If you thought hiring a wedding venue was complicated, opting for a marquee takes it to the next level! Can a wedding marquee really save you money, and with all the extras you’ll need, is it worth it? In this blog we’ll explain the basic costs for hiring a wedding marquee, as well as the hidden extras to consider so you can work out the real cost of a marquee for your big day. With thanks to luxury marquee company Peacock and Bow for getting in touch to share their blog: how much does a marquee wedding cost.

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Header image of a Peacock and Bow marquee by Bill Haddon Photography

Types of wedding marquees and which costs most

According to Peacock and Bow, the most affordable marquee style is the clearspan marquee (one with no supporting poles in the middle). An approximate price might be £1100 for a 162 square metre marquee. The next cheapest option is a stretch tent (with a series of poles to support the stretchy canvas). Approximate price: £1200 for the same size.

Having said that, there are all kinds of things which will affect the cost of your wedding marquee structure. The size is the first thing to consider – make sure you choose a marquee big enough for all of your guests! (Always have a plan B in case it rains on your wedding day. You’ll need a space where everyone can shelter comfortably inside your marquee for the duration – just in case!)

Depending on your budget, you might opt for a luxury pole and canvas marquee, like Peacock and Bow’s premium quality wedding marquees.  Expect to pay from £800 to £1800 for these, depending on the size.

It’s not just the canvas: it’s all the bits to go with it!

There’s a big difference between the cost of a marquee and the cost of a marquee wedding! The canvas structure itself is just the beginning. If you’re having your wedding in a field or woodland area without facilities, you’ll need to hire everything from loos to a catering area and a bar!

The essentials:

• The marquee itself
• Flooring (you’ll need something, even if you’re going for a rustic, outdoorsy tipi vibe: imagine it’s rained on your field the day the marquee is set up! There’s festival vibes (nice!) and then there’s a wet Glastonbury look (yeah – you need either marquee matting or boards!)
• Furniture (chairs, tables, bar)
• Lighting and sound
• Insurance

The extras:

• Dance floor
• Loos (if not provided by your venue)
• Decor: from fairy lights to LED candles or table lamps, flowers, foliage or trees and all of the other lovely things to style your wedding. The best thing about a wedding marquee is it’s a completely blank canvas (couldn’t be more literal!) – so you might want to go all out on the styling!

Marquee mistakes – what to avoid

Book a reputable marquee company, and one who is happy to offer advice and proactive in helping you! Going for a local, cheap and cheerful marquee option might mean you’re left to organise everything on your own. I’d never recommend that! You should be able to pick up the phone to your wedding marquee company for help. Even better, they should have a list of trusted suppliers in case you need anything specific: a florist who’s created amazing hanging chandeliers or decorated a pole and canvas marquee before, for example.

This will help you make sure you have everything you need, from having enough electricity for your band and your caterers, to loos and a cloakroom for your guests!

The temperature needs to be just right, which can mean heating at any time of year. Even on the warmest of sunny days, by evening time it can be chilly to the point that a basket of blankets and a fire pit might not be enough: you could need to pop the heating on. This is another question for your marquee hire company, who’ll be able to advise on generators and heaters so your guests stay cosy and happy until their carriages arrive at midnight!

Marquee wedding insurance is crucial. Always insure your wedding – and make sure the cover suits the style of your day. Marquees are a big cost: you’ll absolutely need that covered.

Money saving tips for marquee weddings

Hiring a marquee will save you money compared to the up front cost of many wedding venues, but do remember neither option is the full cost of your wedding.

A venue will often come with catering costs included, for example. A marquee hire company will give you options to hire furniture and things like lighting through them (which of course, will be included in the package cost from most wedding venues).

Wedding venues come in all shapes and sizes, and have a style and decor all of their own. Some are eclectic and quirky and filled with art and colour. They need little decoration. Others are elegant and romantic, and perhaps just need table dressing (candles, centrepieces and florals for example). By contrast a wedding marquee is literally a blank canvas. The styling and decor will be all down to you. This can bump up costs.

As always, it’s up to you to decide what’s worth splashing out on when planning your wedding – and what isn’t. As a general rule if you’re hiring a marquee for your big day, go with the best company you can afford: it will be worth it for the customer service as well as knowing your marquee will be in top condition and look amazing!

Wedding marquees go hand in hand with wedding hire companies, which are a really sustainable option and can help you save money on styling your day. If you can, hire from someone who will also help with styling touches and on the day coordination. This will save you pennies and you’ll know you’re in safe hands with less to worry about on the big day.

Further reading:

Bridebook: The 2024 average cost of a wedding marquee
Peacock and Bow: Top tips to kick off your marquee wedding planning
The Wedding Taylor: Marquee weddings and things couples always forget