All You Need to Know about Hiring Marquees in Ireland

If you’re planning a wedding, party or event where a marquee is required, you’ve come to the right place! Here at Caterhire, we understand the importance of every detail to make your special day perfect. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential considerations when booking a marquee for your event.

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.

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.

What Type of Marquee is Right for Your Event?

Frame Marquees: 

Ideal for smaller spaces, they have no inner poles for unobstructed views. They’re available in two ranges:

• Solid Side Marquees: Robust and versatile with various sizes.
• Soft Side Marquees: Clear span aluminium modular structures with PVC exterior.

Traditional Marquees: 

Characterized by curved tops and inner poles. This type of marquee requires more space around it.

Stretch Tents:

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

Chinese Hat Marquees:

Pointy-topped tents for smaller parties or as porches.

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.

Is Lighting and Heating Provided?

Many marquee providers offer heating and lighting options to control temperature and create the desired ambiance. Consider weather conditions when choosing.

What Décor Do You Want/Envision?

Personalise your marquee with decor elements like lighting, colour schemes, table covers, and chair covers. Let your creativity shine through to make your event unique. You can work with natural light or hire artificial lighting to create the desired ambiance.

Catering and Furniture Requirements

In addition to setting up a catering tent for kitchen equipment, consider the following essentials to furnish your marquee:

• Catering Equipment: This includes cooking appliances, refrigeration units, and sinks.
• Tables: Rent trestle tables or banquet tables in various shapes, such as round or rectangular, to accommodate your guests.
• Chairs: Choose wedding chairs that match the theme or colour scheme of your event, ranging from basic Chivari chairs to luxurious Chameleon chairs.
• Linens: Select your choice of table linens in white or coloured options to complement your chosen décor.
• 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!
• Dance Floor: Create a space for dancing by hiring a dance floor. Here at Caterhire, we offer a range of dance floors to suit all themes and colour schemes!
• Bar and Accessories: Set up a bar area with fridges and accessories to serve beverages to attendees.
• Couches and Tables: Consider providing comfortable seating areas with our sofas and tables for your guests, especially for the period after wedding receptions.

Personalising Your Marquee

To make your marquee unique, consider these elements:

• Lighting, Centerpieces, Flowers, and Candles: Create the perfect ambiance with your choie 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.
• 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. Consider consulting a specialty events hire company like Caterhire, where we specialise in wedding marquee fit-outs and bring your vision to life!

By paying attention to these additional considerations, you can create a marquee space that not only meets your practical needs but also reflects your style and transforms your venue.

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!

Expect some discolouration to the grass, but most marquees are in place for a short period, allowing the grass to recover quickly. Discuss any obstacles like ponds or trees with your marquee provider, as they can be discreetly included in the setup.

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.