?
Of course - lots of people think you can only have a marquee wedding in the summer months, but they're still perfect for winter weddings, just with added heating! There's so many gorgeous marquee wedding venues in Bristol and Somerset for you to choose from. The difference is that you won’t be able to roll the sides of the tent up (which is generally an option in the warmer months), and that you’ll have to provide extra heating for your guests to keep your marquee warm. Once you cover the ceiling in fairy lights and add sparking venue decoration, your marquee will fit a winter wedding perfectly.
If the weather's bad on my wedding day, what would I do?
Most marquees in Bristol and Somerset should be able to withstand wind and rain. If the weather is forecast to be too bad for a marquee wedding (could be a storm), you will want to have a backup plan, which could be an indoor space to get married. Discuss your wet weather plan with your wedding venue to ensure you’re prepared for any poor weather conditions.
Can we have a civil ceremony in a marquee in Bristol and Somerset?
No. According to the law, you have to hold your civil ceremony in a permanent fixed structure, which doesn't include marquees. One way to get around this is to have your ceremony over the threshold of a doorway. This way, your guests can be seated in the marquee while you are technically indoors. However, what many couples choose to do is have their civil ceremony in the venue itself before heading to the marquee for the reception.
What’s the best way to decorate a marquee?
It's so easy to add your personality to your wedding venue when getting married in a marquee. This is because you start with a blank canvas so can decorate the space however you wish. Hanging decorations such as bunting, paper lanterns and pom poms are very visually effective in marquees. Lighting options such as fairy lights and chandeliers can also help set the mood for your evening reception. On the tables, consider taller arrangements - they can help fill the space and look fantastic spread across your dining space.