Budgeting for a Marquee Wedding

How much does a marquee wedding cost? How much does it cost to hire a marquee for my wedding at home? I am asked these questions all the time in consultation calls with my couples and the answer is ‘it depends’ and I know how frustrating that answer is! However it really does depend on many factors.

Marquee weddings are often thought to be more cost effective than hiring a wedding venue space however it’s important to remember that you are building a complete venue from nothing for up to a few hundred people to spend a day in eating, drinking and dancing.

I would always recommend that you hire a professional wedding planner who has experience in planning marquee weddings, they will be able to not only help with styling the space, aligning the suppliers and logistics but importantly be able to advise you of a realistic budget and help you stick to it.

What is the cost of marquee hire

When you begin to get quotes from marquee companies you are going to need to know your expected guest numbers as a minimum as this will effect the size of marquee you need. The type of marquee that you hire for your wedding is also going to depend on the requirements of your guests, wedding day and stylistic finish, for more information on types of marquees head to this link.

In 2023, for a traditional pole tent marquee for 80 guests in England you could be quoted roughly between £7,000 - £13,000. The items included (eg; furniture & generator), the supplier you choose, the size you choose, your dance floor and lighting requirements could all affect this quote. A clear span marquee is likely to produce higher quotes, especially if the base and flooring need to be built bespoke to your uneven grounds.

Remember to factor in chairs, tables, tableware, catering equipment and decor items into your wedding budget.

What to look for on your marquee hire quote

Hiring a Wedding Planning professional is really the best gift you can give yourself when planning a marquee wedding, often we can save you money with our industry knowledge, practical experience and negotiating skills.

However, there are three big items which I would recommend checking on your marquee quote. Number one is the generator(s), which is an absolute must have! Some marquee companies will hire generators and others will ask you to source them yourself, you’ll need to know the power requirements of all your suppliers for this.

You will also need to ensure that a catering tent is included on your quote and communicate with your marquee hire company and caterer on the size, power, furniture and tunnel joining requirements.

Lastly a on the day marquee assistant, this is an expense which isn’t always built into a couples budget but should always be considered incase of generator or marquee problems on the day of your wedding, and even just to help put the marquee sides up or down and move furniture.

*Bonus reminder - Do you need to hire toilets units & where will they be placed in the space?