Why It’s Too Risky Not to Have a Planner for Your Marquee Wedding
- melanierevell8
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 27
And the vital things you may not have thought about…
There’s something undeniably magical about a marquee wedding, the freedom, the sense of celebration under canvas, the way it can transform a family garden or a field into something deeply personal and romantic. But here’s the honest truth: planning a marquee wedding is not for the faint-hearted. Unlike a traditional venue, where most of the logistics are taken care of, a marquee wedding is a full-scale production, you’re essentially building a venue from scratch. And while that brings endless creative potential, it also brings risk. Which is exactly why having a marquee wedding planner isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential. Here’s why.
1. You're Creating a Venue – Literally From the Ground Up
When you choose a marquee wedding, you’re not just hiring a tent. You’re also responsible for…
Power (generators, cabling, contingency)
Toilets (luxury loos that can cope with all your guests)
Flooring (grass may not be suitable)
Lighting (ambient and functional)
Heating or cooling, depending on the season
Parking, access, signage and pathways
Waste removal and water supply
It’s a long list – and that’s before you even think about florals, food or fizz. A marquee wedding planner’s job is to pull all these moving parts together so your marquee doesn't just look beautiful, but functions seamlessly.
2. You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
One of the biggest risks in planning a marquee wedding without support is simply not realising what you’ve missed until it’s too late. Have you considered the wind load requirements for your marquee? How your caterer will access clean water? What time deliveries will arrive and who will be there to receive them? Or what you’ll do if it rains heavily and the field becomes muddy underfoot? These aren’t glamorous details, but they’re absolutely crucial. A wedding planner will know the right questions to ask before a problem arises. And even better, they’ll know how to fix it if it does.
3. No Built-In Backup
Traditional venues come with contingency built in. Marquees don’t. If there’s a supplier delay, a power issue, the burden falls squarely on your shoulders, unless you have a planner. With someone overseeing everything in real-time, you can relax and be fully present on your wedding day, knowing there’s someone there to make calm, informed decisions if anything needs attention.
4. The Week-of (and Day-of) Logistics Are Enormous
In the final week before your marquee wedding, most couples want to be soaking up the excitement, not fielding calls from the toilet hire company or directing delivery vans around a muddy paddock.
With a planner on board, we take care of:
Timelines and deliveries
Supplier set-up and coordination
Layout and styling implementation
Managing unexpected changes
Ensuring everything is safe, functional and beautiful
So your weekend unfolds exactly as you imagined — and you, your family and your guests can simply enjoy it.
5. You Deserve to Be the Couple, Not the Coordinator
Above all, a wedding planner gives you space to just be. To drink champagne, to laugh with your bridesmaids, to walk down the aisle with peace of mind, knowing the lights will come on, the food will be served, and the band will have everything they need. Because on your wedding day, your only job should be to experience it, not to manage it.
Final Thought
Marquee weddings are magical, yes but they’re also complex. And the truth is, it’s too big a risk to go it alone. At Your Story Events, we’ve planned and overseen many marquee weddings, from the first peg in the ground to the final farewell. We know how to avoid the pitfalls, how to think of the things you haven’t, and how to make it feel effortless.
If you're dreaming of a marquee wedding, let’s make sure it’s as seamless as it is special. You can download our brochure below to find out more about our services or get in touch here to chat about your plans — we’d love to bring your story to life, beautifully and calmly.
