A Comprehensive Guide to Hiring a Marquee for Your Irish Wedding

If you’re planning a wedding, and require a marquee, you've come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential considerations when booking a marquee for your wedding.

A marquee wedding offers a unique and versatile way to create a stunning atmosphere for your special day. Whether you're dreaming of an elegant garden gathering, a laid-back boho event, or a sophisticated affair, a marquee serves as the perfect foundation to shape your celebration. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about renting a marquee for your Irish wedding, from selecting the ideal structure to picking out key furnishings and equipment.

Why Choose a Marquee Wedding?

The unpredictable nature of Irish weather can be a challenge for weddings, but marquees provide the ideal remedy. They offer the best of both worlds: the beauty of an outdoor venue with the security of a sheltered space. With a marquee, you have the flexibility to choose a meaningful location, whether it’s your family’s garden, a picturesque estate, or a stunning seaside spot.

Choose Your Date

Start by selecting your event date. Keep in mind that peak periods for marquee events are typically from May to September, with Fridays, Saturdays, and bank holidays being the most popular choices and events such as weddings and communions at a high. Securing your date early is vital, as availability can fill up quickly.

Finding the Perfect Site

Your choice of location for your marquee is critical. We recommend that you arrange a site visit with your marquee provider to assess the site's suitability. A key factor in choosing a site is ensuring that the site is level and has easy access for trucks and proximity to power sources. If you're not hosting the event at your own property, you may need to arrange a private hire site.

What Type of Marquee is Right for Your Wedding?

Frame Marquees: 

• Ideal for smaller spaces, they have no inner poles for unobstructed views. 
• Ideal for all weather conditions and uneven terrain.
• Offer clear spans without internal poles, maximizing space. 
• Works well with structured decor theme

Traditional Pole Marquees: 

• Characterized by curved tops and inner poles.
• This type of marquee requires more space around it.
• Perfect for a vintage or rustic aesthetic. 
• Best suited to flat, even ground. 
• Features elegant peaks and swooping lines.

Clear Span Marquees

• Offer panoramic views with clear walls and ceilings.
• Great for showcasing scenic locations. 
• Create a spacious, modern look.

Stretch Tents:

Flexible and eye-catching. These are suitable for various surfaces.

Chinese Hat Marquees:

Pointy-topped tents for smaller parties or as porches.

Furnishing Your Marquee

Once you've selected the perfect marquee, it's time to outfit it with furniture and decor that reflect the style of your wedding.

Tables and Chairs: 

Opt for long banquet tables for a more formal vibe or round tables for a contemporary feel. Enhance the elegance with Chiavari chairs, cross-back chairs, or plush seating.
Lounge Areas

Add comfort and charm by creating relaxed seating areas with sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables, giving your guests a place to unwind.

Lighting

Chandeliers, twinkling fairy lights, and uplighters can instantly change the atmosphere, making the marquee feel cosy and inviting.

For a rustic or nature-inspired theme, lanterns or festoon lights are perfect for adding warmth and character.

Flooring
Wooden floors or carpeting will not only protect your guests' shoes but also add a touch of sophistication to the space.

A dance floor is a must for the celebration, with options ranging from classic parquet to modern LED-lit floors, adding an extra dash of excitement to the party.

Catering Equipment

Whether you're planning a formal sit-down dinner or a casual buffet, investing in top-notch catering equipment is essential for ensuring a seamless dining experience.

Tableware

Crockery, Glassware, and Cutlery: Ensure you have a healthy supply of crockery, cutlery and glassware, which can be hired from catering hire companies like Caterhire.ie! Choose options with a touch of luxury, such as gold-rimmed plates or intricately patterned china, to add refinement.

Cooking Equipment

For marquee events, mobile ovens, hot plates, and refrigeration units are vital to support your catering team in preparing and serving food efficiently.

Serving Stations

Enhance your event by incorporating bar units or dessert tables that complement your overall theme, creating a cohesive and stylish atmosphere for guests to enjoy.

Bar and Accessories

Set up a bar area with fridges and accessories to serve beverages to attendees.

Climate Control

Given the unpredictable nature of Irish weather, it’s important to ensure your guests remain comfortable throughout the event.

• Heating: Portable heaters are a great way to keep everyone warm during cooler evenings, ensuring a cosy atmosphere.
• Cooling: For warmer months, fans or air conditioning units can help maintain a comfortable temperature and provide much-needed airflow. 
• Toilets: High-quality portable toilets are a must to ensure convenience and maintain the elegance of your event, providing guests with a comfortable and luxurious experience.

Personalising Your Marquee with Decor

To make your marquee unique, consider these elements:

Lighting, Centerpieces, Flowers, and Candles

Create the perfect ambiance with your choice of lighting, elegant draping, eye-catching centerpieces, fresh flowers, and warm candlelight.

Unique Features

If you want to add elements such as a cake display table, a lounge area, or outdoor seating, design the space accordingly and prepare your order for hire. Incorporate custom signage, monograms, or photo displays to make the space uniquely yours.

Transforming Your Venue

Marquees are blank canvas for creativity! You can choose contemporary or traditional linings for the walls and roof, opt for luxury linens and select elegant chairs or chair coverings.

Key Questions to Ask

What’s Your Budget and What About Insurance? 

Carefully review the terms and conditions provided by your marquee hire company to understand the financial aspects. This will help you to understand who is responsible for what. 

What Does Your Marquee Interior Look Like?

 Discuss interiors with your marquee provider, as they can help to set the atmosphere of your event. Pay attention to style, colour, and design elements to match your event theme or preferred colour scheme. 

Can Your Marquee Accommodate Catering? 

Consider whether catering can be accommodated inside the main marquee. If not, a separate catering marquee can provide food service, keeping the main marquee fuss-free. 

Will Electricity Be Provided by the Marquee Supplier? 

Ensure your marquee provider can supply and set up a generator if needed. Electricians must handle this to ensure safety and meet your power requirements. 

Are There Toilet Facilities Onsite?

If your site lacks toilet facilities, calculate the number of toilets required (usually you will need one toilet for every 100 guests) and include this in the budget.

Is Plumbing Required? 

For water supply to catering and toilets, plumbing is essential. Check if your marquee provider can organise a plumber if this is necessary.

How Much is A Marquee to Hire?

The cost of a marquee will largely depend on its size and each individual provider. This brings us to our next question…

How Many Guests Are Expected to Attend?

The size of the marquee will depend on the number of guests attending. Discuss your expected guest count with your marquee hire provider. Consider that it’s always better to have a little too much room than too little.

How Big Should the Marquee Be?

• Seated Dinner: Allow a minimum of 15 square feet per person.
• Buffet Event: Allow a minimum of 8 square feet per person.
• Additional Space: Factor in room for a dance floor, bar, stage for a band, or other extras.
• Consult with your marquee provider for exact measurements.

Wedding Coordinator/Event Planner

Coordinate logistics on your wedding day/event day. Your caterer may offer on-the-day coordination services, or you can hire a wedding planner, event planner or stylist to manage the finer details.

Miscellaneous

• Don’t forget any extras such as cleaning up/parking/security/umbrellas if required!

Why Hire From CaterHire?

At Caterhire, we are experts in marquee weddings, offering a comprehensive range of services to make your day unforgettable. We provide:

• A diverse selection of tables, chairs, and tableware to match any theme or style.
• All the essential catering equipment to ensure flawless food service throughout the event.
• Special finishing touches, including bar units, lounge furniture, and decor elements that bring your vision to life.
• Our experienced team is dedicated to assisting you with every detail, ensuring your wedding day goes off without a hitch.

Opting for a marquee wedding allows you to design a completely personalized celebration. Whether you're dreaming of an extravagant event or a more intimate affair, the options are limitless. Begin planning your perfect day today!

For more inspiration and professional guidance, visit CaterHire’s full range of products and services at CaterHire.ie.

Enjoy the event planning journey and create unforgettable memories with Caterhire! Have a question? Contact us at 01 294 3111 or info@caterhire.ie where our team will with any queries you may have. CaterHire: Ireland’s leading Event & Party Hire Specialist.