So you love the idea of a Marquee wedding, but you have no idea how to even begin planning one. Look no further! Read through our guide for more understanding about what planning a marquee wedding looks like including location, size, and logistical factors such as power and restrooms.

Choosing your marquee size

Our clear frame marquees are a bespoke portable venue that can accommodate a guest list of any size, so that your guests won’t be cramped or lost in excess space. Installed in three metre increments, the size of your marquee can be adjusted prior to your wedding once your RSVPs are finalised.

When advising your marquee size through our personalised quoting service, we take into consideration your guest list, desired floor plan and any extra spaces you’d like to consider such as lounging areas, bars and a dance floor to dance the night away.

Where to place your Marquee

The uniqueness of a marquee wedding allows you to choose the location of your dreams, and take advantage of the panoramic views that New Zealand’s South Island has to offer. Each type of location has its own advantages and disadvantages, yet the end result of flexibility and customisation centred around your unique love story wins true. For instance, we can install your marquee in a wide open space like a paddock on a family farm, where there is a generous amount of space, yet it could be hard to access for your guests or remote for accessible parking. Alternatively, the grounds of a large property such as a friend's house may be smaller but offer the convenience of amenities and transport options at the end of your celebrations.

The non-negotiables for a suitable marquee location are level grounds for our marquee to be installed upon, and enough space to provide a working area around the marquee. For instance, if you choose a 10m x 12m marquee, we require a 13m x 15m space with no overhanging branches. You will also need to consider the access points of your location, as many vendors will need to drop off their products, and guests may be unable to walk far.

If you don’t know of any suitable spots, consider approaching any local venues such as country estates, wineries or even a neighbouring farm who have large grounds and would consider hosting your intimate celebration.

Time of year

Photo Credit: @jonnieandgarrett

Marquee celebrations are suitable year round as New Zealand’s various seasons offer their individual charm. Commonly spring and summer marquee weddings prove to be the most popular due to the warm weather and offer more opportunity for indoor and outdoor flow, however it can prove to be difficult to find vendor availability as popular items are booked a year to two in advance. Autumn and winter weddings can bring added costs of hiring heaters to keep your guests cosy, or flooring to prevent high-heels from sinking into damp grounds, yet their is often more availability within a shorter time frame, and using our bespoke lighting options, a cosy and intimate celebration can be created as the sun goes down.

Concerned about a storm? Our marquees are able to withstand winds up to 100kmph, and if you are expecting bad weather, we will install our custom guide ropes to further stabilise the marquee.

The gritty logistics

Marquee weddings, in all their charm, require additional planning as we are working with you to create a wedding venue from the ground up.

Power

Lighting, sound, catering, heating, portable toilets - These are all elements that require electricity! If you have chosen to install your marquee on an established venue (such as an event space or winery), it is likely they will have an established outdoor electricity circuit that you will be able to use, however be sure to clarify this while you are obtaining quotes to ensure you aren’t caught out with unforeseen costs.

If you have opted to use a friend's garden that has a house nearby, we can commonly run extensions from the house however this is contingent on the unused capacity of their electricity circuit, and your power requirements. Often the most practical solution is to hire our generator which will be set up by our trained team and connected to your required areas such as catering and lighting. Our specialised team will work with you to advise how much power your Gravity DJ will need, and your caterers and whether they will both require at the same time and for how long, in order to calculate the correct size generator.

Guest facilities

If your marquee location doesn’t have access to toilets, for instance, at a nearby house, you will need to hire portable toilets and curate a space that has a well lit walkway for your guests to follow. As a rule of thumb, we recommend one toilet per 40 - 50 guests, yet usage requirements can fluctuate depending on the length of your reception, and the amount of food and drink that is being enjoyed by your guests. We also recommend that you consider hiring additional toilets to prevent queues so that your guests don’t miss out on the party! Rest assured, a little bit of decor and a cheeky sign will go a long way in removing the dreaded portaloo feel…

Catering

Perhaps your first date was at an Italian restaurant, or under the sky with a grazing platter… A marquee wedding allows you to choose a caterer that is unique to your love story.

Unless you opt to use a food truck, your caterer will commonly require access to refrigeration and water, along with a separate catering area which can be arranged in a partitioned area of your main marquee, or a separate tent. If you choose to use a location with facilities nearby, access to water shouldn’t be a problem, however if you opt for a remote location like a paddock, you may need to provide your caterers with water.

Decisions, decisions, decisions… There is a lot to consider in planning a marquee wedding, but our experienced team is here to help and guide you through the process from start to finish. Get in touch today to see how we can help bring your ideas to life.

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How To Plan Your Marquee Wedding