Planning a Marquee Wedding? Here’s What You Need to Know About Catering
A marquee wedding gives you something a traditional wedding venue often can’t: the freedom to create a celebration that feels completely personal to you.
From choosing where to set up your bar and dance floor to deciding exactly what you want on the menu, a marquee gives you a blank canvas to work with. But with that flexibility comes a little more planning — particularly when it comes to wedding catering.
Unlike a hotel or wedding venue with a fully equipped kitchen and catering team on site, a marquee wedding requires your caterer to bring much of the infrastructure with them. Getting the catering right from the beginning will make a huge difference to how smoothly your wedding day runs.
So, if you’re planning a marquee wedding, here are some of the key things you need to know about catering.
Choose Your Wedding Caterer Early
One of the first things to consider when planning a marquee wedding is your wedding caterer.
It’s tempting to leave catering until later in the planning process, but your caterer can actually have a significant influence on the layout and logistics of your wedding.
A good marquee wedding caterer will want to know things such as:
Where the marquee is being located
How accessible the site is
Whether there is electricity and running water
Where the kitchen can be positioned
How far the kitchen is from the marquee
Where suppliers can park and unload
Whether there are any restrictions at the venue or private property
How many guests you are expecting
What style of food and service you would like
Bringing your caterer into the conversation early means they can help identify any potential issues before the big day.
Think About the Catering Kitchen
One of the biggest differences between a marquee wedding and a wedding at a traditional venue is the kitchen.
Your caterer will usually need to create field kitchen either inside a section of the marquee or in a separate catering tent.
This is where your wedding breakfast will be prepared, cooked and plated, so it needs to be carefully planned.
Your caterer should advise you on exactly what they require, but you may need to consider:
Access to electricity
A suitable water supply
Waste and drainage
Refrigeration
Cooking equipment
Preparation space
Lighting
Flooring
Access for catering staff
A suitable route between the kitchen and dining area
It isn't the most glamorous part of wedding planning, but getting the practical details right behind the scenes is essential for delivering great food and smooth service.
Consider Your Marquee Layout
When you're planning your marquee, don't just think about where the tables and dance floor will go.
Your wedding catering setup needs to be considered too.
Depending on your menu and chosen style of service, you may need space for:
A catering kitchen
Bar
Drinks reception
Food service stations
Cake table
Coffee station
Waiting staff
Clearing and washing up
Your caterer and marquee company should ideally communicate with each other before the marquee is installed. This helps make sure there is enough space for everything and that staff can move efficiently around the site.
A well-planned layout means your guests won't see the behind-the-scenes logistics — they'll simply experience a beautifully organised wedding.
Decide What Style of Wedding Food You Want
One of the best things about a marquee wedding is the freedom it gives you when choosing your menu.
You're not necessarily restricted to a set wedding breakfast package. Instead, you can work with your caterer to create a menu that reflects you as a couple.
Perhaps you want a relaxed sharing feast with generous platters placed in the middle of the tables.
Or maybe you're looking for something more formal, with beautifully presented plated courses.
Other popular options include:
Canapés and a Formal Wedding Breakfast
Start with drinks and generous canapés during your reception before sitting down to a traditional three-course wedding breakfast.
This works particularly well if you want the day to feel relaxed initially but become more formal as the celebrations continue.
Sharing Feasts
Sharing food can create a wonderfully sociable atmosphere.
Large boards and bowls of food are placed on the tables for guests to help themselves, creating a relaxed and generous dining experience.
Don’t Forget the Canapés
Canapés are often the first food your guests will eat on your wedding day, so they're worth giving some thought.
They're particularly useful at a marquee wedding because there can sometimes be a gap between the ceremony and the wedding breakfast.
Rather than simply offering tiny one-bite morsels, consider substantial canapés that give your guests something genuinely satisfying to eat alongside their drinks.
A selection of hot and cold canapés also gives you the opportunity to introduce your guests to some of the flavours that will feature throughout your menu.
What About Drinks?
Your catering plans should also include drinks.
Will your caterer provide the bar, or will you use a separate supplier?
If you're providing your own alcohol, will you need staff to serve it? Who will provide the glassware, ice, mixers and refrigeration?
And don't forget about water, soft drinks and plenty of non-alcoholic options.
It's also worth thinking about how your drinks reception will flow into the wedding breakfast. Your caterer can help you work out timings so guests aren't left waiting — or, equally, being rushed from one part of the day to another.
Think About Your Guests
When planning a wedding menu, it's easy to focus entirely on what you and your partner love to eat.
But your caterer will also need to know about your guests.
Make sure you consider:
Vegetarian and vegan guests
Food allergies and intolerances
Children
Religious or dietary requirements
Guests who don't drink alcohol
Any guests who may require softer or easier-to-eat food
A good caterer should be able to accommodate dietary requirements without making those guests feel like they're receiving an afterthought.
Don’t Forget About the Evening Food
After a few hours of dancing, drinking and celebrating, your guests will probably be ready for something to eat again.
You could offer something nostalgic and comforting, such as bacon rolls or pulled pork baps with slaw.
Ask Your Caterer About Staffing
A great wedding catering experience isn't just about the food.
The service your guests receive makes a huge difference too.
Ask your caterer how many staff will be present on the day and what is included within their service.
Will they:
Serve canapés?
Pour wine?
Serve the wedding breakfast?
Clear tables?
Wash glasses and crockery?
Look after the bar?
Prepare evening food?
Clear away at the end of the evening?
Make sure you understand exactly what's included in your catering package so there are no surprises later.
Ask About the Full Cost of Marquee Wedding Catering
When comparing wedding caterers, don't simply compare the price per head.
Marquee wedding catering can involve additional costs because your caterer is effectively creating a professional kitchen and service operation from scratch.
Ask whether your quote includes things such as:
Catering staff
Kitchen equipment
Crockery and cutlery
Glassware
Linen
Table service
Bar staff
Travel
Kitchen hire
Cleaning and washing up
Evening food
A detailed quote will make it much easier to compare caterers fairly and understand exactly what you're paying for.
Your Caterer Should Help You Bring It All Together
Planning a marquee wedding can feel like a lot to organise, particularly when you're coordinating multiple suppliers.
Your caterer shouldn't simply turn up on the day and cook the food. They should be part of the planning process and work alongside your marquee company, venue, planner and other suppliers to make sure everything works together.
At Paxton & Brown Caterers, we work with couples to create bespoke wedding menus around the way they want to celebrate.
Whether you're planning a relaxed marquee wedding with sharing dishes and generous food or a more formal wedding breakfast with beautifully presented courses, we'll work with you to create a menu that feels personal to you and your guests.
We take care of the catering from start to finish, including the behind-the-scenes logistics, so you can concentrate on enjoying your wedding day.
Planning a Marquee Wedding in Bristol or the South West?
If you're looking for wedding caterers in Bristol or the surrounding South West, we'd love to hear about your plans.
From the first conversation through to the final plate being cleared, we'll work with you to create food that feels right for your wedding — delicious, generous and designed around you.
Get in touch with Paxton & Brown to start planning your wedding catering.