In this blog I cover everything you need to know about choosing the right marquee company for your wedding. I look at the different styles of marquee available, what to look for when researching companies, what questions to ask during a site visit, what should be included in a quote, how to plan for weather, and why working with an experienced marquee wedding planner can make the whole process significantly less stressful.
Choosing the right marquee company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning a marquee wedding. Get it right and the whole day flows beautifully. Get it wrong and the logistics can unravel quickly.
As a marquee wedding planner who has worked with marquee companies across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Here’s my honest guide to finding the right company for your celebration.
Have You Decided a Marquee Wedding Is Right for You?
Before diving into choosing a marquee company, it’s worth making sure a marquee wedding is genuinely the right choice for you and your celebration. I’ve written an honest guide that covers exactly this: Is a Marquee Wedding Right for You?
What Are the Different Styles of Marquee Available?
One of the first things to get your head around is that “marquee” is a broad term covering several very different structures. The style you choose will significantly affect the look, feel and cost of your wedding, so it’s worth understanding the options before you start approaching companies.
Traditional pole marquees
The classic choice with elegant peaked rooflines supported by central poles and guy ropes. They have a timeless, romantic feel and work beautifully for country house weddings and garden celebrations. They do require more space than some other structures due to the guy ropes.
Clear span marquees
These have no internal poles, which gives you a completely unobstructed interior space. They’re highly versatile, can be built to almost any size and work well on more challenging terrain. Popular for larger weddings where the layout needs to be flexible.
Stretch tents
A more contemporary option with flowing, organic shapes that work particularly well in natural settings. They can be attached to buildings or trees and create a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Popular for festivals-style celebrations and more informal weddings.
Tipi tents
Tall, dramatic structures with a distinctive Nordic feel. Often used in clusters to create different zones for ceremonies, dining and dancing. They suit couples who want something with real character and a relaxed, bohemian feel.
Geodesic domes
Increasingly popular for more intimate celebrations or as feature structures within a larger setup. They create a striking visual impact and work beautifully for ceremonies or chill-out spaces.
Understanding which style appeals to you before approaching companies will make the whole conversation much more productive. For more on what to consider when choosing your marquee structure, read: What to Consider When Deciding on a Wedding Marquee.
Feel inspired by some of the marquee weddings I’ve planned:
Laura & Roddy’s Wiltshire marquee wedding
Sabina & Tristan’s blackberry themed marquee wedding
Gina & John’s winter marquee wedding at Welford Park
What Should You Look for When Researching Marquee Companies?
Start with Google searches, ask friends and family for recommendations, read reviews and spend time looking through Instagram feeds and online galleries. You want to get a genuine feel for a company’s style and capabilities before making contact.
Experience and track record
Look for companies with strong experience specifically in wedding marquees rather than just event structures generally. Wedding marquees involve different considerations around aesthetics, guest flow and the emotional significance of the day.
Range of services
Some companies supply only the marquee structure. Others offer comprehensive packages including flooring, lighting, furniture, heating, power and catering tents. A company that can supply more of what you need under one roof simplifies the planning and coordination significantly.
Portfolio and real weddings
A strong portfolio tells you a great deal about a company’s capabilities. Look for variety of styles, quality of finishes, how they handle lighting and flooring, and whether their aesthetic matches your vision. Real wedding examples are particularly valuable as they show how the marquee performs on an actual wedding day rather than in a controlled shoot.
Reviews and recommendations
Online reviews on Google give a useful picture, but word of mouth from trusted sources is often more valuable. Your wedding planner, caterer or florist will often have strong views on which marquee companies are reliable and easy to work with.
Local knowledge
A marquee company that knows your area well is a real advantage. They’ll understand the terrain, be familiar with local access challenges and be quicker to respond if anything needs attention in the days before your wedding.
What Marquee Companies Does Honour & Pop Work With?
Over the years I’ve built strong working relationships with a number of marquee companies across the South of England whose work and professionalism I trust completely.
Red Crest Marquees are one of my go-to companies for traditional and clear span structures. They bring a real attention to detail and an understanding of what makes a wedding marquee work beautifully.
Marquee Vision are specialists in creating stunning marquee interiors with exceptional lighting and styling capabilities. If you want something really special inside your marquee, they’re worth talking to.
Having an experienced marquee wedding planner who already has established relationships with trusted companies can save you a significant amount of time and give you confidence that you’re working with suppliers who have a proven track record.
What Should Be Included in a Marquee Wedding Quote?
Getting a detailed, itemised quote is essential. Marquee wedding costs can vary significantly depending on what’s included, so comparing quotes on a like-for-like basis is really important.
A comprehensive quote should cover the marquee structure itself, flooring (hard flooring, carpet or coir matting), lighting (basic and atmospheric), furniture if supplied by the marquee company, delivery, installation and collection, and the hire period including setup and breakdown days.
Extras to ask about separately include heating or cooling systems, a generator or power supply, luxury toilet hire, a catering tent, a bar structure, additional decorative lighting and any bespoke features you want to include. Feel inspired to decorate your marquee wedding with my guide.
Always ask about payment terms, deposit requirements and the cancellation policy before signing anything. And make sure everything agreed is documented clearly in your contract.
For guidance on how to budget for all of these elements, read: Ten Steps for Creating a Wedding Budget.
How Do You Plan for the Weather in a Marquee Wedding?
Weather planning isn’t just about rain, although that’s obviously important. Very hot weather, strong winds and wet ground can all affect how a marquee wedding works in practice, so it’s worth talking through contingencies with your marquee company early on.
Ask specifically about rainproofing and whether the structure is fully waterproof in heavy rain, windproofing and how the marquee is anchored, heating options for cooler months and cooling options for summer weddings, covered walkways between different areas, and what happens to the ground if it rains heavily in the days before the wedding.
Good weather planning is one of the things an experienced marquee wedding planner manages carefully, making sure every scenario has been thought through so nothing catches you by surprise on the day.
For more on avoiding common weather-related mistakes, read: Common Marquee Wedding Mistakes and How a Planner Prevents Them.
How Does a Marquee Wedding Planner Help With Choosing a Marquee Company?
Working with an experienced marquee wedding planner like me can make the process of choosing and working with a marquee company significantly easier.
A planner will already have established relationships with trusted companies and can make recommendations based on your specific venue, style and budget. They’ll attend the site visit with you, ask the right questions, review quotes on your behalf and make sure the contract covers everything it should.
Once your marquee company is booked, your planner becomes the central point of contact for all the supplier coordination, managing timelines, overseeing the build and making sure every practical detail is handled so you don’t have to.
This is particularly valuable when couples are planning from a distance or when the wedding is taking place at a family home where parents might otherwise find themselves fielding calls about generator positions and delivery access.
Find out more about how I support couples with full wedding planning, partial planning and on-the-day coordination.
Get in touch to check my availability
Antonia x
Photo and Supplier Credits
Barker Evans Fine Art Photograpy
