Can any recommend a Marquee Hire Co?

treacle

Am trying to find out what the cost of a marquee is likely to be for my forthcoming wedding. We have had one quote of £4k which will be big enough for 80 seated, 120 evening guests, dancefloor, dressing and furniture! My OH tells me this is a discounted price through a friend. This still sounds pretty steep to me! Can anyone give me an idea of what you have paid and also recommend any suppliers. Thanks.

Tondella

whereabouts in the country are you planning to pitch the marquee?

I attended a wedding of a close friend where the reception was held in a marquee in the garden. Their reason for choosing it as a venue was that there were alot of military folk coming and so their final numbers were dependent on Tony Blair's foreign policy! A Marquee meant they could be flexible. I did sneak a peak at the invoice and £4k sounds about right, can't be more specific though. One thing I would say is that, with a marquee, you have to pay for absolutely everything: floor, marquee, additional decorating, chairs, tables, portable loos, kitchen/galley, generator for lights and kitchen power, crockery and cutlery, glassware, insurance etc. It can add up to one expensive wedding. Do you really have you heart set on a marquee?

(PS the wedding was in Kent)

treacle

In Kent! In the grounds where the civil service may take place. We would be forced to have a marquee because none of the rooms available at the venue are big enough. And we do have our heart set on the venue. Yes the £4k quote was for everything I believe.

Tondella

wow! I'll ask the family who they went with in the end, the guys were really professional but it was big bucks like i said. In the meantime I think it would be worth getting a fully itemised quote then you can be sure you are comparing like for like. If you're feeling up to it you could always get the cheapest quote and then start haggling to have extras thrown in?

lara1983

Can anyone recommend a specific company for marquee hire? i.e. professional and reasonably priced. It's for a very big marquee to hold 160 people. The first quote has been £10k!!! This includes all the flooring, tables, generator, lights etc. Thought marquee would be a cheap option - apparently not!

Thanks!

VickyA_2

We're having Betts' Marquees from Lincolnshire. My parents used them when they got married too..........................

lara1983

Thanks Vicky - do you mind me asking how much its costing your parents, what size etc so I know what to expect with quotes as there are no prices on their website...
Cheers

Getting_Better_With_Money_2

I'm also looking for a marquee hire company in the North West. (Getting married in December next year! :j )
Also, those of you who have had marquees before, what did the company provide? I keep seeing all these different options on lighting, flooring, lining and heating and I have no idea what i need. I suspect most companies will try and get me to have more than I actually need.

Thanks

lara1983

yes, this was the problem my friend is having too, they recommended three portaloos (!) even though they already have an upstairs, downstairs and outside toilet! They also seem to need loads of refrigeration for all the food that will be self catering. Any recommendations of cheap or reliable people either in the north or south very welcome! Or even just experiences of large marquees in general...
Thanks! :beer:

VickyA_2

lara1983 wrote:

Thanks Vicky - do you mind me asking how much its costing your parents, what size etc so I know what to expect with quotes as there are no prices on their website...
Cheers

I think it's about 2k, for tables, chairs, dance floor, lining, service tent etc. Will seat 120 people. We're having caterers from a local pub that do outside catering and they're bringing their own refrigerated van where we can store wine, champagne and beer.

We're also hiring posh loos for £500 - the next highest was £750 :eek: but that included piped music!!!! Although my parents do have loos in the house, they don't want people traipsing in and out of the house.

VickyA_2

My parents also got a quote from Mudford Marquees who were actually slightly cheaper than Betts, but my parents had Betts for their wedding back in 1973. There was also a slightly better service from Betts, apparently (this time round, not in '73 ).

All marquee companies, if they're decent, will come out and measure the area of grass that you want the marquee. This will mean that they can see instantly which sort of marquee will be needed, where the doors will be and suggest "best places" for the service tent and dance floor.

Apologies that it's taken me so long to reply, but I've been away over the weekend and didn't see your previously reply!