DIYing Marquee Weddings - Anyone done?

Angela84

Hi,

I'm getting married next year, on a strict budget. Am using a friend's field, and was planning to hire a marquee for the 80 guests we want. Went to look at one today, and its just so expensive to hire these things, when you add up all the costs (flooring, lighting, furniture hire etc) I'm thinking near the £1500 mark.

So I've gone back to the drawing board and thought about trying to do it myself.
I'm thinking I could buy a marquee (possibly Ebay), get some strong men to put it up, and then put it on Ebay once we're done, hopefully making most the money back. Maybe £800 for a big one and a smaller one for bar and dancefloor
Then just hiring the chairs, tables, lighting and dance floor. (I know there are companies I can get the whole lot from so hopefully negotiate a package deal) I reckon about £500 tops

Has anyone done this, and is it a. cheaper and b. too stressful to bother?

I'm thinking do we actually need flooring, apart from the dance floor?
It is a relaxed wedding, the grass will be cut, and from the marquees I've been in in the past, the matting they put down makes no difference if the floor is a bit uneven.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Horace

You do need a boarded floor ideally because grass is lumpy and although mats can be put down they are a bit of a trip hazard and the floor will be uneven, e.g. chairs can sink into the ground. A boarded floor is more stable and you will be above the ground - mats absorb moisture from the ground below and when it rains moreso.

Most good marquee companies will provide the marquee, boarded floor, lights - tables etc are usually hired separately. They will erect the marquee and take it down afterwards.

Talk to a few marquee companies - see what they offer and what you can get.

Domsmummy

hi this is very similar to what I am doing. Although i am hiring the marquee from a local village, £300. it should fit our 80 guests. The rest we are doing ourselves it is unlinned. The best quote we were given to have it done perfessionally was £2500 when my entire budget is £3000. So for us the hassle should be worth it otherewise we couldnt afford the day we wanted.
Sorry can't be anymore use.

random_one_2

Give your local Scouts a call and see if they rent out their equipment - I tried ours and they rent our their marquees (I think they'd be more like large old-school tents), tables, chairs, bbq and even a coconut shy! They were booked out on our date so my Dad (who's an architect) is making an amazing structure for us instead and we're renting tables and chairs from a local village hall for a few pounds... go the diy-ers!

scottiepaul

insurance?!

jcorbygas

Happily we were informed by our eldest daughter last weekend that she will be getting married next year and wants the reception in our garden in a marquee so this thread is of interest.
We think that we will have to seat around 70 people although daughter says she doesnt want sit down style food so hopefully only a few tables will be required and was wondering what kind of size temporary tent/marquee to buy/hire. I would love to be able to afford to hire one of those Arabian style tents all decorated out but just cant afford it - maximum budget for tent/marquee,flooring, decoration, chairs, lighting etc is no more than £400!! I am a bit out of touch with costings as when we got married 28 years ago the whole thing cost around £1000!!
She wants to get married at the end of May Bank Holiday next year and I do have worries about the weather but I will get Pluvius insurance just in case!