marquee hire - frequently asked questions
Please take the time to read the following frequently asked questions about marquee hire. We have tried to think of the most commonly asked questions from our customers who have hired marquees from us, and hope that the answers given will be of help to you, when making your decisions about hiring a marquee for your wedding, party or other event.
Quick links on this page:
Why should I hire a marquee from County Marquees? | How big should the marquee be? | How long does it take to put the marquee up? | Can we have a marquee that is open all around? | What type of floor do we need? | Will my garden / grass be ruined? | I have a pond / tree / wall in the way – what can we do? | I can't fit a marquee in or I've got my own marquee/ gazebo. Can I hire equipment from you separately? | I have other questions to ask – is it okay to contact you?
Let's start with the most important question of all...
Why should I hire a marquee from County Marquees?
We are a small, family run, independent marquee hire and furniture hire business that has been established for over 20 years. That means 20 years of experience erecting marquees from one person happy to give you help and advice. (Not 10 employees with 2 years experience each claiming a combined experience of 20 years). As a result you will be looked after by the owner (not salesman, director or foreman that you may never see again) from the original point of contact all the way through to the erection/dismantling of your event. So, the buck stops there. And that applies for every job we have completed over the past two decades and will always be the case.
What does that mean to you?
Simply, that what we have agreed to do, we will do. You and your property will be treated respectfully. You'll know exactly who to talk to for help if you have any problems or last minute changes.
And that's why you can be confident hiring from us, that's why we have been here, hiring marquees for over 20 years, that's why so many of our customers are happy to recommend us for their wedding, party or other event.
How big should the marquee be?
The best answer to this can only be given after we have surveyed your site. But initially try to give us as much information as possible in your email or phone enquiry – and then we can give you a good indication of size and cost.
We need to know:
- What the event is for e.g. wedding marquee; birthday party marquee.
- How many guests you expect and if you want them all to sit down to dine at the same time or if you just want to hire a few chairs and tables, (see our furniture hire list)
- How will the guests be catered for e.g. buffet style or served at their table by waiting staff.
- Do you need to hire a dance floor?
- Will there be any entertainment? – and if so, what form it will take e.g. Live band or disco. (Bands can require a lot more space especially if they have a drum kit).
- Any other special areas that you may wish to have in your marquee, such as bar area, reception area etc.
How long does it take to put the marquee up?
Impossible to answer really. It depends on so many variables such as – how big the marquee is and what equipment is required; weather conditions; how tight a fit the marquee is into the available space; how close we can get a vehicle to the site to unload etc. Again, a better indication can be given once we have seen your venue.
Can we have a marquee that is open all around?
The marquee walls can be opened individually or be easily removed , which would in effect provide an open marquee with just the roof. The only thing to bear in mind would be the weather if it is too breezy which could either make you too chilly or blow the decorations and table cloths around too much. But for a still, warm summer's lunch party it can be a fantastic idea.
What type of floor do we need?
The three main options are:
- Coir (or coconut) matting
- Carpet
- Boarded (hard) floor with carpet laid over the top.
We lay all the above over a pvc ground sheet.
Matting and carpet are used over grass and nailed down along all the edges. It is a great option on grass and does very little damage except some slight discolouration of the grass which will soon recover. Matting has been used successfully by marquee companies for many years, and if laid correctly is the answer for most people's functions. The only problem can come with very fine stiletto heels that may catch in the fibre.
A boarded floor with carpet completely changes the look and feel of a marquee at any time of the year and adds unquestionably to a luxury look and feel. It may be essential on grass during the winter months, and is advisable if the marquee is to go over a hard surface such as tarmac or a patio. The battens under a boarded floor allow the rain water coming off the marquee's roof to run under the boarded floor.
Will my garden / grass be ruined?
We do our utmost to respect customer's property at all times, and minimise the impact on plants as much as possible. There may be some discolouration to the grass, but as most marquees are in place for less than a week the grass will recover very rapidly.
I have a pond / tree / wall in the way – what can we do?
Many clients have an obstruction of some sort in their garden and in many cases they can be incorporated into the marquee.
I can't fit a marquee in or I've got my own marquee/ gazebo. Can I hire equipment from you separately?
Yes. We hire tables, chairs, dance floors etc. to customers even if they don't wish to hire a marquee from us. Please see the separate furniture hire price list on the site.
I have other questions to ask – is it okay to contact you?
Of course it is, we are here to help and advise you. We realise that most people may only hire a marquee once or twice in their lives for a special occasion, so have very little experience of the details. Please don't hesitate to contact us – there's no such thing as a stupid question!
and finally...we often get asked for 'marquis' or 'markees'!
- Did you know that the common mis-spelling of marquees - as marquis - probably does not originate from the French marquise? The French marquise is actually a rather delicious chocolate mousse. So you could end up eating a marquise in a marquee!
- The definition of marquee in the U.K. is generally agreed to be 'a large tent, sometimes open-sided, primarily used for outdoor entertainment'. In the U.S.A. however, it is 'a rooflike structure, at times bearing a signboard, which projects over an entrance, often to a theatre or hotel. Also known as a marquise'. If you asked someone to erect a marquee in the USA, you might not get what you expected!
