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Writer's pictureKatharine Snowden

The ultimate centrepieces for luxury pole and canvas marquee weddings

Updated: Feb 27

When it comes to weddings, the details truly make the magic. And what better way to wow your marquee wedding guests than with stunning centrepieces?

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee, a trestle table is dress with vintage patterned linen and green glassware. Along the table, huge arches are decorated with roses and foliage.

Pole and canvas marquees are versatile structures that offer a blank canvas to express your creative side and really make an impact. They can set the stage for a wedding that's as unique as you are.


One of the main decor decisions you will be faced with when planning your memorable marquee wedding is what your centrepieces will be. Whether you choose round tables or long trestle tables, there’s a perfect centrepiece to suit your style. So, in this blog, we’re diving into the sea of centrepiece options and fishing out a few of our favourite ideas to inspire you for your special day.


Flower power

Flowers are the eternal darlings of wedding centrepieces. Picture cascading blooms in a riot of colours and varieties artfully arranged. Imagine wildflowers in jam jars for a laid back English country wedding, rows of Hydrangeas for a chic and elegant look. There are so many different ways of creating floral centrepieces, we’d need a dedicated blog to cover them all (watch this space!).


Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee trestle tables are dressed in light grey linen and laid with elegant cutlery and vintage side plates. delicate pastel flowers sit in glass bud vases.
Photo credit - Holly Clark Photography

Whether you choose maximalist explosions of flowers or simple structural blooms in elegant vases, the effect will be equally breathtaking. Flowers are a surefire way to transform the marquee into a sublime and fragrant paradise you and your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee round tables are dressed with white linen and set with silver cultlery. taper candles encircle a floral centrepiece.

Vintage elegance

For a touch of old-world glamour, incorporate vintage and antique items into your centrepieces. Play with height by using fringed lamps or vintage candelabras. Place floral arrangements in antique birdcages, terracotta urns or vintage tea cups. Anchor it all to the table with ornate silver trays. The charm of yesteryear combined with the traditional style of our pole and canvas marquees creates a mood that is both romantic and refined.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee trestle tables are dressed with a green/grey lined and rose gold dinnerware, floral arrangements sit in pink and green glass vases with votive candles and pink cups and saucers add a touch of vintage.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee a round table is dressed with white linen, flowers in bud vases, plants in pots and pink taper candles in brass candlesticks form a vintage inspired centrepiece.

Luxurious greenery

Ah greenery, a timeless symbol of freshness and life. Take some deep yoga breaths as you picture lush foliage, succulents, and vines beautifully arranged to create a natural and elegant look for your wedding. Foliage garlands running down the centre of long trestle tables, or draped across round tables, can transform the marquee into a vibrant and invigorating garden. You can also intersperse foliage with candles for added laid back romance.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee wooden cross back chairs line long trestle tables dressed with blue glassware and candles, pink roses are arranged in bud vases and green foliage is placed in tall glass vases.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee wooden cross back chairs are neatly lined up at long trestle tables dress with an off white linen, flora centrepieces and taper candles, above foliage garlands fill the canopy.

Nature’s pick

Channel your inner art teacher with a still life class to prepare for and get foraging all that nature has to offer. For countryside locations gather up seed heads, antlers, and branches. If you're getting married by the sea, go for a beach stroll and collect driftwood, shells, interesting pebbles, anything that catches your eye can work well as a centrepiece and make a really unique statement. The key is to keep it subtle and make sure you brush off any soil or sand first.


Flowing fabric

Soften the look of your wedding tables and top up the romance by loosely draping fabric down the middle of trestle tables or across round ones. Light fabrics like chiffon, lace or muslin work well. Gingham could be a fun choice as its lightweight and gives a nostalgic french bistro vibe. Make it look effortless by letting the fabric gather on the table and pool onto the floor.

flowing fabric is arranged down the centre of a trestle table, a pink taper candle sits in a rose gold candle holder, pink, peach and white roses are arranged in glass bud vases that nestle in the folds of the fabric.

Playful light displays

Let there be light! Centrepieces don't always have to be static, they can be an immersive experience. Creative LEDs or flickering flames can achieve this. Imagine glowing orbs, edison bulbs, twinkling fairy lights, or chandeliers suspended above the tables, casting a warm and romantic glow over the celebration.


And what table dining experience is complete without candles? That's right, none! Since we first saw the spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp, we’ve all been well and truly conditioned to believe that candlelit dining and romance go hand in hand. It is true that candles bring any table display to life, so why not embrace them (not literally, that would be awful). Play with height levels by mixing tea lights, votives and tall taper candles for a twinkling bella notte. Or, go all Meatloaf with chunky church candles dripping wax down oversized candelabras.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee, a wooden trestle table is dressed with green and white taper candles and tea lights in glass holders.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee wooden cross back chairs sit neatly at long trestle tables dressed with white linen and giant bronze candelabras. a ruffled fabric runner is placed down the length of the table and colourful flowers nestle in it folds.
Photo credit - Kate Lowe Photography

Sculptural art pieces

If you have a taste for the avant-garde, sculptural art can form show-stopping centrepieces. Unique, abstract sculptures or art installations are guaranteed conversation starters and add an intriguing, contemporary touch to the space.


Theme-based

If you have a specific theme for your wedding, bring it to life with your centrepieces. Be it boho, beachy or barbie, aligning the centrepieces with your theme can create a cohesive and magical atmosphere.


Personal touches

Let your centrepieces tell your love story by incorporating items such as books that influenced your romance, tickets and souvenirs from memorable trips or even photographs. Cleverly and tastefully integrated into the table decor, these items bring warmth, humour, emotion and maybe even a bit of kitsch to your tables.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee a rustic wooden trestle table is dressed with large limewashed candlesticks with pillar candles and taper candles held in smaller candlesticks, a picture of Alnwick castle is held on a photo holder surrounded by plants in pots. The places are set with silver cutlery, vintage side plates, menus and wedding favours.

Decadent feasting displays

If you’re planning on having family style dining (where food is served on platters and everyone digs in), why not make the centrepiece a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach? If you choose trestle tables, serving your wedding feast on extra long charcuterie boards looks deliciously decadent. For round tables, tiered displays overflowing with culinary delights offer a stylish spread your guests will adore and devour!

A rustic wooden trestle table is dressed for a marquee wedding feast.

The right centrepiece for the right table

How you design your centrepieces will depend on the type of table you choose. Both round and long tables at a wedding look fantastic, so it comes down to personal taste and what works best practically. Round tables can be more lively and sociable as they make it easier for everyone to interact, whereas long tables create a great sense of activity and life throughout the space. Whichever type of table you decide upon, you will need to think about how you dress them.


How to get your marquee wedding centrepieces just right

We love a well-dressed table and have seen some absolute stunners at our weddings. The best centrepieces that make a real impact embrace repetition, play with multiple levels and incorporate both candles and florals. So, get inspired, get creative and you’ll be blown away when you see your table centrepieces in all their glory on your wedding day.


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