Are you planning a marquee wedding? There's lots of benefits to these venues, and you'll get a lot out of them. To create the best experience, you will need to think ahead. How are you going to plan the best wedding ever? Use these tips for stress free planning for your big day.
Talk To Your Venue
Before you do anything, you need to talk to your venue. If you're planning to erect a marquee there, there will likely be some rules around it. Most venues will allow you to use a marquee, but there could be some restrictions that you need to be aware of.
For example, you may find you're restricted to a certain size of tent, something that's important when you're looking to accommodate all your guests. You'll also find you may need to use a certain type of tent, or only have a certain amount of time you can erect and bring down the tent in. Make sure you know all these rules before you start. It will make it easier to pick a tent, and you'll see that it makes planning a lot less stressful.
Pick Your Tent Style
When it comes to marquee tents, you'll see there's two main styles: the pole tent, and the frame tent. Both are great options for weddings, but you'll see that they have different strengths. Here's what you need to know about both of them.
Pole tents: These are best known for their swooping, elegant roofing styles. It gives the tent a romantic look inside and out, making it excellent for weddings. They're best suited for weddings on grassy or soft ground. This is because they need to be staked into the ground, so if your venue has grass this is the tent you'll need.
As the name suggests, there will be poles in the tent, holding the roof up. In most cases this won't be a problem, and many people choose to decorate the poles. String lights or greenery strung around them always look fantastic. If you're worried about the view in the tent being blocked, or you need a certain layout that poles will impede, then this won't be the tent for you.
Frame tents: These tents are held up with a frame, so they don't require poles inside to hold the roof up. This is good news if you want a large, clear space underneath. It makes them a great option if you're looking to hold your ceremony in the tent, as it won't be obstructed at all.
Frame tents are also a good option for different ground types. If you're looking to use a concrete or decked space, you don't have to worry about staking it down. Instead, you can weigh it down, making it perfect for these spaces. You can still stake the tent down if the option is available to you, so you have a lot of choices with a frame tent.
Consider The Weather
Next, think about the weather during the wedding day. Of course, you can't predict what will happen, but you can have a good idea of what it will be like. If the wedding is during the height of summer, then you'll have to contend with high temperatures. If it's during the fall, you could be looking at rain coming in on the day. What are you going to do to combat this?
There are lots of ways you can weather proof your marquee tent during the day. Firstly, you have the option of heating or air conditioning the tent. When talking to a marquee tent supplier, ask whether they can supply this equipment to go with your tent. This will help you keep the tent at a comfortable temperature, no matter what.
There are other accessories you can rent to help keep the weather out, too. Walls for your tent are designed to keep water and wind out, so you won't have to worry about rain being blown into your tent. You can also invest in flooring that's grooved, to allow water to run down top the ground instead of sitting on the floor. This is great for safety too, as it will stop slipping hazards.
If you're concerned about rain or snow, then consider using tenting to create a 'corridor' between a building and your tent. This will keep people warm and dry as they make their way to your wedding tent. It will also stop rain and snow making it into the venue, too.
Think About Decorations
Now you've covered all the practical aspects of marquee wedding planning, you can start thinking about how you'll decorate. Wedding tents offer a great blank canvas to any couple. You can really make your mark on the tent and make it your own.
A good place to start is with your lighting. There are lots of options for lighting your tent. You can go with string lights as mentioned above, as they can be put almost anywhere. LED tea lights lend a romantic atmosphere, and lanterns are a fantastic way of pooling light in important areas.
You can also bring the outside in with a tent. If you've picked a clear top tent, which shows you the outdoors, it's the perfect way to create a garden feel in your wedding venue. Pile greenery on the tables, along the roof, and anywhere else you want to put it.
You can also look into bringing in unusual furniture. Many wedding guests love full sofas in a relaxing corner of the tent. It allows those who aren't into dancing a place to go and chill out when they need to. They also give the tent a real luxurious feel.
With these tips, you'll be able to create the wedding tent that's perfect for you. Know what you can do at your venue, and pick your tent based on your needs and surroundings. Keep the weather in mind, and take advantage of the blank canvas to decorate however you want.