Marquee weddings at home are such a wonderful option for couples wanting a truly personal and individual day.
That said, they can be a more complicated and often more expensive option than planning your wedding with a traditional venue.
At Primrose, we have been fortunate to support a number of marquee weddings, the first being my very own in 2018. It's safe to say, I have a real soft spot for this type of celebration!
The most important part of planning any wedding is being fully aware and prepared for what's involved. Whether it's something you're just considering at this stage, or you are fully excited and committed to the idea, here's our advice for planning your own marquee wedding.
space
Space is a really important first factor to consider when planning a marquee wedding. Whether you're planning to use your parent's garden or a friend's field, you'll first want to agree what you plan to use the marquees for.
If you're planning a marquee for the celebrations following your ceremony elsewhere, then you will only need structures for your meal and dancing. If you’re planning to have your ceremony and celebrations in the space, you might want to consider multiple structures that not only create variety in design, but also reduce the need to re-set the same areas for the different uses throughout the day.
You will then need to consider space for the additional elements required for a marquee wedding, such as portable toilets, a catering tent, a generator, heating units and guest or supplier parking.
marquee
The type of marquee you choose for your day will likely reflect your personal style and approach for your wedding day. This is the really exciting part, where you get to select the perfect setting for your celebration. Take time to thoroughly research the different types of structures available and consider what will work for the space you have, your guest numbers and your style.
If you're dreaming of a boho or festival feel for your wedding, a tipi structure could be a really great fit. Alternatively, a Sperry tent or clearspan marquee might be the perfect setting for a more classic design.
Once you have a clear idea of the type of marquee you'd like for your day, you can start reaching out to companies for quotes. A site visit before you book with a marquee company is an absolute must, so you are sure they can implement your plans exactly as you imagined.
suppliers
With a marquee wedding at home, it's worth remembering you will be building a venue from scratch. This means all the essentials you might take for granted with a standard venue, such as furniture, electricity, toilets and kitchens, will need to be sourced.
There are lots of benefits to this - you can really truly personalise every element of your day. It's worth being mindful however, that this will come at an additional cost, particularly when considering basics such as delivery costs for each item provided.
logistics
With a greater number of suppliers involved and a longer set up and take down process than a standard venue, marquee weddings are definitely a more logistically complicated option.
If you're super organised and feel up to the challenge, then it's just about allowing yourself plenty of time for planning and perhaps selecting a few of your friends and family to help you with the process.
If it's something you've dreamed of, but don't have the time or confidence to take on the planning, this might be where you decide to work with a wedding planner. Whether you start the process with a planner by your side, or ask one to come on board once you have the key elements secured, a planner will be able to take the reins on the logistics, provide styling support, and coordinate the day, so you and your family can relax and enjoy the process.
Ready to start planning your marquee wedding? Reach out to discuss your plans and how we might support you.