Begin Planning

A step by step guide
1. Decide on date. The most popular times for outdoor events are summer periods immediately after the academic term ends and immediately before the new term commences, ie end of June and July, then the beginning of September. Early booking for these periods is advised. Discounts are sometimes available for early season bookings, especially April and early May.

2. Decide on numbers. This decision is closely allied to budget considerations and the two should be thought about together.

3. Decide on a venue.
Reasons for opting for a marquee: complete flexibility of size, numbers, lay-out, content of area, and complete control of timing, together with the chance to stage your event close to, or at, home. There is also the uniqely English summer atmosphere of a marquee event held on grass.

4. Contact your principal traders (marquee provider, caterer, florist) and arrange site visits with each.

5. In consultation with your principal traders decide on type of menu, whether you prefer buffet or waitress service; decide what type of table you like and how many people per table; decide whether you are having dancing, and if so, whether you have a band or DJ; decide also on level of formality desired. All these factors will have a bearing on the size of your marquee and the eventual cost.

6. It is now time to calculate your marquee size for which, please go to calculating the marquee size

7. Other traders useful to contact: loo trailer providers, a skip company, an electrician (to link up the power supply), a catering equipment provider (if not covered by your caterer), a party/wedding insurance broker, a DJ or band, photographer, video service, chauffeur, stationer, cake maker, church musicians.