Marquee magic A marquee is a perennial favourite for outdoor weddings offering flexibility and a space to make your own. Here Chris Boardley, events and operations manager for Anglia Coastal Marquees (www.angliacoastalmarquees.co.uk), answers some of your most frequently asked questions. 1. Can a marquee be sited anywhere or does it need a special surface? Marquees can be put up on almost any surface provided the correct fixings can be installed. A flat and level grassed area is ideal, however for concrete, tarmac or any similar hard surface unsuitable for stakes, large concrete weights or special bolts can be used instead to anchor it to the ground. On sloped or very uneven surfaces, the marquee can be put up on a raised level platform. 2. Does it get stuffy in the summer if the weather’s hot or what happens if it’s wet and windy? The marquee should have ample sides which can be opened up to allow a breeze to circulate through (weather dependant of course). If it’s very windy we’d recommend keeping it closed though. A marquee does offer shade, which is great when it is very hot and sunny. 3. What kind of styling and décor works well to create the wow factor? This depends on your personal taste and wedding theme – especially when it comes to styling the inside. It could be anything from large hanging flower arrangements to brightly coloured Chinese lanterns. Other ways to create wow factor include adding peaks or cones to the roof line of the marquees. 4. Would we need a separate power supply? In most cases, a generator is the best and most reliable power source, certainly for large celebrations. For more intimate affairs it can be possible to get power from a house or outbuilding but this is less reliable. 5. What are the restrictions? Restrictions are few and far between but usually it’s down to the suitability of the site. Size, shape and, or the surface or sometimes the access to the site can dictate what type and, or size of marquee can be provided. Hannah of exclusive-use wedding venue Hall Farm Cottages in the heart of the Norfolk Broads shares her handy hints for outdoor weddings. ❤ Think about seating and save some of your budget by reusing your ceremony chairs for inside the marquee. This is a great job for some helpful ushers and groomsmen to organise while you’re having your photos taken. ❤ Marquee logistics can involve a little more careful planning than other types of wedding venue. One big consideration is planning the order of setting up and clearing away. The rule-of-thumb here is ‘first in last out’. For example, you can’t take the marquee down before all the furniture has been collected and the furniture can’t be delivered until the marquee is up! Visit www.hallfarm.com/weddings OUTDOOR WEDDINGS 51
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