Top Tips for Avoiding Weather Trouble when hiring a marquee for your event.
You have planned your special celebration with meticulous effort, down to the very last teaspoon.
You have hired a marquee, full draping and the works. Everything is going smoothly until you see the latest weather report for the day of your event. There is one thing we cannot control and that is the weather and unfortunately, if not prepared for, the weather can ruin any event. Marquees can be used throughout the year as long as precautions are taken for possible weather conditions.
Here are some tips for each weather element when hiring a marquee:
Rain
- Hire a marquee with raised wooden flooring
There is nothing worse than muddy puddles at a party, where ladies cling onto their gentlemen while trying to avoid the puddles in their heels. It can get messy.
By having raised wooden flooring, there is a gap between the flooring and grass, where the water can drain, therefore no muddy puddles. By trying to avoid extra costs and putting a carpet straight onto the ground will result in a soaking, muddy carpet.
- Have path cover
If there is a long walk down the garden path to the loo, you could either install a passage marquee so you’re guests are covered all the way or you could hire a portable VIP toilet that is placed in a separate marquee right alongside the main marquee to avoid the long walk altogether.
- Marquee to be erected adequately and safely
Professional marquee companies like Domino’s Tents 4 Rent know how to erect a marquee with correct tension on the roof to enable run off. Having a sagging roof will result in water build up, which could ultimately result in the horror of the roof collapsing.
When extra marquees like entrance or side kitchen marquees are adjoined to the main marquee, a proper gutter system needs to be put in place to allow for water run off and to avoid water build up in joining areas.
- Supply your guests with umbrellas
Have a basket of umbrellas available for guests to help themselves or if you want to be a little more fancy, hire an usher to greet guests and walk them under an umbrella to the marquee.
Wind
- Marquee to be pegged, secured and completed correctly
The biggest concern of high wind when having a marquee for your event is that it could lift or collapse. It is therefore essential to have a professional company set up the marquee.
When the marquee is erected and before the set up crew leave, walk around the site for an inspection. Make sure all points of the marquee have been pegged into the ground securely. When there is paving or tar, large water drums are used as weights instead. Check that all sides have been attached and there is no loose or flapping canvas.
Heat
- Have an open sided marquee
A-Frame marquees come with canvas sidewalls, these can be removed totally or drawn to the sides like curtains. By opening the sides of the marquee, air will be able to flow through it making it much cooler than a closed sided one.
- Install fans or Air Conditioning
Depending on your budget, fans or air conditioning can be installed. Placing fans in each corner or in the roof could work around your décor and theme. Air conditioning is perfect for those hot sticky nights, the air conditioning units are portable and can be draped or covered to avoid ruining your décor and theme.
- Have an outside shaded area for guests
Place a few cocktail tables and couches under large Caribbean umbrellas where guests can relax away from the marquee. Sometimes guests want to move away from the hustle and bustle for a while where they can relax and take in the surroundings.
Cold
- Place Gas Heaters in the marquee
Domino’s supply mushroom heaters and they come with a full 9kg gas bottle. We recommend placing a few mushroom heaters in the marquee, the number needed depends on how large the marquee is. Be careful, keep the heaters away from the sides of the marquee and away from smokers.
- Hire Fire Balls for the Garden
Fire Balls are fire braziers that are round in shape and stand independently. Guest’s love standing around a fire and they not only create warmth but a stunning effect in the garden.
- Supply guests with Blankets
Place a throw or blanket on every second chair in a colour to match your décor. Your guests, especially the ladies will appreciate the special and thoughtful touch.
Final Words…
There is no guarantee for the perfect weather conditions at any time of year, but if you use a reputable marquee and furniture hire company like Domino’s Tents 4 Rent they will look out for signs of the above contingencies and will be able to advise you on the best course of action to ensure your event goes ahead without any hitches.
