Marquees are a very popular choice of “venue” for many events including weddings, parties, luncheons and more. They are very versatile, allowing you to host your event pretty much anywhere you like, no matter the weather. They can prove to be a more affordable option than hiring out a restaurant, bar or hotel function room too. If you are considering hiring a marquee, there are 5 questions which you need to put to the hiring company before committing yourself to a booking.

1. What size marquee would I need to cater for my event?

The last thing you need is to hire a marquee and find that your guests feel cramped and squashed, and in turn end up spilling out onto your lawn. Equally, you don’t want to find yourself splashing out for a marquee that is far too big for the amount of guests you intend on inviting. Provide a marquee hire company with an idea of the number of guests you intend on hosting, along with details of catering, entertainment or amenities which may occupy space in the marquee. An experienced marquee hire company should be able to then recommend the most appropriate size marquee to suit your requirements.

2. What exactly is included in the package?

You don’t want to agree for a price for marquee hire only to then discover that flooring, lighting, heating, covers and other necessary elements are charged additionally. Tell the marquee company exactly what you require, not only in terms of marquee size, but in terms of power, lighting, heating, toilet amenities, flooring, dance floor space, seating and other elements. You may decide that it is more cost effective to hire the whole lot together as a package or perhaps to arrange some facilities separately yourself.

3. Do you have appropriate insurance?

You need to be clear before hiring a marquee where the liability lies should anything go wrong. If anything should get damaged or if the marquee turns out to be faulty, you need to know that the marquee hire company is insured against such occurrences.

4. How long will I have the marquee for?

Some marquee companies may provide and set-up your marquee a day or two in advance of your event as part of your package. Others may not allow for the marquee to be set-up until the day of the event itself. If you need the marquee for a little while the following day after an event, as is often the case with weddings, are they okay to wait two days before pick-up? You don’t want a marquee occupying your garden space for a week either so you must be sure before committing to hiring a marquee that you are fully aware of what date it will be set-up and what date it will be picked up again. This will be crucial to your planning of the event too.

5. Is my property suitable?

Before taking a deposit, a marquee hire company should inspect the site on which you intending on placing the marquee in. Issues such as uneven ground, unavailability of appropriate power sources and site dimensions can easily be identified from a site inspection. Such issues may require the purchase of additional extras so it is important that a site inspection takes place before any price is agreed or any money is handed over.

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/churchillmarquees/5703859444/”>Churchill Marquees</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/”>cc</a>

Planning a party can be a daunting task, because you have to make sure that everything is in place and perfect on the day/night. Private parties can range from a small get together to a bigger once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Whatever the reason for your party, you most definitely will want it to be a success. Following these simple tips can be a big help when planning a private party.

Know who you are Inviting

It is good to know in advance the amount of guests you will be inviting. The amount of guests gives you the starting point to getting a venue and buying adequate food. If you are considering sending invitations, try to send them as early as possible and it is a good idea to include an RSVP option, as this will help you to know who will be attending.

Book your Venue

So, you now know how many guests you have attending your party, now you have to search for the venue. Hosting your party at home, if you have few guests and the right amount of room, can be very convenient and cost effective. If you need to hire a venue, they require you to know the amount of people attending as they may have limitations on the number of people that they can cater for. You could consider an outdoor space for more privacy, if the weather allows. Marquee hire is a very popular and wise choice when hosting an outdoor party :).

Food

This can be anything from a buffet to a sit-down meal. The venue may offer you the food at an extra cost, depending on the place you have hired. Other venues may want you to purchase your own food from another source. If you are having your party at home, you could buy finger food and cook it yourself to save money. The important thing to remember is to provide enough food that will suit many people’s tastes and dietary requirements.

Music/Theme

Music or entertainment can be a great way to get everyone in the party mood. Many people choose a good DJ or a Band for a party. Entertainment can be anything from a magician, dancers, fire breathers, comedians to even clowns. These can be a popular choice for parties such as kids birthdays or weddings.
Often a theme can be an imaginative way for everyone to get involved in the party. Popular themes include 70’s, Disney, Black and White, Hollywood Glamour, Movie Night, Superhero’s etc.

Decide on a Budget

When planning any party a budget is very important. Decide on how much you would like to spend and stick to it. A good thing to do is write down what you want to spend on each area and spend only that amount.

Enjoy your Party

Remember you can only do so much planning but after that it is out of your hands. Go to your party and just relax, enjoy the day/night and have fun with friends and family who are there.

The above are only a few tips to planning your party, and following them will ensure that you’re well on your way to planning that perfect party. When all planning is complete you can look forward to having a brilliant time with all your friends and family!

Corporate events are an integral part of business and serve to leave a positive and lasting impression of your company on both your existing and potential customers and clients. Every company wants their corporate event to be memorable, impressive and fun even – and they can be! You can enhance the image and reputation of your company by organising a professional and unforgettable corporate event. Planning a corporate event calls for different requirements depending on the time of year it’s held, the venue you choose and the food you would like to serve. A winter event will be organised differently to one that is planned for the long days of summer time. If you are responsible for organising and planning a corporate event this summer, follow these tips to ensure that your corporate event is the talk of the town for all the right reasons.

1.       Consider hiring a marquee

Hiring a marquee can provide the ideal solution for a corporate event planned for the summer. As everybody knows, heat and humidity or a deluge of rain can threaten to sabotage your event in the summertime. Therefore, a marquee can provide the comfort you require for your potential clients and customers while offering a large and comfortable environment and also providing shelter at the same time. Marquees come in all shapes and sizes from traditional marquees to more elaborate and secure types of marquees. There is something to suit all corporate events including covered walkways between smaller marquees and high quality toileting arrangements for your guests. Marquees can be decorated as you wish with a wide selection of furniture, accessories, linings and décor. Marquees are very user friendly with plenty of space in which to cater for all comforts including carpeting, ambient lighting, level and stable flooring and some are even climatically controllable. Whether you are coordinating an exhibition, conference, promotion or product launch for your guests, you can be sure that a marquee will address your needs perfectly.

2.       Choose your catering wisely

In summertime, you have several options with regard to the food you serve at your corporate events. Foods such as a wide selection finger foods, cold meats and salad buffets are all good choices. You can also consider a barbeque which is a firm favourite with many.

3.       Select high quality entertainment

During the summer, spirits are high and people are generally cheery and exuberant so you will need to provide entertainment to coincide with the mood, but be careful as you do not want it to detract from your event. A professional DJ or good quality band is always a great choice to keep the mood high and your guests entertained.

4.       Consider using a theme

While some would argue against a theme, there are many who believe that a thematically inspired corporate event is the most memorable and successful. For summertime, choose from themes such as a Garden Party theme, Country Summer Party theme, Beach inspired event or Summer Cocktail event. Alternatively, a theme organised around your company brand or product is also an effective way of leaving a lasting impression on your guests.
photo credit: D.Clow – Maryland via photopin cc

Planning a wedding is no easy task. There are so many things that have to be organised; from hiring a venue and accommodation for your guests, deciding on a vehicle to drive you to and from the ceremony, right down to getting the best table decorations. If your wedding is to be held outside then you are going to need a marquee.

Below is a list of five things to ask yourself when thinking about hiring a marquee for your wedding.

How much will it cost?

Unless you are very wealthy you are probably going to have a budget for your wedding. Hiring a marquee can be very expensive so knowing how much you have to spend before you start researching them is going to save you a lot of time and heartache. Another thing to consider when budgeting for the marquee is what are you going to fill it with? You will want to take into account the cost of tables, chairs and decorations as well as the catering and bar services.

Where is your wedding going to be held?

When using a marquee for a wedding you are no longer restricted to village halls or stately homes – you can get creative with your venue, as all you need is a patch of land. Look around your local area and think about where you want to hold your perfect wedding. Parks, castle grounds and even farms could all be hired. Just make sure you think about access and parking as well as getting permission from the landowner.

When do you need the marquee?

You are going to want to know the date of your wedding (obviously). Marquee hire companies can become inundated with bookings during the summer months so you may need to make a decision on a marquee and book it well in advance of the wedding date. Don’t leave it until the last minute, look to book your marquee at least six months before the big day.

What size of marquee do you need?

This is going to go back to your budget and how big a marquee you can afford to get. More importantly, it needs to be big enough to hold all of your guests, tables, catering and bar equipment and maybe even a DJ or band and dance floor.

What power requirements do I need?

You are going to want power inside your marquee. The catering and bar staff will need it for various things; it will be needed for lighting inside the tent and for the music too. A marquee hire company will probably provide power at an additional cost but it is best to ask them and make sure.

Everybody wants his/her wedding to be perfect and a marquee plays a huge part in making this possible. Getting the right style and size of marquee is so important when it comes to giving yourself and your guests the best wedding experience possible. Hopefully this list will help you, your family and your guests to have a very memorable and special day.

Planning a party can be a daunting prospect, especially if you’re the unorganised type. Finding a suitable venue, organising the food and booking some fitting entertainment – there can seem like there is an endless list of tasks to get through before the big event. However true this may be for a regular party, this is especially the case when planning a party in an outdoor marquee.

Follow our top 10 party planning tips for a successful outdoor marquee party to make the process a whole lot simpler!

1.       Plan Ahead

Planning any party takes a lot of hard work, but the best parties are the ones where a little effort has been made. Therefore, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to plan and organise your party to how you want it.

2.       Set a Theme

Every good party has a theme that allows the organiser to get creative with other elements of the party including the invitations, décor, favours etc. Depending on the type of celebration, you can choose an appropriate theme that will tie all elements of the event together.

3.       Choose a Marquee Style

You should consider the style of marquee that you will need to adequately and comfortably accommodate the number of guests you are expecting to attend. You can choose from simple, rectangular marquees to larger more ornate marquees with peaked ceilings.

4.       Be creative with your décor

The party décor will set the mood and with an outdoor marquee, there are plenty of options with regard to how you decorate the available space. You can use candles, balloons, drapes and lots more to decorate the marquee and give it that party feel!

5.       Organise Toilet Facilities

With an outdoor marquee, you have to ensure that you have adequate toilet facilities for your guests. Whether you choose to use your own home toileting facilities or choose to hire a portaloo for the day, don’t forget this very important consideration!

6.       Tables and Seating

Ensure that you have adequate tables and seating in your marquee for your guests. You can pick from banqueting tables to round or square individual tables. An adequate number of chairs should be available to give your guests the opportunity to rest when they need to.

7.       Choose a band or DJ

Entertainment is key to any successful party and in an outdoor marquee; you will be able to accommodate either a band or a DJ. Either option will ensure that your guests are up and dancing the night away.

8.       Lighting

The lighting at your party can go a long way to creating the right ambience. Whether you decide to opt for candlelight or disco balls, make sure the lighting reflects the overall mood of the party.

9.       Food

Ensure that you choose high quality food and plenty of it as there is nothing more disastrous than running out of food at a party! An outdoor marquee affords you plenty of options when it comes to food in that you can have a sit down meal or a buffet-style spread.

10.   Relax and Mingle!

After all your hard work, remember to mingle and chat with your guests and enjoy the party that you’ve worked so hard on organising!

A party in an outdoor marquee is a unique way to make any party memorable and unforgettable – for all the right reasons!

As more and more people are now looking to other types of venues to hold events and celebrations, marquee parties are becoming a very popular option for many different reasons. Marquees are now being used to celebrate weddings, anniversary festivities and birthday parties as well as holding charity events and corporate functions. A marquee looks very impressive and is especially outstandingly striking when decorated appropriately and tastefully.

As there are a multitude of options available to you, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing décor for your marquee. To give you some inspiration, we have put together our top 4 marquee party décor ideas!

1. Lighting

One of the best ways to create an ambience for your marquee event is to select the correct lighting. For an elegant or romantic feel, candlelight is a good option. Candelabras placed around the marquee as well as tea lights sitting in some attractive holders on tables will create a beautiful ambience. Uplighters placed strategically around the marquee also produce a wonderful visual effect while providing necessary lighting at the same time. If you are using drapes in your décor design, why not secure a black drape to the ceiling of the marquee and place strings of LED lights running across them to create a sort of ‘night sky’ effect? The resulting effect is quite magical!

2. Drapes

The use of drapes to decorate a marquee is a fantastic way to create a soft and beautiful effect. You can choose from any number of colours, however, if you have a theme in mind for your event, try to complement the colours of your drapes to that theme. For example, if you are having a black-tie event then black, white and silver drapes would best complement your theme. You can also choose marquee linings that are attached to the interior of the marquee to give it a very elegant and classy feel. These marquee linings can also be complemented with matching swags or bunting.

3. Balloons

Balloons can be tastefully arranged around your marquee to really give it that party feel. Helium balloon bouquets placed around the general area are a great way to decorate the space and again, remember to tie the colour of the balloons in with your overall theme or event type. Balloon columns and balloon arches are also other popular features of marquee party décor that look equally as impressive.

4. Celling decorations

Hanging some attractive decorations from the ceiling of your marquee is a great way to decorate that open space, especially if your marquee is quite big. An innovative way of creating a stunningly decorative effect is to hang coloured rice paper lanterns at varying heights around your marquee. Alternatively, for a similarly striking effect, you can hang large pompoms that are made from tissue paper, fabric or tulle from the ceiling.

A tastefully decorated marquee will add that little extra wow-factor to your party. With a little bit of inspiration and creativity, you can transform a mundane and uninteresting-looking marquee into a wonderful space that both you and your guests can relax in and enjoy.

When it comes to choosing an all-important wedding venue, marquees are fast becoming an increasingly popular option for brides and grooms all over the country. Gone are the days when a marquee wedding meant a damp and breezy tent-like structure with a few tables and chairs. Nowadays, a wedding marquee is almost a semi-permanent structure with proper floors, décor and facilities. If you are considering hiring a marquee for your wedding venue, here are some reasons why these fantastic structures make such awesome wedding venues:

Choice of location

A marquee can be set up anywhere, and easily and quickly too. Whether you would like your wedding venue to be in your parent’s garden, your own back yard or on the grounds of a country residence, vineyard, field or paddock, the choice is completely yours and your chosen location will only add to the wow factor of your marquee.

Personal touch

A marquee is essentially a blank canvas on which you and your partner can impart your own senses of style and flair. As well as a choice of marquee structure, you can have the interior of your chosen marquee personalised to your own tastes. So whether you have always dreamed of a fairy-tale themed wedding, a black tie affair or a woodland themed wedding – anything is possible with a marquee. Floors can be installed, interior linings can be provided and all types of lighting can be fitted to create the desired effect that you are looking for. In addition, all sorts of little handmade touches can be added which may not be possible in a hotel or country house.

Unique

A marquee wedding is definitely a unique option for brides and grooms and gives them the opportunity to host a wedding reception that is memorable and unforgettable, and for all the right reasons too! Traditionally, many weddings are held in hotels or country houses and so opting for a marquee is a departure from the norm. Furthermore, they give couples the opportunity to mix and match their individual styles to create a truly unique and extra-special wedding venue.

Budget-friendly

Depending on the type of wedding package you choose, a marquee can be a very budget-friendly choice as a wedding venue. This is especially the case if you are having a large wedding and hotel prices are causing you concern! It is possible to choose a simple marquee for a very good hire price and then look after the décor yourself or enlist the help of some arty and creative friends to do it for you. In this way, you’ll have a unique wedding venue at a fraction of the cost of a hotel!

Prolong the celebrations

Nearly every couple mourns how quickly their wedding day and night flies past them. The beauty of a marquee is that it is entirely up to you when the celebrations end, especially if your marquee is erected on yours or your family’s grounds. With a marquee and a willing DJ, you can extend the wedding celebrations long into the night and the next morning if you wish to do so!

For a truly unique, personal and most importantly, unforgettable wedding venue, a marquee is most definitely the only way to go!

So you’ve made the choice and opted for marquee hire as your wedding venue – congratulations! A wedding marquee is the perfect choice for couples that are looking for something truly unique and unforgettable for their wedding day. And with a beautiful marquee, you have the fantastic opportunity to imprint your sense of style and that of your partner to make it just that – an unforgettable and truly unique affair.

To give you some guidance and hopefully some inspiration too, we’ve compiled a list of 5 extras that, when correctly installed, will complete the entire look and ambience of your wedding marquee.

1. Lighting

Lighting is an essential factor in creating the right mood and setting for your wedding, and given the amount of options that are available, you don’t have to go with the standard spotlights to get the lighting right. How about using some uplighters along the interior walls of the marquee to create a soft, romantic feel? Coloured uplighters can signify a special touch and can match your wedding colours if so desired. You can also choose from candles for an ethereal effect, a chandelier for a luxurious atmosphere or LED lights for a more modern and contemporary feel.

2. Interior linings

Interior linings are a fantastic way to enhance your marquee and soften the lines of the actual structure itself. In order to blend in with any other fixtures and fittings that you’ve got planned, linings can be installed that complement your wedding theme or your wedding colours. Interior linings are usually pleated with an added valance for that extra-special touch, adding a sense of luxury and comfort to your wedding marquee.

3. Covered walkway

If you are planning on locating your wedding marquee on the grounds of your family home or a country house, you will more than likely make the toilet facilities within the main property available for use to your guests. If so, then a covered walkway between your wedding marquee and the main property is a fantastic little extra that will impress your guests as well as protect them from the elements if necessary!

4. Bar facilities

Another extra to make your wedding marquee even more special is the inclusion of licensed bar facilities. Incorporating such facilities into your wedding marquee means that your guests will have access to a selection of wines, spirits and draught beers from an actual operating bar complete with draught taps. You can even make your bar a feature of your marquee by adding counter stools and backlighting for that extra special look.

5. Stage area and dance floor

The perfect way to add a wow factor to your marquee is to incorporate a raised stage area for the placement of your chosen band or DJ. Once the meal is over and your guests are ready for some entertainment, you’ll want to make the stage the focal point of the marquee and having a raised stage is the perfect way of achieving that. And, as you’re providing some great musical entertainment for your guests, you’ll have to give them a place to dance too! A purpose built dance floor that’s made from durable and aesthetically pleasing materials will ensure that your guests can dance the night away with little worry of space restrictions.

A wedding marquee makes for an unforgettable wedding venue and with the addition of some or all of these extras, your wedding will be extra-special and extra-memorable!