The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Marquees: Structures and Styling for Your Big Day

When planning a wedding, few decisions shape the atmosphere and flow of your celebration more than the venue. For couples looking for flexibility, style, and the chance to personalise every detail, a wedding marquee offers an unmatched level of creative freedom. Whether you’re dreaming of an elegant garden affair in Surrey, a lakeside reception in Hampshire, or a stylish urban party in London, the right marquee provides the perfect canvas.

This guide follows on from our article Wedding Marquees: Bringing Your Dream Day to Life Under Canvas, where we explored how a marquee can shape your wedding day. Here, we take a deeper look at the types of marquees we offer and how lighting choices can further enhance your celebration.

At Four Seasons Marquees, we offer a range of marquee structures designed to suit all kinds of weddings, locations, and guest lists. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the marquee types available, discuss their key features, and explore lighting options to help you design a magical wedding space.

Large traditional pole marquee beside a reflective lake in woodland setting, styled for an outdoor wedding reception

Frame Marquees: Flexible and Functional

Explore Frame Marquees

Frame marquees are among the most versatile structures available. Built using a robust aluminium frame, these marquees do not rely on central poles for support. This creates a completely open-plan interior—ideal for flexible layouts, dance floors, long banqueting tables, or unusual furniture arrangements.

Can be erected on almost any surface (grass, gravel, tarmac, decking)
No internal poles, allowing for unobstructed floorplans
Easily extended or combined with pagodas or awnings
Compatible with clear roof and wall panels for dramatic lighting and views

Frame marquees work beautifully for both large and small weddings. Their modular construction also makes them well suited to complex sites or gardens with limited access.

Clearspan wedding marquee with green flooring, round tables, and decorative indoor trees for a garden-inspired reception

Pole Tents: Traditional Elegance

Explore Pole Tents

If you’re drawn to a timeless, romantic aesthetic, pole tents (also known as traditional marquees) offer elegance in abundance. With their sweeping rooflines, natural canvas material, and central poles, pole tents create a beautiful, airy atmosphere.

Striking silhouette with high peaks and flowing lines
Ideal for natural or rustic wedding themes
Best suited to soft ground such as lawns, meadows, or paddocks
Traditional canvas material allows breathability and a soft finish

Their curved structure and central king poles can be dressed with floral installations or soft lighting to add drama and charm.

Traditional canvas pole wedding marquee at dusk with warm interior lighting and open sides

Pagodas & Awnings: Stylish Additions and Standalone Solutions

Explore Pagodas & Awnings

Pagodas and awnings are the unsung heroes of great marquee design. Often used as entrances, chill-out zones, bars, or reception areas, these structures enhance the flow and function of your wedding layout.

Add architectural flair to your marquee layout
Provide weatherproof cover for drinks receptions, entrances, or walkways
Can be linked to main marquees or used as stand-alone spaces
Flexible sizing to suit different purposes

Night-time view of a wedding pagoda marquee with lantern-lit garden pathway and ambient tree lighting

Lighting: Setting the Mood

Explore Lighting Options

Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in marquee design. It transforms the mood from day to night and sets the tone for everything from dinner to dancing.

Fairy Lights

Twinkling fairy lights bring a magical, romantic glow. Woven into ceiling linings or draped across beams, they add subtle sparkle.

Chandeliers

Classic, eye-catching, and elegant, chandeliers offer a luxury finish for your marquee.

Festoon Lighting

Festoon bulbs give a warm, welcoming atmosphere—perfect for summer and festival-style weddings.

Uplighting

Use uplighters to wash marquee walls, trees, or floral displays with colour and drama.

Pin Spots & LED Washes

These accent lighting tools highlight key features like the cake table or floral centrepieces, with colour options to match your theme.

Traditional pole marquee at night with festoon lighting and guests enjoying an evening wedding celebration

Planning Your Wedding Marquee: What to Consider

Guest numbers: Factor in space for dining, dancing, and socialising
Season: Consider heating or ventilation depending on the time of year
Ground surface: Pole tents require soft ground; frame marquees offer greater flexibility
Venue access: We conduct a site visit to assess layout and logistics

Our experienced team will support you through the entire process, ensuring every detail is managed with care.

Real Wedding Inspiration

Get inspired by real weddings brought to life with Four Seasons Marquees:

Ready to Start Planning?

A wedding marquee gives you the opportunity to design a day that feels entirely your own. With our range of structures, lighting options, and expert support, Four Seasons Marquees helps you build a wedding experience that’s both beautiful and practical.