You've made a great choice to get married in County Durham. Long gone are the days of flimsy party tents and tacky decorations - these days, marquees are a seriously stylish wedding venue option. Whether you're having an intimate gathering or a large, lavish wedding reception, a marquee is the perfect choice. They can also be decorated to suit any style or budget of wedding.
If you're hoping to have a small, intimate ceremony in your chosen venue in County Durham but wish to invite lots more guests for the reception, marquee venues are ideal for you, as lots of smaller venues tend to offer space for a marquee reception outside. 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 County Durham. Will you hire a classic English marquee with roll up sides, or maybe a festival-style yurt or tipi? Many venues or marquee companies allow you to add your own personal touch to your chosen marquee to put your own stamp on it.
A marquee wedding in venue grounds is the ideal place to get married 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 a blank canvas wedding venue where you can add your own personal touch
- If the weather is too cold, wet or windy, you have a back up plan to get married inside
FAQ's - Marquee Weddings County Durham
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 County Durham 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?
Definitely! If you provide a little extra heating and don't mind not being able to roll up the sides, a marquee is perfect for a winter wedding! 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. To make your marquee feel magical in the winter months, you can add fairy lights and sparkling decor. That's one of the perks of having a blank canvas!
What will I do if it rains or is too windy?
Most marquees in County Durham should be able to withstand wind and rain. However, you will want a second plan for if there's storms on your wedding day. It's likely most venues will have an indoor area for you to have your wedding reception. 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 County Durham?
The law states that civil ceremonies must take place in a permanent and fixed structure in order to be legally binding. Unfortunately, this tends to rule out marquees, even ones that are set up all year round. 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.
Inspiration on venue decorations for a marquee wedding in County Durham.
Marquees are usually a completely blank canvas, which is great for couples who would like to add their personal touch. Hanging decorations such as are a fantastic choice, which could include paper lanterns, bunting or other types of lights. 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.