These temporary structures are incredibly versatile and can encompass whatever you envision: an elegant ballroom beneath sailcloth, perhaps? A rustic feast under canvas? Or an intimate gathering within a trio of tipi hats? Many marquee venues offer the romantic backdrop of stately homes and historic estates, allowing you to combine architectural grandeur with a relaxed atmosphere and complete creative freedom.
For couples planning outdoor celebrations that maintain the quintessential English country garden atmosphere we all know and love, marquees offer unmatched flexibility. Here are 12 venues where temporary structures create permanently memorable celebrations…
Holywell Hall is a Grade II* listed Georgian manor that remains a genuine secret, tucked away in the Lincolnshire countryside yet conveniently positioned within an hour of London.
Their exclusive-use, dry-hire approach means total creative control within an inherently beautiful setting. Manicured gardens and a tranquil lake provide the perfect backdrop for marquee celebrations on the croquet lawn beside the Orangery, while the walled enclosure creates a welcome slice of privacy. Holywell’s abundant flower borders also provide the most gorgeous natural styling that requires very little enhancement, while their Rose Cottage and Stables ensure comfortable weekend accommodation for your loved ones.
Operating exclusively from May through September, Fillongley Hall recognises that marquee weddings require optimal weather windows alongside experienced management. This Grade II-listed neoclassical house, spanning 85 acres of Warwickshire countryside, fulfils both requirements abundantly. In fact, Fillongley’s comprehensive marquee logistics distinguish the venue – their in-house team coordinates everything from initial setup to day-of management. Here, expansive grounds accommodate traditional structures and contemporary sailcloth designs equally, with two centuries of hosting experience proving invaluable.
Photographers dream about venues like Hamswell House – a 50-acre estate where every corner reveals enchanting garden backdrops, from 200-year-old wisteria cascading over ancient pergolas to the Neptune fountain reflected in 18th-century water gardens. This early Jacobean manor sits just five miles from Bath, within the Cotswolds countryside, where the venue’s inherent beauty means fewer cut flowers are required – nature handles the décor.
Exclusive marquee weekends ensure that your celebration is the only one to grace these grounds. Evening brings festoon lighting that illuminates the marquee, while soft floodlights highlight the main house and fountain, creating a natural drama that eliminates the need for elaborate styling.
One for the festival-minded couples: Bespoke at Great Danegate, sprawling across 300 acres within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, operates with total creative liberty, supported, of course, by the team’s professional expertise. Their 100% bespoke philosophy truly sets them apart – every structural element, styling detail, and logistical component is built around your specific vision.
This working farm in East Sussex accommodates gatherings from intimate woodland ceremonies to 1,000-guest festivals with equal finesse. The main reception field is perfect for sailcloth marquees or festival setups complete with food trucks and live music, while separate adjoining fields manage camping logistics seamlessly.
Romance demands grand gestures, and few exceed constructing an entire Italianate mansion for your homesick Italian princess bride. In 1635, an English aristocrat accomplished precisely that, creating Newington House in Genoa palace style to ease his wife’s longing for home.
This impressive 17th-century country house, situated amid 40 acres of Oxfordshire countryside an hour from London, maintains romantic foundations while functioning as a family home rather than a museum. Rear lawns provide ideal marquee positioning, while the river, tranquil lake, and walled gardens offer varied celebration (and photographic) possibilities from intimate dining to spectacular fireworks finales.
We must also mention that dogs are very welcome (always a good sign), and boat trips on the lake provide delightfully romantic interludes.
When Tatler declares somewhere, “The most glamorous place to say ‘I do’ in Hampshire,” you must pay attention. Luckily, Pylewell Park validates such bold proclamations through panoramic Solent views, private beach access, and a fun and refreshingly flexible approach that seems to dismiss traditional wedding rulebooks entirely.
Their licensed sail structure delivers ceremony drama overlooking the Isle of Wight, while the spacious Pavilion accommodates 200 guests beneath floor-to-ceiling windows and festooned terraces. Farrow & Ball interiors and fire pits create a dreamy ambience for formal dinners or casual food truck gatherings. Note: set packages hold zero appeal here – every celebration reflects the couple’s unique vibe.
Discovering a wedding venue where you literally feast on produce growing around your marquee feels rather like finding the holy grail of sustainable celebration. Meet Pythouse Kitchen Garden, a venue that operates on principles entirely different from typical catering. This 18th-century walled garden restaurant holds both a Bib Gourmand and a Green Michelin Star, acknowledging its commitment to daily-harvested menus and wood-fire cooking.
Ceremonies take place at the adjoining Hatch House, before celebrations move to marquees positioned within the magical kitchen garden, where guests dine on produce that grows literally around them. The seasonal bounty dictates both the menu and natural decorations, ensuring each wedding reflects the precise moment in nature’s calendar.
Thirlestane Castle is a 16th-century fortress in the Scottish Borders, featuring pink sandstone turrets that rise from the Lauderdale Estate with undeniable majesty. Having entertained royalty for centuries, the castle delivers true fairy tale magic.
Located 40 minutes from Edinburgh, this destination venue provides complete immersion. Public access ceases during events, allowing for private exploration of the dramatically decorated rooms, the peaceful Rose Garden, and the atmospheric Vaulted Cellars – perfect for multi-day celebrations that utilise everything the castle has to offer.
The accommodation reflects the venue’s diverse character: castle suites for traditional luxury or sustainable woodland lodges with hot tubs. Folks, if you’re seeking authenticity without theatrical pretence, Thirlestane offers centuries of Scottish hospitality within genuinely historical walls.
Spanning 2000 acres across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, Cornwell Manor delivers quintessentially English gardens at their most refined. Formal topiary walks, grand fountains, and Italianate reflecting pools provide multiple marquee locations, each commanding different perspectives of this majestic estate.
Choose the intimate walled garden beside the ballroom, the elevated croquet lawn, or that spectacular field position with a bridge overlooking tranquil lakes. For larger celebrations, the Park offers unrivalled views back to the manor house itself. Pure Cotswolds sophistication.
This exclusive retreat delivers something genuinely extraordinary: a Grade I-listed former gatehouse named by Vogue as “One of the most stunning wedding venues in the world,” available for just a handful of weekends annually. Deep in the Suffolk countryside, hiring Butley Priory is a three-day wedding experience, complete with accommodation for 47 guests.
Marquee celebrations take place on the front lawn with that ancient priory facade creating an utterly unique backdrop, while evening festivities migrate indoors, including your very own secret bar. If you’re looking to claim a piece of history for your big day, this is the one, folks.
at Woodhall Estate
English walled gardens epitomise romance, right? Think manicured lawns and formal borders contained within ancient brick walls, creating an enchanting sense of seclusion. Woodhall’s Walled Gardens, situated north of London, offer beauty and authenticity in spades, alongside rare fruit orchards and wildflower meadows.
Hosting just a handful of celebrations annually ensures true exclusivity. Couples can choose between the intimate sophistication of the gardens or the expansive parkland, accommodating the grandest of marquee affairs. As daylight fades, tiki torches illuminate weathered walls, transforming serene garden parties into dramatic evening spectacles.
Scale transforms everything in wedding venues, and Cowdray House‘s 16,000 acres deliver a perspective few properties can match. Positioned within the South Downs National Park, this country house’s Capability Brown gardens and vast parkland provides oodles of natural grandeur to outdoor celebrations.
While Buck Hall provides an impressive indoor setting for ceremonies and receptions, the real magic happens when you use the entire estate. Marquees positioned within the landscaped grounds capture sweeping countryside views for alfresco dining, then as evening arrives, festivities move indoors to the Dining Room for late-night dancing. Beyond the celebration itself, Cowdray functions as a comprehensive country retreat. Luxurious bedrooms, cottages, and treehouses house guests, while championship golf, River Rother fly fishing, and clay pigeon shooting provide excellent additional entertainment.
