If you are getting married, one of the most important decisions you'll probably have to make is what venue to choose for your big day. Perhaps you have your heart set on something a little less traditional, where you have a bit more flexibility when it comes to the layout and the number of guests.  If you have access to the outdoor space, and are keen to have a more bespoke wedding, you might want to consider making it a marquee event.

There are lots of advantages to hiring a marquee, with one of the main draws being the versatility that they offer. Most marquee hire companies give you the freedom to customise the size, layout and interior decoration to suit your requirements and taste.  And if you're looking to have a big wedding, they can actually work out cheaper than hiring a venue of a similar size.

Marquee costs

Prices vary according to the size of the marquee and its features. For a small marquee, that can hold 12 people when standing, you can expect to pay about £400, excluding VAT. For a big marquee - and they can get up to 30m long - that can accommodate a significant number of bodies, the hire cost can easily exceed £1,000.

Once you've worked out your budget, call some marquee companies and ask them for a site visit. This is when you show the company where you plan to have the marquee in order to give a realistic quotation. Tell the provider your estimated guests, ask what size marquee is needed - and check you have the room available to fulfil your needs.

Planning

Depending on how hands-on you want to be, there is the option of erecting the marquee in the grounds of a hotel, which allows your guests access to the facilities. Or if you are lucky enough to have large enough grounds yourself, you could choose to have a more personal experience at home.

Once you've chosen the location, you will then need to think about how you want your marquee to look.  What colour scheme and lighting do you want? Would you prefer wooden flooring, or carpeting; uplighters, spotlights, or candelabras?

As with most weddings, the floral displays are likely to be one of the main features. According to English-wedding.com, think carefully about how they will come across in a cavernous marquee - you may want to mix up low-key arrangements with more striking, higher level displays.

The marquee company may be able to help you out with providing most of the extras, or you may want to go to a company which specialises in hospitality designs - for example, winter or Indian-themed events. Meanwhile, consider garden lanterns for outside areas, to encourage your guests to enjoy all the space you have on offer.

When planning the layout you'll need to decide if you want windows or doors, or if you'd prefer one side of the marquee to be open. A dance floor and stage are optional, though don't forget the toilets - if permanent facilities are not available, you will need to hire portable cubicles. Luckily, these days they don't have to be the 'Glastonbury' experience - luxury versions of various kinds are available.

Of course, if you don't have the time or the inclination to plan your marquee event you could pay a planner to organise it for you. Your planner can decorate the venue, take delivery of goods plus manage the event itself - leaving you enjoy your big day.

Whilst the initial hire cost may not seem like much, with all the extra elements required, the final price could really be considerable.  The average cost of a UK wedding is said to be around £19,000, with the reception alone sometimes costing in the region of £4, 000. Taking out a short term loan (over 2-3 years) could be a way to help you manage the cost.

Issued by Sainsbury's Finance

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