From shape to style, couples are using canvas in a number of personality-packed ways, so we've asked the industry experts - from suppliers in marquee hire in Devon to wedding stylists - for the scoop on the latest trends and their top tips on how to achieve them...
Baya Hire
Absolute Canvas (Thomas Frost Photography)
Versatile style
A brilliant blank canvas for creative expression that simultaneously serves a practical purpose, a marquee wedding opens up a world of personalisation possibility, as Anne explains. "Whether you have 50 guests or 700, wish to include a separate chill-out area or a quiet section for children to play in, it's all possible to bring to life. From a cliff-top wedding to a hidden woodland hideaway, its versatility means that every detail imagined can be made real. They can be put up virtually anywhere, in varying configurations, with minimal disruption to the environment and can be packed away quickly, leaving no trace," she says. "Plus, a tipi is durable, provides warmth and comfort in winter and remains cool in the heat of the summer - and happily, they stay dry during heavy rains too."
They're also easier to personalise and take inspiration from the great outdoors, says Anne, who remembers one wedding that took its colour palette and from the panoramic cliff-top view at Hendra Cottage near St Just. "Purple foxgloves from the headland formed the basis for the wedding flowers and cake, whilst the sea played heavily in the internal decor with oars draped in floaty white organza, evocative of the boats and waves playing in the sea below," she says. "The tipi is the very reflection of nature and we love seeing how our couples bring touches of the Cornish countryside into their weddings."
Baya Hire
Outside in
The pared-back look isn't going anywhere soon, and it's no mean feat to see why: using the region's breath-taking landscapes as a muse and incorporating them into the internal space of a wedding affords extra wow factor and seamlessly blends a marquee's interior and exterior to enchanting effect.
"We are seeing lots of brides wanting the traditional canvas marquees with the sides being taken off, bringing the outside inside," observes Tonya of Absolute Canvas (absolutecanvas.co.uk) who offers marquee hire in Devon. "There are also lots of fairy lights over the marquee, open fires (done safely!), hay bales, and flowers being suspended from hula hoops - and the floral archway is working its way back."
Wild Tipi (Simon Biffen Photography)
World Inspired Tents (Rebecca Faith Photography)
Eco and earthy
Eco-friendly and zero-waste weddings continue to gain popularity as brides focus on a balance between conscience and aesthetics to plan a day that minimises environmental impact while maximising style.
"Wild Tipi's poles come from a sustainable forest management plan and are approved by the forestry stewardship council, making them even more environmentally sound," notes Anne. "And sustainable decor is also a popular choice. We love palm leaf plates and wooden cutlery; each one is completely unique and completely compostable, meaning that there is no waste (or washing up) after the feasting is over. Wood pallets prove a popular item to upcycle, serving as centrepieces for the table plans, signs and furniture."
Wild Tipi (Grant Lampard Photography)
No longer an afterthought but a modern statement feature, wedding flowers are stealing the limelight in a number of innovative and abstract ways, from accentuating the theme of the day to increasing the sense of sustainability.
"Sustainable floral decor is a definite trend", says Elle from The Artful Event Company (theartfuleventco.com). "Instead of cut flowers, I am seeing more of my clients make the move towards potted plants and trees for wedding decor. Not only is this green and sustainable, but you can give the plants away as gifts to your guests! Think succulents, ferns, or olive, bay or fig trees - or how about potted cactus for a fun tropical feel?" she suggests.
"I'm also seeing a move towards more minimal table decor, with impressive suspended arrangements above the tables. Putting effort and budget into large floral decor rather than lots of smaller arrangements can create real wow factor and is also a great practical solution if you are serving sharing platters for your wedding breakfast, or are using narrower tables," she adds.
"If you are using hanging installations, it's always a good idea to speak to your marquee provider about the right type of marquee to use, and always go for the tallest wall height available."
Absolute Canvas
Wild Tipi (Verity Westcott Photography)
Food glorious food
With canapes making way for grazing tables, and banquet-style receptions becoming the rage, food is a central component to a canvas wedding, where everything from catering logistics to layout must be considered for a successful feasting set-up."Banquet style seating is always popular and sometimes it's the only way the guest numbers will fit without going bigger with the marquee," says Tonya. "We have seen a few festival-like weddings with stages outside (which can be a bit of a risk with our Cornish liquid sunshine), while street food and shared platters are popular choices."
Agreeing that many couples are opting to move away from the traditional wedding breakfast to a more relaxed sharing style of eating, Anne shows how it can work well when it comes to wedding catering. "Huge platters of steaks, chunky potato wedges and glistening heirloom tomatoes at one wedding saw guests rolling up their sleeves and diving in to feast. At another, puddings were self-assembled, encouraging conversation, laughter and a sense of coming together," she observes.
Merging culinary movements with eco-friendly concerns, Rebecca notes the rise of "vegan and vegetarian foods, or if it's too extreme then take a more considered approach with healthier, organic options", she suggests. "Food is for sharing, and platters as starters make great ice-breakers. Or for an alternative take, self-served food creates a feast down the centre of the table."
She also believes food should be as well presented as its surrounds for optimal sensory impact. "Dessert tables or rooms should always be dressed beautifully," she says. "Use crates for rustic charm to add varying heights, or use an alternative piece of furniture for a table such as a rustic cart."
World Inspired Tents (Yeti Photography)
Top-trending tips for marquee hire in Devon
The final word from our professionals on how to help make your marquee wedding an all-unique affair...
New shapes
Sperry Tents and Mughal-style tents are getting very popular; the benefits of these are not only the aesthetics, but also they tend to be taller and feel more spacious due to the window design and wall height, allowing for more creative decor. This style of marquee is certainly my go-to for 2019 and 2020 weddings. Elle
Chill-out areas
Dedicate one of your tipis to create a chill-out area for your guests. Think Chesterfield sofas draped in sheepskins, pouffes and rustic furniture for guests to enjoy. The indoor fire pit always makes a sensational centrepiece and a wonderful talking point, and you can even make 'smore of this feature with marshmallow toasting as the evening draws in. Anna
Fabulous flooring
Naked floors aren't always an option in the UK because of the weather, but if you are lucky enough to have a lovely dry, perfectly flat lawned or patio area for your marquee, it's becoming more popular to follow the trend of US weddings and not bother with a carpet. However, it's not always practical, and in these cases I suggest naked rustic floorboards instead. If you are opting for carpet, why not use a colour rather than the standard cream or beige? It may cost a little more, but it can truly transform your marquee look and feel. Elle
Inside out
Our tipis are a perfect way to bring the outdoors in, but also a great way to take the indoors out... We can help to create additional areas outside of the tipis using smaller midi tipis, hay bales or bell tents as outdoor 'zones' for wedding guests. Some fantastic ideas include a video tent, a cloakroom, a games zone, a quiet zone for little ones, an outdoor games arena and the all-important outdoor bar and fire pit. They're wonderful places to be as the sun sets and guests come together to share stories under the twinkling festoon lights. Anna
Humanist ceremonies
The more people choosing to have humanist ceremonies, the more interesting the venues get. This is my passion - finding a place that means something to the couple and making it work for them and their day. We've had outdoor lidos, warehouses, barns, galleries and boats. Think about a place that's special to you and then see if it can work... There's always a solution. Rebecca
World Inspired Tents (Sarah Lauren Photography)
words Hannah May
main image World Inspired Tents (Liberty Pearl Photography)
Copyright Wed magazine 2019
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