Marquee weddings give you a lot of flexibility in where and how you want your reception to be. But, as with every type of venue, there are pros and cons to this choice. Here, we have outlined these to help you decide if a marquee wedding is for you!
Pros of a Marquee Wedding
Variety
When you hire a marquee for your wedding, you can choose from a huge array of shapes and sizes, prices and specifications, and they can fit into surprisingly small spaces. You could even have a wedding tipi! So, you could fit into your garden or you could be create your ideal, all-inclusive guest list. You choose the marquee to suit you and your wedding.
Make it your own
You have complete control over the marquee decoration. If you need help or inspiration the marquee company can provide decoration. But, if you want to do it yourself, there are no restrictions! Having a marquee gives you the flexibility to decorate it in any style and fashion, which is not necessarily feasible with other venues. The possibilities for your marquee decoration are endless from drapes of coloured fabrics, fresh flowers, ribbons and fairy lights, giving that cosy, personal feel to your wedding.
Functionality
With a marquee you can change the layout of the marquee so you can have it in the format you want. For example you can section off parts of the marquee for catering and you can choose how big and where you want your dance floor.
Food
Having a Marquee wedding venue means you can choose your own outside wedding caterer. Wedding catering can be a large cost at a wedding venue and you won't have much choice in which caterers you can use. If you have a marquee wedding, the marquee catering options are endless. They will set up a mobile kitchen on trestle tables in a catering tent - usually the end of the wedding marquee which has been partitioned off, and will usually also have a refrigerated van. Alternatively, go for a country theme with a wedding barbecue or hog roast, or provide your guests with picnic hampers and rugs.
Cons of a Marquee wedding
Seasonal
Firstly, marquees are quite seasonal. They work best in good weather months, so this is when they are most expensive. Also, as there the weather is never guaranteed, your wedding could become a rather wet affair!
Added costs
Additional costs may sneak up on you as you'll have to hire other facilities. For example, chairs, tables, a stage, dance floor, lights and even mobile toilets!
Responsibility
Marquees add responsibility to couples and their families. It can mean you have to help set up, decorate and tidy up afterwards. Not necessarily something you want to do on the morning after your wedding!
Noise
Weddings are never quiet events. If your planning to dance the night away with loud music, singing and dancing in your marquee wedding venue you may need to consider your surroundings. This may not always apply as some marquee venues can be placed quite remotely to avoid this issure. However, if you are in a built up area you may have close neighbours that wouldn't appreciate the noise at all hours.
Think a marquee wedding may be for you but wondering how to combat these issues? Check out our top tips for organising a marquee wedding.