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Benessamy’s Guide to Planning the Perfect Marquee Wedding

Photography by Rachael Connerton

A marquee wedding offers masses of flexibility. As well as the freedom to host your celebration in a dream location without the constraints of a permanent building, there’s scope to personalise the space and make it your own. However, many couples underestimate the work involved in planning a marquee wedding. There are lots of practical things to consider, so let’s dive into a few of them now…

Location, Location, Location

Many couples opt for a marquee wedding because they already have the perfect location in mind, for example their own private garden or a scenic spot somewhere on family land. Those who don’t have the option to hire land from someone else.

It’s important to note UK law prevents you from having your civil ceremony inside a marquee (unless it's within the linked outdoor area of Approved Premises that are registered for weddings). This allows couples to get married inside before moving their celebration to a marquee located in the grounds. Alternatively, you can do the ‘legal bit’ elsewhere first and focus on hosting a fabulous party in your marquee.    

The Practicalities

As well as the fun, pretty details, there are a few practical things to take care of when planning a marquee wedding.

• Access – Your wedding suppliers and guests must be able to access the marquee and surrounding site safely. You may want to stagger deliveries to avoid congestion, the ground needs to be secure and there must be adequate parking for vehicles too. You should also consider how guests will get from their cars or other transport to the marquee itself. Don’t forget to factor in the weather as rain can have a huge impact on access.
• Toilets – If your location is more rural or there isn’t a permanent building nearby, you may need to consider hiring portaloos and managing the logistics that go with them. These can either be integrated into the marquee itself or positioned close by. Don’t worry – there are some incredible luxury loos to choose from these days!
• Water and Electricity – Again, choosing a more rural site could mean you need to hire a generator. Your caterers will also need access to running water.
• Security – If the marquee will be unattended before the wedding with either your own possessions or things that belong to suppliers, you may need to arrange security. You wouldn’t want anybody helping themselves to crucial equipment the night before the wedding! Similarly, on the day itself, you should make sure you have somewhere you can safely store valuables such as wedding gifts.     

What Type of Marquee?

These days, there’s a wide range of marquees to choose from. As well as the overall look and style of the structure, you need to consider size and capacity. I’d recommend drawing up a guest list first. Once you know how many people you need to seat, you can research the various options. These include:

• Tipi
• Yurt
• Stretch Tent
• Pole Tent
• Canvas Marquee
• Framed Clear Span Marquee
• Pagoda Marquee
• Traditional Marquee
• Steel-Frame Conservatories and Orangeries (these come with real glass windows – a truly spectacular option!)

Photography by Red on Blonde Photography

Things to Ask the Marquee Hire Company

I strongly recommend requesting a full breakdown of costs so you can doublecheck exactly what’s included. Here are some other questions you should consider asking:

• Can we hire other equipment such as furniture/generator/toilets from you too? What are the additional costs involved?
• Can you help us plan the layout and provide floorplans?
• Are we able to amend our order if plans change?
• What is the schedule for delivery and collection?
• Will you conduct a site visit beforehand?
• Do you have public liability insurance?
• What’s the plan if it rains?

Styling Your Marquee

Essentially a blank canvas, styling the inside of your marquee can be a huge job, but the end result is always worth it. You can create different zones using furniture and lighting and as they’re often tall, cavernous spaces there’s lots of scope for hanging décor and large floral installations. At Benessamy, we LOVE working with our creative partners on all aspects of planning and design.

Plan Your Marquee Weekend with Benessamy

If you want to create a wedding that’s truly personal to you, a marquee is the obvious choice of venue. It’s a blank canvas where you have complete control, both in terms of how the space is used and the dream team of wedding suppliers you assemble to work with.

As you can see, there’s a lot to manage and consider when planning a marquee wedding. It’s certainly a challenge, but it’s one we welcome and embrace at Benessamy Wedding & Event Design. As experienced large-scale, luxury marquee wedding planners, we can help you navigate the complex logistics that can come with planning a wedding of this nature. Discover our Wedding Planning Services or get in touch to arrange a consultation. You’ll also find more inspiration via the links below:

• Benessamy Real Weddings -  A Private Home Marquee Wedding for Lauren and Oli
• Country Vs. City Wedding – Which is Right for You?
• Why Should I Hire a Wedding Planner?

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Download our free guide - Questions to Ask the Venue BEFORE You Book

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