A marquee gives you freedom. Four elegant walls, a soaring canopy, and the chance to shape every inch so it feels unmistakably yours.
If you are shortlisting suppliers, explore Marquee hire London early so the structure, lighting supply, and layout options are locked before you fall in love with the décor. A good hire partner will help you plan power, flooring, access, and wet-weather contingencies, which means your styling can focus on beauty rather than firefighting.
Think in layers. Structure first, then light and furniture, then florals and finishing touches. With that frame in mind, here are ten ideas with enough detail to take straight to your planner or stylist.
1) Light for faces, then for atmosphere
Great lighting flatters people and photographs well. Start with a warm base across the whole tent, then add accents so the space has depth. Combine fairy lights threaded through roof linings, festoon runs over the bar and entrance, and pin spots on tables so centrepieces glow without glare. Ask for dimmers, and plan three scenes: arrival, dinner, dancing. Elegant rather than clinical.
2) Make the entrance a moment
Your entrance is the first chapter. A pair of urns or plinths with seasonal flowers and a soft drape creates scale without blocking flow. Add lanterns that lead guests from path to door, and place a petite table for confetti cones or a signature scent. It feels editorial and sets the tone before anyone sees the dining room.
3) Dress the ceiling so the space feels designed
Ceiling décor turns a tent into a room. Foliage hoops, ribbons tied in tonal bands, or cloud-like gypsophila clusters draw the eye upward and add romance. Keep installations airy so the canopy still reads as light. If you prefer a modern mood, try translucent paper lanterns grouped in odd numbers at varying heights.
4) Build lounge pockets people actually use
Break up the expanse with living-room comfort. One or two zones with sofas, velvet armchairs, and nesting tables invite guests to perch between courses. Rugs help to define the area, and a small floor lamp or low uplighter adds the kind of glow that makes conversations linger.
5) Tables that read beautifully in photos
Think in layers rather than lists. Choose linen with a subtle weave, then add runners or chargers for structure. Mix candle heights for movement, and keep centrepieces below eye level unless you opt for tall stands with clear stems. Minimal place cards in good paper stock look considered without fuss.
6) Florals with London attitude
Go seasonal and let the stems breathe. British Vogue’s wedding florists champion bouquets and arrangements that feel sculptural and alive, rather than tightly packed. That translates perfectly to marquees, where air and movement matter. If you want a modern bouquet and relaxed tablescapes, this feature on London florists is a stylish reference point: 4 Trendsetting London Florists On How To Make Your Bridal Bouquet Cool. It will help you brief your florist in the language of shape, negative space, and personality rather than just colour charts.
7) Floors that keep gowns pristine
A solid floor changes everything. Wooden boarding gives polish and improves temperature control. Coir matting suits rustic schemes. Add an aisle runner for the ceremony and a distinct dance floor so the evening energy feels intentional. Your photographer will thank you when heels are steady and hems stay clean.
8) Put the bar on stage
The bar is a social magnet, so treat it like a set piece. Face it with panelling or tiles, add a mirrored back bar, and finish with bud vases and a discreet light wash from below. A short, well-edited menu speeds service and looks chic on a letterboard. Place the bar opposite the band or DJ to balance the room.
9) Ceremony focal points that frame you, not the tent
If vows are inside, create a frame that reads beautifully from every seat. An asymmetric floral column, an arbour with soft drape, or a greenery backdrop that echoes your tables will do the job. Add a small rug to anchor the two of you. Simple, photogenic, unforgettable.
10) Borrow tricks from the interiors crowd
House & Garden has long championed marquee styling that feels like a country house room. Think suspended foliage rings, candlelit trees, and softly coloured lanterns that make the canvas feel intimate rather than cavernous. Use this gallery as loose inspiration for texture and scale: Garden Wedding Ideas & Decorations. You do not need to copy a single image. Treat it as a mood board for how to balance height, light, and greenery.
A few practical extras, because London weather likes a plot twist. Keep clear sightlines for speeches. Schedule a subtle lighting shift as daylight fades so the room never looks flat. Brief the band on volume and set times that keep energy buoyant without crowding the dance sets. Have throws ready for midnight air and a basket of heel caps near the lawn.
Put all of this together and you get a wedding marquee that feels intentional, romantic, and unmistakably yours. Choose one or two hero materials, repeat them across ceiling, tables, and lounge pockets, then let everything else support those choices. The result is cohesive, effortless, and very London!