jo July 17, 2022
jo Planning a marquee wedding in the UK offers a beautiful, blank canvas to create a day that’s truly personal. Whether you’re dreaming of a countryside celebration, a festival-style party, or a garden wedding at home, marquees give you the flexibility to bring your vision to life. But with that freedom comes responsibility, and a lot of logistics.
To help you stay on top of it all, we’ve created the ultimate marquee wedding planning checklist for UK couples. Use this guide to plan with confidence and ensure your day runs smoothly from start to finish.
✔️ Find the Right Location
Whether it’s your family’s garden, a private field or a dry hire venue, your marquee site needs to be accessible, flat, and spacious enough to host your wedding comfortably. Don’t forget space for catering tents, loos, and supplier vehicles!
✔️ Set Your Budget
Marquee weddings can be as cost-effective or high-end as you like, but they often involve hidden extras. Factor in everything — from power supply and flooring to lighting, furniture, and loos.
✔️ Hire a Specialist Marquee Wedding Planner
A marquee wedding planning checklist is a great start, but a planner with marquee experience will be invaluable. From mapping out your layout to managing deliveries and power needs, they’ll ensure nothing is missed.
🏗️ Marquee Wedding Setup Essentials
✔️ Choose Your Marquee Style
From traditional pole tents and clear span structures to tipis and sailcloth marquees — the choice is yours. Think about the look you want and how it fits with your landscape, weather plan, and guest count.
✔️ Flooring & Weather Protection
In the UK, a weather plan is essential. Add flooring (wood, carpet or matting), heating (if needed), and clear sides or entrance porches to keep guests comfortable.
✔️ Power & Lighting
You’ll likely need a generator — especially if your site has no power supply. Work with your planner or marquee company to calculate your energy needs for catering, lighting, sound, and loos.
✔️ Toilets & Waste Disposal
Luxury portable loos are a must for guest comfort — and make sure you plan for waste collection after the event.
🎉 Guest Experience & Styling
✔️ Tables, Chairs & Layout
Marquees need a full furniture plan. Think dining tables, chairs, a top table, lounge areas, and a dancefloor. Your layout should allow good flow between each space.
✔️ Catering Equipment & Access
Check your caterer’s needs. Will they bring a catering tent? Do they need a prep area or water access? Ensure it’s factored into your site plan.
✔️ Bar & Drinks Stations
Will you hire a staffed bar, go DIY, or use a mobile bar service? All options are possible — just make sure there’s enough fridge space and access to water and ice.
✔️ Décor, Florals & Lighting
With a blank canvas, your styling can shine. Add overhead florals, statement lighting, personalised signage and creative touches that reflect your personalities.
🕰️ Timeline & Coordination
✔️ Create a Clear Wedding Day Timeline
A marquee wedding requires military-level timing. List all your supplier arrival times, setup plans, ceremony and reception schedule, and clear-up plans for the following day.
✔️ Assign a Coordinator
A wedding coordinator (like One Curious Dream!) can take the reins on the day — greeting suppliers, managing timing, and fixing any hiccups — so you can focus on celebrating.
✔️ Sound, Music & Noise Limits
Check local noise restrictions and communicate them with your band or DJ. You might need a sound limiter or curfew in place.
🌿 Post-Wedding Practicalities
✔️ Plan for Clear-Up
Many marquee weddings require the site to be cleared within 24–48 hours. Coordinate with suppliers, or hire a team to manage the breakdown and rubbish removal.
✔️ Check Insurance & Permissions
Get wedding insurance and ensure the landowner is happy with your plans. If using private land, you may need permission or even a temporary event notice.
Final Thoughts: Your Marquee Wedding, Made Easy
Planning a marquee wedding is exciting but complex — and this marquee wedding planning checklist is just the beginning. From power to porta-loos, it’s the behind-the-scenes planning that makes the magic happen.
At One Curious Dream, we specialise in planning and coordinating marquee weddings across the UK. Whether you’re getting married in a family garden or a rural estate, we’re here to make your vision come to life — smoothly, stylishly and stress-free.
✨ Need help with your marquee wedding?
We’d love to support you. Get in touch with One Curious Dream to discuss your plans and see how we can help bring your marquee wedding to life.
You can reach me at [email protected] or 0800 772 0765.
Why not keep up with all things behind the scenes at One Curious Dream on Instagram, where you’ll find lots of wedding inspiration and ideas?