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Marquee Wedding Tips

I met my friend Louise from Oldtown Marquees for coffee and a chat (ok it was prosecco!) to ask her some questions about planning a marquee wedding, here they are with the answers and tips she gave…

Can I have my marquee at home?

If you have the space then why not put the marquee in your garden or the garden of a family member. This can be so much more relaxed, informal and convenient. Things you will have to consider is how much space there is for the actual marquee, where will everyone park, is there enough space or can you bus everyone in from another location.

Is there anything else I need to think about if having the marquee at home?

Toilets! A lot of people don’t think of this but will your guests leave the marquee and go into the house to use the toilets or would it be better to have toilets in or beside the marquee?  your choice!

What if I don’t have space at home?

No problem, we can suggest a venue you can use…

McShane Glen

A very popular venue on the North Coast with stunning views over the sea and situated just beside Ballintoy Harbour, with accommodation on site.

Killymoon Castle

This privately owned castle is set in stunning grounds just outside Cookstown. The original castle, which was built in 1671, burnt down in 1801. It was rebuilt in a larger version in 1803. This is a new wedding venue in Northern Ireland which followed on from the owners daughter getting married in one of our marquees there this year.

The Old Flax Mill

The Mill was originally built in 1786 and has recently been renovated to a very high standard, nestled in the countryside it’s a hidden gem and a superb location to host a marquee wedding.

Redhall Estate

Redhall dates from the 16C and is a country house set in it’s own traditional parkland close to, yet hidden from the A2 Causeway Coastal Route. It is easily accessible from Belfast International Airport (27m) and George Best City Airport (20m), the port of Larne and from Carrickfergus. The entrance is from the A2 Carrickfergus to Larne road, half a mile on the Larne side of the Ballycarry – Islandmagee crossroads.

What about furniture, can you provide this?

Yes, depending on the look you want to go for we can provide round tables and a top table which is the most popular option. If you are going for the more rustic look, trestle tables are commonly used, you can also fit more people in with trestle tables so you can go for a slightly smaller marquee which will keep costs down. Whatever your preference we can work with you to get the ideal layout.

I have seen sofas used for seating areas, can you provide these, also what are the options for chairs?

Yes, we can provide sofas if you would like a chill out area.  This can be sited at one end of the marquee with the bar and your dancefloor can be at the far end, a reveal curtain can also be used to keep this area separate from your reception area until it’s time to be seated for the meal.

Different options are available on chairs – chiavari are the most popular option with the comfortable seating pad it is a very popular choice for weddings, however if you are going for the rustic look our wooden chairs are also a popular option.

What about heating?  Is it necessary?

Everyone is unsure about whether to have heating. In the winter months it is almost always essential, in the summer it is hard to know until a day or two before. Heaters can be ordered a few days in advance so you can decide closer to the time. Our heaters have thermostats so for example if your ideal temperature is 18 degrees then we can set the heaters to kick in if the temperature drops below this.

Is there anything else I need to think about?
Flooring

You can opt for our luxury wooden flooring or go for carpet which is laid on top of our wooden floor. Our carpets come in a wide variety of colours.

Lighting

Chandeliers – are a popular option for weddings and for those who want to keep costs down.

Festoon lighting has grown in popularity particularly among those couples who opt for a more rustic feel for their wedding.

We also supply fairy lights which can go anywhere in the marquee but are most popular at the dancefloor area or behind the top table.

 Room dressing

 we can recommend companies we have worked with before.

I find it really hard to visualise the layout and how it will look, is there anyway I can see it before we decide on how best to lay it out?

Yes of course, we can do up 2d/3d layouts for you to show you, we can amend this to get the marquee looking just as you want it.

How do I book?

Prices are subject to a site visit, unless you are using one of the locations we have recommended above. We are very happy to meet with you to discuss your requirements in detail or this can be done over the phone or by email, whichever you prefer. Once you have decided what you want, we will send you a booking form, your date can only be secured and confirmed when we receive your signed booking form and 25% deposit. Changes can be made at a later stage but we do need as much notice as possible!

Why choose you to supply our marquee?

We specialise in marquee weddings, it’s what we’re good at, we are a family run company and pride ourselves on our service to our customers, don’t just take our word for it though, take a look at our Facebook page to see many more pictures of previous weddings and events and feedback from our past clients

Thank you to Louise for all this information, I’m already planning Olivia’s wedding lol!

Gemma x

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