Gary
A marquee hire quote is easy enough to get; getting the right marquee hire quote for you is a different matter altogether.
Firstly, there are lots and lots of different marquee styles available. On top of that the quality of marquee equipment varies hugely company to company. Each company presents its quotations in a different format, so it can be difficult to compare like for like.
You’ll need to consider quality of workmanship, customer service and the experience of the marquee providers you are talking to.
Sound like a bit of a minefield? Follow our simple guidelines, below and it will be a walk in the park!
When is a marquee not a marquee?
When it’s a gazebo. The word marquee is often used as a generic term for any kind of temporary outdoor structure. Gazebos, flimsy pop up shelters and lean to’s. But even ‘true’ marquee structures vary widely in terms of quality.
Lifestyle marquees use only high quality marquee materials, supplied by the industry’s top marquee equipment manufacturers. From hefty, large profile aluminium framework, through to high grade PVC and canvas covers. Our frame tent marquee structures are rated to withstand gusts of wind of up to 80mph!
Needless to say, our equipment is top of the range; beware though, under the banner of ‘Marquee hire companies’ you’ll find offerings ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous and everything in between. Bear this in mind when gathering your Marquee hire quotes; compare like for like before comparing price tags.
What else does your marquee supplier offer?
Marquee hire is about much more than the structure itself. It’s about the quality of customer care, equipment, finish, plus the other services that are on offer.
Lifestyle marquees take a consultative approach to marquee hire. We listen very carefully to what our customers wish to achieve and we work with them to create their dream venue. We also know, work with and are happy to recommend the services of a variety of other high quality specialists such as bands and DJ’s, florists, bar suppliers and caterers.
Before you pick up the phone…
There are a few questions that any good marquee company will want to ask you, so do your homework and be prepared.
These questions will cover off important considerations and will allow the marquee supplier to guide you through the process, discuss your ideas and make suggestions. By the end of the call you should have a pretty good idea of what you can achieve with your budget.
Some of the most important considerations are:
- Approximate number of guests
- What type of event is it? Wedding, party or something else?
- Will there be dining and dancing – or just one or the other?
- Location: Where will the event be held?
- What type of surface will the marquee be on? Is it a lawn or hard standing for example?
- Will you need a caterers area within the marquee?
- Do you need luxury portable toilets?
- Will you need space for a dance floor, DJ or even a band?
Take a look at image galleries and see if there are any particular marquees or internal marquee decorations and features that catch your eye. Tell the marquee supplier – a picture speaks a thousand words, as they say.
Site visits
Once you’ve been given a ballpark estimate over the phone, you’ll be ready to organise a site visit. At this point the marquee company will come to your home or venue and discuss your plans in further detail before surveying and measuring the available space.
At this stage you’ll be able to look at more images and discuss elements such as carpets, linings, lighting, bars, dance floors and more.
Lifestyle marquees offer free, no obligation site visits. By the end of a site visit with Lifestyle marquees you should have a pretty good idea of what we can do for you. Shortly after your site visit we’ll email you your fully itemised quotation and a to scale floor plan for your consideration.
The next step is to hone and adjust your quotation and layout to create your dream marquee venue.
Don’t focus purely on cost
Of course price is important, but bear in mind that you get what you pay for in the marquee world. The quotations that you receive are likely to be widely varied. Look at each quote line by line and make sure that everything you need is included.
Some companies choose to omit certain elements for their basic quotations, allowing the customer to choose whether of not to add them in at a later stage. A cynical person might suggest that this tactic allows a company to produce a more favourable initial quotation…
Lifestyle marquees quotations factor in every element that is required for your temporary event venue. We’d rather you remove the bits you’d rather not have than be caught out with extra costs should you need to add them in at a later date.
Check your quotes carefully for items such as:
- Lighting
- Heating
- Flooring
- Toilets
- Catering tents/areas
- External lighting
- Bars
- Dance floors
And remember to check out the quality of the marquee structures themselves. You don’t want a breezy, cheap and flimsy structure ruining your event… and it’s always worth checking out reviews.
Are you looking for a marquee hire quote?
Contact Lifestyle marquees. Our friendly team would love to chat to you about your event – we’d love to hear your ideas and offer a few suggestions of our own. Our estimates and quotes are all offered obligation free – as is our marquee hire guide which you can download at the link below. Call us on 01483 322070 or email enquiries@lifestylemarquees.co.uk
