A huge congratulations on your engagement! You're about to embark on an exciting journey as you plan your special day, and we are so excited to be a part of it. Picture yourself stepping beneath the elegant canopy of your sailcloth marquee, surrounded by loved ones, with laughter and joy filling the air. This is what awaits you, and every decision over the coming months will bring you closer to the celebration of a lifetime. We recognise that this journey may sometimes feel a little overwhelming but fear not; our team are here to guide you every step of the way. We are dedicated to making your journey smooth and enjoyable and we strive to go above and beyond to turn your dreams into a reality!

Site Visit

We will also undertake a site visit as the earliest opportunity. This holds significant importance in the planning process as it offers us the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge on the proposed site. By physically being there, we can better understand the layout, dimensions, and any unique features or challenges it may present. This involves understanding how the marquee and any additional structures can be best positioned to maximize space utilisation and create an optimal flow for your day.

Another critical consideration during the site visit is evaluating the ground conditions. We examine factors such as terrain, ground slope, and any potential obstacles that may impact the setup process allowing us to ensure a stable and safe setup for the marquee. Logistical considerations also come into play; we assess access points for delivery vehicles, proximity to utilities such as power sources and water, and any other logistical challenges that may need to be addressed in advance. This problem-solving approach helps minimise disruptions and ensures a smooth setup process. Furthermore, the site visit enables us to customise our services based on the site's features and limitations whilst ensuring it suits your specific needs and preferences.

Inital Plans

After conducting a thorough site visit, our team will begin the process of creating personalised aerial plans for your marquee setup. These plans are meticulously crafted to reflect the unique layout and specifications of your space, taking into account all of the details discussed during the site visit. The aerial plans serve as visual representations of how the marquee and any additional structures will be positioned within the venue and they provide a bird's-eye view of the entire setup, allowing you to visualize how everything will come together on the big day.

Once the aerial plans are finalised, we will update your quotation accordingly. This ensures that the quotation accurately reflects the scope of work and the services provided from the offset, giving you full transparency and peace of mind. With the personalised aerial plans and updated quotation in hand, you can proceed with confidence, knowing that your marquee setup will be meticulously planned and executed to perfection. We are dedicated to turning your wedding dreams into reality, one detail at a time.

Booking Your Marquee

Once you've fallen in love with your tailored package, it's time to secure your date. At this stage, we request a 25% deposit (50% if booking within the same year as event) to ensure the reservation of your desired marquee for the designated day. With the deposit confirmed, and the marquee availability secured, the countdown to your unforgettable day officially begins!

Planning

As the excitement builds, our team is here to support you every step of the way. From the initial site visit to adjusting tent layouts and discussing the all-important décor, we'll work closely with you to ensure every detail is perfect. Our team are in the office Monday - Friday and are here to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the items we think you might want or need based on your ideas.

We will contact you for a catch up zoom call around 3 months prior to the day to go over everything we have discussed; we will update invoices and plans and go through any last minute questions. We can also help liaise with any of your suppliers, for example advising the florist on the dimensions of the flower rings or providing service trestles for your caterers. Our collaborative approach ensures that the planning process is smooth and enjoyable!

The Weekend Is Finally Here!!!

As the weekend approaches, the excitement builds! All the planning is about to come to fruition on your much-awaited wedding day. On the day of setup, our team will arrive bright and early and will be working hard throughout the day setting up the marquee, transforming the space into your vision. Sit back, relax, and let us handle the details while you enjoy the moment.

Upon completion, we'll take the time to walk through the site with you, carefully reviewing every detail to ensure nothing has been overlooked. Your happiness and satisfaction are paramount to us, and we want to ensure that you feel confident and delighted with the final outcome.

Our commitment doesn't end when we leave the site – we're always available to address any further questions or concerns you may have, we are just a phone call away and we will leave you with an extensive handover pack and our out of hours contact details, should you require them.

Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're dedicated to providing you with an outstanding experience. We hope you have an incredible day, and we can’t wait to hear all about it!

Feedback & Referrals 

As the weekend approaches, the excitement builds! All the planning is about to come to fruition on your much-awaited wedding day. On the day of setup, our team will arrive bright and early and will be working hard throughout the day setting up the marquee, transforming the space into your vision. Sit back, relax, and let us handle the details while you enjoy the moment.

Upon completion, we'll take the time to walk through the site with you, carefully reviewing every detail to ensure nothing has been overlooked. Your happiness and satisfaction are paramount to us, and we want to ensure that you feel confident and delighted with the final outcome.

Our commitment doesn't end when we leave the site – we're always available to address any further questions or concerns you may have, we are just a phone call away and we will leave you with an extensive handover pack and our out of hours contact details, should you require them.

Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're dedicated to providing you with an outstanding experience. We hope you have an incredible day, and we can’t wait to hear all about it!

What Happens on Build Day?

Just as Alexander Graham Bell once wisely said, 'Preparation is the key to success,' and this couldn't ring truer than when it comes preparing for the arrival of our exquisite marquees. We take huge pride, in both our work and your celebration, we like to think we don’t just supply you with a marquee but enjoy the journey with you. Entrusting your wedding to us, means sharing the burden of, what can sometimes be, a stressful planning process. Our team is made of experienced professionals who meticulously check every aspect down to the finer detail. Zoom and phone calls, site visits, personalised aerial site plans; are all just snapshots of the planning journey we will take you on but to ensure a seamless build and perfect conditions for your marquee.

The Perfect Site

Before the build day there are a few things we ask; that any discussed obstacles are removed and the access routes are clear, eliminating any potential delays or problems. As part of our commitment to detail and your satisfaction, we also ask that there be no fires in the vicinity for at least two months prior to the setup. This allows ample time for the lush grass to regenerate, creating a picturesque backdrop for your special day.

Cutting the Grass

And finally, one seemingly small, yet crucial, request: please trim the grass on the site short and gather the cuttings. This seemingly simple act holds substantial importance, as it contributes to an elevated overall experience. A neatly trimmed grass surface not only ensures a smooth and level foundation for the marquee floor which will follow the contours of the ground, but also enhances the aesthetics, providing an impeccable backdrop for those cherished photographs. Trust us, this minor preparation can make a world of difference in the final presentation of your magical space.

The Canvas

Moving seamlessly to the following stage, we carefully lace together the sailcloth canvas sections, that will form the exquisite canopy that graces the pinnacle of our marquee – the distinctive and graceful swooping roof lines that define the iconic Wills Marquee. These canvas sections connect to the central ring on the king pole but prior to pulling into its designated position, we introduce the wooden wall poles. Mirroring the process with the king pole, these wall poles are secured to the surrounding ground stakes by guide ropes, ensuring a safe secure structure. Once all the poles are in place and secured, the sailcloth canvas top can be raised into position and the canvas walls hung and laced in position. This step holds a special charm for us, as it's when the marquee truly comes to life.

Infrastructure

After the main structure has been built, we begin the interior set-up - flooring, lighting, bars etc, all the details that can transform your big day into a truly extraordinary experience. It's our goal to have the marquee structure up and the floor down by early afternoon, with additional elements like furniture, loos, and generators arriving mid-afternoon, completing late afternoon. We purposefully refrain from offering precise timings, adapting to the unique requirements of your special day, maintaining our commitment to attention to detail to deliver a flawless experience.

The Hand Over

Set-up day isn't just about constructing a structure; it's about laying the foundation for a day that will be etched in your memory forever. Our journey doesn't end with the last stake in the ground; it continues as we eagerly await the moment you step into the transformed space, where dreams become reality. Crucially, we urge you to be on-site late afternoon (exact time to be confirmed on the morning with our team) for the pivotal handover. This is when we guide you through turning the generator on and off, the art of opening doors and walls, and lifting and lowering flower rings. While our aim is to complete everything on the day, if needed, or should the job be bigger than average, we'll happily return the next day, ensuring your absolute satisfaction with the setup.

The De-Rig

On take down day we typically return between 8 and 10 am on the prearranged day, so it's imperative to have a cleaning process in place, some suppliers may return earlier to remove furniture, staging etc. So, it’s important that any remnants of the celebration have been removed – crockery, bottles, decorations – either the morning after the wedding day or on the last day of use. This ensures a smooth start to dismantling the tent upon our arrival. Whilst we are committed to ensure we leave the site as we found it, we aren’t responsible for the event waste itself so it’s worth having a plan in place for how this will be dealt with either via your caterer/bar or handling it yourself.

Take Down

Disassembling the marquee is a swift process once the interiors have been cleared. After unfastening the canvas walls and lowering the marquee's top structure, we proceed to remove the wall poles, king poles, and their accompanying guide ropes. Our team works efficiently to dismantle the structure, and once packed away, we take special care to leave no trace behind. Our commitment to cleanliness extends to meticulously clearing any generated waste from the site, ensuring that the area is restored to its original condition. This careful approach not only streamlines the takedown process but also underscores our dedication to leaving the venue as pristine as we found it.

Why Choose a Sailcloth Marquee

A guide from the professionals

We understand the critical role a marquee plays throughout your big day. The choice of a marquee significantly influences the ambiance of the wedding. It's not just a shelter; it's a space that allows couples to showcase their unique personalities and style. While some may question the necessity of investing in a top-tier marquee for a structure that is temporary and reserved for just a single day. As dedicated professionals in the wedding industry, we have cultivated insights that dispel such reservations, after all weddings are expensive and this is your big day, so we know you will want to do it right. Choosing Original Marquees offers a distinct advantage over other alternatives and here’s why….

It's important to choose a marquee that reflects your style

and luckily our stunning Sailcloths cater to all styles...

Personalisation & Quality

With personalised lighting, flooring, and furniture, a sailcloth marquee allows for creative freedom in designing the perfect atmosphere for your big day. Whether that be a rustic bohemiam feel to a luxury elegant feel, it is important to choose a marquee that reflects your style and luckily our stunning sailcloths cater to all styles. Remember it is much easier to decorate an already beautiful space that is offered by our sailcloth marquees, than trying to spruce up a space which is already not in keeping with your vision.

The attention to detail is also evident in the inclusion of the smaller details, such as our flying festoons, providing a charming mimic that adds a unique and magical touch to your event. Customisable flags and finials further enhance the personalisation options, making each marquee a bespoke creation tailored to your specific preferences. We also use ropes instead of ratchets, offering a more authentic and traditional approach.

Furthermore, cotton canvas possesses a unique ability to age gracefully, developing an elegant patina over time that complements the luxurious setting of our marquees. Couples who prioritise quality are rewarded with a magical and memorable atmosphere that enhances the joy of their special day and looking at our testimonials you will see why your guests will notice the difference. Many of our testimonials reflect on comments from their guests saying how beautiful the marquee was, the incredible quality of the canvas and the high-end finish to all elements inside and out. 

Marquee Over Venue...

Our marquees offer the space to create a more intimate atmosphere compared to a large, impersonal venue. Choosing the best marquee size for you allows you to make sure you have enough space for all elements of your day whilst offering a close-knit feeling, fostering a sense of warmth and connection among guests. We will put your marquee in the location of your choice, we don’t charge corkage or for extending the festivities into the early hours and we help you with the planning process right from the start, so you can still benefit from our expertise, guidance and reassurance.

You will also have a designated separate space for all your wedding activities, making it easier for vendors, planners, and coordinators to organise the days logistics. Think a designated space for dining, dancing, the all-important bar and perhaps a chill out area instead of trying to fit everything into a small space which results in pauses during the day, where all guests need to leave the space for it to be turned around by your suppliers. This contributes to smoother coordination and execution of the wedding day and a much nicer flow for you and your guests.

Your marquee will provide the backdrop to the entire day, so again the quality and style plays a huge role in enhancing the views rather than obscuring or deflecting from them. Depending on the location you choose and the logistics it encompasses, choosing a marquee wedding can often be a cost-effective alternative to booking a traditional venue.

This cost saving can then be redirected towards other aspects of your wedding planning, such as entertainment, catering, or planning your dream honeymoon. Your family and friends can also be as involved as you like when decorating too, and involving close relatives in the wedding preparations can add a sentimental and familial touch to your celebration.

Another huge bonus is the opportunity for extendable celebration hours. There is no curfew in your marquee, which means no need to worry about the party ending too soon or unexpected fees for wanting to extend the evening beyond the average midnight finish. Our marquees also have the advantage of being access friendly for any guests that require wheelchair access, so no one will be excluded from any area element of the day.

Weather Proof

It is also a well-known fact that particularly in the United Kingdom, the weather can be a little unpredictable. The marquee you choose should provide shelter from the rain, wind, excessive sun and should ensure the wedding can proceed smoothly regardless of the weather conditions. So knowing your marquee is well crafted, made from durable materials and can withstand all the elements will ensure you can enjoy your day regardless of the weather.

Choosing Original Marquees offers a distinct advantage over

other alternatives and here’s why…..

Due to their neutral light colour, they also offer the flexibility to suit any colour scheme during the day and also perhaps even change the colour theme in the evening, by casing light onto the canvas or using draping to bring a splash of colour to your marquee. Our sailcloth marquees have high ceilings and an open layout, creating a spacious and airy atmosphere. This can be appealing for couples who want to avoid a more enclosed feeling and desire a sense of openness in their wedding venue.

2023 Highlights

Well, another amazing year passes by in a flash – we have so many great memories to remember. A year that can be seen as ‘beyond covid’, with no postponements to deliver, felt very special. We have learnt so much over the last 3 years – both about our small business, but also the wider wedding industry. We’re super proud to come out as a stable business, but also of how each of our team have committed to improving literally everything possible, to ensure we stand out.

In January we welcomed Carla to the team. Working closely with Eleanor, Carla manages our bookings with all suppliers, and our clients in the run up to their events – this has transformed OM, increased our efficiency, removed all grey areas, and improved the experience, both for OM and our clients. Eleanor has consistently been in the driving seat, managing both new and existing business, keeping the ops team up to date and just generally 5 Star.

Aside from weddings, we delivered several private parties – 18^th, 40^th and 60^th Birthdays – wedding anniversaries – all very special occasions with the same attention to the details and desire to impress.

We also delivered a variety of corporate events. This saw our first visit to Ditchley Park for the annual lecture for 500 guests – we were at Henley Regatta at the Leander Club, the most historic, prestigious and successful rowing club in the world! Our final event for our Southern team was Cornbury House Horse Trials – a modern take on eventing, where they hosted 900+ entries for showjumping and cross-country formats. We supplied marquees for the public bar, the owners, The Pelican hospitality, and primarily shade – in what was an incredibly hot week!

Throughout the season, we have had the pleasure of working with some of, if not the best suppliers on the circuit – which keeps us progressing, and ensuring we never get complacent! This includes wedding planners: Tebbey & Co,  Attabara, ByChenai, Planned for Perfection, Pocket Full of Dreams & Kerry Poulter

Also regularly working with a range of caterers , we understand 'needs', enhancing the experience for both the suppliers, and clients. These include Karen Rhodes Catering, Doggart & Squash, Ross & Ross, Foray, Quince and Clover, Yorkshire Party Company and Sojo Kitchen. All of whom can be seen on our suppliers pages for the north and the south.

Around 40% of our work takes place at ‘wedding venues’ – for which we are also very lucky. Be it in the north, or the south, we (along with many others) think these are some of the very best venues in not only the UK, but also the world!

2024

Going into the new year – we have lots to look forward to. Many great events to plan and deliver up and down the country, linking up with great suppliers, at amazing places for our amazing clients. We can't wait to get started!

We have recently moved into a new premises in Oxfordshire, which has a very swanky office, in which we’re hoping to host guests for coffee and cakes in the new year – so, if you’d like to come and say hi, let us know we’d love to see you!

Whilst we’re not adding or making big changes to our stock for 2024, we will be offering the new Wills Portico – an amazing focal point for your entrance, or to bridge the gap between marquees. Wills are also in the final stages of developing an amazing new structure – 18m wide, and up to 50m long – this really will be the best structure available for large events.