How to Organise a Marquee Wedding
An opportunity for a blank canvas wedding approach: marquee and teepee weddings allow you to get truly carried away with the romance of putting your own stamp on your day from start to finish. They offer endless creativity, and encourage couples to dance around wedding traditions. With the rules on outdoor ceremonies becoming ever-more flexible, al fresco weddings are becoming increasingly popular.
With increased opportunities for personality comes increased logistical planning, though, so marquee weddings may not be for everyone. Planning a wedding from scratch comes with some logistics you may not have to consider with an existing venue. Read on to hear our ideas on how to organise a marquee wedding, featuring some lovely outdoor wedding heroes we’ve met along the way.
1) When?
The time of year is even more important when considering a wedding in a marquee or teepee: each season will bring an array of factors to consider. Spring and summer are synonymous with wedding tents, but the middle of August could (dare we say it) will require extra provisions to keep your guests under the shade. As the year moves on, lighting and heating become priorities, as does matting to navigate guests over ground which could potentially be a little damp.
2) Where?
Great, you’ve set the date! It’s now time to choose where you’ll hold your marquee wedding. It might be the case that you’ve decided on a marquee wedding as you have a beautiful garden of your own, or a family estate that holds sentimental value. Holding a wedding on your own grounds is hugely personal, but carefully consider the logistics of vehicles driving across your lawn for deliveries prior to the wedding, and for marquee set-up.
If you’re on the lookout for a venue to host your marquee wedding, there are options out there that offer a permanent marquee fixture, or space for you to hire your own! The beautiful Hamswell House in Bath works closely with Bath Marquees, providing a bespoke marquee experience for your reception after a ceremony in the Orangery or under the Lime Tree.
3) Marquee Wedding Logistics
Wherever you choose, you’ll want to carefully consider things such as access for suppliers and guests, as well as the facilities available. At least two of your suppliers: the marquee company and wedding caterer, will need to drive vehicles right up to your wedding tent, and all other suppliers will hope for firm even ground for their short walk from unloading, to the marquee.
Even if there is power available on site, a generator may be a worthy investment: with a band, lighting and catering requirements, this can be a strenuous loads for any electricity supply. Your wedding marquee supplier will discuss power requirements with each supplier to ensure they have the correct options available for them on the day.
Another essential aspect to a marquee wedding: water! While there are mobile toilet options that don’t require access to running water, and your caterer can bring in their own water supply, it’s vital to communicate the water situation to all of your suppliers before the day.
4) Marquee Style!
Now, it’s time for the fun bit… Which marquee will you choose? There are a whole host of outdoor wedding options for you: from tipi to stretch tent, and everything in-between. Tipi Spaces have over 20 years experience in delivering beautiful al fresco weddings in the West Country, and Tent Style’s versatile stretch tents can be configured to your requirements.
A teepee can provide a more sheltered feel, with rustic wooden beams providing the perfect place for cosy fairylights in the cooler months. Sperry-style marquees and stretch tents offer a sophisticated setting for an English country garden summer wedding.
5) Consider your layout
One of the most compelling aspects of hosting a marquee wedding is the fact you are essentially building your own venue, from scratch! Your marquee provider is the expert in determining the perfect layout for what you’re looking for: they’ll suggest a selection of options for you to configure for the perfect set-up for you.
Whether you’d like social banquet style tables or elegant clothed rounds. Whether you’d like a central round bar to draw the eye in to an impressive floral centrepiece. Or, whether you’d like to keep the evening set-up under wraps for a grand reveal after dinner! These are all things to start plotting in your planner early on.
6) What does your Caterer Need?
We may be biased, but knowing what your catering team need is high on the marquee wedding priority list. A separate catering tent is essential for delivering a flawless wedding catering service. For 100 guests, most caterers require 6m by 6m of dedicated space and will outline their power requirements for you to pass on to your marquee company.
Mentioned above, your wedding caterer will require access right up to the marquee for their refrigerated van and to unload your wedding bar drinks. Ideally, they’ll require access to running water, or a heads up if this isn’t an option so that they can make alternative arrangements.
Providing your own drinks for your outdoor wedding celebration? Chat with your caterer about how you intend to keep your drinks chilled, whether you plan to have ice buckets filled with local beers, or a chiller trailer at the back of the marquee for your arrival and toast Champagne!
7) Plan, plan, PLAN!
Building a venue from scratch allows you to inject even more personality into your wedding day, but certainly comes with more avenues of organisation. Although your catering team will provide an event manager to oversee various aspects of the day, it can be beneficial to reach out to a wedding planner for extra peace of mind. These knowledgeable wedding folk are well versed in the world of marquee weddings, and will act as a liaison for all of your suppliers and guests. Lucy Ann Events will instil peace and calm in the run-up and on the day of your wedding.
Main image from Fresh Shoot & Papakata