Holding your wedding in a tent or marquee is a dream for many couples-to-be. Imagine a dinner in the heart of a park, a dance floor opening onto an illuminated château, or a reception in the garden of a family home full of memories. This option offers unrivalled freedom and lets you create a completely personalised wedding.
At Jour Précieux DJ Paris, we have worked at many tent weddings in Île-de-France and all over France. Over the years, we have found that these receptions are among the most beautiful... but also among the most technically demanding.
Unlike a reception hall, where most of the infrastructure is already in place, a marquee wedding requires you to create everything: the space, the electricity, the lighting, the guests' comfort and sometimes even the access.
Well prepared, the result is exceptional. Poorly planned, a few details can quickly complicate the day.
Here is what we have learned from experience.
Why choose a tent wedding?
The first advantage is undoubtedly freedom.
If your grounds lend themselves to it, or if a relative owns a beautiful property, you can design a reception that is entirely your own. Unlike some venues, you are not restricted by existing decoration or imposed timings.
You can organise your weekend as you wish, set up the decoration several days beforehand, make the most of your loved ones and take everything down at your own pace after the festivities.
This option is also ideal when several family members can stay on site. Cousins, close friends and witnesses get more out of the event, without having to drive home straight after the party.
Finally, celebrating your wedding in a place steeped in family history brings a special emotion that few venues can offer.
A fully personalised reception
Under a marquee, anything is possible.
You are free to choose your caterer, your wedding DJ, your decorator, your florist, your furniture and all the suppliers who will be involved in your wedding.
You can also create different areas to suit the course of the day: a secular ceremony under the trees, a drinks reception in the park, dinner in the tent, a lounge area, a cocktail bar or a dance floor opening onto the garden.
This freedom is one of the main reasons why many couples choose this option today.
Which tent should you choose?
There are now several types of structure.
The most classic are traditional white tents, but crystal tents are becoming increasingly popular.
Our clear preference is for heat-tensioned crystal tents.
They represent a bigger investment, but the result is spectacular.
Natural light floods in during the day and, once night falls, they offer a breathtaking view of the estate, the gardens or the façades of the château.
When architectural lighting highlights the trees and buildings, the effect is simply magical.
Jour Précieux expert tip
Do not choose your tent on price alone.
The type of canvas, the ceiling height, the quality of the finish, the flooring and the transparency of the structure will have a considerable impact on the look of your reception and on your wedding photos.
A properly lit high-end tent will always produce a far more elegant result than a basic structure overloaded with decoration.
Lighting: atmosphere above all
One of the mistakes we come across most often concerns... lighting.
Tent suppliers often offer solutions for lighting the structure.
However, these are not designed to create a genuine wedding atmosphere.
We regularly find that the floodlights installed are far too powerful.
Yet a wedding is not a trade fair... let alone a stadium.
Guests are looking for a warm, elegant and intimate atmosphere.
The chandeliers offered by marquee hire companies are often very beautiful, but the bulbs fitted are frequently far too powerful.
Ideally, their brightness should be adjustable with a dimmer.
Be careful, though: not all LED bulbs are dimmable. This must be checked before installation.
Fine string lights also add a great deal of charm when used in moderation.
Here again, avoid installing too many. Too many points of light end up having the opposite effect and make the tent far too bright.
At Jour Précieux DJ Paris, we have made a habit of handling tent lighting completely independently.
This approach often makes it possible to cut back on the lighting options offered by the tent supplier while achieving a much higher-quality result.
Our lighting engineer controls every spotlight, every chandelier and every decorative light from a professional lighting desk.
This allows us to adapt the lighting atmosphere throughout the day: brighter during the drinks reception, soft and warm during dinner, then more dynamic for the first dance and the dancing.
Light is no longer just there to see by: it plays a full part in the emotion of your wedding.
Jour Précieux expert tip
Never aim for as much light as possible. Aim for the most beautiful light.
A slightly dimmed atmosphere shows off your decoration, your guests and your photographer's work far better than uniform, overly powerful lighting.
This is often what makes the difference between a pleasant reception... and a truly elegant one.
Electricity: the most important point
If there is one thing we always insist on checking during a technical visit, it is the power supply.
Without a properly sized electrical supply, no supplier can work with peace of mind.
The caterer, the DJ, the lighting, the fridges, the coffee machines and some audiovisual equipment all depend on this installation.
Contrary to popular belief, the problem does not usually lie with the generator.
Tent suppliers often provide more than enough power, along with a cable of the right cross-section running to the tent.
The difficulty arises at the distribution board installed at the end of the line.
We regularly see too few circuits protected by circuit breakers, or a lack of sockets to supply the various suppliers properly.
The result: power strips and extension leads multiply, increasing the risk of overload and power cuts.
We have already experienced several weddings where some services were almost compromised simply because of a poorly designed power distribution.
Yet a technical visit a few weeks before the wedding makes it very easy to avoid this kind of problem.
The weather: a factor never to overlook
Even though a marquee provides effective protection from rain and sun, it does not remove the constraints of the weather.
Wind, a sudden drop in temperature or a very hot day can have a major impact on your guests' comfort.
From the end of August, we almost always recommend providing a heating system. An evening that starts at 25 °C can very quickly end below 15 °C, especially in large open spaces.
Conversely, in the height of summer, good ventilation is essential to stop the temperature in the tent becoming uncomfortable.
The choice of flooring is also essential. In the event of a storm or rain, it ensures a clean, stable and pleasant surface for your guests and suppliers alike.
Think about the neighbours too
This point is often forgotten during the preparations.
Unlike a reception hall, a marquee offers very little sound insulation. In terms of sound, hosting a party in a tent is almost like providing sound outdoors.
Before choosing this option, ask yourself a few simple questions.
Where are the nearest neighbours?
Are you on good terms with them?
Are there any specific restrictions in your area regarding noise in the evening?
In most cases, letting the neighbours know a few weeks before the wedding helps avoid tension and shows your willingness to respect your surroundings.
Other logistical aspects
Organising a tent wedding requires more preparation than a reception in a venue.
In particular, you will need to provide:
- mobile toilets if those in the house are not sufficient;
- a service tent for the caterer;
- a sufficiently large car park;
- convenient access for the various suppliers' lorries;
Depending on the number of guests and the layout of the site, certain regulatory requirements may also apply. Your tent supplier will be able to advise you on safety standards and any administrative formalities.
The advantages of a tent wedding
There are many reasons to choose a marquee wedding:
- complete freedom in the organisation;
- a unique and emotionally meaningful venue;
- a reception that can extend over a whole weekend;
- fully personalised decoration;
- a free choice of all suppliers;
- a particularly convivial atmosphere;
- a spectacular result when combined with quality architectural lighting.
The drawbacks
Like any option, a tent wedding also comes with a few constraints:
- more complex organisation than a reception hall;
- a strong dependence on the weather;
- more equipment to plan for;
- more extensive logistics;
- a power supply that must be carefully sized;
- particular attention to the neighbours.
These constraints should not put you off your project. They simply call for good preparation and suppliers who are used to working in this type of environment.
Our view
After several hundred weddings held in tents or marquees, our conclusion is always the same: when they are well prepared, they are often the most beautiful weddings.
They offer incredible freedom, a warm atmosphere and a closeness with the guests that is harder to find in a traditional venue.
However, their success depends on flawless technical preparation.
A properly sized power supply, lighting designed as a true piece of staging, good anticipation of the weather and excellent coordination between the various suppliers will make all the difference.
At Jour Précieux DJ Paris, our role is not limited to entertaining your guests. Thanks to our expertise in sound, lighting and technical management, we regularly support our couples on these aspects so as to anticipate difficulties before they become problems.
Our aim is simple: for you to enjoy your wedding to the full while we take care of the rest.
FAQ – Tent or marquee wedding
Can you hold a marquee wedding at home?
Yes, provided you have suitable, accessible and sufficiently large grounds. You will also need to plan for technical requirements, toilets, parking and the power supply.
Are crystal tents really worth the price?
In our view, yes. They offer exceptional brightness during the day and let you admire the park or the château once night has fallen. Combined with architectural lighting, they create a spectacular result in photos and videos.
How much electrical power should you plan for?
There is no universal figure. It all depends on the number of guests and the equipment used. The most important thing is to have a well-designed power distribution, with separate circuits for the various suppliers.
What lighting should you choose for a wedding tent?
The aim is not to have as much light as possible, but the most beautiful light possible. Dimmable spotlights, suitable chandeliers and a few well-placed string lights will produce a far more elegant result than uniform, overly powerful lighting.
Should you provide heating?
In most cases, yes. From the end of August, temperatures can quickly turn cool in the evening. Suitable heating keeps your guests comfortable until the very end of the night.
Can you party until the end of the night under a marquee?
That depends mainly on the surroundings. If there are homes nearby, it is best to check the local regulations and let the neighbours know before the wedding.
Why choose a DJ experienced in tent weddings?
A marquee wedding requires far more than music. It calls for complete mastery of sound, lighting, electricity and technical coordination between the various suppliers. It is this experience that ensures a smooth, stress-free reception.
Planning a wedding or event in a tent in Paris or Île-de-France?
Book an appointment with our team:
https://calendly.com/jourprecieux/rendez-vous-dj-jour-precieux
