marquee magic

The wedding venue that has everything except walls!

For some couples, their ideal wedding venue may have one major drawback – it simply isn’t big enough. Historic venues such as castles and stately homes often combat this by offering the use of a marquee. If you don’t like the idea of a hotel wedding package and would prefer to be more in control, then a marquee could be heaven sent. You get to choose everything that would normally be already decided: your location, how it will be decorated, you can hire your own caterers and create a unique ambience that reflects your wedding and no one else’s. An independent marquee company can set up a fixture anywhere, within reason, from the side of a loch to one that's attached to another building. Many companies don’t even need a completely flat bit of land! If you want a countryside marquee, it doesn’t mean going rustic either – from posh seats to luxury loos, the idea is to provide a prestigious venue anywhere. In short, marquees offer a great deal of flexibility and make a celebration genuinely different. Above all, it’s the atmosphere that can be unique; whether it’s a gorgeous summer’s evening where the indoors meets the outdoors, or a warm cosy winter theme, your private wedding space can be very special.

Marquee Myths

Despite the obvious advantages, there are some common misconceptions about throwing your event in a marquee – whether it’s part of the wedding venue itself, or a stand-alone venue. Here we tackle a few of them!

Myth 1. They’re expensive
Well, how much would you normally pay for a wedding venue? If it’s part of a venue package – such as part of a castle – it will be all-inclusive. As an independent entity, a marquee package will include day before set-up, take down, electricity and often heating, which is much more labour-intensive for their staff than a hotel function suite. In fact, the budget for a marquee is more controllable, as you get to choose what size you want and how many extras you’d like, such as a separate space for the caterers or a relaxation area, chandeliers or uplighters. An independent marquee is as affordable as you need it to be.

Myth 2. They’re complicated to set up and organise
Marquees have come a long way since the 1950s’ image of village fêtes! Forget guy ropes and soggy grass, and think steel poles and raised polished wooden floors instead. The modern marquee is remarkably easy to construct, strong as a house and most importantly, the marquee company will do all the work for you. If you have a favourite spot where you’d like your marquee to appear, any good company will get permission from the relevant authorities. All you have to worry about is decorating it – and part of that is even done for you, as many packages offer different valance covers inside the marquee, swags that drape beautifully and various decorative options, including the fabulous ‘stars at night’ lighting on the ceiling. Bliss!

Myth 3. You have to have good weather for them
If the marquee is a professional one, it will be made from a fabric technically designed to withstand wind, rain and most other things the Scottish weather can throw at it. If you have a raised floor, dampness won’t be a problem – marquees are fabricated today for all weathers, and can even give a grey day the illusion of light. Actually, changeable weather suits a marquee perfectly, as it can adapt to its surroundings. The sun’s out? Great, we can take some of the walls away!

Top Marquee Tips

• A marquee company can give you an idea of hire size if you know how many guests you want to seat
• A professional company can deal with most of the logistics, such as set up and take down
• By all means shop around, but ensure that the company you hire is reliable with a good quality, modern product
• Options can include anything from covered walkways to toilets and extra rooms
• Consult with a catering company if you’re booking a marquee to find out their requirements