6 Considerations for Choosing Your Outdoor French Wedding Marquee

Getting married in France gives you the opportunity to create a unique and memorable wedding for you and your guests.

Many regions within the so-called "Country of Love" offer beautiful settings, so many couples opt to have an outdoor French wedding reception within a marquee or event tent. But before you say “oui” to this type of setup, there are a few things you should consider.

Let's look at five of the most important things to keep in mind when planning your outdoor wedding reception.

1. Pick a Marquee That is Well-Suited to Your Venue

With so many options, from dome tents to expandable stretch tents and traditional marquees, it can be hard to decide which type of marquee or event tent is best for your French wedding.

But your decision will be influenced by the venue. Remember, an open-air celebration means you've got to contend with the immediate environment. From grass or dirt surfaces to the threat of rain or excessive heat, you need to pick a marquee or tent that can handle the elements.

Whether the tall trees of your chateau venue render a dome tent impractical or the potential for high winds that rule out a traditional marquee, you need to ensure your structure has enough space and allows airflow to avoid turning your wedding into an oven.

Lastly, the distance from amenities such as electricity and running water might influence your choice of tent or marquee.

2. Consider the Type of Weather You're Expecting

On a similar note, you should also consider the type of weather you're expecting. If there's a chance of rain, ensure you have adequate cover or provide means for guests to stay dry. By contrast, if it is sunny, low-slung tents and marquees can become uncomfortably warm when combined with food, music and dancing.

Given that many French wedding venues will offer up potentially oppressive heat in the summer, you may want to invest in a tent or marquee that can be opened at the sides and equipped with fans to ensure guests stay cool.

3. Consider Which Style of Marquee Best Suits Your Overall Wedding Theme

It may seem obvious, but you need a tent that best reflects the setting and theme of your wedding. For instance, if you're opting for a rustic and boho vibe at your vineyard celebration, you may be interested in a sailcloth tent or an expandable event tent with rustic furnishings. In contrast, a classic white marquee would be more suited to a traditional or modern ceremony.

When looking at which style best suits your theme, do take into account your budget. While, in an ideal world, you might have a tipi-style brown marquee with three "zones" or "annexes", if that's out of your budget range, you can still achieve a similar effect with an expandable tent and the right choice of wedding decorations.

4. Ensure Your Wedding Event Tent Can Accommodate Your Guest List

Size is significant when choosing your outdoor French wedding marquee. You'll need to consider how many guests you plan on having, plus any additional space requirements. For instance, if you have a band booked, you may need to add more space in order to make room for the extra equipment.

Another good tip when looking at wedding tents and marquees is to always look at "seated" capacity rather than "standing" capacity, as you'll likely have chairs and tables for your guests as they dine with you during your wedding reception.

5. Think About the Flooring and Associated Equipment You Need

When setting up your French wedding marquee, you have a few choices regarding flooring. From wooden floorboards to carpet, your choice should be influenced by the type of tent you've chosen and the overall wedding theme, and you could opt to go without a floor altogether if you've got a nice level grass surface, for example, at your chosen venue.

In addition to flooring, you'll need to consider other equipment that would increase your guests' enjoyment. And while you can use standard equipment such as tables and chairs, if you're opting for a more luxurious event, you may want to look into specialist tents that can handle associated equipment such as wedding lighting, mobile bars, dance floors, and stages.

6. Take the Time to Look for the Right Supplier

While you might not be with your wedding marquee supplier for life, choosing the right one is essential to ensuring the success of your event. As such, you should check for a few key elements when selecting your supplier.

They should preferably have a long track record of delivering outdoor events, have good testimonials from satisfied customers and be able to provide a range of tents and services. This will help ensure you get precisely what you want within budget.

Finally, it's always an excellent idea to look for suppliers that can provide everything you need for your event tent (including lighting, tables and chairs, bars etc.), as this will save you money and free up your time to focus on other vital elements such as creating table plans and booking live entertainment.

A Little Time Invested Upfront Will Help You Find the Perfect Marquee

When finding the perfect tent or marquee for your French wedding, a little time invested upfront can help ensure your event is a success. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that the tent or marquee rental for your French wedding perfectly matches your plans and expectations. So don't forget to take into account all of the above when planning your perfect day!

At Fête24, we can supply you with a beautiful marquee or reception tent to help you create your perfect wedding day. Whether it's a versatile expandable tent or an elegant marquee, we have something to suit every requirement. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you create your perfect French wedding.