Stunning Sailcloth Tent Wedding on the banks of Loch Lomond

Published on 6th June 2024 by Jenny Mason

We kicked off our 2024 season in April with Holly & Daniel’s absolutely beautiful sailcloth tent wedding in Scotland. Having endured what felt like endless months of rain, waking up on the Saturday morning to clear blue skies felt like all our prayers had been answered! With huge thanks to PJ Phillips Photography for these beautiful photos.

Here we catch up with Holly for a few more details about their special day..

Tell us about yourselves..

Our story began at school, and from there, we bonded over our love for adventure, road trips, and exploring new places. We were passionate about food and enjoyed taking on DIY projects together. Holly, with her background in the wedding and marketing industry, brought her creative touch to our wedding planning, while Daniel, a vehicle wrangler in the film and TV industry, ensured all things automotive were perfect for our big day.

Had you always wanted a marquee for your wedding? What made you choose to hold your wedding in a marquee?

When it came to selecting the perfect venue for our wedding, Daniel and I explored various options. However, we kept coming back to the idea of a marquee. We realised that having a blank canvas was exactly what we wanted for our special day. In particular, the sailcloth marquee stood out to us, fitting in perfectly with the relaxed vibe we envisioned. Marquee weddings offer the freedom to create a unique atmosphere, and we were drawn to the endless possibilities they provided. From selecting cutlery to choosing tables and chairs, we reveled in the creative process. Pinterest became our go-to source for inspiration. Having the space in my parents garden was an added extra, giving us the flexibility in having a marquee, we feel very lucky that the location was so perfect.  

Did you find planning and co-ordinating suppliers easy to do?

I honestly feel very lucky in the fact I found the whole process very straight forward – I think as soon as you choose and nail down a date everything else will fall in to place. With suppliers, I found the more information that you give them, the easier it is for them to do their job, for example, photos of the location and access, your mobile number plus your other suppliers e.g. toilets, florist etc.   

What made you choose to hire your sailcloth marquee from us (Shades)?

From the moment I discovered Shades on Instagram, I had a feeling they were the perfect fit for our wedding. The communication with Paul and Jenny was exceptional, leaving no room for doubt. Paul’s insightful guidance during the site visit made all the difference, ensuring we selected the best area for our needs. Meanwhile, Jenny’s responsiveness and flexibility in accommodating changes to our selections from their impressive catalogue were truly appreciated. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction were evident throughout. The quality of Shades’ inventory speaks for itself; our guests couldn’t stop complimenting the stunning Edison ladder and other items. Working with Shades was an absolute pleasure, considering how many weddings they have, they make you feel special! 

How was everything on the day?

Everything ran very smoothly on the day, I didn’t have any issues at all. When the sun came out, Paul rolled the sides of the marquee up and we enjoyed the stunning views of Loch Lomond. 

What was your most memorable moment?

This is a hard one – the whole day went so perfectly! I loved the lead up to it as well. We were so lucky with the weather and so this made it very memorable however, we had plenty of plans in place should it have been raining and it still would have been amazing. 

What advice would you give to anyone else planning a marquee wedding?

Go with your gut instinct and make pinterest boards! Don’t get stressed and just enjoy it – its a big party at the end of the day! Don’t sweat the small things as they don’t matter and no one will notice. Try and organise everything in advance so you can enjoy the lead up to it. Get as much done 2-3 days before so you aren’t stressing the night before. CREATE LISTS and dish out jobs! Invest your money in big things e.g. quality marquee, toilets, catering – these are the things people remember, not favours and flipflops! 

Who were your key suppliers?

Caterers: The Oak Tree Inn Balmaha
Luxury Toilets: Honeywagon Co 
Photographer: Patrick Philips 
Videographer: Knoxland Films 
Florist: Willows Edge
Dress: Bespoke Abigail Westrup 
Shoes: Loeffler Randall
Band: Liquid Spirit
Kilt: Macgregor Macduff 
Cocktail Bar: Rustys Piano Bar 
Cake: Liggys Cakes 

If you’d like to find out more about hiring one of our Sailcloth Tents or Stretch Tents for your forthcoming celebrations, do get in touch!