The Directory Gigi's Journal Expert interview

Why Every Design Led Bride Is Booking A Sailcloth Tent This Year

Claudia Judd August 21, 2026 9 Min Read

"Couples are more design-led than ever before." That is how Sail & Peg describe the shift they have watched over the past few years, as tented weddings move from a practical alternative to a true design statement in their own right: custom walkways, dramatic floral installations, full draping and layered guest experiences that a couple has thought through as carefully as any other part of the day. It is also, in their own words, a large part of why a sailcloth tent has become one of the most requested structures at British weddings this year.

Sail & Peg started with a search for the perfect wedding tent, and when the co founders could not find one that matched their standards, they built the company instead. Since 2018, the luxury sailcloth tent specialists have gone on to be accredited and trusted supplier at some of the UK's most iconic venues, including Cliveden House, Chelsea Physic Garden, and Kensington Palace and excitingly this year were invited to raise two sailcloth marquees at Gatcombe Park for the royal wedding celebrations of Harriet and Peter Phillips. "There have been so many momentous moments over the years," they say, "but that was a true pinch me moment. Standing back and seeing everything come together in such an iconic setting is something we will never forget."

Why Every Design Led Bride Is Booking A Sailcloth Tent This Year

How Sail & Peg began

"Founders Chloë and Chris came to the business from complementary backgrounds. Chloë brought experience in event planning and interior design, while Chris had spent years working as a professional musician and event producer. Together, they already had the experience and industry connections to create exceptional weddings and events, they simply hadn't found a tent they wanted to build those weddings around."

"We wanted to find one that captured both craftsmanship and timeless elegance, and represented British craftsmanship and style," they say of the search that started it all. When the search came up short, they combined their strengths instead and built "a luxury sailcloth tent company devoted to creativity, precision and seamless celebrations."

Falling for sailcloth

Ask what drew them to sailcloth specifically, and the answer is immediate. "There is something incredibly special about a sailcloth tent," they say. "The soft, light filled canvas, sweeping rooflines and natural timber poles create an atmosphere that feels both elegant and effortlessly relaxed." The moment everything clicked was the moment they realised sailcloth could do something a standard marquee could not: create celebrations that felt genuinely immersive, and beautifully connected to their surroundings rather than simply placed on top of them.

That distinction still shapes how they talk about the product today. A sailcloth tent, they explain, "feels softer, lighter and more connected to its surroundings" than a traditional marquee, with sweeping peaks, natural timber poles and a soft glow to the canvas that gives it a lightness a boxier structure rarely manages. There is a second, quieter reason they favour it for at home weddings in particular: it creates a connection to memories, past and present, in a way a hired venue simply cannot.

Built entirely by hand

Every Sail & Peg tent is still handcrafted in England, using traditional materials and time honoured techniques, rather than manufactured on a production line. "British craftsmanship sits at the heart of Sail & Peg," they say. "Our marquees aren't manufactured on a production line, they're handcrafted by skilled artisans using time honoured techniques that have stood the test of time. That level of quality, attention to detail and authenticity is something we value enormously, and it's reflected in every wedding we create."

On site, that translates into a genuinely physical process. Every roof sheet is hand bowed by the crew, every wall is hand laced, and every rope tied into place by hand rather than machine. The moment the team look forward to most is what they call "the lift", when the entire roof is raised by hand and tensioned into its final form in front of the couple. "It never fails to stop people in their tracks," they say. Years into the business, they still describe it as giving them goosebumps.

What today's Bride needs to know

That shift shows up in almost every brief that lands on their desk now. "We are seeing increasingly bespoke briefs," they say, "from custom walkways and statement floral installations to full draping and dramatic installs, to beautifully layered guest experiences. We really enjoy helping our clients take their vision to the next level." Alongside that, the heartfelt family garden weddings the company was built on have never gone away. "Many of our favourite weddings remain the same as when we first started, heartfelt celebrations in family gardens, surrounded by the people who matter most. It's great to have that contrast."

Every consultation still starts with the same question: what is your vision, and what matters most to you? From there, the team works through guest numbers to establish tent size, then dining style, the flow of the day and the setting itself, before layering in the personal details that make a day feel unmistakably like a couple's own.

The biggest misconception they hear is that a tented wedding is more complicated than a venue wedding, when in reality it offers more flexibility, not less. The second is size. Guest numbers alone do not tell you what you need; a marquee also has to hold dining, a dance floor, a bar, lounge areas, catering space and room for guests to move. That is why Sail & Peg always recommends a site visit before anything is confirmed. "It allows us to understand the landscape, visualise how the celebration will unfold, and recommend a marquee that not only fits the space beautifully but works well throughout the day," they explain.

Before booking any tent company, they suggest asking about experience, weather contingency plans, flooring options and what is included in the hire. It is also worth asking who will actually be installing the tent, how long the build takes, and what support is available on the day itself. "A great tent company thinks about the practical details long before you need to."

On timing, their advice is to enquire around 12 months out, particularly for a summer wedding. That said, a shorter runway rarely puts them off. "If we have availability, we always love bringing last minute celebrations to life," they say. "We are always up for a challenge!"

Choosing the setting

Ask Sail & Peg to pick a favourite setting and they will not quite manage it. An English country estate has their heart, largely thanks to years spent at venues like Cliveden House and Gatcombe Park. "There is something incredibly special about a sailcloth marquee sitting within the grounds of a historic house," they say, "creating a celebration that feels as though it has always belonged there. We have been fortunate enough to work at some truly iconic venues, from Cliveden House and Chelsea Physic Garden to Kensington Palace and Gatcombe Park, and each setting brings its own unique character." Coastal settings run just as close, for the particular magic of canvas catching a sea breeze as the sun goes down. "We really are spoilt with the incredible landscapes and venues we have here in the UK," they add.

Some of their most moving weddings, though, have nothing to do with a grand address. "Some of our most memorable weddings have taken place on family land, where generations gather together," they say. "Watching a field or garden transform into a place that will forever hold family memories is incredibly special." It is the same moment, wherever it happens. "There is always a moment when the candles are lit, guests take their seats and the space suddenly comes alive. Filled with flowers, music and all the personal touches that tell a couple's story, that is when a tent stops being a structure and becomes part of a memory."

Weather, and the beauty of the outdoors

Weather, inevitably, comes up in every conversation. Sail & Peg treats it as part of the beauty of an outdoor wedding rather than a threat to it. "Weather is part of the beauty of an outdoor wedding, and planning for it is simply part of what we do," they say. "Sailcloth tents provide shelter from rain, wind and sun while still allowing guests to feel connected to the outdoors. We always remind couples that summer rain rarely lasts all day, there is usually a window of sunshine. And sometimes, the sound of rain on canvas only adds to the atmosphere, bringing everyone a little closer together."

Their wider advice for anyone considering an outdoor wedding follows the same logic. "Embrace the outdoors," they say. "The most beautiful tented weddings work with the landscape rather than against it."

Where tented weddings are heading

Couples are getting bolder. "We are seeing more multi day celebrations and destination style weddings at home," they say, "with immersive guest experiences and beautifully designed spaces that evolve throughout the day. Guests might dine beneath one canopy before stepping through a reveal curtain into an entirely different world for the evening celebrations." Split tents and reveal moments are the trend they are most excited about right now, "a beautifully dressed dining space that opens into a dramatic after party filled with draping, lighting and personality." More than anything, though, they love seeing couples move away from trends entirely, towards weddings that "feel unmistakably their own."

Whatever direction a wedding takes, their advice to every couple stays the same. "Trust your suppliers," they say. "Choose people whose work you love, then let them do what they do best. The best weddings happen when everyone is working towards the same vision."

The dream brief

We asked them to design their own dream wedding; the Sail & Peg answer is a wedding with soul. A sailcloth marquee completely immersed in its surroundings, filled with layers of abundant foliage, soft romantic draping overhead, candlelight and tables overflowing with seasonal flowers and small lamps. Beautiful furniture with character, square-backed rattan chairs, patterned linens, and relaxed lounge spaces styled with sofas and plump cushions for guests to sink into between courses. Live music, incredible food, and a dance floor that stays full from the first song to the very last. "Most importantly," they say, "a wedding that doesn't feel over-styled or staged, but effortless, warm and completely personal."

Whether it is a family garden or a royal estate, Sail & Peg build every tent around the couple's story rather than a fixed template, then finish it entirely by hand so nothing about the day feels ordinary. It's this combination of craftsmanship, thoughtful event design and genuine attention to detail that continues to make Sail & Peg one of the UK's most sought-after luxury sailcloth marquee specialists.

See Sail & Peg's full profile on The Directory here to start planning your own sail cloth wedding.