Are you wondering if going down the route of marquee wedding planning is right for you? In this guide, discover a realistic breakdown of the pros and cons of a marquee wedding so you have all the info you need to make an informed decision.
With a marquee wedding, there are key factors to consider before you settle on one. A wedding marquee hire provides ultimate freedom and a unique atmosphere. However, at the same time, there are extra logistics and additional planning involved.
If you want to make the process more straightforward, a marquee hire company like Dynamic Marquees lets you build your own wedding venue, providing a bespoke wedding setup that covers everything, from furniture to heating to flooring.
Quick answer — are marquee weddings worth it?
So, is a marquee wedding a good idea? Here are some quick pros and cons of a marquee wedding.
- Pro: Location flexibility
You get to choose from almost any location, as long as it has space for the marquee.
- Pro: A blank canvas
You have even more flexibility when it comes to guest numbers, style, catering, and layout. It’s all in your hands.
- Pro: Plenty of comfort upgrades
There are plenty of great comfort upgrades to elevate the marquee wedding experience, such as a hired bar or a dance floor.
- Con: Building from scratch
With a marquee wedding, you are essentially building the venue from scratch. This involves a long marquee wedding checklist.
- Con: Potential of poor weather
Another major marquee wedding drawback is the potential of poor weather.
- Con: Limitations due to venue rules
There may be specific permissions and licensing requirements that are confusing. Plus, the venue may have particular marquee rules, such as minimal noise or a curfew.
Whether it’s worth it depends on the couple. It’s best for couples who are interested in greater control over their venue and are more than happy to plan from start to finish.
What is a marquee wedding?
A marquee wedding is a reception/ceremony hosted in a temporary event structure on private land or a marquee-friendly venue. A clear-span marquee is a more premium modular temporary structure wedding that allows open interiors for a flexible wedding marquee setup layout.
What you get with marquee hire (and what you still need to plan)
One of the biggest advantages of a marquee wedding is that you get an empty shell, allowing you to get creative with the design. The marquee itself is just the shelter. You will need to add marquee interiors like flooring, dance floor hire, marquee lighting, marquee heaters, bar hire, and portable toilet hire to make it a suitable venue for a wedding.
5 Advantages of a marquee wedding
1. You can choose (almost) any location
Whether you want a garden marquee wedding or a private estate wedding, you have plenty of freedom when it comes to location. There are many marquee-friendly venues to choose from. For example, you could host your day at home, on private land, or at a specific venue that allows marquees. Remember to confirm site access, ground, and permissions early!
2. A true blank canvas for styling
One of the greatest advantages of marquee weddings is that there are no fixed décor constraints. Couples can choose layout, lighting mood, and interior finish. This wedding theme freedom means unique drapings/linings, lighting design, and zone-by-zone layout.
3. Guest numbers and layout stay flexible
Marquee capacity is flexible – as is the marquee wedding layout. Couples have more choices when it comes to the size of the dancefloor zone, bar area, and even seating plan. It’s vital to plan guest flow by designing the guest journey in advance, considering how guests will move from one area to the next.
4. Freedom to choose your suppliers and catering
Another advantage of a marquee wedding is that you can choose your caterer and other suppliers, as you aren’t tied down to the venue’s suppliers. This supplier flexibility leads to a more bespoke wedding menu and theme altogether. For example, one couple may want a food truck wedding, whereas another may prefer to choose a more traditional catering company.
5. Comfort upgrades can feel genuinely high-end
A luxury marquee wedding is more than possible, especially with comfort upgrades. Comfort makers Dynamic Marquees offers amenities such as marquee heating, flooring, parquet dance floors, LED furniture, and luxury toilets to elevate the experience for all guests completely.
5 Disadvantages of a marquee wedding
1. You’re essentially building a venue from scratch
There is no denying that one of the biggest disadvantages of a marquee wedding is the marquee wedding logistics. Specifically, that you are essentially building a venue from scratch, needing to consider things like generator/power, heating, flooring, toilets, and parking. Supplier coordination is key here; a full-service supplier can organise site planning and reduce stress.
2. Weather becomes a planning input
You need a wet-weather plan for any UK marquee wedding, given the typical British weather! This involves seasonal planning, such as flooring for grass, marquee heaters, and lighting for darker months. Contingency thinking can ensure the venue stays warm, dry, and comfortable no matter the season.
3. Noise and curfews can limit the party
Marquee wedding curfews are normal due to noise complaints. You might have to follow rules around sound management, such as sticking to a lower DJ/band volume. These music and noise restrictions for marquee weddings can limit the party.
4. Permissions, licensing, and insurance can be confusing
There’s a lot to think about surrounding planning permissions marquee UK, such as event insurance and licensable activities. Keep in mind that planning permission isn’t usually needed for temporary marquees, but expectations do apply. Plus, there may be licensing requirements for alcohol and live music. It’s best to first check with the venue and council before you start planning.
5. Cleanup and reinstating the site
Once the wedding is over, the post-wedding cleanup must begin. Takedown timing can be high, as factors like waste management and lawn protection need to be considered. It’s best to have a cleanup plan in place in advance to ensure you have the time and resources to handle it all.
Marquee wedding costs — what affects the price most?
Now that we have covered the pros and cons of a marquee wedding, you might wonder, what goes into a marquee wedding budget? The biggest cost drivers include:
- Guest count
- Season
- Site complexity
- Finish level
- Comfort add-ons
There is no single marquee hire quote until you get in touch with a marquee hire company and provide all the details about your wedding.
How to control costs without downgrading the experience
There are some simple ways to reduce marquee wedding costs without downgrading the experience. That includes finalising guest count early, simplifying zones, prioritising comfort essentials, and bundling equipment with one supplier. An all-in supplier like Dynamic Marquees can help you balance luxury comforts with sticking to a realistic budget.
Planning checklist for a stress-free marquee wedding
Before anything else, you need to follow a marquee site checklist. Here are the biggest factors to consider during a site survey:
- Flat ground
- Access width
- Parking
- A power plan
- Toilet location
- Catering workflow
- Guest flow
- Comfort essentials (the non-negotiables)
When it comes to the comfort essentials, there are three major players: marquee flooring, marquee heaters, and marquee lighting hire. You cannot do without these. You should also remember portable loo hire; this is an essential part of guest comfort! Dynamic Marquees offers the solution set that covers all of this.
Venue inspiration in Essex (and how marquee hire fits)
One of the advantages of a marquee wedding is that you have flexibility with the marquee wedding venue. There are two main options here.
First is a marquee-ready wedding venue. This venue has a specific site where you can place a marquee. Check out these marquee wedding venues across Essex for some inspiration.
Then, there are private locations. This may include private land or even your own garden. This won’t be a space specifically made for marquees, but with a site surveyor, you can make it work.
If you already have a venue in Essex, start here
Read the pros and cons of a marquee wedding and decided it’s right for you – and you’ve even picked out an Essex marquee location? If so, choose Dynamic Marquees as a premium marquee hire in Essex. This wedding marquee supplier doesn’t just offer the necessary supplies, but will also help you through the planning process.
Why choose Dynamic Marquees for your marquee wedding?
Dynamic Marquees provides premium clear-span marquees along with all the marquee fit-out add-ons you could need. You’ll have access to the highest quality wedding equipment hire, including things like lighting, heating, furniture, bar hire, and toilets. Plus, Dynamic Marquees makes the process straightforward by being a one-supplier setup.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with Dynamic Marquees today and start planning your dream wedding.
