At Ohana Marquees, we’ve had the pleasure of helping hundreds of couples create the wedding of their dreams. And for many, nothing compares to the freedom, flexibility and sheer romance of a marquee wedding. Whether it’s nestled in the grounds of a family home, overlooking the Yorkshire countryside, or set in the gardens of a grand estate, a marquee offers a truly unique space where your wedding can unfold exactly as you envision it.
Planning a marquee wedding does take a little more consideration than booking a traditional venue. But that’s also what makes it so special. With the right planning, attention to detail, and expert support, you can create a celebration that feels entirely personal, beautifully designed, and perfectly suited to you as a couple. From choosing the right location to making sure your guests are comfortable whatever the weather, we’ve put together this guide to help you plan a marquee wedding that’s memorable for all the right reasons.
At Ohana Marquees, we specialise in wedding marquee hire in York and across North Yorkshire, and we understand the balance between practical planning and creating something truly magical. Couples often come to us with a strong vision for their day—whether it’s a rustic countryside wedding, a sophisticated garden party, or a festival-inspired weekend celebration—and it’s our job to help bring that vision to life with expert guidance every step of the way.
Choosing the Perfect Location
The beauty of a marquee wedding is that it can take place almost anywhere. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a large garden, access to a family farm, or have booked the grounds of a stately home or private estate, the flexibility of a marquee gives you the freedom to create your wedding environment from the ground up.
That said, the location you choose needs to be suitable not just for the marquee itself, but for everything else that comes with hosting a wedding. You’ll need flat, stable ground, good vehicle access for suppliers, space for catering tents and toilets, and ideally room for parking. At Ohana Marquees, we always carry out a thorough site visit before confirming the setup, so we can advise on layout, orientation, and any potential challenges. We’ve installed marquees on rolling lawns, tucked into walled gardens, and even across uneven ground with smart flooring solutions, so we can usually work with a wide range of locations.
If you’re unsure whether a particular site is suitable, we’re always happy to take a look and give honest, practical advice. We also have great relationships with local venues and landowners throughout Yorkshire who offer marquee-friendly spaces, so we can help connect you with the right location if needed.
Understanding the Timeline
Marquee weddings typically require a slightly longer setup timeline than traditional venues. While a hotel or stately home is already in place and ready to host guests, a marquee is built from scratch, which means allowing time for installation, decoration and breakdown. Most of our couples allow at least a full day before the wedding for the marquee build and interior setup, and a day afterwards for takedown.
This extra time can actually be a blessing. It gives you the chance to decorate at your own pace, test out the sound system, walk through the layout, and add personal touches without the pressure of a tight venue schedule. It also gives your suppliers more flexibility—florists, stylists and caterers can access the marquee ahead of time to get everything looking perfect.
We work closely with each couple to create a detailed setup schedule so everything runs smoothly. We also coordinate with your other suppliers to ensure everyone’s working from the same plan. Our team handles the entire installation and removal process, so you don’t have to worry about the logistics—we’ve got it covered.
Creating the Ideal Layout
The internal layout of your marquee is completely up to you, which is one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. From a practical point of view, you’ll need to think about dining space, entertainment areas, dance floor, bar, and any breakout spaces like lounges or chill-out areas. For weddings with ceremonies onsite, we can also create a beautiful separate area for the vows, either within the same structure or in a smaller connected marquee.
Round tables create a classic, elegant feel and work well for formal dining, while long trestle tables give a more relaxed, communal vibe. You’ll also want to consider how guests will move through the space throughout the day—from welcome drinks to dinner, then to the dance floor as the evening kicks in.
Lighting also plays a key role in defining the space. Fairy lights strung across the ceiling create a warm, romantic glow, while chandeliers, festoon lights or pendant lamps can add visual interest and drama. At Ohana Marquees, we offer a wide range of lighting options and can help you choose the right combination to match your overall style and theme.
Weather-Proofing Your Wedding
Planning a wedding in the UK means accepting that the weather is always a bit of a wildcard. That’s why we take weatherproofing seriously. All our marquees are designed to withstand wind and rain, and we offer a variety of flooring options to keep everything comfortable underfoot, even if the ground is damp.
For spring and autumn weddings—or even cooler summer evenings—we provide discreet, thermostatically controlled heaters to keep your guests warm and the party going. If you’re dreaming of an open-sided marquee with sweeping views, we can design the structure so that walls can be rolled up or down depending on the forecast.
We always recommend considering a covered entrance area or walkway if your marquee is set away from the main building or toilet facilities. This not only keeps guests dry but adds a touch of elegance to the overall setup. Good planning takes the stress out of unexpected weather, and we’re here to make sure you feel prepared, come rain or shine.
Catering, Bars and Facilities
When planning a marquee wedding, you’ll need to bring in your own catering team, which gives you total freedom over food and drink. Whether you’re going for a formal three-course meal, sharing platters, a food truck setup or something completely bespoke, the marquee can be designed to accommodate your caterer’s needs.
We provide catering tents with lighting and access to power, and we’ll work directly with your chosen caterers to make sure they have everything they need. This includes space for prep, serving areas, and any refrigeration or cooking equipment.
Bars are another key feature of any marquee wedding. From traditional wooden bars to sleek modern setups, we can create a bespoke bar area that fits your theme. Many couples opt for a central bar near the dance floor to keep the energy flowing all evening, while others choose a quiet corner bar for a relaxed cocktail lounge vibe.
Don’t forget about the facilities. Portable toilets have come a long way in recent years, with luxury toilet trailers providing clean, stylish and comfortable restrooms for guests. We’ll advise on the best type and quantity for your guest list and help position them discreetly but conveniently.
Styling Your Marquee
Styling a marquee is all about transforming the blank canvas into something that feels uniquely you. Some couples go for rustic charm with wildflowers, wooden furniture and bunting, while others opt for sleek sophistication with draping, uplighting and elegant floral arrangements.
The flexibility of a marquee means you can bring any theme or colour palette to life, and we love helping couples explore creative ideas. From boho backdrops to opulent floral ceilings, we’ve seen it all—and if you’re stuck for inspiration, we’re always happy to share ideas and examples from past weddings.
Furniture, linens, centrepieces, signage, and table plans all come together to create the atmosphere you want. Whether you’re DIY-ing elements or working with a stylist, we can help coordinate the logistics to make sure everything fits perfectly within the space.
Planning for Power and Logistics
One aspect of marquee weddings that’s easy to overlook is power. Everything from lighting and catering equipment to the sound system and heaters will need electricity, and unless your location has easy access to mains power, you’ll need a generator.
At Ohana Marquees, we supply reliable, silent-run generators that are specifically suited to wedding events. We’ll calculate your power requirements based on your supplier needs and make sure there’s more than enough capacity to keep everything running smoothly. We also supply distribution boards and cabling, all installed safely and discreetly.
We also handle all the logistical planning in the run-up to your day. That includes delivery and collection timings, access routes for suppliers, and a clear plan for the build and takedown. Our aim is to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on enjoying your engagement and looking forward to your big day.
The Ohana Marquees Experience
What sets us apart at Ohana Marquees is our commitment to making the marquee wedding experience enjoyable, relaxed, and completely tailored to you. We understand that for many couples, this is their first time planning a marquee event, and we’re here to guide you through every stage—from the first site visit to the final dance of the night.
We take pride in offering high-quality structures, reliable service, and a friendly, hands-on approach. Our team is based in Yorkshire, and we’ve built a strong reputation for wedding marquee hire in York thanks to our attention to detail, professionalism and love for what we do.
Whether you have a clear vision or are just starting out, we’re here to listen, offer ideas, and help you shape the wedding you’ve always imagined. A marquee wedding is more than just a venue—it’s an experience, and we’d be honoured to be part of yours.
Final Thoughts
Planning a marquee wedding involves more moving parts than a traditional venue, but it also opens the door to creativity, personalisation and true freedom. With the right team by your side, it’s entirely possible to create a wedding day that’s seamless, beautiful and unmistakably yours.
At Ohana Marquees, we’re here to help you navigate the entire journey. From choosing your site and designing your layout to coordinating power, lighting and facilities, we’ll make sure everything is taken care of so you can focus on celebrating your love story.
If you’re considering a marquee wedding in York or the surrounding areas, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s talk about your ideas, your dream location, and how we can help bring it all to life. Contact us today.
