What things should we think about for an outdoor marquee wedding

You need to think about parking for guests and back-of-house suppliers. If parking is in a nearby field then provide a solid walkway for guests in case it is raining, Ensure there is good signage so people know where to park and the route back to the car is lit with lanterns . As well as access for any suppliers that you need like chairs tables etc and also if your arriving by car or carriage you will need road access.

The area also needs to be flat with enough space around it for guests to walk around it so I suggest some outside bar tables provided the weather is nice .

Depending on the venue and number of guests attending the wedding you will need to organize some mobile toilets.

Weather can be a downside of having a marquee wedding as everything to do with the wedding is essentially outside. On the flipside, this is also one of the best things about a marquee wedding.

Most venues will include power on site in there fees and if you're in your garden you can run off the house but think about hiring a generator if the marquee is in a quiet location in the middle of nowhere. When looking at generators, you need to think about the size of your event and how much power you and your suppliers may need.

There are so many options with marquee catering these days but there are a few things to consider. Firstly whether you want a hog roast or buffet style meal or whether you want a big sit down affair with 3 or 4 courses. Your catering company may need access to water so think about this when looking at where to put the marquee. If it's in your garden or at a venue this won't be a problem however if you want to put it on the edge of a lake in the middle of nowhere, you may have to provide the caterers with water.

If your Wedding is not on private property you will probably need permits from the local council and will have to provide a waste management plan and risk plan , if you have an event organiser they should be able to help you with this.

You also need to consider where you are going to keep your drinks for your guests if you will have a bar with staff or if it's self serve this also need to be approved by the appropriate authorities , remember all bar staff need to hold RSA certificates .

Other then that a marquee wedding can be any theme you can imagine so get creative and have fun .

Heating and cooling 

flooring 

Lighting

styling 

Ask your marquee supplier a lot of questions, there are no silly questions and you are not expected to know a whole lot about marquees.

Ask your venue manager and your marquee manager to advise on walls required to protect from prevailing winds and potential rain.

Ideally a flat lawn is the best surface for a marquee site.

Spend time thinking about how you want to set up the interior space of your marquee and this will help you determine the size you require.

Lighting is an important aspect of any special event both aesthetically and practically so don't overlook your outdoor lighting needs.

One of the first questions you will be asked is how many people you are hosting, and what is the size of the area you wish to place the marquee? This will determine the size that we can offer but also whether you would be able to fit in round tables or rectangle tables. If you have anything else that you would like undercover such as a dance floor or bar/lounge area, let us know; you are creating your own venue for the night, make sure it suits your needs.

Access is definitely something to think about as it is much better for all concerned if the truck can deliver the equipment directly to the site. For a marquee installation, you should expect a site visit prior to the build to confirm all details are correct.

Know where your services are: Power, water, telephone, fibre optics; if you're unsure, we'll always weight the marquee to secure it.

Finally, the beauty of a marquee event is that there are very few limitations in creating a space that suits your needs exactly.

Hi Kristy.

There are lots of things to consider when having an outdoor wedding. Once you have selected the site (flat area is best) and got all the required permits its time to select the marquee. When selecting a supplier it is good if you have a budget in mind and share that with the supplier. Having an idea of the number of guests will help with the early planning also. Its time to decide if the guests will be seated (at round or rectangle tables) or standing for a cocktail style event.

When choosing a marquee - think about the size, shape and colour you are after. Some companies can provide clear roof options and many will offer a silk lining option. These help create a more premium look and feel but will also add to the cost.

Flooring, lighting and furniture options will also need to be considered.

Hopefully this helps with your planning.

All the best with your wedding.

Nick

Hi Kristy H

Find a nice flat area (it’s surprising how uneven or sloping an area is even though it looks flat). How many people are expected to attend and if it will be a sit down affair or a stand up cocktail type of event, this will determine how big the marquee needs to be. Accessibility to the site for people delivering your marquee, caterers, guests, bands, wait staff etc. Have you got power to site or will you need generators, do you need cool rooms, portable toilets, lighting (of the site and to and from the site), tables, chairs, lawn games, decorations such as wine barrels or access for a limo, boat or horse carriage. Permits from local council and possibly a liquor licence. Will the caterers need a separate area to prepare the food. Do you need a dance floor? Would you like a marquee for the band and dance floor, for the caterers, for a relaxing lounge area and another for the reception, do you want this all under one roof or perhaps arranged like a courtyard opening towards the view (which will minimise random members of the public trudging through your wedding area) or do you need the area roped off. How long will the council allow the marquee to be on site, just the day or perhaps over the whole weekend and will the hire company charge you per day or just one “event” hire. Will the marquee be Clearspan (gutters to keep the rain out and no ropes or pegs to trip over), would you like clear walls, white walls, marquee liner or no walls at all. Will you need heaters or fans, fairy lights or chandeliers? Try to get the boring practical things out of the way first, book the site, book the marquee, then enjoy the decorating process and relax and enjoy your day

You should consider there is enough space, preferrably a flat grassy area. Power to the site andaccessability for all your service providers, caterers etc.

As for your theme and equipment needs, your imagination is key. Don't hesitate to ask for anything that may be possible to make your special day the best

Hi Kristy.

The most important things you should think about are:

Do you need a permit for the area, is the area flat, is there room for parking, is it an open area cause you don't want to set up under trees. Things you also need to think about is fire season.

What theme are you having, access for deliveries and have a second idea if it is raining as it can get wet and soggy making access hard.