Marquees provide the perfect solution to social distancing at weddings, which is one of the many reasons they will be popular while Coronavirus is a concern. From 15th August 2020, wedding receptions should not take place in private homes or gardens. Therefore, you might want to consider having your marquee wedding reception in the beautiful grounds or gardens of a COVID-Secure wedding venue, where you can maximise the use of outdoor space. Here are some of our top UK venues to host your marquee wedding reception...
See our ultimate guide to marquee weddings for tips and advice on planning an entire marquee wedding.
Planning a marquee wedding reception in the colder months
Marquees are beautiful all year round, so no matter what season your wedding is in, you can find the perfect marquee to suit your needs. In the colder months, you'll need heaters to keep you and your guests warm. Also, with earlier sunsets, you can have fun playing around with beautiful lighting solutions for when the sun goes down; a well-lit marquee is simply breathtaking.
Catering for your marquee wedding reception
One of the advantages of a marquee wedding is being able to choose your own outside caterer. During the Coronavirus pandemic, you'll need to consider social distancing and how that will affect your wedding breakfast. For example, buffets will likely not be allowed to take place because of the risk to you and your wedding guests. However, pre-plated meals, hog roasts, barbecues or food vans could be a great option. You could even provide your guests with picnic blankets and cushions for a fun, outdoor, socially-distanced wedding breakfast!
However, unless there is a catering tent as part of the marquee set up, your venue may not allow the use of external caters for your wedding reception. Therefore, it's important to speak to your venue about your catering before you book anything.
Top UK Wedding Venues to Host Your Marquee Wedding Reception
Swarling Manor
The beautiful permanent wedding marquee at Swarling Manor in Kent is perfect for wedding receptions all year round. Surrounded by 75 acres of breathtaking gardens and woodlands, you'll have endless photo opportunities for your special day. What's more, you can have the perfect end to the night, as the venue permits firework displays!
Rowallan Castle
Perfect for couples who have been dreaming of a fairytale wedding; this stunning 12th Century Castle wedding venue in Ayrshire, Scotland is the most amazing backdrop for your wedding day. The manicured Croquet Lawn is a huge space and under normal circumstances can host a marquee big enough for 300 seated within. We love the gorgeous scenery here, what a magical place to tie the knot!
That Amazing Place
Nestled in the Essex countryside, That Amazing Place is one of only a handful of country houses in England to offer exclusive use of the venue for your wedding day. The stunning grounds, complete with lakeside views, are perfect for your marquee reception and your wedding photos. Their incredible wedding team will help bring your vision to life and create the perfect wedding reception you've always dreamed of!
The Talbot
The Talbot is a beautiful riverside coaching inn in the heart of Malton, North Yorkshire. With its own private riverside grounds, an on-site wedding marquee seating up to 150, and exceptionally good food, you're sure to have the wedding you've always dreamed of. The landscaped grounds and terraced gardens also offer the perfect backdrop for your wedding photographs!
Osmaston Park
Nestled in a 3000-acre park with picture-perfect lakeside views, Osmaston Park is a stunning Derbyshire wedding venue. The fully-equipped, on-site marquee can hold up to 500 guests, perfect to allow for social distancing measures. It's also already fitted with all the key features you'll need for your special day: dance floor, star cloth, bar, tables, chairs, linen, themed lighting, luxury toilets and so much more! This incredible venue offers full flexibility to help make your wedding dreams a reality. Wedding season is between 1st April and 31st October yearly.
Deene Park
Deene Park Estate has over 500 acres of Grade II listed parkland, lakes and formal gardens, which offer you a breathtaking backdrop for a truly exclusive wedding experience. You'll love the beautiful on-site marquee, which is lined with ivory drapes and lit by chandeliers. It can also comfortably seat up to 160 guests; meaning there is plenty of room to allow for social distancing. This Northamptonshire venue offers endless possibilities to create your dream wedding reception!
Cave Castle Hotel
The stunning Cave Castle lies amongst beautiful Yorkshire landscapes. The stunning lake and lawns surrounding the castle make the perfect backdrop for your marquee reception and provide endless photo opportunities. Cave Castle has everything you need to create that fairytale wedding that you've been dreaming of. Their wedding team are able to offer invaluable advice from the very early stages of planning and throughout, meaning you can relax and trust that your wedding will be all that you had hoped for!
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The Nethybridge Hotel
The gorgeous grounds of The Nethybridge Hotel in Scotland make for the perfect location to hold your marquee wedding reception. The hotel itself is set in a beautiful period building with much of its original character preserved. You'll be sure to have an amazing, romantic Scottish wedding at this venue. The views that surround the hotel are simply breathtaking and provide an incredible backdrop for your wedding photos.
Thornton Manor
Thornton Manor is a grade II listed Elizabethan-style house built in the middle of the 19th century. This gorgeous venue has 3 different marquee options available within their immaculate grounds; the Waterside Pavillion, the Lakeside Marquee and the Walled Garden Marquee. You are truly spoilt for choice at this amazing, Merseyside venue.
Marquee receptions are the perfect solution to social-distancing and remain a popular choice among couples no matter the season. Find your marquee wedding venue today!