If you’re planning a wedding, party, school celebration or garden gathering in the South West, you’re probably asking yourself one big question. When should I book my marquee?
Whether you’re picturing a countryside wedding with bunting and wildflowers or a festival-style summer party with lanterns and live music, timing is everything. Book too late and your dream marquee might already be snapped up. Book too early and you might not even have picked your dress yet.
So, what’s the sweet spot?
Let’s talk about how to plan ahead, avoid stress, and make sure your marquee moment is nothing short of magical.
Why Timing Makes All the Difference
Marquee hire is different from booking a hotel or traditional venue. You’re not just reserving a space. You’re building one. From the ground up.
And with that freedom comes fierce demand.
The most popular dates get booked over a year in advance. Especially if you’re going for that timeless countryside look with a traditional marquee and all the charm of natural canvas and wooden poles. There are only so many weekends in summer and only so many beautiful marquees to go around. If you have a specific vision, it pays to get ahead of the game.
Booking your marquee early gives you more than just peace of mind. It gives you choice. It gives you time to plan around it. And it gives you the chance to secure all those dreamy details that elevate your event from lovely to unforgettable.
Meet the South West’s Busiest Season
Let’s be honest. The South West is absolutely made for marquee events. From rolling Wiltshire hills to Somerset orchards and coastal Dorset views, there’s no shortage of dreamy backdrops. But that also means there’s a lot of competition for the best dates.
The busiest months for marquee hire are April through October, with May to September being the hottest of the hot. These are the months when the skies are brighter, the evenings are longer, and the whole region buzzes with events.
Weddings, village fêtes, milestone birthdays, school speech days, outdoor festivals, summer parties – they’re all happening during this stretch. And the demand for marquees? Through the roof.
In fact, many marquee companies in the South West, including White Horse Marquees, start receiving bookings up to 18 months in advance. Especially for those classic summer Saturdays that everyone seems to want.
Whether you’re looking at marquee hire in Dorset, Somerset or beyond, it’s safe to say the calendar fills up fast.
So When Should You Actually Book?
Here’s the million-pound question. How far ahead is far enough?
If your event is happening between May and September, aim to book at least 12 months in advance. That gives you the best chance of securing your ideal date, especially if it’s a weekend or school holiday.
Want to be extra sure? Book 15 to 18 months ahead if you’ve got your heart set on a particular marquee style, especially a bespoke canvas setup with window walls, pole caps, and other personalised features.
For spring and autumn events, a 9 to 12 month lead time should still keep you in good shape. These seasons offer a little more flexibility but still see plenty of bookings for weddings and corporate events.
Winter events can be booked closer to the date, but they still need careful planning. Heating, flooring, lighting, and insulation become key considerations – and you’ll still want time to line up everything smoothly.
A Quick Cheat Sheet
To make it simple, here’s a rough guide:
- Summer wedding: Book 12 to 18 months ahead
- Autumn celebration: Book 9 to 12 months ahead
- Winter event: Book 6 to 9 months ahead
- School or corporate summer function: Book 12 months ahead
And remember, marquee bookings often trigger a chain reaction. Once it’s locked in, you can coordinate everything else – florists, caterers, entertainment, even toilets – around it.
White Horse Marquees also offers frame tents and pavilion marquees, perfect for clients who may need a sturdier or more compact structure in trickier locations. If you’re unsure which setup is best for your event, it’s worth chatting to their team for guidance.
Planning the Perfect Location
When it comes to marquee hire, your location makes a big impact. And we’re not just talking scenery.
The ground itself needs to be suitable. Think flat terrain, accessible space, and enough room for any extras like catering tents, chill-out zones, or a bar. If your chosen plot has sloping grass or narrow access, it’s best to get a marquee supplier involved early so they can carry out a site visit and advise on setup options.
White Horse Marquees offers not just equipment but full marquee services including delivery, installation, and layout planning. They’ve worked with wedding venues, gardens, farms, and schools all over the region and know exactly what to look for.
Thinking About Features? Think Ahead
Let’s say you’ve seen a photo of a dreamy marquee with soft lighting, long rustic tables, panoramic window walls, and a swooping canvas roof that belongs in a bridal magazine. Now you want that look.
The catch? Those extra features take time to organise.
Custom linings, elegant lighting arrangements, vintage furnishings, decorative flourishes – they all need to be booked in advance. And with so many couples going for the same rustic-luxe aesthetic, you’ll want to secure those extras before they’re all spoken for.
Booking your marquee early not only gets you the date. It opens up a world of creative choices that let you put your stamp on the space.
What About Winter Marquees?
Now for the unexpected twist. Winter marquee events can be incredible.
While they’re less common, winter celebrations are full of potential. Imagine a candlelit wedding with soft uplighting and festive greenery. Or a Christmas party with a roaring heater, faux fur throws, and mulled wine on tap. It’s like something out of a snow globe.
The bonus? Winter dates are often more flexible, and you might be able to access features and setups that would be booked solid in summer.
The key is preparation. You’ll need proper heating, covered walkways, warm lighting, and maybe even raised flooring. But with the right team, you can transform a chilly field into a cosy wonderland.
The White Horse Marquees Touch
White Horse Marquees is all about elegant simplicity. Their marquees are classic, traditional canvas structures – the kind that make countryside weddings feel like they’ve stepped out of a storybook.
With decades of experience across Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire, they understand the terrain, the weather, and the timing pressures of rural marquee events. Their set-ups are tailored, beautifully finished, and completely customisable.
And because they’re in high demand, getting your booking in early is the best way to guarantee the full experience. The marquee. The layout. The charm.
If you’d like to learn more about the team’s experience and story, head over to the About Us page to see what makes them a trusted name in marquee hire across the region.
Book Early. Relax Later.
Planning an event is a bit like building a puzzle. Once you’ve got the marquee piece in place, the rest falls together with ease.
You know your location. You know your space. You can start styling. You can build your guest list with confidence. You can even imagine where you’ll place the band, the buffet table, and the floral arch.
So do yourself a favour. Book early. Not just to secure the date. Not just to get the marquee you really want. But to create room for everything else that matters.
Are you planning a countryside wedding, a summer party, or a school celebration in Wiltshire, Somerset, or Dorset? Get in touch with White Horse Marquees today and secure your date before the best ones disappear.