Wills Marquees – The Truth About Sailcloths.

It’s no secret that marquee weddings are some of my favourites to plan, mainly because they offer such a blank space for an explosion of creativity. Building your own structure means you are not confined to working within the limits of what’s possible within a venue, and there is something really magical about gathering all your loved ones within an atmospheric tent-like environment…it leads to an almost childlike ‘wonder’ factor which I love! However, the truth is that not all marquees are made equal. Today I’m shining a spotlight on Wills Marquees, a company making specific types of sailcloth marquees, where the level of craftsmanship and quality is a cut above. 

You may be wondering why it’s so important to have an excellent-quality marquee when the structure is temporary and only has to see you through one day…but as a wedding planner who has delivered a lot of marquee weddings, I know that your structure is the foundation for the whole event. If your marquee is not well-made or well set up and you experience inclement weather on your wedding day, you can end up with inconvenient leaks and even rips in the fabric. Besides this, the structure helps to set the atmosphere for your wedding day. At Wills Marquees they care deeply about the craftsmanship and the little details that go into your marquee, meaning they achieve a truly exquisite structure using cotton canvas. This means during the day you get bright and airy interiors, and by night your whole marquee comes alive with a warm glow thanks to the light radiating through the canopy.

Wills is a luxury marquee brand making sailcloth marquees right here in North Yorkshire and, where some companies will cut corners to provide a cheaper alternative, Wills strive to make the world’s best tents by paying attention to detail. They cut, stitch and finish with care, using guy ropes with hardwood sliders rather than ratchet straps and brass eyelets with lacing cord rather than zips or velcro. They avoid unsightly gaps between walls and your canopy using canvas valances, and all their pennants are handmade. These technical specifications may not mean much to you as a couple planning your wedding, but the long and short of it is this: they provide a truly exceptional marquee structure that looks, feels and performs worlds apart from any other.

Another thing I love about Wills Marquees is that each canopy is modular, which means your tent can be configured to different sizes. This means we can work within different spaces to create the structure of your dreams, and gives us more opportunity to get really creative! I spoke to the team at Wills marquees and asked them what they would like more couples to know about using marquees for their wedding. Here is what they said:

‘We’d like people to know the difference between a sailcloth tent and a sperry…a sperry is actually a brand of marquee imported from America, and sailcloth refers to the shape of the tent. Some providers actually use plastic and market as a sailcloth, which is misleading.’

For clarification, Wills Marquees are also a brand of sailcloth tent, but as opposed to Sperry they are made in this country and manufactured with the exclusive use of canvas canopies.

If you are a discerning couple who cares about quality and wants your wedding to look luxurious from top to bottom, Wills Marquees are a great option for providing a structure that is stylish and functional. When you work with me to plan your wedding I can help book a local provider who hires out Wills Marquee sailcloths – you can find out more about different types of marquees and which one you should choose here. Get in touch to start planning your marquee wedding, whether it’s at a venue or on private land such as the family home. I can’t wait to help you create magic in a marquee of your very own!

My favourite Wills Marquee Partners throughout the UK…

Green Farm Marquees (Derbyshire)

Peacock & Bow (Lincolnshire)

Original Marquees (Cotswolds & The Lake District)

Wills Marquees (North Yorkshire)

Covered By Canvas (Staffordshire)

Elegant Pitches (Scotland)

Marquee Wedding Planning in North Yorkshire

As an award-winning UK wedding planner, I’ve learned to trust my intuition. I’m all about cutting to the chase, keeping things stress-free and streamlined, and diving right into the details and the bits that make you the most excited. My wedding planning approach is led by the desire to understand you as people. You will see my style of weddings varies from client to client, but what links each celebration is the way it’s an authentic and gorgeous reflection of the couple it’s designed for.

When you plan with me, you’ll know I have your best interests at heart. Designing, producing and delivering your wedding in a warm, efficient and no-nonsense way to ensure you remain the centre of these celebrations!

Your enjoyment of your planning is the most important thing to me – I am your sounding board, confidante and friend during our time planning together, bringing your event to life with directness, integrity and genuine joy. We begin as strangers but will part as friends, and I for one can’t wait to get cracking.

If you’d like to chat about how I can help you plan your marquee wedding, do reach out so we can chat more.

Jess X