Marquee Planning 101: 10 Things to Think About Before Booking Your Marquee Wedding

Published on 17th October 2025 by Jenny Mason

Thinking about having a marquee wedding? You’re not alone — they’re one of the most flexible (and fun!) ways to celebrate your big day. Whether you love the idea of a beautiful sailcloth marquee in a field or a laid-back stretch tent in your parents’ garden, a marquee gives you total freedom to make your wedding feel like you.

But before you get carried away with fairy lights and florals, there are a few practical things to think about. Here are our 10 must-knows before you book your marquee.

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1. Pick the Perfect Spot

First up — where’s it going? Your marquee will need a reasonably flat, well-drained space that’s easy for suppliers and guests to get to. If you’re using private land or a family garden, check there’s plenty of space for loos, parking, and maybe even a catering tent.

If you’ve fallen in love with a countryside location or coastal spot, a sailcloth tent with full height window walls will allow you to maximise the views throughout the day (and night). Take a look at our venue pages if you’re looking for a marquee venue in Yorkshire, or if you’re further afield, then our UK venues page might be helpful.

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2. Choose Your Marquee Style

There’s a lot more choice than you might think:

• A sailcloth marquee has that elegant, coastal vibe — light, airy, and perfect for summer.
• A stretch tent feels more relaxed and modern, ideal for festival-style weddings.
• Or you can go classic with a clearspan or other style of marquee.

Think about your theme, season, and the kind of atmosphere you want to create before deciding. Pinterest is often a great place to look at different styles of wedding marquees and tents.

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3. Get the Size Right

It sounds obvious, but work out your guest list early. You’ll need enough room for dining, dancing, a bar area, and maybe even a chill-out corner. Too big and it can feel empty — too small and everyone’s bumping elbows during dinner.

We are always happy to advise and help you choose the right size marquee for your guest numbers and plans. We have lots of example floor plans to help you visualise this, and will help you map out a layout that fits perfectly.

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4. Don’t Forget the Power and Lighting

Unlike a venue, a marquee doesn’t come with plug sockets! You’ll need power for the lights, caterers, band, and bar. With Shades, we can either arrange this for you and simply add to your quote, or you can source this directly.

Lighting makes a huge difference too. All our marquees include lighting to make the space look amazing from day through to night, but you can add to this if you wish. Think festoon lights draped across the ceiling, lanterns, or fairy lights to make your sailcloth tent glow once the sun goes down.

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5. Mind the Flooring

Even in July, British grass can be sometimes be unpredictable (and muddy!). Quality flooring really finishes the marquee and keeps everyone’s shoes clean. It can also be extended beyond the marquee to create walkways and terrace areas, creating a seamless transition between inside and out.

We offer wooden flooring with carpet as an option, but it can often be an unnecessary upgrade and expense, as coir matting looks great and works well in the majority of marquee weddings.

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6. Plan for the Weather (Because, Britain)

Let’s face it — the British weather has a mind of its own. Make sure your marquee has sides that can be rolled down if it rains, and ask about heaters or fans depending on the season.

Stretch tents are amazing for open-air vibes but check they’re waterproof and wind-resistant if you’re using one in the UK. Always have a few umbrellas and blankets on hand, just in case.

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7. Sort the Toilets

Not the most glamorous part of wedding planning, but absolutely essential! If your venue doesn’t have toilets nearby, you’ll need to hire some. The good news? Luxury portable loos are much nicer than they sound — think proper sinks, mirrors, and even background music. We run the northern yard of Nomadic Washrooms, which offer luxury Shepherds Hut style washrooms and shower units for weddings and events.

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8. Catering and Bar Setup

Your caterers will probably need their own prep tent, running water, and a power supply — so it’s best to chat with them before finalising your layout. The same goes for your bar team; they’ll need space for fridges and storage.

A little planning now will save you stress later!

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9. Timing Is Everything

Setting up a marquee takes time — usually a couple of days before the wedding, plus a day or two to take it down. It’s always a good idea to make sure your venue or landowner is okay with that, and plan deliveries (flowers, furniture, catering kit) around it.

The build-up can actually be one of the best bits — it’s lovely to see everything come together.

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10. Check the Boring (But Important) Stuff

You might need a Temporary Event Notice if you’re serving alcohol or playing loud music, and it we always recommend getting wedding insurance to cover you in case something goes wrong.

If you’re near neighbours, a friendly note or invite to the evening do always helps keep things sweet — especially if the party goes on past midnight!

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The Bottom Line

A marquee wedding is all about freedom — creating something that’s totally personal, whether that’s under a chic sailcloth marquee or a relaxed stretch tent.

Yes, there’s more planning involved than booking a ready-made venue, but that’s also what makes it so special. Once you’ve nailed the practical bits — power, toilets, weather back-ups — you can really focus on the fun details.

Get those sorted early, and your marquee wedding will be everything you’ve dreamed of — personal, beautiful, and perfectly you.

Enquire today to start planning your perfect wedding with us!