Planning an outdoor event in 2027? Whether you are organising a wedding, milestone birthday, summer soirée, corporate gathering, product launch, festival-style celebration, private party, or another special occasion, your marquee will be much more than a roof over your guests. It will shape the overall atmosphere, flow of the day, and how comfortably everyone experiences the event.
That is why choosing a marquee event supplier is about more than comparing prices and photographs. The right questions can reveal how a company approaches design, site planning, safety, logistics, weather, and the details that make marquee events work.
At One Six Events, we know that every event starts with a different brief. Some clients arrive with a clear vision, while others simply know they need a beautiful, practical space and want help working out the rest. If you are hiring a marquee for your 2027 event, here are the questions we recommend asking before you commit to a vendor.
1. What size of marquee would work best for my event?
Most marquees are designed to seat between 20 and 200 people. If you’re thinking of having more than 200 guests, you might be better off with multiple marquees linked together.
While guest numbers are an important starting point when hiring a marquee, they are not the only factor to consider. The right marquee event supplier will think carefully about how the space will actually be used before making a recommendation.
For example, a dinner for 120 people has different requirements from a standing drinks reception for 120, while a corporate event with a stage, presentation area, exhibition stands, or AV equipment may need a very different layout.
Think beyond capacity, too. You may need room for a dance floor, bar, catering area, cloakroom, stage, band, DJ, lounge, registration desk, or children’s area. When hiring a marquee, ask to see a scaled layout so you can understand how tables, chairs, entertainment, and circulation areas will fit together.
2. Which marquee style will suit the event location and atmosphere?
Not every structure suits every site, and not every event calls for the same look. Ask your marquee event supplier to explain the differences between the available options rather than choosing from photographs alone.
At One Six Events, our range includes traditional pole marquees, clear-span structures, pagodas, garden marquees, winter marquees, and specialist structures.
Traditional pole marquees can create an elegant, relaxed setting, while clear-span structures provide an open interior without central poles and can be useful where layout flexibility matters. Pagodas can work well as entrances, bars, catering spaces, breakout areas, or smaller standalone structures.
For larger marquee events, combining different structures can create a practical site with a strong visual flow.
3. Can you assess the site before giving me a final recommendation?
This is one of the most important questions to ask when hiring a marquee. A structure may look perfect on paper, but the site itself can change what is possible.
Ask whether your marquee event supplier will assess access, ground conditions, gradients, overhead obstructions, underground services, nearby buildings, trees, power supplies, and vehicle access. HSE guidance highlights the importance of considering site access, pedestrian and vehicle movement, infrastructure, and hazards such as underground services when planning temporary event structures.
The position chosen by your marquee event supplier can also influence the guest experience. Think about views, entrances, parking, toilets, catering access, and how guests will move between indoor and outdoor areas. A good site plan for marquee events considers the whole event rather than treating the marquee as an isolated structure.
4. What is included in the marquee hire price?
When hiring a marquee, you should always ask your marquee event supplier for a clear breakdown of what the quoted price covers.
Does it include delivery, installation, dismantling, flooring, linings, et cetera? Are there additional charges for difficult access, longer installation periods, extra equipment, or changes to the specification?
At One Six Events, we believe that the structure is only one part of the finished event environment. In addition to offering marquee hire (the price for which includes set up and take down), we rent furniture, lighting, power and generators, heating and cooling, fridge and freezer trailers, luxury portable toilets, and other event equipment, helping clients coordinate many of the practical details through one experienced team.
5. How early should I book for 2027?
There is no single booking window that works for every event. Date, location, size, season, structure type, and the complexity of your requirements can all affect availability.
If your event falls during a popular weekend of the peak summer season, it makes sense to book as far in advance as possible. The same applies to large corporate events, festivals, school events, and occasions requiring several connected structures or specialist equipment.
Earlier conversations also give you more time to refine the layout and consider optional services rather than making decisions under pressure.
Ask your chosen marquee event supplier when they recommend confirming the date, and find out how long they need for site assessment, design, planning, and installation.
For 2027, it is sensible to start the conversation while you still have flexibility in the planning process. That way, the marquee can influence the wider event design instead of having to fit around decisions that have already been made.
6. What happens if the weather changes?
British weather is one of the biggest considerations for outdoor events. A marquee gives you shelter, but a good plan should consider more than whether the roof keeps the rain out.
Ask your marquee event supplier about flooring, sides, heating, ventilation, cooling, weather protection, and how the structure is secured. When hiring a marquee, summer events may need ways to manage heat and sunlight, while winter marquee events require careful thought about heating, flooring, entrances, and keeping the space comfortable.
HSE guidance advises event organisers to consider the time of year, location, event type, audience, and duration when planning an event, because these factors influence the facilities and resources required.
When hiring a marquee, ask practical questions about the conditions the structure is designed for, who monitors the weather, and what happens if circumstances change. Clarity before the event is always preferable to making decisions on the day.
7. What safety documentation and certifications do you provide?
This is a question every serious marquee event supplier should be comfortable answering. Temporary structures need careful planning, installation, and management, and HSE guidance covers temporary demountable structures used at events.
Ask about risk assessments, method statements, structural information where applicable, fire performance of the marquee materials, installation procedures, and the inspection or handover process. You should also understand who is responsible for the completed structure once it is ready for use.
Fire safety deserves particular attention. Government guidance for small and medium places of assembly includes marquees and tents and highlights matters such as emergency lighting, safe escape routes, suitable fire performance, and the responsibilities of the people using and managing the structure.
When hiring a marquee, do not be afraid to ask for documentation. Professional planning is part of creating an enjoyable event.
8. Who is responsible for permissions and licensing?
The answer depends on your event, location, and activities, so avoid assuming that every marquee event has the same requirements.
Your marquee event supplier should be able to advise on the structure and flag issues that may need to be addressed, but the event organiser may still have responsibilities. Depending on the event, you may need permissions relating to land use, temporary structures, alcohol, entertainment, noise, road access, or other activities.
For example, in England and Wales, GOV.UK states that a Temporary Event Notice can be required for certain licensable activities on unlicensed premises. A TEN is generally limited to events with fewer than 500 people and a maximum duration of 168 hours, subject to the relevant rules.
When hiring a marquee, ask your supplier what they will handle, what they can advise on, and what you or the venue owner will need to arrange separately. The earlier these questions are answered, the easier the planning process becomes.
9. How will catering, bars, power, and toilets work?
For successful marquee events, a beautiful marquee is only successful if it works behind the scenes, too. Catering teams need access, refrigeration, preparation areas, power, and sensible routes for moving food and equipment. Bars need a practical position, while toilets need to be convenient for guests without becoming a visual distraction.
Ask your marquee event supplier how these elements can be incorporated into the site plan. If you are hiring a marquee for a corporate event, you may also need registration areas, breakout spaces, staging, screens, or additional structures for storage and catering.
One Six Events can provide associated services including event furniture, lighting, power and generators, heating and cooling, fridge and freezer trailers, bars, and luxury portable toilets. Coordinating these requirements early can help create a more cohesive event rather than leaving individual suppliers to solve problems separately.
10. Can the interior be designed around my event?
One of the great advantages of well-planned marquee events is the freedom to create an environment that feels genuinely personal. Ask your marquee event supplier how much flexibility you have over the interior.
Think about flooring, linings, furniture, lighting, colour, entrance arrangements, bars, tables, chairs, lounge areas, and decorative details. For a wedding, that could mean an elegant dining space and a lively dance floor. For a corporate launch, the priorities may be branding, presentation sightlines, networking areas, and sophisticated lighting.
At One Six Events, we see the marquee as a blank canvas rather than simply a temporary building. The structure should support the atmosphere you want to create, whether that is relaxed and informal, polished and corporate, glamorous, rustic, contemporary, or somewhere in between.
When hiring a marquee, ask to see examples of complete event environments, not just empty structures. This can help you understand what is possible.
11. How long will installation and dismantling take?
For any marquee event supplier, the installation period matters because it affects access to the site, other suppliers, landscaping, deliveries, and your own preparations.
Ask your marquee event supplier when the team will arrive, how long installation is expected to take, whether the marquee can be accessed by other suppliers afterwards, and when dismantling will happen. If your event is taking place at a private home or working business premises, this can be particularly important.
You should also discuss what needs to happen before the team arrives. Clear access, suitable ground conditions, parking for installation vehicles, and information about underground services can all affect the process.
For larger marquee events, installation can be a significant logistical operation. Good communication between the organiser, marquee supplier, venue, caterers, production teams, and other contractors helps everyone understand who is doing what, and when.
12. Do you have experience with events like mine?
Weddings are a familiar use for marquees, but they are only one part of the picture. In 2027, marquee events can cover everything from private parties and anniversaries to corporate hospitality, brand activations, school events, festivals, filming, exhibitions, and long-term structures.
Ask your marquee event supplier about experience with events of a similar scale and complexity. A company experienced with private garden parties may have a different approach from one used to managing corporate production requirements.
At One Six Events, our work spans weddings, private events, corporate occasions, and specialist projects. That breadth matters because it means we can look at the structure, the site, the guest experience, and the practical requirements as parts of the same event.
When hiring a marquee, you are not simply choosing fabric, poles, flooring, and fittings. You are choosing the team responsible for turning a plan into a real environment.
What should you look for in a marquee event supplier?
The answers from your marquee event supplier should give you more than a price. They should give you confidence that the team understands your event, your site, and what needs to happen from the initial enquiry through to the day itself.
A good marquee event supplier should ask about your guests, location, timings, layout, catering, entertainment, access, weather, and the atmosphere you want to create. They should also explain technical considerations clearly, and be able to provide examples of similar events they have delivered.
It is worth asking who your main point of contact will be, how changes are handled, and what support you can expect as the event takes shape. Planning often involves adjusting layouts, furniture, lighting, power, heating, or other requirements.
At One Six Events, we combine practical experience with a personal approach, working across weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, and specialist projects. When hiring a marquee, you are choosing more than a structure. Look for a team that offers experience, clear communication, attention to detail, and a genuine understanding of your event.
Ready to plan your 2027 event?
Choosing the right marquee event supplier is an important part of creating an event that feels considered, comfortable, and memorable. Asking the right questions early can help you understand the practical details, compare quotations properly, and build a plan that works for your guests as well as your vision.
At One Six Events, we enjoy helping clients turn an empty space into an event environment with character. Whether you are planning a wedding, private celebration, corporate gathering, or another occasion, we can help you explore the options and bring the different elements together.
If you are hiring a marquee for your 2027 event, get in touch with One Six Events to discuss your plans, ask your questions, and request a quote. We would be delighted to help you start shaping your event.
