Where Should I Have My Marquee Wedding?
— By Raashka Mannie

However, before you forge on ahead with a location, we've got a guide in collaboration with Schupepe, Stretch Tents & Canopies to offer expert tips and advice on outdoor marquee weddings in private residences, open land, restaurants, public spaces and more. With their experience in the industry, they are privy to all the know-how of choosing the perfect spot for your wedding, as well as the nitty-gritty details of each and every location.

Image by Sabine Darrall

Private residences

Having your wedding at a private residence is more economical than hiring a venue. You already have a power-source, bathrooms, running water and cooking facilities, as well as a space that’s private and intimate. Free-standing marquees look stunning in well-established back or front yards. They allow you to create an entirely new space away from the main house so your home isn’t overrun with guests.

Think about areas in the garden that you can use for your ceremony and photos, as this will save you having to leave your guests to go elsewhere for pictures. If the house has a pool, consider having it covered with a staging structure to maximise usable floor space.

Tent installations on grass, sand, gravel or asphalt are straightforward and allow the use of steel pegs below ground to hold guy-ropes in place. While we can rig our tents on any level (or unlevelled) surface, you’ll need a relatively flat space if your guests are going to dine at tables under the tent. Roof-line rigs are a practical, eye-catching way to maintain indoor-outdoor flow – and they are particularly effective in colder, wetter months, so this is something to keep an eye on for that winter wonderland wedding you may be dreaming of.

These rigs are ideal for increasing your usable floor space and allowing you to increase your number of guests, should the need arise. Our tents are attached directly to your roof using specially designed anchors – this means we can ensure there is no gap or ‘drip-line’ between the house and the exterior. They are a smart way to create more space using existing decks or patios, and provide sun and rain shelter for your guests.

Image by La Lumiere

Farms and private sites

There are some spectacular, privately-owned properties around Auckland that have reasonable rates for wedding events. A large paddock with a view of the ocean provides a beautiful vista and great photographic opportunities. Working with a large ‘blank canvas’ does mean you need to organise everything from the ground up, including heating, generators, transportation, a food prep area, parking, lighting and so much more. If it’s a rural area, don’t forget that suppliers will need their transportation costs covered.

Islands (such as Waiheke) are idyllic settings, but transportation for both suppliers and guests can be an issue, along with travel time restrictions. Try to find a location near main centres to avoid these additional costs. Look for a site where the property owners have hosted weddings before and are willing to help you pull everything together, as this will ease the weight of planning your wedding.

Image by Villa Baroncino

Restaurants and hotel venues

Having seasoned hospitality professionals taking care of every aspect of your reception is not to be underrated – but it can be costly, so it pays to get recommendations. There are a number of great venues and restaurants in and around Auckland that offer exceptional menus and service, and have gorgeous outdoor areas so you are able to do your wedding ceremony and reception at the same site.

A lovely manicured garden or back lawn is a perfect spot for a ceremony, while a deck space covered with a Schupepe tent is ideal for a reception. Alternately, you could have your marquee on the lawn and be served outdoors by the venue you’ve chosen. The options for a marquee wedding at a venue specialising in weddings ensures you will be in safe hands, often with dedicated teams to make sure everything runs as smooth as silk.

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Image by Events In Tents

Parks and public spaces

Wedding ceremonies and receptions in parks or public places are a fun option, but there are numerous council regulations you must abide by. If you want to hold your wedding in a public space in Auckland, you will need to apply to the local council for an ‘Event Permit.’

You may also need to apply for other permits depending on the size and type of event you are holding. For a marquee larger than 100-square metres, you must apply for a ‘Temporary Building Structure’ permit. The process may feel time-consuming as there are a lot of paperwork and details, not to mention the added cost (around $500) – but Auckland Council do maintain our beautiful parks and public spaces to a high standard and these processes and costs are in place to protect these areas.

We have a vast selection of stunning public parks that are landscaped and lovingly manicured, making for heavenly wedding settings, so don't let the path of permit applications deter you. Once all is said and done, the result will be a fairytale wedding in a gorgeous venue.

Keeping your tent size under 100-square metres means you eliminate the need for a permit, but you will still need to consider liquor bans, sound levels, toilet accessibility, parking, power access and more. A 100-square metre marquee will hold around 60 to 90 guests standing or ‘milling’ cocktail-style. For a seated wedding reception for up to 120 guests, you would require between 200 and 240 square metres of ‘tent space’ –  in that case, you would need a ‘Temporary Building Structure’ permit.

For more information on permits, contact Auckland Council or click here and contact us directly. We’re happy to help with the process of tenting your dream wedding.

Edited from an original article by Lydia Martin