How Much is a Marquee Wedding in France?

France has plenty to offer those looking for a destination wedding. From rolling vineyards to beautiful, historic chateaus, there's no shortage of gorgeous locations to exchange vows. But what about those couples who want something a little more unique? A marquee wedding in France could be the perfect solution.

Marquee weddings are becoming increasingly popular in France, as they offer couples the chance to create a truly personalised and unique wedding day. But how much does a marquee wedding in France cost?

 As with all weddings, the cost of a marquee wedding in France will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the marquee, the location, the time of year and the number of guests.

With that in mind, let's give you some ballpark figures for a marquee wedding with around 100 guests.

Wedding Venue Costs: €0 - €10,000

Of course, the first step of the marquee wedding planning process is securing a site to host your wedding. The good news is that marquee weddings can be held pretty much anywhere – from a family member's garden to a rural vineyard. As long as you've already taken care of your civil marriage ceremony (the legal bit), you can choose any location you like in France for a symbolic ceremony and/or wedding reception.

The cost of hiring a wedding venue will depend on the location. You can also expect to pay more for a venue that's located in a popular tourist destination, such as the French Riviera.

Here are some estimated venue costs for a marquee wedding in France:

• A rural farm or vineyard: €0 - €5,000
• A castle or chateau: €3,000 - €10,000
• A private garden or field: €1,000 - €3,000

Hiring a wedding venue on a dry-hire basis can save a significant amount of money. This means that you're only hiring the space only, not the furniture, décor, catering, equipment, or anything else, which can all be arranged separately.

Wedding Marquee Costs: €3,000 - €15,000

The next cost to consider is the marquee itself. Once again, there is a significant discrepancy in prices depending on the size of the marquee and the level of luxury you're after. There are your traditional marquees, stretch marquees, and tipi marquees, to name just a few of the most popular options.

Prices for a traditional marquee, which can accommodate up to 100 guests, start at around €3,000. Then you'll need to add in the costs of putting in a suitable floor, a dance floor, décor elements, and lighting, which can all add up.

For a more luxurious marquee with all the bells and whistles, you're looking at around €15,000. But it's important to remember that this is just an estimate, and costs can vary widely depending on your specific requirements.

Catering Costs: €40 - €150 per person

Your catering costs will obviously depend on the number of guests you have and your chosen menu. For a three-course meal with wine, you can expect to pay anywhere from €40 - €150 per head.

Of course, there's more than the mere food to budget into your marquee wedding catering costs. You'll need to factor in the cost of tableware, crockery, glassware, cutlery, and sometimes furniture (such as dining tables and chairs). In many cases, these will be included in the cost of your marquee hire. However, it's always best to check with your marquee company beforehand, just to be sure.

Entertainment Costs: €500 - €5,000

Of course, no marquee wedding would be complete without some form of entertainment. Many couples choose to hire a live band, which can cost anywhere from €500 - €5,000, depending on the band's popularity and the length of their performance.

If you're on a tighter budget, you could always create your own playlist and hire a sound system for around €500. Alternatively, you could ask a friend or family member who's into DJing to be your wedding DJ. However, if you want to do it properly, hiring a professional DJ will cost around €2,000 - €3,000.

Other popular entertainment options for marquee weddings include magicians, comedians, and photo booth hire. As with everything else, the costs will vary depending on your specific requirements.

Wedding Décor Costs: €500 - €5,000

Your décor plays a vital role in setting the mood and ambience of your celebration. If you're going for a more traditional wedding, you can expect to pay around €500 - €1,000 for your décor elements. This includes elements such as floral arrangements, table centrepieces, and chair covers.

If you want something a little more luxurious or elaborate, including the use of wedding mood lighting and gobo projectors, you're looking at costs of €3,000 - €5,000 as a rough guide.

Other Marquee Wedding Costs: €1,000 - €5,000

There are other costs you'll need to factor into your marquee wedding budget that will depend on how much or how little your venue and/or marquee hire company provides.

For instance, you will need electrics and plumbing, which might require generator hire and/or the use of portable chemical toilets. You might also need to factor in the cost of heating, depending on the time of year and the location of your marquee.

Other potential costs include stocking and running a wedding bar, hiring a wedding stage for your live band (if you've booked one), and paying for staff to help with set-up, take-down, and running things on the day.

As you can see, there are a lot of potential incidental costs associated with marquee weddings. It's important to factor these into your budget, as they can quickly add up. It's an excellent idea to add 10% to whatever your wedding budget is, just to be on the safe side.

Summary: How Much Does a French Marquee Wedding Cost?

So, how much does a marquee wedding in France cost? As you can see from the breakdown above, the costs of a marquee wedding in France usually come to at least €25,000. However, this is just an estimate, and your actual costs will depend on your specific requirements.

To get a more accurate idea of how much your marquee wedding in France is likely to cost, you'll need to get in touch with a few different marquee hire companies (along with other key wedding suppliers) and request quotes based on your specific requirements. This will give you a better idea of how much you'll need to budget for your big day.

Bon courage!