What should I look for when hiring a marquee company?

Look for a marquee company that provides a clear written quote with no hidden extras, carries out a site visit and layout plan before you commit, and gives honest advice on size, flooring, lighting and heating. You also want a team that stays in touch from first enquiry to final collection. This article is written by Christopher James Events, a family-run event production company in the South East of England, so the advice comes from people who install and support marquees and event equipment every week.

Table of Contents

• What should you ask a marquee company before you book?
• How far in advance should you book a wedding marquee?
• How do you work out what size marquee you need?
• What should the quote include, and what might cost extra?
• How is a wedding marquee heated, and do you need it?
• What flooring, lighting and power should you plan for?
• When will the marquee go up and come down?
• Can you legally get married in a marquee in England?
• Key Takeaways

What should you ask a marquee company before you book?

Ask what is included in the quote, what costs extra, and what happens if the weather turns. A good company will explain all of this in plain English before you pay a deposit. Ask when the marquee will be delivered, built and taken away, and whether those days are fixed or flexible. Some companies can leave a marquee in place for a day or so after the wedding for an informal get-together.

Ask whether you can see a marquee standing at another event, and whether the company can put you in touch with past couples. Ask about insurance, crew, and who your point of contact will be in the final weeks. These are common questions couples raise before booking. A company that welcomes these questions is usually one that communicates well when the event is close.

How far in advance should you book a wedding marquee?

Book as early as you can, especially for a summer wedding. Marquee companies receive requests for summer events months, sometimes years, ahead. Peak season reduces marquee stock availability, which means a late booking may not get every item on your list. If your date is fixed, treat the marquee as one of the first suppliers you confirm.

Booking early also gives time for a site visit, a layout plan and any design changes. You can work through seating styles, flooring choices and heating needs without rushing. A company that has your date secured early can also advise on power and lighting before other suppliers finalise their plans. For popular summer weekends, leaving the marquee until a few weeks before the wedding is a risk.

How do you work out what size marquee you need?

Size depends on how you will use the space. A seated meal, ceremony, dancing area, bar and catering all need different footprints. Round tables, long trestle tables and theatre style seating each need a different amount of room per guest. A 6ft round table seats 10 to 12 guests, while a standard 6ft trestle table seats up to 6 guests.

A site visit lets the company measure the garden or field and produce a plan. Some companies put together a CAD visualisation of the layout after assessing a site. Build in space for a band, a dance floor and a covered walkway between tents if you need one. Leaving too little room for service routes and guest movement is a common mistake.

What should the quote include, and what might cost extra?

Ask for a written quote that lists everything: marquee, lining, flooring, lighting, heating and furniture. Marquees do not usually come with furniture, which gives you freedom to choose your own tables and chairs. Heating is often included in the quoted price, with the number of units adjusted for marquee size, time of year and weather forecast.

Check whether delivery, build, crew, late-night collection and any power supply are inside the price. Be wary of a low headline figure that grows once flooring, lighting or heating are added. A written quote with every line item shown makes it easier to compare what different companies are actually offering. Ask for confirmation that the quote covers the full build and breakdown period.

How is a wedding marquee heated, and do you need it?

Most marquees are heated by indirect heaters that sit outside and blow warm air in through ducts. These heaters are thermostatically controlled from inside the marquee and typically run for around 12 hours. One heater is usually enough, though a second may be needed for a larger marquee or two connected tents.

A heater is recommended outside the summer months of June, July and August. Heating is included in the quoted price from some suppliers, with the number of heating units adjusted based on marquee size, time of year and weather forecast. Ask whether heating is included or charged as an extra before you compare quotes.

What flooring, lighting and power should you plan for?

Many companies use matting over a waterproof membrane rather than hard flooring, which suits grass and most gardens. Hard flooring is more common on uneven ground or where guests will be dancing for hours.

Lighting is one of the most visible parts of a marquee. Christopher James Events provides Lighting Hire with dry hire, bespoke designs and production support, taking care of everything from checking your venue has a suitable power source to installing and operating the lights for one inclusive price. Ask early about power: whether the venue can supply it or a generator is needed, and who is responsible for cabling. Plan lighting alongside your other suppliers so the design matches the rest of the day.

When will the marquee go up and come down?

It depends on the site and how you plan to use the space. For a venue where the marquee uses the car park, it is typically installed the day before and removed the day after. For a garden marquee where you want to decorate yourselves, it can go up a few days before the event.

Some companies will leave the marquee in place for a day or so after the wedding for an informal get-together. Confirm build and collection times in writing, and check whether you need access to the site on those days. Knowing the schedule early helps you coordinate caterers, florists and other suppliers. There’s alot of people involved.

Can you legally get married in a marquee in England?

It depends on the structure and the local authority. A marquee is not a permanent structure, so it may not be licensed for a legal ceremony in England, according to a discussion on Hitched. Many couples hold a legal ceremony at a register office or licensed venue and use the marquee for the celebration.

If a legal ceremony in the marquee matters to you, check the rules with the local authority before you book. Ask the marquee company whether they have worked with your venue or celebrant before. Some venues have licensed outdoor structures that are not standard marquees, so the distinction matters when you are planning the legal part of the day.

Key Takeaways

• Ask any marquee company for a written quote that lists marquee, lining, flooring, lighting, heating and furniture, so you can see exactly what is included.
• Book early for summer weddings, because peak season reduces stock availability and late bookings may not get everything on their list.
• A site visit and layout plan, sometimes with a CAD visualisation, is how a company works out the right marquee size for your guest numbers and seating style.
• Most marquees are heated by indirect heaters outside the tent that blow warm air in through ducts and are controlled by a thermostat inside.
• A heater is recommended outside June, July and August, and heating is often included in the quoted price with units adjusted for size, season and forecast.
• Marquee build and collection days vary: a day before and after for venue car parks, or a few days before for garden marquees you want to decorate yourself.
• A marquee is not a permanent structure, so couples in England often hold the legal ceremony elsewhere and use the marquee for the celebration.