When planning a marquee wedding, it’s easy to focus on the exciting bits.
The flowers.
The dress.
The food.
The dance floor.
But unlike a traditional venue, a marquee wedding doesn’t come with all the behind-the-scenes essentials already in place.
Over the years, I’ve seen countless couples discover they’ve forgotten something important just weeks before the wedding.
How a Wedding Planner or On-the-Day Coordinator Can Help
One of the biggest misconceptions about DIY and marquee weddings is that because you’re not using a traditional venue, you’ll have less to organise. In reality, it’s often the opposite. When you’re building a wedding from a field, garden, farm or family home, there are dozens of moving parts to coordinate, many of which would normally be managed by a venue team.
A wedding planner can help from the very beginning, sourcing suppliers, creating layouts, managing budgets and ensuring nothing gets overlooked. If you’ve planned everything yourself but want to actually enjoy your wedding day, an on-the-day coordinator can step in to take over the logistics, manage supplier arrivals, oversee set-up, troubleshoot any issues and keep everything running to schedule.
That means you, your partner and your family can focus on celebrating, rather than answering supplier calls, directing deliveries or wondering whether the generator has enough fuel to last until the last dance.
Here’s the ultimate checklist of things people regularly overlook.
1. Toilets
Possibly the least glamorous item on your wedding checklist, but arguably the most important.
2. Generator
If you’re not connected to a suitable power supply, you’ll need one.
3. Waste Collection
Someone needs to remove all that rubbish afterwards.
4. Water Supply
Especially important for caterers.
5. Parking Plan
Where are 100 guests actually going to leave their cars?
6. Signage
Guests need to know where they’re going.
7. Outdoor Lighting
People still need to find the toilets after dark.
8. Dance Floor
Not all marquee packages include one.
9. Bar Structure
If you’re providing your own bar.
10. Refrigeration
Drinks need somewhere to stay cold.
11. Ice
Far more than you think.
12. Furniture
Tables and chairs don’t magically appear. How about a relaxing, styled chill out area for guests to be comfy and enjoy views of the dance floor?
13. Linen
Check what’s included before assuming it’s covered.
14. Glassware
One of the most commonly forgotten items. Have you got enough? And don’t forget that adding coloured glassware is a great way to elevate your tables!
15. Crockery and Cutlery
Always opt for 10% more than required.
16. Staff Area
Your suppliers need somewhere to store equipment and take breaks. Also, most bands will have a ‘green room’ in their contract, so don’t forget that!
17. Wet Weather Plan
Even summer weddings need one.
18. Heating
British weather loves surprises.
19. Supplier Timings
A detailed schedule keeps everyone working together.
20. Someone to Run the Day
The biggest oversight of all.
Your family shouldn’t be directing suppliers, solving problems or checking generators during your wedding. That’s the role of an on-the-day coordinator.
The Secret to a Stress-Free Marquee Wedding
The difference between a relaxed marquee wedding and a stressful one isn’t usually budget.
It’s planning.
The most successful DIY weddings have robust logistics behind the scenes, allowing couples to enjoy all the creativity and freedom that marquee weddings offer without spending the day troubleshooting.
Final Thoughts
Marquee weddings are incredible.
They’re flexible, personal and allow you to create something completely unique.
But they also require more planning than almost any other style of wedding.
Having a comprehensive checklist early in the process can save you money, reduce stress and help you avoid those dreaded last-minute surprises.
