Complete Guide to Hiring a Marquee for Your Wedding

Why choose a marquee wedding?

A marquee wedding gives you something no fixed venue can: complete control over the space. You choose the location, the layout, the capacity, and the look. Whether it's your parents' garden, a farmer's field, or a country estate, the marquee becomes whatever you want it to be.

The trade-off is logistics. A venue comes ready-made. A marquee wedding means you're essentially building a temporary venue from scratch — structure, flooring, power, lighting, toilets, catering facilities, furniture. That's more work but also more freedom.

Choosing the right type

The type of marquee sets the tone for your entire day. Here's a quick guide:

How much does a wedding marquee cost?

Structure-only hire for 100 guests typically costs £700 to £6,000 depending on the type. An all-inclusive wedding setup with flooring, lighting, heating, furniture, dance floor and toilets usually lands between £8,000 and £15,000. London and the South East are 20-30% more expensive than the rest of the UK.

The biggest mistake couples make is budgeting for the marquee alone. The structure is typically 30-40% of the total cost. Flooring, lighting, heating, furniture, generators, and luxury toilets can double or triple the base price.

See our full marquee hire cost guide for detailed pricing by type and region.

What size do you need?

The general rule: allow 8-10 square feet per seated guest (including tables and chairs) and 6 square feet per standing guest. A 100-guest seated wedding needs approximately 9m x 15m (135 sqm). Add 20% if you want a separate dance floor or stage area.

When to book

For a summer wedding (May to September), book your marquee 9 to 12 months ahead. Popular suppliers fill their peak-season Saturdays early. For off-peak weddings or midweek events, 3 to 6 months is usually enough.

Book your marquee before finalising catering. The caterer needs to know the layout, power supply, and kitchen facilities available in the marquee. Getting these the wrong way round causes problems.

Questions to ask your supplier

• What exactly is included in the quoted price? Structure only, or flooring/lighting/furniture too?
• Do you do a free site visit? (Most suppliers do within their service area.)
• What happens if it rains? Is the structure wind-rated and waterproof?
• What ground conditions do you need? Can you set up on a slope?
• Do you provide power, or do I need a separate generator hire?
• What's your cancellation policy?
• How long does setup and takedown take? When do you need access?
• Do you have public liability insurance?
• Can I see photos of similar setups you've done?

Common mistakes to avoid