Marquee Wedding Guidance

Marquee weddings may be looking a little different at the moment, but we are here to make your day wonderful. Here at Holmsted Events we are working hard to keep our events safe; whilst still creating special moments that you will remember for years to come.

To keep you up to date here is an outline of some of the main points of the current roadmap to help you plan your 2021 event:

From 17 May:
Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies:

  • Ceremonies will be permitted for up to 30 people in COVID-secure venues that are permitted to open.
  • Alternative wedding ceremonies, and weddings under the law of England and Wales that are permitted to take place outdoors, with up to 30 people, including in COVID-secure venues or private gardens.

* Paid staff are not included in the count.

Receptions, celebrations and viewings:

Receptions and celebrations will be permitted to take place with up to 30 people. They can take place either indoors in a COVID-secure venue (this does not include private homes), or outdoors (which does include private gardens). Although there is no requirement to be COVID-secure in a private garden, the organiser should take all reasonable steps to limit the risks of transmission and must adhere to the gathering limit of up to 30 people. If the event is taking place outdoors, it can be partially sheltered with, for example, a marquee, provided that at least 50% of the walled area remains open.

No earlier than 21 June – Confirmation Pending:

At Step 4, the government aims to remove all limits on weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions. This will be subject to the outcome of the Social Distancing Review and also the Events Research Programme, which will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other mitigations to run events of larger sizes.

The pilots have been selected to examine the risks of transmission in a range of settings, venue types, and activity types (for example, seated or not seated, indoor or outdoor) so that findings may inform thinking on the reopening of all large events.


A few points to consider for your marquee wedding:

Plan and research the limits on foreign travel for overseas friends and family.

Some people may not feel confident about attending a larger wedding, think about your guests outlook.

Socially distanced wedding marquees are still an option.

For wedding inspiration, browse the gorgeous examples in our gallery and on our social media channels.

So, while we can now be more positive about the prospect of weddings and events this year, we still need to keep up to date with the guidance.

Resources to get up to date, reliable information and support:

What about weddings: https://whataboutweddings.co.uk/

Official Government Website Links – England:

1. Government Guidance For Small Marriages & Civil Partnerships

2. Government Guidance For Receptions

3. Guidance For The Safe Use Of Places Of Worship And Special Religious Services And Gatherings During The Pandemic

4. The Marriage Act 1949

For anymore information or to book your marquee wedding contact us today.