Marquee wedding at private venue and DIY - tips please

Hello and welcome to hitched ?

I made my bunting myself, just cut the triangles out using pinking shears [so no need to hem them] and sewed them onto bias binding using the sewing machine. I think that is the easiest way to make it and it will look something like this ;-)

Or if you really don't like sewing you could staple the flags onto the binding!

Cheap favours are normally food based... sweets, etc in little bags/boxes?

This was the original route we was going down but after alot of stress and massive quotes we decided against it ( i am not a lover of organising things lol) R.E the plates and clearing up, you would have to hire someone to do this, a company, some family friends...literally anyone whos trustworthy. Most hog roast companys will provided proper crockery for an extra charge so maybe worth asking, this way they would clear the plates ect away and take them with them. What are you doing for your bar? Providing your own or hiring one? Where abouts in the country are you?maybe help other hitchers give you advice.

xxx

Thank you Katede for the bunting and favours ideas - they're great And niks123 I have now asked some hog roast companys if they can provide crockery/cutlery and a waitress service and washing up service as well...they're probably sick of me with all my extras lol. We are hiring a bar which will come with bar staff so I was thinking I could ask if they could provide extra staff and if I paid extra maybe they would clear and wash up for me as they will have washing facilities for the glasses that they provide I would think. I am in Bournemouth...didn't think to say that lol. Any other Dorset brides out there?? Thanks xxx

Ohh gosh you have just made my head spin. I am also new to here and we are hoping to get married July 2014 and have decided on a marquee at our home. my head is spinning with all the questions you have. we are hoping to hog roast in the evening as we are planning to get married at lunchtime with a meal at lunch.

Your caterer should be able to provide staff. Also they should be able to provide a supplier or organise crockery and any furniture you need. With regards to washing dirty dishes, mine uses something called a dirty wash hire - the plates etc. go back dirty. We are having our wedding in a village hall but have to hire in everything. I have been looking online at the hire company's stock - then will tell my caterer what I want. He will order it all for me as he gets a better deal than me just hiring myself.

Oh yes - and have you thought abot water/electricity supply and toilets?

Growing your own flowers/picking wild flowers is a lovely idea, just make sure you have a back up plan and also the time to pick them and keep them fresh. It might be a bit of additional stress in the morning to do yourself, I would definitely delegate tasks to other people as well otherwise you'll be focusing on arranging everything on the morning instead of the important bits of getting married. Perhaps you could hire a wedding coordinator just for the day to make sure everything runs smoothly. That was you could do a lot of the pre organising and DIYing, but then relinquish tasks to the organiser/planner on the day.

I heard somewhere or from someone (can't remember which) that it is illegal to pick wild flowers. I don't know how true it is and I am sure if you grow your own in your own garden or what not the rules (if there are any) wont apply .. just don't get caught if it is true lol. Have fun planning! xxx

Yes toilets and power are biggies lol! Make sure to tell marquee company everything that will be running of the generator such as lighting, fridges in the bar, DJ ect.

As for asking the bar to provide staff......i found this to be quite expensive and if the hog roast company provided the crockery they will collect and clean them and the bar will collect glasses and clean them.

Have you looked into a capri tent? these tend to be cheaper than traditional marquees but only work on a flat surface

sorry if there huge.

xxx

Thanks ATB for the advice on crockery...I have now asked a few hog roast suppliers if they can get hold of those for me and like you say, the they would have to take them away with them as well. I'm good for power and supply. Although my venue is a private garden, it is in the grounds of a house and country park which is run by the council so they have plenty of power and water access points and have weddings there almost every weekend in the summer. Also ok for toilets, getting the luxury trailers ones in. Thanks to all about the flowers, sounds a lovely idea now but think maybe getting nearer to the time will be pretty stressful and may not work out quite how i want. Niks123 we have already sorted our marquee but thanks and I think your right about the staff. xxx