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Writer's pictureKatharine Snowden

Top tips for an autumn marquee wedding

Updated: Feb 27

Autumn is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric seasons. As we say goodbye to summer and welcome in the colder months, autumn perfectly represents maturity, change and new beginnings. Its mild temperatures mean that it's still not too cold to be outside either. All this combined makes autumn a popular time of year to get married. In fact, according to The Knot, October was the most popular month to get married last year, with September coming in a close second. If you’re dreaming of strolling through the fallen leaves hand in hand with your newly wedded other half on your big day, read on.


In this article we’ll uncover just why an autumn marquee wedding is definitely a good idea and what you can do to make sure your autumn nuptials go off with a bang…like fireworks…which happen in autumn… never mind.

A Peacock and Bow pole and canvas pavilion marquee, viewed through autumn leaves in the foreground. The marquee contains an oak panelled round bar.

Why have an autumn marquee wedding anyway?

‘A big white tent, in the middle of a field, on a damp cold day, are you sure it's not a terrible idea?’ the naysayers may ask. Well, we’re here to take that mental image, screw it up, throw it in the fire and replace it with something much more wholesome, warm, cosy and magical. Here are just some of the reasons why an autumn marquee wedding is actually a perfect idea.


Make the most of the natural beauty

If you’re autumn people, you’ll agree that it really is the best season for natural beauty. So, if you’ve chosen this magical time of year to tie the knot, you’re going to want to make the most of what mother nature has to offer. But, you’re not going to be able to do that if you’re stuck inside a stuffy banquet hall. No no no, a marquee is what you need. Marquees are the best way to celebrate your wedding while making the most of the natural surroundings.


If you’re worried about the colder weather, you can rest assured that marquees are lovely warm places to be. Who doesn't love getting all toasty and cosy when it's cold outside. By using heaters, warm lighting and plush seating, you can create a comfortable autumn ambiance.

A bride and groom kiss in a field at sunset.

Choose from endless decor options

Pumpkins, lanterns, leaves, harvest festival vibes, autumn has it all. It really is the best season for marquee decor inspo. The autumn colour palette is rich, warm, vibrant and earthy. Ivory, cream, gold, rust and warm orange hues make the perfect wedding colour theme. Bring nature inside with rustic wooden signage and centrepieces. Incorporate pine cones and conkers and create floral arrangements of roses, chrysanthemums and tulips, which are all available in autumn colour schemes.


A traditional marquee lends itself perfectly to rustic, wild decor themes, with its wooden poles, rope and swathes of natural cotton canvas.

The focal point is a wooden signpost that says 'wedding'. In the background is a flower bed of tulips.

Indulge in seasonal food and drink

As the nights draw in It’s time to bust out the big pot and cook up some good old fashioned comfort food. It doesn't matter how cool you are, we all get excited for soup season, right?


An autumn marquee wedding gives you the opportunity to add some home cooked goodness to your menu. Imagine indulgent cheese boards, wood fired pizzas, and hog roasts. The cooler season also opens up a whole new category of tipple, you guessed it…hot drinks! Add mulled wine and cider, hot toddies and Irish coffees to your bar menu to get your guests in the party spirit. Then there's the hearty puds, taste explosions of cinnamon and sugar. Your guests will love to indulge in the seasonal fare of autumn.

Three glass mugs containing an autumn cocktail garnished with cinnamon sticks, star anise and a slices of apple
Photo credit - Becky Luigart-Stayner

Choose the perfect location

Whether it's a woodland glade, a quintessential farm, a historic house or your own garden, a marquee can go anywhere that suits your vision for your autumn wedding.


If these perks of the season have convinced you that an autumn marquee wedding is right for you, read on for our top tips to make your special day even more magical.

A Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee lit up at night in the grounds of a country house
Photo credit - Kate Lowe Photography

Five tips for a magical autumn marquee wedding


1. Think about the location

When choosing your marquee site make sure parking is nearby so no one is traipsing through mud to get there. Same goes for the loos. At Peacock and Bow, we can provide entrance walkways to keep party shoes clean and dry. You can also hire our colonnades which are four metre long tunnels formed with the same beautiful canvas and wooden poles as our marquees. These can be used as covered walkways between two marquees or between your marquee and a building.

A Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee lit up at night in the grounds of a country house

2. Create cosy areas

One of the main benefits of marquees is that you can design them to create any type of space you desire. With modular options such as reveal curtains, spill out areas and pavilion marquees, you can create different zones for different vibes. Cosy up your outside areas by using fire pits, lanterns and festoon lights hung on our giant shepherds crooks so your guests can basque in that crackling glow. Don't forget to lay out the comfy seating and blankets so the big laughs and deep chats around the fire can continue late into the night.


All our pole and canvas marquees all have floor to ceiling panoramic clear walls for an indoors/outdoors vibe with all the warmth and shelter of a mountainside log cabin straight from a fairy tale. Your guests can relax in comfort and gaze at the views as the light fades.

Inside a Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee, apple crates containing rolled up blankets sit on the coir matting marquee flooring. A blackboard that reads 'Snuggle up', leans against a crate

3. Hire marquee heaters

The great British weather can be unpredictable at any time of year and autumn, although not too hot and not too cold, is just as much of a gamble. But, fear not, our marquees are fully weatherproof and by hiring our heaters you can make sure your marquee stays lovely and warm inside if the temperature drops. Crank up the heat as well as the music and get your autumn party started.


4. Lighting, lighting, lighting

You can’t create the right mood without the right lighting. Flickering candles and twinkling fairy lights add magic and intimacy, festoon lights bring the fun, while up-lighters give us drama for days! Pull out all the lighting stops to create the atmosphere and ambiance you want for your dream wedding.


Don’t forget the external space, our marquees all come with external festoon lights hung along the skyline of the canopy. This feature is exclusive to Peacock and Bow and creates the most breathtaking silhouette against the night sky that never fails to stop revellers in their tracks. You can also use lanterns and festoons hung on our giant shepherds crooks to light up walkways and spill out areas.

A Peacock and Bow pole and canvas marquee lit up at night in the grounds of a country house

5. Be inspired by the season

From autumn colours, to seasonal entertainment, to comfort food and warm drinks, to everything nature has to offer during this wonderful time of year, you can embrace it all.


Incorporate pumpkins and gourds, conkers and fir cones into your table settings and decor. Fill the aerial space with garlands of fallen leaves in all their vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. Use our flower rings to install giant overhead autumn wreaths. You can even create an autumnal canopy by installing trees inside the marquee, which looks amazing! Wow your guests with fireworks and a big bonfire. Capture stunning twilight photos by handing out sparklers as the party gets in full swing. The possibilities are endless.



Autumn days

With autumn now even more popular than summer for weddings, it’s wise to start planning early. Get in touch with us today to secure your stunning pole and canvas marquee for September, October or November 2024.


But, if you’re not quite swayed by an autumn marquee wedding yet, just think, you could walk down the aisle to the absolute school assembly banger ‘Autumn Days’! All together now, ‘Smell of bacon as I fasten up my laces, and the song the milkman sings, so I mustn't forgeeeeettttttt”


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