Planning a Marquee Wedding in Perth | Vicky Rahmic

There is something I love about a marquee wedding: the opportunity to create a space around the celebration we want to have. We can think about where guests arrive, what they see first, how dinner feels and what happens when the dance floor opens. Every decision becomes part of the experience.

That creative freedom is exciting. It also comes with responsibility. When planning a marquee wedding in Perth, the structure is one part of a much bigger project. The site, flooring, power, lighting, catering arrangements and guest facilities all need to work together.

My advice is to understand that complete picture before committing to a location or a hire quote. Here is how I approach marquee wedding planning and design, and the details I want couples to consider from the beginning.

Start with the experience you want to create

Before choosing a marquee, I want to understand your wedding. How many people are you inviting? Are you imagining a long, generous dinner, a cocktail celebration or a reception where entertainment is a major part of the evening?

I also want to know how you want it to feel. Intimate and candlelit? Dramatic, with a statement ceiling and a large dance floor? Relaxed, with guests moving between indoor and outdoor spaces?

Those answers influence the layout, the structure and the budget. A guest count alone does not tell us how much space we need. We also have to allow for the furniture, bar, entertainment, service routes and the way people will move through the celebration.

Choose the site with both design and logistics in mind

A beautiful view is a wonderful starting point. I also want to understand what it will take to host a wedding there.

Before a site is confirmed, these are the questions I want answered with the venue, marquee supplier and relevant specialists:

• Can delivery vehicles and installation crews access the area?
• What ground conditions, levels and anchoring arrangements does the marquee supplier need to assess?
• Where will catering preparation, service and waste handling take place?
• What power, water and toilet facilities are available?
• How will guests get from arrival to the ceremony, reception and transport home?
• What access arrangements will guests with mobility needs require?
• What permissions, site conditions or restrictions need to be confirmed?
• How much time is available for installation and removal?

A private property, a waterfront lawn and an established event venue can each offer a completely different starting point. The practical requirements need to be reflected in the budget from the outset.

Design the whole space, including what happens above you

For me, marquee wedding styling begins with the room as a whole. I consider the proportions, the ceiling, the views, the entrances and the focal points before getting into individual table details.

A marquee offers opportunities for lighting, draping and suspended features, where the structure and supplier allow them. Anything overhead needs to be planned with the appropriate installation team, including the permitted loads, fixing arrangements and access required.

At table level, I look at how the linen, chairs, florals, stationery and place settings relate to that larger design. Scale matters. A detail that looks beautiful in a close-up photograph can feel very different across a large reception space.

I want the design to feel connected from the moment guests arrive to the moment they sit down. That connection comes from making decisions together, with a clear direction for the entire wedding.

Plan the floor layout around people

A floor plan has to do more than fit the tables inside the marquee. Guests need room to pull out their chairs, staff need practical service routes and everyone should be able to move comfortably between the different parts of the reception.

I think about sightlines for speeches, the position of the bar, where entertainment will be set up and how the dance floor connects to the dining area. I also consider what guests will see behind the couple and where photography is likely to happen.

These choices affect the atmosphere as much as the styling does. A thoughtfully placed dance floor or a well-positioned entrance can change how people engage with the evening.

Make guest comfort part of the design brief

When I think about a Perth marquee wedding, weather is part of the planning conversation from the beginning. I want the team to consider sun, temperature, wind and rain, and agree on the arrangements for the chosen site and season.

That includes discussing the structure, walls, ventilation and any heating or cooling needs with the suppliers. If you love the look of a clear roof, ask how the space is expected to feel at the time of day you will be using it.

The journey outside the marquee matters, too. Consider the surfaces guests will walk across, lighting after dark, the route to the toilets and what happens if an outdoor part of the celebration needs to change.

My aim is for guests to feel comfortable enough to settle in and enjoy themselves. That deserves attention alongside the flowers and table settings.

What should you budget for a marquee wedding in Perth?

I would not use the marquee hire price as the starting estimate for the entire reception. I would build a complete budget around the site, guest numbers, design and service requirements.

These are the main areas I would work through. Some may already be included by your venue or supplier; others will need separate quotes.

The marquee, flooring and installation

Check the structure, flooring, walls, delivery, installation and removal inclusions. Confirm the hire period and any site-specific requirements with the supplier. Understanding the full scope helps you compare quotes properly.

Power and lighting

Catering, entertainment, lighting and other equipment all have requirements that need to be coordinated by the relevant suppliers. Include any necessary power distribution or generation in the budget, along with both decorative and practical lighting.

Catering infrastructure and service

Ask your caterer what they need to deliver your chosen menu at that location. Preparation space, refrigeration, water access, equipment, staffing and clearing arrangements should all be discussed before the catering budget is treated as complete.

Furniture, tableware and styling

Consider tables, chairs, linen, crockery, cutlery, glassware, bar furniture and any lounge areas alongside florals, stationery, draping and custom pieces. Check who supplies each item, who installs it and who collects it.

Toilets, access and supporting facilities

Depending on the location, you may need additional toilets, accessible facilities, pathways, parking arrangements or guest transport. These are part of making the site work as a wedding venue.

Labour, delivery and pack-down

Ask for the labour and transport required across the complete project. A wedding can involve several teams arriving at different stages, with return visits for removal. Access windows and collection times need to be agreed early.

Planning and a contingency allowance

Include professional planning and management in the overall budget, and leave an agreed allowance for changes or needs identified as the plans develop. I would rather make these decisions with room to respond than have every dollar committed before the practical details are understood.

Allow time to build the wedding

The wedding-day timeline is only one part of the schedule. A marquee celebration also needs a coordinated installation and removal plan.

The structure and flooring need to be ready for the teams that follow. Lighting, furniture, florals and other design elements need suitable access and enough time for their work. The exact sequence should be agreed with the suppliers involved.

I want that schedule considered before bookings are finalised. A design needs to be achievable within the site's access arrangements, with time for the team to finish and check the space before guests arrive.

Where I would focus your investment

My priority would be a workable site, guest comfort, a considered layout and the infrastructure needed to support the celebration. From there, I would identify the design features that will have the greatest effect on the space.

That might be a ceiling installation, beautiful lighting, a distinctive table design or a custom focal point. The right choice depends on your wedding. I want each element to contribute to the atmosphere we are creating and to feel appropriate in scale.

The most useful question is: what will this choice add to the experience of being there?

Planning your marquee wedding with Vicky Rahmic

A marquee wedding brings planning, design, logistics and guest experience into close conversation. A creative decision can affect installation. A layout choice can affect service. A practical adjustment can open up a better design possibility.

This is the work I want couples to understand when they begin exploring a marquee celebration. There is an entire wedding environment to consider, and the strongest result comes when those decisions are made together.

If you are planning a marquee wedding in Perth or Western Australia, I would love to hear about your location, your guest numbers and the celebration you have in mind.

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