Planning your Wedding Marquee
Step 1: Selecting the Perfect Venue
Garden Party |
Step 3: Thinking inside the Canvas
STEP 4: Interiors - Part 1.... Linings
Contrary to popular belief, not all marquee linings are pleated with gathers and swags. You may want to steer away from the frills and have a more casual wedding - in which case, Flat Linings are ideal. On a purely practical front, they hide the metalwork. On a more aesthetic front, they look light and natural. Decorate with bunting and flowers for the perfect country wedding look. (See 'country wedding' pic, far right.)
Traditional Linings.
The most popular choice of marquee linings are traditional. You can choose to have roof or wall linings or both. You may even wish to add coloured swags on each wall section to compliment your colour scheme. And if you have a marquee with windows (See pic left) roof linings and swags look fabulous without the need for wall linings.
Alternative Linings.
- As with everything, more and more options are opening up for couples getting married. It's certainly much easier now to be original and wow your guests with something they haven't seen before.
Printed linings are excellent. Not many people even know they exist so when they see them for the first time, they are always impressed. The picture (left) shows feather linings*, complimented by canary cages and bright flowers.
The effect is clean, bright and classy, perfect for the modern wedding.
- Another eye-catching style of lining is Starlight Cloth:- twinkly lights set into black fabric. Many couples choose to have this over the dance floor area, but an entire marquee roof decorated solely with stars is a stunning sight and won't fail to bring out the romance in everyone.
Starlight Cloth ** |
Budget
Then, of course, if you're on a budget and perhaps know a seamstress, you could opt to create your own decoration. Thick ribbons or drapes (pic 1) can add a splash of colour where needed. Dot around balloons, bunting, leaves and flowers. Hang fairy lights or icicle lights from the roof steels. Decorate an enormous Christmas Tree in one corner and dim the lights.
Don't be afraid to discuss money saving options with your marquee provider. They may be able to suggest something you hadn't considered. The important thing is to use your imagination. Surf lots of lining sites. Look through as many marquee picture galleries as you can. As soon as you see something you like, note it down. If it's out of your price range, ask your marquee provider to suggest an alternative.
Remember, they want your marquee to look as fantastic as you do!
NEXT WEEK: Interiors Part 2.
(*Linings courtesy of crescent-moon.co.uk
** Linings courtesy of Customcovers.co.uk)
C.Bright.
*Blog Special* Barn Linings
Ivory Linings |
Most importantly, use your imagination. Even if you are trying to cut down on cost, you don't have to stick to the basics to be cheap. Somewhere near you, there's probably a barn just screaming for a makeover!
Next Week: Interiors Part 2: furnishings.
by C.Bright www.gdhire.com
Interiors Part 2: Furnishings.
The Red Carpet |
On Grass |
Carpeted with White Bistro Chairs |
Elegant Silver Chiavari Chairs |
Little Extras...
Don't forget the lights! |
Wrought Iron Chandelier |
Fairy Light Decoration |
Pagodas and Orientals (sometimes called Chinese or Witches Hat marquees) are both aesthetically pleasing and provide additional shelter. Remove the walls (pic left) to serve a summer buffet or add sides to create a sizeable reception area for guests to have a drink and a breather from the festivities.
The Law.
As with everything, your marquee wedding may hit a few legal snags on the way. Make sure you know the facts from the off because the only boy in blue you'll want to be seeing when you get married is the stripper on your hen do!
- Currently, in the UK, you cannot legally marry in a marquee as it is not a 'fixed venue.'
- If you intend to serve alcohol, you may need to look into an 'Occasional License.'
- If you're not using a professional DJ, take a moment to look at http://www.prsformusic.com to ensure you are sticking to the rules.
Marquee with 3m porch and Oriental catering tent |
- It's also worth looking into insurance. Most marquee companies include a charge for equipment insurance in their quotations but do check. Also find out the excess you would have to pay in the event of any damage sustained.
- If you're unsure of anything with regard to the law, visit www.direct.gov.uk, if only for piece of mind.
Hidden Charges?
The cost of your marquee will all depend on the suitability of your venue. When you think you have somewhere in mind, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is there an electricity source?
- Is the pitch flat? i.e will your marquee company have to level the site?
- Can the ground be staked? If not, what are your options for securing marquee equipment?
- Will you need to hire outside caterers? Toilet units? Generators? heaters?
- Is there easy access to the site?
- Are you limited by a curfew or licensing laws?
- Is the area liable to flooding?
- Is the land well-maintained and will it still be so when your wedding comes around?
- Do you need to seek any additional permissions (eg Local Council) to erect a marquee on the site?
- Are there any hidden power cables or gas/water pipes underground?
Learning the answers to all these questions will save you time and probably money later.
Ask questions, even the silly ones you're too ashamed to ask, then ask some more. If you're armed with the facts, you'll limit the chance of nasty shocks later down the line.
NEXT WEEK: THE WEDDING DIARY PART 1....
Dance Floors.
Parquet Dance Floor |
B/W Chequered Dance Floor |
Hot Pink Dance floor |
Red and Black |
Lime green dance floor |
WHERE?
As I said in my first blog, selecting the right venue is not such an easy task.
There are so many things to take into account, not least your budget.
What do you want? What does your fiance want? What do your families recommend? What horror stories have your heard about other peoples' weddings? There are bound to be a few!
Then of course, you need to think about the weather because, while we all dream of brilliant sunshine and a light breeze dashing across the grass, we know the British climate well enough not to count our chickens. There's every chance your April wedding pics will be snapped in 6 inches of snow. And it's just your luck that while your guests sit down to their fillet of beef, hubby and the chaffeur are busy digging an exit for the Rolls.
Marquee Wedding: Tip 1
So there we are, Tip 1, select a venue within easy distance from where you exchange your vows. Civil weddings make the whole thing much easier and in many cases keep everything under one roof. Unfortunately, in this country currently you cannot exchange vows in a marquee but that doesn't mean you can't get married at an estate chapel then hold your reception right outside.
Marquee Wedding: Tip 2.
Stately homes are very beautiful but, in the most part, very expensive. Some are also limited by Health and Safety laws, Estate guardians and owners, Trusts etc as to the numbers they can accommodate, others may not hold receptions internally at all. Therefore many offer a space in their grounds on which to site a marquee. (Picture above-right.)
This arrangement is perfect. Not only do you have the opportunity to celebrate your wedding in such fabulous surroundings, you're not confined by traditional interiors. Your marquee can be as retro or as modern as you please.
Marquee Wedding: Tip 3
If you're planning a marquee wedding, you have to think about the site carefully.
First of all, is it flat? Tarmac and short grass are ideal for siting a marquee. Flooring will lie flat and you won't have to pay additional costs for companies to level out the ground. This also throws up the possibility of not having to spend out on flooring at all - why not be au naturale and just have grass? It's great for a real country theme.
Marquee Wedding: Tip 4
Organise a site visit with your marquee company. It's all very well for you to book a 15m x 20m marquee for 200 guests with dance floor and tables only to discover the site is only 9m x 12m. Most marquee companies offer free site visits but do always check - they may charge if you are out of their local area.
Marquee Wedding: Tip 5
Make sure access is good. A large marquee wedding with furniture, linings, the works, will require a lorry - probably a big one! If your field is sited up a 6ft wide dirt track, don't be surprised if you have to pay through the nose for delivery. Equipment is heavy and the easier the access, the cheaper it will be for you.
Marquee Wedding Tip 6
Think about safety. Are there power cables overhead? Siting a marquee under a pylon probably isn't the best plan you'll ever have. Nor is it wise to site over gas/water pipes or electrical cables. If you're not sure, you should ask the relevant people to check it out beforehand. If you don't and something goes wrong, you'll most likely end up footing the bill.
And what about if it rains? Is a 10 ton marquee lorry going to find itself sinking into a peaty bog? Is the marquee itself going to get swept away in a flood?
Marquee Wedding Tip 7.
Ask questions. Find out a little about types of marquee. Is it Clear Span or Traditional? How is it held up? How deep is it staked into the ground? What is it made of?
There are marquees you can buy, flimsy multi-purpose tent-style structures that some companies hire out for weddings. Be warned! They don't like bad weather. They don't like much actually and you could end up disappointed. If in doubt, ask to see the sort of structure you're hiring before the date.
Conclusion:
If you're not sure about a site, ask advice. Many venues are used to accomodating marquee receptions, find out what and where they recommend. If you're looking at a piece of land in the middle of nowhere, research it properly and consider things logically- if you can't reach the site easily, there's no way your marquee company will.
NEXT WEEK: Step 3 - Decorating your marquee.
For further information or to book a marquee in the West Country visit www.gdhire.com