You've made a great choice to get married in North East Scotland. Long gone are the days of flimsy party tents and tacky decorations - these days, marquees are a seriously stylish wedding venue option. They can hold any sized wedding, from a small family gathering to huge receptions of over 500 guests.
If you're hoping to have a small, intimate ceremony in your chosen venue in North East Scotland 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 North East Scotland. 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.
Marquee wedding venues in North East Scotland are perfect for you if:
- You want a big space for lots of wedding guests
- You want to marry in a outdoor space, such as a garden or woodland
- You require a venue where you can add your personality and decorated it how you wish
- You have a back up plan if the weather is inclement
Frequently Asked Questions - Marquee Weddings
Will my wedding venue put up my marquee for me?
When it comes to what's included in the price when booking a marquee wedding venue, you will need to speak with the wedding coordinator at that venue. This is because they all differ in what they offer. 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. Check with your wedding venue to see if they have any recommended marquee suppliers that you have to use before looking into your own.
In other cases, your wedding venue in North East Scotland 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.
Am I able to have my wedding in a marquee in winter?
Yes! Many people may think that marquee weddings are suitable for spring or summer only, but marquees can work very well for autumn and winter weddings too! 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. However, with space for sparkling decoration and hanging fairy lights, a winter marquee wedding can be a magical thing!
What options do I have if the weather's bad on the day?
Most marquees in North East Scotland 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 North East Scotland?
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. Another option you have is to have the wedding reception in the marquee after having your main ceremony in a nearby church or a room in the main venue.
Inspiration on venue decorations for a marquee wedding in North East Scotland.
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. To fill up the space in a marquee, you should opt for taller centre pieces to fill up the empty space as the ceiling in marquees are very high.
There's lots of marquee wedding venues to choose from in North East Scotland and you'll find the top ones on Guides for Brides.