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 Surrey. 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.
Having your wedding reception in a marquee venue is the perfect choice 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 Surrey
Will my wedding venue put up my marquee for me?
Please speak to your chosen venue about what they include in the price of hiring their 'marquee wedding venue.' 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. Your wedding venue may have recommended marquee suppliers for this, so be sure to check with them.
In other cases, your wedding venue in Surrey 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?
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 options do I have if the weather's bad on the day?
Most marquees in Surrey should be able to withstand wind and rain. If the weather does get too bad for the wedding day, it's possible you will need a plan B. 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 Surrey?
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. A popular option is to have the ceremony in the main building of the venue, or even a church nearby and then just have the wedding reception in the marquee.
How can I use venue decor to make the most out of my marquee wedding in Surrey?
The great thing about marquees is that they’re a blank canvas to add your own wedding theme to. Hanging decorations such as lanterns and bunting are a great option. 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 Surrey and you'll find the top ones on Guides for Brides.