A wedding marquee or tipi is a blank-canvas structure you hire to host a reception in a garden, field or grounds, with most UK couples paying around £3,000-£8,000 for the structure and basics for 100-150 guests, or roughly £25-£45 per head for a full setup. The headline hire price rarely covers everything, so always ask for a fully itemised quote that shows flooring, lighting, heating and furniture separately, and budget extra for the things a field cannot provide. The biggest hidden costs are toilet trailers (about £500-£900), power generators (around £600-£700 plus VAT), catering and staffing, which are almost always charged on top.
Typical UK cost: Most UK couples pay around £3,000-£8,000 to hire a wedding marquee or tipi for 100-150 guests (roughly £25-£45 per head for a full setup), before extras like toilets, power and furniture.
Wedding Marquees & Tipis by location
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a wedding marquee or tipi in the UK?
For a typical wedding of 100-150 guests, marquee or tipi hire usually costs around £3,000-£8,000 for the structure plus basics like flooring and lighting, which works out at roughly £25-£45 per dinner guest, or £60-£80 per head for a high-end finish. Full tipi packages often run from about £5,000 up to £15,000 once furniture and styling are added. The figure depends heavily on guest numbers, the style of structure, the season, the day of the week and your location.
How far in advance should we book a wedding marquee or tipi?
Book 9-12 months ahead for a peak-season date, and ideally 12-18 months ahead for a summer Saturday, because suppliers own a fixed number of structures and the most popular tents and tipis sell out first. Off-peak and winter dates can sometimes be arranged with three to six months' notice. Most suppliers take a deposit of 25-50% to secure your date, which is often non-refundable if you cancel close to the event.
What's included in a marquee or tipi hire quote, and what costs extra?
The base hire usually covers the structure, delivery, installation, collection and basic flooring, and some packages also include lighting, heating and simple furniture. Things a field or garden cannot provide are almost always charged separately, including toilet trailers (about £500-£900), power generators (around £600-£700 plus VAT), catering, bar, staffing and rubbish clearance. Always ask for a fully itemised quote and confirm exactly what the headline price does and does not include.
Is a marquee or tipi wedding cheaper than a traditional venue?
Not necessarily, because the marquee fee is only one part of the total. Once you add power, toilets, flooring, furniture, catering, staffing and possibly accommodation or parking, a marquee wedding can cost as much as or more than a conventional venue. The trade-off is full control over the location, layout and style, which a fixed venue cannot offer.
What should we check about the site before booking a marquee or tipi?
Confirm the ground is level, firm and large enough for your chosen structure plus space for catering, toilets and parking, and check vehicle access for delivery lorries. Ask about power supply, because most outdoor sites have little or no usable electricity and will need a generator. It is also worth checking drainage and a wet-weather plan, since proper flooring keeps the marquee level and prevents mud, condensation and trip hazards in poor weather.