
Choosing the Right Marquee for Your Event
Selecting the perfect marquee can feel overwhelming with so many styles, sizes, and features to consider. From frame tents to traditional pole marquees, each structure offers unique benefits suited to different events, locations, and seasons.
This guide breaks down the key considerations to help you make an informed decision and ensure your marquee event is a success. Whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate function, or private party, this resource will navigate you through the options, from marquee types to site selection and interior styling.
Exploring Marquee Types
There are many different types of marquee available to hire. So how do you know which style will be best for your wedding, party or event? Let’s start off by exploring the main options available when it comes to marquee hire:
Frame Tents – A Versatile Option
Frame tents, also known as Clearspan marquees, offer an unobstructed interior, making them a popular choice for weddings, corporate events, and parties. These modular structures come in standard widths of 6m, 9m, or 12m, with extendable lengths using 3m sections (bays). For larger setups, widths of 15m or 20m are available with 5m bays. We recently created a stunning, split level frame tent marquee for a client’s wedding, read the case study here.
Benefits of Frame Tents
- No internal poles, ensuring a clear, open space
- Suitable for hard surfaces such as car parks or tennis courts
- Can be installed with raised wooden flooring (Ringbeam) for uneven or damp ground
- Compatible with Chinese hat pagoda marquees for stylish entrances and reception areas
- Customisable with glass walls, solid panels, and varied wall heights
Learn more about our frame tents
Traditional Pole Marquees – Classic Elegance
For a vintage, rustic, or festival-style event, traditional pole marquees are an excellent choice. These charming structures feature central supporting poles and require guy ropes for stability, creating a relaxed and decorative aesthetic.
Considerations for Pole Marquees
- Measured in feet (available in widths of 20ft, 30ft, and 40ft, up to 175ft in length)
- Higher roof apex (up to 18ft) for a spacious feel
- Breathable canvas material, ideal for summer events
- Require additional space for guy ropes
- Not recommended for winter use due to wind susceptibility
Here’s what a client said about our service, and our traditional pole marquees:
“The service was outstanding. I had the choice of a pole marquee which five other local companies couldn’t provide. Lifestyle marquees came up with some fantastic creative ideas like including an apple tree within the marquee!”
Discover more about pole marquees
Pagoda Marquees – A Stylish Addition
Also known as Chinese hat marquees, pagoda marquees provide a decorative and flexible space. Measuring 5m x 5m with a 2.4m leg height, they work well as standalone shelters or as part of a larger marquee setup.
Benefits of Pagoda Marquees
- Elegant design, perfect for receptions, entrances, or chill-out areas
- Can be opened on all sides for summer events
- Easily combined with larger marquees for a striking visual effect
Find out how pagodas can enhance your event
Stretch Tents – A Unique Festival Feel
Stretch tents offer a contemporary alternative to traditional marquees, using a single stretchable fabric pulled over internal poles and secured with guy ropes. See how we created a stunning stretch tent for a 21st birthday garden party, here.
Stretch tent marquees are totally unique and make quite an impression, one recent customer stated: “It was perfect! It looked sensational, the finish was excellent — it allowed for a great and easy flow of guests throughout the night. The shape and structure worked wonderfully.”
Key Features of Stretch Tents
- Flexible, organic shape tailored to your event space
- No lining required, offering a natural, relaxed look
- Allows more light to filter through during summer evenings
- Not fully enclosed, making them less suitable for cold or wet conditions
Find out more about Stretch Tent hire
Selecting the Best Site for Your Marquee
While a level lawn is ideal, marquees can be installed on a variety of surfaces with the right preparation. Here are some alternative locations:
- Tennis courts – Provide a flat, level surface, accommodating up to 250 guests
- Over swimming pools – Utilising Ringbeam flooring to create a solid base
- Ponds and lakes – Marquees can be built over water features for a stunning effect
Read more on selecting the perfect site here.
When assessing your site, consider:
- Ground conditions (soft, uneven, or flood-prone areas may need flooring solutions)
- Overhead obstacles such as tree branches
- Underground services like irrigation systems or electrical wiring
- Accessibility for suppliers, catering teams, and guests
Get expert advice on site selection
Enhancing Your Marquee Interior
Whilst marquees provide a great space for your event, they’re also a blank canvas for the creativity that will truly bring your event to life. Let’s look at some of the additional elements that can enhance your event space and make it a warm, welcoming place for you and your guests to enjoy:
Reception & Chill-Out Areas
Create welcoming spaces using Chinese hat pagodas or partition walls within the marquee. Soft furnishings, poseur tables, and stylish seating add comfort and elegance to your event.
Wet Weather Contingency
British weather is unpredictable, so always have a plan. Consider covered walkways, coconut matting, or wooden paths to prevent muddy conditions. A marquee’s dance floor can also serve as a reception space if outdoor plans need adjusting.
It’s certainly worth taking expert advice about wet weather contingency plans from people who have been around the marquee and events industries for a long time. Here’s what one of our grateful customers said after their event:
“I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful marquee you provided for us last weekend. It – along with the heater you recommended – certainly meant that we were able to have something like the event we planned in spite of the terrible weather.
Ollie and his colleagues were extremely courteous and efficient in erecting and dismantling the marquee and the lawn already looks as if you have never been here. We would have no hesitation in recommending you.”
Marquee Floristry & Styling
For floral arrangements, frame tents offer multiple weight-bearing points, allowing for hanging installations. Ensure your florist and marquee provider coordinate on weight limits and pulley systems to achieve your desired look.
Marquee Furniture Hire & Setup
When hiring furniture, ensure your marquee provider manages delivery and layout. Lifestyle Marquees coordinates all third-party suppliers, ensuring tables, chairs, and seating are arranged as required.
Top Tip: Long banquet tables require around 10% more space than round tables.
Explore our furniture hire options
Getting a Quote
Lifestyle Marquees provides tailored marquee solutions to suit various budgets and styles. In order to provide an estimate, the main things that a marquee supplier will want to know at this stage are:
- Approximate guest numbers
- Event type (wedding, corporate, party, etc.)
- Dining and dancing space requirements
- Event location
- Surface type (Lawn, hard standing, tennis court, etc.)
- Additional needs such as catering space, toilets, or entertainment areas
The Next Steps
- Contact Lifestyle Marquees – Call or email to discuss your event requirements.
- Arrange a site visit – A no-obligation assessment to determine the best marquee setup.
- Receive a detailed quotation – Including a to-scale floor plan and itemised cost breakdown.
Read more, or request a quote today
Final Thoughts
Hiring a marquee provides a flexible and stylish event space, but careful planning is essential to get the best results. Whether you’re looking for a sleek frame tent, a traditional pole marquee, or a unique stretch tent, Lifestyle Marquees offers expert advice and high-quality structures tailored to your needs.
For an even more comprehensive guide to marquee hire, why not download our free guide?
Why Choose Lifestyle Marquees?
Lifestyle Marquees takes a consultative approach, offering expert advice tailored to your needs and budget. Their high-quality structures are built to withstand varying weather conditions, ensuring a safe, stylish, and comfortable environment for your guests. Whether your venue has challenging terrain or specific aesthetic requirements, their expertise ensures a seamless experience. Want to find out more? Read our testimonials, Our Google reviews, and explore our case studies here.
About the author
Iain Booth, Managing Director of Lifestyle Marquee Hire, has dedicated over 30 years to the events industry, earning a reputation for excellence in marquee hire and event logistics. His extensive experience, hands-on approach, and commitment to quality ensure that every event is executed seamlessly, from intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations.
As the driving force behind Lifestyle Marquee Hire, a family-run business based in Surrey, Iain combines expert industry knowledge with a personal touch, working closely with clients to transform their visions into unforgettable experiences. His deep-rooted passion for delivering exceptional events has made him a trusted name in the industry.