Planning Your Summer Wedding: What To Do Now

If you’re dreaming of saying “I do” under canvas next summer, now is the time to get organised.

Summer dates book up quickly and marquee weddings need a little more forward planning than a traditional venue, but the payoff is a completely personal, outdoor celebration that feels like it was made just for you.

This guide walks you through what you should be doing now to plan a seamless summer marquee wedding.

Start With Your Vision And Budget

Before you dive into Pinterest boards, get clear on the kind of day you want and what you’re happy to spend.

A marquee gives you a blank canvas, so deciding early whether you’re going for relaxed festival vibes, elegant garden party or chic modern styling will help every decision that follows.

Create a realistic budget that includes the marquee, power, toilets, catering tent, furniture, catering, bar and décor, not just the dress and flowers.

Knowing your numbers now stops surprises later and helps you prioritise where to splurge and where to save.

Secure Your Date, Site and Marquee

Summer marquee weddings are hugely popular, so locking in the big foundations early is essential.

Once you have a preferred month and a rough guest list, speak to your marquee provider about availability and what styles work best for your chosen site for example, clearspan for level lawns, stretch tents for more informal layouts, or sailcloth for that light, airy summer look.

If you’re using a private garden, field or farm, now is the time to check access, ground conditions, parking and space for additional structures like a catering marquee or loos. A site visit means any challenges can be solved well in advance, rather than days before the wedding.

Plan For Summer Weather (Good & Bad)

British summer can mean blazing sunshine, sudden showers or a cool evening breeze – sometimes all in one day.

When you book your marquee, talk through options like opening side walls for ventilation, adding panoramic windows, specifying matting or flooring, and including fans or discreet heaters so guests stay comfortable whatever the forecast brings.

Also think now about shade and shelter outside the marquee: pagodas or smaller tents for drinks receptions, umbrellas, and a wet‑weather plan for your ceremony if it’s outdoors. Planning these details early makes the weather one less thing to stress about.

Lock In Key Suppliers Early

Because you’re building a venue from the ground up, your suppliers all need good communication and clear logistics. Once your marquee is booked, prioritise securing:

Catering and bar (including whether they need a separate catering tent, power and water access)
Toilets and generators
Photographer, band/DJ and celebrant or registrar.

Summer Saturdays book up fast for these suppliers, so getting them confirmed now means everyone can plan around your marquee layout, delivery times and set‑up schedule. It also gives you time to coordinate practicalities like where vans can park and how they’ll access the site.

Sketch Your Layout & Guest Experience

One of the best parts of a marquee wedding is being able to design the space around how you want the day to feel.

Early on, work with your marquee company to sketch a simple floor plan showing entrance, bar, dance floor, dining area, top table, cake, band/DJ and any chill‑out zones.

Think about the guest journey: where they’ll arrive, where drinks will be served, how they’ll move into dinner and how the space will transform for the evening.

Planning this now helps you choose the right size of marquee and the best furniture style, from long rustic trestles to classic round tables and relaxed lounge seating.

Start Styling: Light, Airy & Personal

Summer marquee weddings lend themselves beautifully to soft, romantic styling.

Begin gathering ideas for colour palettes, linens, flowers and lighting that will work with the natural light and height of the structure.

Ceiling space is perfect for hanging florals, foliage, lanterns or fairy lights, which instantly make the space feel magical after dark.

Because a marquee is a blank canvas, the details really make it yours.

Personalised signage, a statement bar, seasonal flowers, and thoughtful touches like baskets of flip‑flops for the dance floor.

Planning your look now gives florists and stylists plenty of time to design something that fits the space perfectly.

Get Practical With Power, Access & Timings

Behind every beautiful marquee wedding is some very un‑glamorous but vital planning. Including:

Power requirements for catering, bar, band/DJ and lighting
Where generators and cables will go, safely out of sight
Delivery and set‑up timings for each supplier, ideally over a couple of days.

Creating a simple schedule of when the marquee goes up, when furniture and décor arrive, when caterers and bar set up, keeps everyone aligned and makes the run‑up calm. It also means you can enjoy decorating the day before, rather than dealing with last‑minute issues.

What To Do Next

If you’re planning a summer marquee wedding next year or 2027 the most important jobs for this month are to secure your marquee and site, confirm your key suppliers and start shaping your layout and style.

Once those pillars are in place, everything else becomes a matter of detail rather than stress.

You can then spend the rest of your planning journey focusing on the fun bits: tasting menus, choosing music and adding those personal touches that will make your marquee feel like home for the day.

Let’s bring your marquee vision to life and leave the stress to us. Call today for a bespoke quote and layout plan, and we’ll handle the details so you can enjoy the build‑up to your big day.

Photo Credits: Marc Millar & Rachael Plaxton