Summer is the most popular season for weddings in the UK, and with good reason. Who wants to arrive in church on the big day freezing cold and soaked to the bone? We all know the British weather is temperamental at best, even holding your wedding in mid July is not guaranteed to give you a glorious day. The alternative is to fly abroad to tie knot. Popular all-year round sunshine destinations are the Caribbean islands, Mauritius or the Maldives. Although romantic, one in a lifetime get-aways are an attractive option, the costs can be crippling and going away will be out of the question for many in the current downsturn. Aside from this the patriots among us may actually want to get married in the country we know and love.

When money is too tight to mention, striking the correct balance between lavishness and economy for your wedding plans can prove a challenge. Wedding catering is often quoted as one of the most costly aspects of getting hitched, this is surprising considering the atrocious quality and variety of food and drink at most receptions and after-parties. There is up and coming army of catering companies, however, which are solely focused on making your wedding as spectacular as possible for a relatively small outlay.

Apart from laying on vast, luxurious menu these new emerging professional catering businesses can also arrange a beautiful venue for your wedding. These days happy couples are going down the route of hosting their receptions in outdoor marquees. Hold on before you start getting images of flimsy gazebos in garish shades of green, these are no outdoor abominations. A huge range is available encompassing themed tents such as oversized native American Wigwams or Tipis.

A marquee effectively allows you to host your wedding in dual venues, and gives the after party is own, unique vibe separate from that of the ceremony. They are a great compliment to any summer ceremony and could even be used in the colder months for a Xmas party with the assistance of outdoor heaters. The humble marquee is no more, we have entered the age of temporary mega-structures which add a whole new dimension to your event. If you are serious about having a successful, memorable wedding after party the second most important question you should be answering on the day is: Marquee or not Marquee?