The 15 Most Forgotten Marquee Wedding Details (and How to Nail Them)
You’ve secured the marquee. You’ve moodboard-ed the heck out of your dream day. Your Pinterest tabs are working overtime. But as you dive into the world of wedding marquees, there’s one reality we need to talk about: you’re not just planning a wedding - you’re building a venue from scratch.
That’s right. A marquee wedding in Christchurch is magical, but it also comes with layers.
Of logistics.
Of weather plans.
Of cable runs and chiller trailers.
And if you’re not across the details? Let’s just say it won’t be the guest list that gives you a headache.
So, in the spirit of saving you stress, tears, and last-minute dashes to Mitre10, here’s our ultimate list of the most forgotten (but wildly important) marquee wedding details - plus the little tricks we’ve learned from styling hundreds of editorial-worthy weddings over the last 15 years.
Bookmark this one, friend. Your future self will thank you.
Photography featured on this blog is with thanks to the talented Sarah Clements Photography
1. Power Isn’t Just "a Generator"
You’ve booked your generator - great start.
But have you mapped out where the power is going? Catering, lighting, band, toilets, bar fridges... they all need their own power sources. And don’t forget extension cords, splitters, or fuel top-ups if needed.
💡 Pro tip: We always recommend chatting with your caterer and DJ early about power needs. Trust us, your fairy lights and your background playlist will thank you later (or never… because no issues cause no problems to be aware of right?)
2. Council Consents Take Time (and Mental Energy)
If your wedding marquee is over 100m² (hint: most are), you’ll need council consent - also called ‘Code of Compliance’. And that approval can take a few weeks to process at times, pending on the council you’re dealing with. It’s a bit of a red-tape-y mood killer, we know. But the good news is, it’s something you can pass off to us and let us take care of it.
💡 Pro tip: When you book your marquee with us, we do this all for you. So no need to figure out what you’re doing, no stressing about supplying all the docs required or answering questions you don’t have the answers to anyway. Easy!
3. Heating and Weather Protection (Yes, Even in Summer)
Summer in Christchurch? Gorgeous.
Until the sun dips and the wind picks up. Whether it’s sidewalls for wind, portable heaters for evening chill, or shaded zones for hot days, comfort is key.
Your guests in linen and heels didn’t come to freeze - especially your dear Grandad.
4. Toilets Deserve a Floor Plan Too
Luxury toilets sound great in theory, but they need flat land, privacy screens, water, and power access. And more importantly - a plan. Don’t just plonk them near the car park and call it a day. Give your guests a discreet, lit path so they can actually find it as the sun goes down (along with a few drinks). Don’t pop them too far away from your marquee that you need a full festoon path, or too long a trek that it feels like your guests are participating in a mini-marathon. We’re not here to kill the vibe! Lighting here is key and something that is always forgotten about.
You will also need running water for toilets, and this just needs to be attached (it sounds hard - it isn’t, but make sure you do have access at that spot).
TLDR? Access to power (for lights inside the toilets), access to water, not too far for guests to walk and lighting from marquee to the toilets.
5. Rubbish Removal (You’d Be Shocked)
Bins. Liners. A plan for mid-event clear-outs. And someone to handle removal afterward.
Sounds boring right? Sure.
But nothing screams “chaotic energy” like a beautifully styled marquee… and after a few hours it looks like a scene from Woodstock ‘99.
We’ve seen this - can’t see coffee tables and leaners for the bottles and cans, and it is indeed shocking - so plan ahead!
6. Vendor Access & Parking = Setups That Run Smoothly
Caterers with crates, florists with fragile arrangements, furniture trucks needing space to reverse... remote or steep sites can delay everything.
Let vendors know the lay of the land in advance. Better yet? Loop us in early by adding in Month Of Coordinator and we’ll do this all for you, foresee the issues, plan for them and communicate them.
7. Outdoor Lighting (Beyond the Marquee)
Inside: gorgeous pendant lighting and candles.
Outside? Pitch black.
Make sure your paths, toilets, car park, and vendor zones are lit.
Functional lighting = happy guests and fewer rolled ankles in the dark.
8. Wet Weather Plan (Because Rain and Wind Happens)
Even the most watertight marquee can’t work miracles outside its walls. Rainy-day realities mean you’ll still need coverage for high-traffic areas like entrances, paths, and ceremony spots. Think entry mats or flooring for high-traffic areas such as the bar and dancefloor, clear umbrellas, and contingency zones that keep guests dry and smiling - not sprinting for their cars in heels.
A well-prepped wet weather plan = a calm, collected couple (and dry feet all round).
9. That Chiller Trailer? It’s Essential.
If you’re supplying your own drinks, you need a chiller trailer. Ideally booked through your bottle shop (they’ll pre-load it for you). And don’t forget: bags of ice go in on the day- not the day before unless you like puddles.
10. Site Access Days Before (and After)
You’ll need at least 2–3 days before the wedding for setup, and 1 full day after for packdown at minimum.
We work with venues and property owners all the time to lock this in, but it needs to be done early.
This isn’t a rock-up-and-decorate kind of situation. It’s a build-the-venue-from-nothing scenario and that takes time.
If you’re booking your venue, make sure you have this access so it’s not a surprise! Some venues may not have had a marquee at their venue before and will not automatically understand the logistics and it is your responsibility as the couple/their client to check access and advise what is needed.
Once, on the week of their wedding, the venue informed the couple they could only have access the day of their wedding, rather than the day prior as they’d booked in another event. Stress, tears and some negotiating but we go there! It’s a lesson that it’s really important that access is confirmed, and isn’t dependant on other factors due to the time installation takes prior to the day (and the day after).
11. Setup Time Is Always Underestimated
Setting up a marquee wedding isn’t a two-hour Sunday picnic. If you’re doing all the set-up inside, you’ll need a full day at minimum, and you’ll also need to consider that other vendors will need to complete their set-up prior to this also (e.g. lighting, hanging installations).
Couples underestimate the time it takes to style, place, and finalise those thoughtful little touches.
If you’re also planning on arranging furniture outside, you’ll need to do this on the day of your wedding. No hire items can be left outside overnight, in rain or wind - so planning for this is essential to make sure you're not hit with damages or losses.
Spoiler alert: Styling takes longer than you think, and it’s not how you want to spend your final hours of being a fiancé. Let us take the reins - clipboard, layout plan, and all.
12. Packdown = Hangovers and Hustle
Packdown is faster than setup - but more chaotic.
Everyone’s tired from an incredible day, a bit dusty, and the energy has definitely shifted.
Have a clear plan for who’s responsible and when. We’re talking specific responsibilities and a clear start time the next day. And remember, everything needs to be returned as delivered before collection. If your items are being collected and you haven’t added on cleaning or other packdown services - you need to clean items (candle holders, vases, cutlery, plates, glassware) before your hire company collects them. If you’re packing down yourselves - chairs need to be stacked, table tops wiped and all items in the marquee and ready to be loaded by the collection team.
We recommend at least 3 hours buffer before the pickup crew arrives, and 5 hours if you’re needing to clean items. Yes, even if you're running on three hours’ sleep and leftover cake. Save your sanity, and have a lie-in, add on packdown and cleaning. It’s beyond worth it.
13. Cleaning Duties You Didn't Sign Up For
Candle holders, glassware, vases, plates, cutlery and glassware - all need to be cleaned before return unless you’ve added cleaning to your hire. Don’t make Mum run dishes at 7am post-wedding.
Add the cleaning service and stay in your just-married bliss a little longer.
14. Breakages Happen (Breathe)
Glassware, plates, napkins... something will likely break or go missing. It’s normal, and not the end of the world. But it’s good so you can plan for a post-wedding invoice for replacements.
15. Insurance (Yes, Really. And It’s Not That Boring)
If your mate knocks over a heater and the damage totals $60k… ouch. Some venues require public liability, and all marquee hire makes you liable for damage.
We offer insurance at 7% of your total hire cost. Add it. Sleep better.
The Good News
When you’re working with for your marquee wedding, we will make sure these things are ticked off for you. You don’t know what you don’t know - and we understand that. We will always give you a full picture of what your actual marquee wedding booking will look like. Not scary, just real.
The reality is, most couples book in the bones and then add on things like umbrellas and heaters afterwards. This means, they are guaranteed the items they want and need (marquee, lighting, furniture), and the finer items can be added in as you move through your planning.
If you’re also setting up yourselves, we offer floorplans for our marquees. All of the furniture you book with us is planned for so you can move forward with ease and have a clear plan on the day.
Christchurch Marquee Weddings: Done Right, Feel Effortless
Planning a wedding marquee celebration in Christchurch is exciting - but it’s also next-level. Next-level detail, for next-level experience. You deserve to walk into your marquee and feel like it’s all been handled. No wires in weird places. No gaps in the power plan. No post-party cleanup stress.
This list isn’t here to overwhelm you - it’s here to empower you. To give you the peace of mind that nothing’s been forgotten, and everything’s been beautifully, thoughtfully done.
Let’s Wrap It Up (Literally and Logistically)
If reading this felt like a wake-up call in the best way - you’re not alone. Most couples simply don’t know what they don’t know when it comes to marquee weddings.
And that’s where we come in.
From layout plans to full creative direction, from premium furniture hire to seamless coordination, we bring the calm, the clarity, and the cohesive style that takes your vision from “hoping it comes together” to editorial-level magic.
Want to chat about your Christchurch wedding marquee plans? We’ve got you.
Your next step?
Let’s talk about your day, your space, and how we can help you be a guest at your own event.
See you under the stars!
