A guide for private events

Size is important – despite what you may read!.

Too many people crammed into a small place is both uncomfortable and unsafe, conversely too large a space can make you event seem under populated. Use the following table as a guide to determine the optimum size of structure required:

Number of Guests	Standing	Seated Theatre Style	Seated at Long Tables	Seated at Round Tables (10 per 5ft round)	Banquet (8 per 5ft round)
25	4m x 4m	5m x 5m	6m x 6m	6m x 6m	6m x 9m
50	6m x 6m	6m x 9m	6m x 9m	6m x 9m	9m x 9m
100	6m x 9m	6m x 15m	9m x 12m	9m x 12m	9m x 15m
150	6m x 15m	9m x 15m	9m x 18m	9m x 18m	12m x 15m
200	9m x 24m	9m x 18m	12m x 20m	12m x 20m	12m x 20m
300	12m x 15m	12m x 20m	12m x 25m	12m x 25m	12m x 30m
500	12m x 25m	15m x 25m	15m x 35m	15m x 35m	15m x 45m
1000	15m x 35m	20m x 40m	20m x 50m	20m x 50m	20m x 60m
2000	20m x 50m	30m x 50m	30m x 60m	30m x 60m	30m x 75m

 

Add space for stage, dance floor, catering, reception, cloaks, toilets etc.
These figures are a guide only – consult your marquee contractor for specific advice.
Try to keep the length of the marquee to no more than 3 times the width to ensure maximum stability and to avoid a “tunnel” effect

When booking your marquee:

• Confirm guest numbers
• Confirm delivery/completion and dismantle dates
• Confirm furniture type and quantities (Allow for catering)
• Agree internal layout of marquee (dance floor, entrances etc.)
• Agree colours and style of interior decoration (samples to colour match)
• Confirm payment terms (deposit etc.)

Safety:

• Be sure that your contractor is aware of the position of underground and overhead services (e.g. drains, gas pipes, etc.)
• Ensure you power supply is adequate, if in doubt consult a qualified electrical contractor.
• Consider fire precautions, we recommend providing fire extinguishers.
• Keep all flaps and doors closed in windy conditions.
• Consult your MUTA contractor who is qualified to advise on safety in your marquee

General:

• Inform the contractor if you need the marquee in place prior to the eve of the event
• Stagger the arrival of the various contractors, e.g. caterers are unable to set up before the roof lining is in place.
• Beware of confusion between metric and imperial measurements
• Update your contractor(s) of changes to guest numbers, dates etc. prior to the event.
• For guidelines on hiring a marquee during the winter months or on exceptional sites ask for a copy of the MUTA checklist for the Use and Operation of Marquees

Other things to remember:
(Many of our members provide some or all of the following services)

• Catering
• Invitations
• Photography
• Flowers
• Transport for guests
• Parking for guests
• Lighting
• P.A. System
• Heating
• Entertainment
• Toilets/Cloakroom
• Stage
• Security
• Insurance
• Bar
• Cake Stand
• Table Linen
• Inform Neighbours