How to throw a marquee wedding reception (with videography in mind)

View Alice & Harry’s wedding video in the film gallery

As a wedding videographer, I’m asked to film weddings of many different types and in all the years I’ve been running my business, no two events have ever been the same.

One style to which have a particular connection, is the ‘at home wedding’ which usually entails the ceremony in a local church and a wedding reception at a private house, usually in a marquee. It’s clear why these are popular. For one, you have total control over the number of guests you invite and everything is completely customisable to your own tastes. Plus you’re getting married in a place where you already have amazing memories and a strong personal connection.

A celebration of this scale does present many challenges and a new level of planning which exceeds that of a dedicated wedding venue. Many couples will employ the talents of a dedicated wedding planner who specialises in such one-off events.

Whilst you can’t currently have a legal wedding in your own garden in England and Wales, you could host a humanist or other non-binding marriage ceremony and carry out the paperwork on another day. Regulations are evolving in this area and in September 2020 a new proposal by ‘The Law Commission’ seeks to change this. With the Covid-19 pandemic highlighting the restrictions placed on couples, it could soon become possible to get married at a private home, cliff-edge or cruise ship. A report won’t be published until the end of 2021, so there could still be some time to wait for those thinking ‘I’d like to get married in my living room.’

Harry & Alice’s wedding film at Pitzhanger Manor and Marquee reception at their family home in West London.

For those seeking to host a wedding reception at home, the biggest factor to consider is the marquee. A good company should offer a site visit and can often reduce hassle by offering other associated items such as tables, chairs and bars.

One particular deliberation will be lighting. Depending on the time of year, you may be having speeches or eating your wedding breakfast in daylight hours or darkness. In the summer months I find that the soft lighting through a traditional white canvas marquee can create a very flattering light in the wedding video which can be much more appealing than an indoor venue.

Even better is a ‘clear span marquee’ which has clear sides, and / or a clear roof. This is especially good if you’re next to a beautiful building or surroundings and makes you feel like you’re outside even if the weather isn’t playing ball.

Clear span marquee at Fattoria Mansi Bernardini

Party for as long as you like, as long as the neighbours don’t mind!

When it comes to marquees, the 'Yurt’ is also a popular choice, but be aware that the variety with brown canvas will significantly reduce the light in the tent so artificial lighting might be needed to avoid the setting from being unnecessarily dark. If you’re getting married outside of the summer season, it might be dark when doing your speeches so I might need to provide a spotlight so you’re visible in the film and to your guests watching on. Candles and up-lighters can really help deliver a flattering and romantic aesthetic and it might be worth contacting a specialist lighting company for this. What ever you choose, as your videographer I’ll work with you during the planning so you look the very best in your wedding film.

Having your wedding at home also means that there will be some flexibility of the positioning of the marquee. It’s good to think about videography and photography when drawing up your site plan. For example, during the speeches would you like to have the background as your family home, or even a tree or some special planting? You’ll also need to have areas designated for loos, a generator, refrigeration and kitchen facilities so it’s good to keep these out of the way. During your speeches and meal, you don’t want to hear these things in the background, both on the day and in your wedding video afterwards.

Speaking of sound, you’ll almost certainly need some kind of PA system for your speeches. Not just to make yourself heard over the guests, but marquees can be noisy. Strong winds can cause the marquee panels to flap and any rain hitting the roof can also be very audible. Of course, nobody wants these things on their wedding day, but it’s good peace of mind to have a contingency in place. When placing the speakers for your audio system, make sure there is enough cable so you don’t have to place them right behind you. Not only could your ears’ close proximity to them cause a pounding headache, but these large black blocks with cables will be visible in your film and are likely to jar with the decorations you’ve carefully crafted. For speeches I usually apply a microphone to each speaker and then make a separate recording from the audio system for redundancy. However with the speakers right behind you, this sound will override the sound from the lapel microphones making voices sound less natural and more similar to the amplified sound in the room. Before speaking to a dedicated PA supplier, it’s good to ask your band or DJ if they can provide this as part of their service. This way, there is no need to worry about set-up or functionality on the day.

One of the great things about a marquee wedding reception is that you’re in total control. If you want to party until 4am and there are no close neighbours to consider, there is nothing stopping you. Often couples will pause the music for a fireworks display which is a fantastic finale to your wedding film too. This would be something we would cover during a catch-up in the lead up to the day so I can capture and document your special occassion.

Marquee wedding film at West Wycombe Estate

Destination wedding video in Lucca, Tuscany with marquee reception