Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Wedding Lounge podcast. This week, we are joined by some very special guests from
Will's Marquees. We have Chris and Lynsey. Welcome to the podcast guys. Thank you very much for having us. It's lovely to have you here.
It's obviously something that we both speak about regularly, you know, Marquis are things that we love in its part of our world.
And it's just nice to be able to share that with our listeners, especially those who are looking
more considering having a Marquis whether that's in a venue or at home. So let's start with the obvious. What do you love about Marquis? What makes Marquis celebrations special?
Well, we believe that they make magical occasions possible. They also give you a huge amount of freedom to do exactly what you want, wherever you want to do it.
And they also give you the opportunity to personalize things to a much greater degree, but perhaps you would be able to elsewhere.
Definitely. I used to work in a hotel venue. Oh gosh, like when I was sort of just in a gap year. And I always struggled when people, it was an old Georgian
man-a-house and it had green curtains, green carpet, green walls, and then people came in and had like a hot pink wedding. And it just, like always been my biggest
I guess is when like the colour people choose for their wedding doesn't match the venue they've chosen. And I think you're right.
That's what I love about Marquis is when you think, no, you can create the space how you want. And that like a change around as well.
That gives me the massive it when you're in a venue and you've got to leave the room to go and have your tea and coffee and that lull happens.
And that for me, that ruins that guest experience, that there's kind of like you've got that moment of, oh, we've all got to leave for tea and coffee whilst the room is turned around to then come back into then hype yourself back up again for the evening entertainment.
I just don't ever find it works and I've never found a solution that worked well enough for it either. No, definitely not.
So why do you think that having a tent makes that better? We think there are ways that you can remove that because quite often you have a situation where the available space isn't big enough for the Marquis that you would normally have to accommodate both dining and dancing.
But you talk about the sort of change of a period and how do you go about making that not a problem in a tent? I've got that with a client this summer.
And it's not because we needed to do a change round. It's that when the evening guests arrive. Yeah.
Another thing is when the evening guests turn up and they don't feel part of the celebration. Yeah. So it's in a private.
They don't know what to sit. Exactly. So it's in private home. They've got beautiful garden and because they're getting married in the church, they're not using all the fits of the garden and the mum wanted to show off her beautiful kitchen garden she's got.
So we've decided that after the meal, the guests are going to come where they're depending down to one of the other bit of the garden and have a cocktail reception there whilst the evening guests.
So they will turn up directly to the cocktail reception, they'll be live music and they might even do the cake for sitting there, depending on whether then they'll all head back to the Marquis for the evening.
And it just kind of gives that little bit of a journey. So the guests first, they're not just in one space.
But not beat journey brothers and yeah, the tea and the coffee and the drink. Yeah. It's just going to keep the vibe going and then really switch from that meal, speeches will done.
They'll have to sort of allow her to sort of help the evening guests feel a bit more integrated and then they'll all head in. The tables will all be there, but the caterers will have it and the bar team will have a chance to sort of clear any bits and bulbs, you know, just quickly meeting it up.
So there'll chairs will be there, but it won't be so obvious then the evening guests will be able to sit down.
Of course you described two two different scenarios though the first one is whether the evening guests coming later and the other one is whether physically not space to have a big enough tent.
And we would say in that sort of latter scenario, this sort of idea about a movement around the site is really important.
Yeah, because it does give a sense of journey and it also does give the opportunity to fully appreciate a beautiful garden that has more than one place with it.
So what we would often suggest in that scenario is that you split the dining and the dancing. Yes, you do need a plan for that. It can work really, really well.
But you need to make sure that you incorporate into into that movement the enjoyment of the garden. Yes.
And potentially cover. Whereas we were talking a little bit about so the evening guests side of things and we think that's where the bar comes into its own.
Think above and you would normally need for the number of guests that you have for the dining. Yes, because it is a focal point it's somewhere that people can can congregate on arrival.
Have a drink and feel integrated. Yes, without encroaching on that dining space as well.
That is one of the things with most more pieces you are in one space.
Yeah, having that bar area that suits that number of guests really does help with that. Or as you say, you have two different marquees.
Yeah, you thought it through carefully. I've seen it before, had a dining dancing area.
Yeah, you had that, I was going to say you had that last year, didn't you?
Two marquees just the opinion. So, you know, most people we find opt to go for a tent that's big enough for everything.
Yeah, so really the driver for a second tent is either because you've got these lovely grounds that you want to explore or because there's a limitation on the site.
Yes. Typically, that would be what we find or they're going to ceremony because becoming across a lot more interest these days in a ceremony which takes place on site.
Yes. And seeks to sort of bring nature into the event. And there's something we like that very much indeed.
And it's something that we focus on quite hard. So, we designed a small tent specifically for ceremony spaces.
Typically, we would set them up without walls or without any floor. So, very naturalistic.
Yeah. It's lovely to use that space for the ceremony and then for it to be repurposed later.
Yes, yeah. We're big believers in repurposing it. We come to a lot of the supplies as well.
So, I think being able to have something that you can utilise again and again.
It's a wonderful and it takes your guests on the journey as well bringing them back to the same place where we got this as a ceremony earlier and now we're doing XYZ here is it's a really nice way to do that.
And also really practically in England obviously we can't rely on the weather and people don't even like thinking about wet weather options if they're having an outside ceremony.
But also increasing, I think people need shade on weddings where there's absolutely no shade.
They don't want, you know, like a ceremony tent up and I'd say to clients, you don't want guests sat out in the heat and you don't want them to get wet.
And I think having that specific ceremony space, you know, as you say with the smaller structure, it just eliminates sort of any weather conditions really doesn't it?
Yeah. Because you get the sides on unless the rains are actually coming in sideways and it gives people shade.
They're not sat out for sort of 15 minutes before the ceremony starts during the ceremony.
They're not going to pass out in the heat as well.
You can also make it look very different from the main marquee without the carpet and decorations.
It's really simple.
Proud.
Yeah.
It almost feels like you're in nature, don't you?
Yeah.
You know, you don't have to have safe look as you say.
And I think that's part of the joy of people who want to have a wedding at home is they want it to feel like it's in their own homes in their own space.
So they don't want to close off the outside.
They want to welcome it in and that becomes part of it.
So having the sides off and having it open and it being essentially a canvas over your head to shield you is what brings it all together.
Yeah.
And you can also then use that because I don't know what you find that some people don't like their guests.
Even if it is like a big enough dance floor in the main marquee.
They don't want their guests to go in there and till the meal.
I'm just wondering if it's a surprise.
So if the worst does happen and the drinks reception can't be held in the gardens because it's raining.
You know, you can just get the ceremony benches seats to one side and then people still have that.
You know, the use of it then as well as like a back up plaque instead of everyone's mingling around the tables and from the dance floor.
Yeah, isn't always ideal.
Another fact that we're finding comes up a bit more often now is that people don't really want to have that disjointed day where you go to the church.
And then you've got to bring everybody back from the church and it sort of stops start.
Yes.
And they feel as though having all onsite means that the flow of the day is less interrupted.
Yeah.
It depends, I suppose, how traditional you go.
That one of the things that we, we think it's really important that people have the option to have the perfect setup on the day.
So if the weather's good enough to not need a tent and not to hot the shade.
We think that it's a nice approach to allow the tent to be cancelable.
The service for a floor refund and that gives clients the confidence to know that they're going to, that they're protected and they're covered.
But also that it's not a, it's not an expense that they necessarily have to incur that they're only going to incur it if they actually need it.
Sure.
Well, that's really interesting because I've had several situations where I've had clients that are like they don't want to commit to having a structure when they can't guarantee the weather.
But at the same time, I've not come across no until you company that is willing to do that.
Well, we're always looking for some ways of setting ourselves apart and we, we identified this as one of those, those things.
So we did it.
Yeah.
It's the honest, it's a second tent. So we're already there putting up a tent. Yeah, exactly.
So not all of the costs that would normally be associated are, are, are relevant.
So it's, it's not something that's that difficult for us to do.
And because we make the tents ourselves, we're, we're never sure to stock.
Yeah.
So it's perhaps a luxury that we're able to provide it because we're in an unfortunate position.
Yeah.
It's definitely be concerned for people they don't want to spend the money if they don't need to. And they, yeah, yeah, exactly exactly that's brilliant.
How did you get into making your own tents?
It was a bit, a bit accidental really.
If we didn't set out to be a manufacturer of tents, we, we set out to be a marquee hireer.
And actually, we were for the first three or four years.
But we used to buy our tents from a husband and wife team in Cornwall called Degenlora of belt tents who are no longer working.
And we became friends with them. And they were very skilled.
He'd been a boat builder. She was a very talented mathematician who could work out all sorts of anything to do with geometry.
Over the process of becoming friends with them, when the point, they reached the point where they, where they were going to retire.
They picked up the phone just and said, we don't want the skills that we've acquired over a lifetime to be lost.
Would you like us to teach you? And we said, well, yes, thank you.
So that was when we learned how to make the tents.
So the DNA of every world's marquee is, is a, is a belt tent from Degenlora.
But the DNA of every belt tent goes back much further because the tent is a, is an ancient one.
Yeah.
Really what I think we did was we took the DNA, if you like, the basic patterns.
And we, we took them on.
So we made the tents bigger.
We introduced all sorts of things that made the tents more usable, like double spacing of the wall poles to give us greater access.
Yeah, additional height, we introduced to impole range, the raw sorts of innovations that we were able to layer on to the traditional skills of woodworking.
Sail making, because they were a tent is a tent and not a sail is the same skills plan.
And a road work, then well, I thought I'd give you a rather long answer.
But the reason we got into it was because the people who made our tents were tired.
Yeah.
And we're very glad that they felt able to pass on their knowledge.
Yeah, it's wonderful.
And such a skill won't make them into the, you know, I mean, I did math, but I think it will be job as you know the geometry of, you know, angles and sort of the physics element as well.
I guess everything, because you've got to make sure that you're making them to withstand certain and the way they get the weight loads as well.
Yeah, weight loads, weather conditions, you know, the things that you get thrown out out in the great British countryside.
You've got to make sure your tents can obviously withstand and know the, the safe limits of those.
Absolutely. And that's why all our tents are assessed by structural engineers.
They're all rated to 70 mile now, gas speeds.
Right.
But I would say, I would just backtrack on something you said earlier, which is, you know, we'd be interested to see it and let me invite you now.
We are always looking for ways to make us different and to be more engaged with people.
And so we made our headquarters in York very much a welcoming space.
So it's not just a yard with a bunch of trucks in it.
Yeah.
It's, it's a, it's a beautifully inviting space with a garden and where there's a canteen and there's a more of a sort of boutique atelier feel to it.
Please come.
We love to show them.
Two.
We try it.
Yeah.
And actually, we would say the same to, to all of our clients, either whether they'd look for all their perspective, we would.
We're very proud of what we've done.
Yeah.
We love to show people what it is that we do.
And it's an open house policy.
It's such a huge part of the budget and the day, the space that you choose to celebrate your wedding in to be able to come and view what you have.
It's such a wonderful thing to be able to offer people.
Thank you.
We think it's really important.
Yeah.
I think it's not possible to see the differences between tents without getting up close and personal.
And I would encourage everybody who is looking for a marquee for whatever the celebration is to take the time to having shortlisted a couple of companies to three companies to go and then see what those companies do.
And see if you can establish rapport with the individuals as well, because there's two elements to it, this product and service.
Yeah, yeah.
And I think there's no reason we can't have both to your satisfaction.
And the only way to find out is to invest the time to view and to get to know people.
It's a very tricky thing to be able to do, isn't it?
It's going to be a tent to know what it's going to be like.
It's not like going to a venue.
No, always there and all.
Yeah.
And as we were saying earlier for recording, for most people, they're going to be doing this once.
Yeah.
Until they're in and they've invested in the supply that they're choosing.
They're not going to know and they're not going to know until the day.
And then the day is over and it's done and they're not going to get the chance to redo.
So investing that time is such a crucial thing to be able to do.
And you're so right like that.
I think that's an incredible thing for our cops to be able to do.
If they're planning on a marquee, invest a time in going and seeing it and meeting the team.
Yeah, like getting to know you because there's a lot of communication between marquee players.
Yeah, because there's lots of logistics to think about.
You're doing it in people's homes.
They'll be site visits and things.
So you need to be able to get on with the team behind the actual structure as well,
which kind of leads on to the next point.
Yeah.
Obviously I'm assuming that sometimes you work with planners and sometimes you work directly with clients.
They're weddings or do you tend to work mainly with with planners?
I just wondered what sort of the key differences were.
Well, I'd say.
I'd say we do probably a bit of both.
So we mainly work direct with clients.
Yeah.
We do some planners.
I think the planner jobs tend to be the higher budget ones.
I just wanted to pick up as I said earlier, which is.
It isn't that difficult to come and see a tent because, you know, you don't have to wait for an open day.
What you can do is your marquee company should be happy to show you a tent either on a set up day.
Yeah.
Or with the permission of the clients.
Yes, yeah.
To the morning.
Yeah.
Before the wedding when the tent is dressed.
Yeah.
Until wonderful time to get the chance to see it.
And we do most of our viewings on the set.
Yeah.
With the very generous permission of the people who's.
Yeah.
And that's the honest.
Most of them have enjoyed that.
Yes.
So they sort of know how much they benefited from being able to do it.
So most people are very happy to allow it.
But your question was about the differences between working with planners versus a direct relationship.
The client.
I think the obvious one is that if you're working with a planner, you tend to lose the direct relationship with the client.
Yeah.
Which is a shame.
Yeah.
The only negative.
Yeah.
From our perspective, because it removes you from directly from the communication chain.
Yeah.
That's probably the only drawback.
Do you feel there's a way to do both?
Well, I think it's having a really good relationship with the planner.
Yeah.
And one way you, you know, you properly speak and make something available to the planner and vice versa.
Yeah.
And I think there's a huge benefit to clients from working with with planners.
And I thought a bit about this over the years.
And I think really for us, we would, we would put it into three categories.
In no particular order, I'd say it was probably creativity.
Yeah.
Because a planner will bring a degree of their own thought, which are unique.
Based on their experience and their, their knowledge of the available suppliers and what's going on in the, in the world, they can take.
The brief came to them from their clients and move it in a direction that you might not necessarily think of.
Yeah.
So, you know, we are marquee experts.
We're not planner experts.
We're not caterers.
We don't really care.
We put up the tent.
And so, I think there's, there's very much room for that creative input from a planner.
And I think good planner does that really well.
Yeah.
That's, even on its own, that's enough.
But then when you add into the thing, I think she's the real clincher for me is when I sometimes we speak to bride and mothers and fathers.
And they're going to try to do the flowers themselves or they're going to try and organize certain elements of the day.
And I just think to myself, you're spending a lot of money and you're probably not going to enjoy it.
Yeah.
So, you're going to be worried about the guest experience of your friends and not taking the time to actually enjoy itself.
So, I'd say freedom, freedom to enjoy the event that you're paying for.
Yeah.
And which is a milestone event in the family, whether it's a wedding or a birthday, whatever it is.
Yeah.
I think those people enjoy the day.
Yeah.
And I think that Anna's tend to have is a list of very trusted suppliers and they're able to introduce the right one for the occasion.
And I think that no one caterer or market company or bar company or band is right for every occasion.
Yeah.
What you need in your kit bag is a list of very good people who do things slightly differently.
So, your agents will offer, you know, a really either one curated list of people.
I also think adding on to that, there are certain suppliers that work well in a market.
And there are some suppliers that struggle in that.
So, it might be the world's best caterer in a venue setting.
But they may not have the first clue on how to build a kitchen in a tent to then supply the amazing meals that they're capable of doing.
And I think a planner who knows the caterer is at work for the different environment as well.
You might have found a caterer, you know, planning it yourself at home.
You found a caterer who you absolutely love and you went to a wedding at someone else's venue.
And you want the same caterer, but that caterer is not going to create the same thing for you in an at-home marquee that they would do as well.
And I think that's quite an interesting one.
I've even seen it with Flores, where people have got family friends who are green-fingered and they're doing the flowers.
And they don't even know how to best use the space and what you have in a marquee.
But they just think about tables.
They don't think about how to actually dress the marquee, you know, with things like the king poles or flower poles, which, you know, they haven't necessarily got that knowledge and weight limits.
And then weight limits and the practicalities of these things.
So, having even photographers knowing how to photograph in a marquee is quite different.
I've tried an example, I had one where I know that if we'd had a different photographer, the photos wouldn't have been the same, just because of the lighting and the backdrop.
They had to be very careful about what, you know, the particles in the distance.
Yeah.
Be very careful.
And to think, and it's not just photographing an venue where the image ends like at the wall.
They've got to also think that actually walks in the background.
Is it the catering tent?
So, I think it comes down to also like bands, even knowing that they power work in a marquee.
It's really important.
And I've seen it before when I started doing coordination.
So, a couple of the plan there were things and I came in to run them.
And they've got caterers who've never worked in a marquee.
And you just, they don't know how to cook slightly sloping.
You know, in the back garden, in the field.
And they just can't think of, you know, what they haven't thought about rubbish because they're not in the, you know,
there's lots to think about practically with the marquee that you need to have the right team.
Yeah, absolutely right.
And we're forever admiring of the supplies we've worked with.
And the caterers have a tough job.
Yeah.
And how they manage to produce the quality of food in a field.
Yeah.
They really do, do they?
Yeah, it is wonderful to see.
And I love, when you get a really good photographer, they won't take a picture that's got something wrong in it.
So, they'll spot the shrug with the ice in it.
Yeah.
That's in the photo and they won't take the either not take the picture from that position or they'll go and move.
Yes, yes.
So, if they're to showing a picture of the before when all the tables are lined up, if there's a chair that's like, yeah, they'll put it straight.
You know what I mean?
So.
What do you mean there's a chair that's like.
Yeah, I know.
There are.
Well, clearly then.
Yeah.
You don't also, this is just about ever being a venue sometimes like helping other people fire extinguishers and fire exit fire.
Like in a market, you don't know if you fire extinguishers or fire exit signs like behind the top table or.
Also things like positioning the cake in the right place in the market.
You know, people don't do that.
They don't frame it nicely.
Yeah.
These sort of things you need to think about.
I hear cake and I start sweating.
We want to say.
I mean, we offer an onsite on the day services called Will do.
And I was once at a wedding and the mother of the bride asked me if I would carry the cake.
Oh, I'm sure.
So I luckily I had a one of my colleagues with me.
But we care.
And we said yes, of course, because we'll do anything.
It's just legal.
Yeah.
And well, we've had to carry the cake from the house to the marquee.
It was about 100 meters.
And the cake was bigger than on my house.
It was.
So it's up to us with our arms underneath the ball.
The pressure.
Oh my gosh.
I hate moving cakes.
Up and down over gravel.
Up steps.
You did it, though.
We did it.
We didn't drop the cake.
Well done.
Yeah, that is.
Yeah.
Trying the caterers to move.
Yeah.
No.
I was about to get a very strong bar team.
Okay.
Yeah.
Oh.
Well, I just feel if you're working with a planner or with a client.
Talk us through process.
Like what can someone expect when they come to Wells from the off?
Well, I'd like to think that what they can expect is friendly, honest, informed advice.
Mm hmm.
Throughout that should be for everyone because you know, Wells was found on two principles.
It was had the best sense in the world and been asked to everyone.
Yeah.
So.
Yeah.
It's pretty simple.
Yeah.
It's simple.
So every inquiry that comes in will be treated the same big or small.
I mean, traditionally, people used to inquire one of two ways, which are the email or telephone.
And now it's a, you know, they're coming at you in different directions.
So Instagram or DMs or it doesn't really matter how the inquiry comes in.
There's always an amount of information that comes.
And sometimes it's enough to start off the process straight away.
But typically we prefer to have a face to face or probably tell a phone conversation initially.
To find out a little bit about the client and what their hopes and aspirations are.
And their plans and their preferences.
And to use that information to shape something which is specific to the client and to the, to the occasion that they're planning.
And where they're planning it.
Yeah.
A lot of people just want.
How much is it for a 10?
Yeah.
And you know, you can give, you can give that answer.
It will be very approximate and it will be, you know, broad brushing within a band.
And we do do that.
Yeah.
I just want to just tell me what it is.
It's not a secret.
We will tell people that we prefer to be more consultative about it and to, and to shape something which is specific to the individual.
So that process is a phone call.
It's a, probably a follow up using a first pass of a quotation with a, with a 3D model.
And with other 3D models are really important, but they come into their own.
Because they give people the opportunity to visualize the space.
Yes, which I think is so key when, when, you know, if you've got someone who has no creative eye, which does happen.
Yes.
For them to be able to walk in and see what the marquee is going to be like is such a wonderful thing to be able to do.
Yeah.
People can't visualize things.
Right.
And if they've not had a marquee wedding or even the parents of the couple sometimes they've not been to marquee vents.
It's, you know, like, sort of a frame tent in a field kind of.
With the circus.
Like in a box.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And we also can put it on Google Earth, can't we?
Yeah.
So they can actually see where it'll sit in the garden, which is also very helpful.
Yeah.
Yes.
I think if we're honest with ourselves, you know,
I imagine when you go to, when you buy a house, you go and see the state agent, they say it's 4,000 or 20,000 square feet.
I mean, what does that mean?
Yeah, I know.
Absolutely nothing.
So try very hard not to use language, which is opaque or, you know, using.
Yeah.
Because what is the point in doing that when he just makes the person you're speaking to feel confused?
Yes.
That's the exact opposite of what we're trying to achieve.
We're trying to communicate effectively.
Yeah.
So we don't talk in square meterages and that sort of thing.
And what the 3D does is it brings a photograph, which is just a snapshot to give you a feel.
It gives you the opportunity to actually plan the space because good 3D model will incorporate sort of a bird's eye view.
Yeah.
And it will should also give you the ability to walk through the tent and move it around.
So you at ground level.
Yeah.
And then, you know, ask, for example, what says the facility to remove the lid on the tent and to spin it so that you can see it from every angle above from the side.
You know, of the whole lot and I think that you cannot overestimate the importance of that.
And if you think if you if you have that and you then go and see a tent, you give yourself the best.
It's a little opportunity or knowing how the space is going to work.
Yes.
Rather than just marking out with big tape measure on the floor.
Sometimes I find, you know, when you build a house on the ground up and it starts up and you're like, how am I going to fit everything in this small space?
Because sometimes it looks really small and then suddenly it looks enormous and then suddenly it looks too small again.
You know, the table is going to go, but having that 3D visualization in your own space as well.
It's not just here's a tent that we've prepared earlier, sort of thing.
So here's how yours will look in your own space.
And is that before people have booked you?
Is that something that happens sort of once people have decided to go ahead?
It could be either.
It sort of depends on the time of the year.
I mean, a lot of our clients are in London.
Yeah.
And not necessarily able to travel out to the countryside.
We do operate in the South and in London, but it's a lot, it's client-led basically.
Yeah.
What's their time to work and they get to where they've got a tent up at the time?
But I think, you know, one of the things we've not talked about actually, but what we would hope is from the point that we see the inquiry.
And as we go through this journey of talking about what the requirements are on providing information.
What we're hoping to do is to build trust.
Because the more I can't trust you, the better you can meet their expectations and understand what it is.
That they're trying to achieve.
And I think we can develop that rapport and earn that respect.
Then we will do a better job.
Yeah.
So once I've had the quotation, assuming that the client has booked the most important thing to say after that is that we work completely flexible.
Because I think there's a huge reticence amongst clients to commit themselves to paying a deposit.
And we think it's because they feel as though once they've done that, they're trapped into what says on the piece of paper.
Yeah.
So we don't refer to things as a contract.
We try to talk in terms of your booking.
We allow people to change everything.
Yeah.
Anything on the booking without penalty.
And because we make the sense, because we've got a huge stock and because the tents are modular, we could have bought downsized attempts.
According to the occasion, people guess this change.
Yes, yes.
The circumstances change.
And so we need to change with those.
We like to say that people get what they need and what they want, rather than necessarily what they first looks.
Yes.
I think that probably takes you through to the point where it's delivery.
Yeah.
There's an awful lot of communication from the point of booking to delivery.
But it tends to be we've got more or less people.
I'm thinking about adding this or I don't need that anymore.
It sort of tweaks to tweak to tweak with those.
What can people add on or what are the extras?
In terms of upgrade.
Yeah.
I would say probably the biggest luxury is time and space.
If you have time to enjoy what you've created, then that's great.
If you've got the space to accommodate people.
And all of the things that you want to have inside a tent.
Yeah.
Then I have probably the biggest upgrade space.
Yeah.
So, you know, you might want, for example, to include chill out area around the dance floor, around the bar.
Sorry.
And that needs more space.
Yeah.
So that is not necessarily something you would consider booking from the off.
Yeah.
But which you can, you can add.
And I think, you know, from a purely practical point of view.
But also, it's not the dress, but it's also beautiful.
I would say one of the most popular additions that people put in later is a portico, which is a covered walkway.
Yeah.
Entrance to the tent.
And I think that they're very useful because they're great to hang flowers on.
They frame the entrance.
They create shelter.
They stop them being a bottle and that can.
Yeah.
And framing that entrance.
Yeah.
Because most tents, you can open anywhere.
Yeah.
Actually space that feels like an entrance and that grandeur that you get of when you're walking in this certain location.
And the wild fact that you get walking into that space is so.
Hey, it's like we're going to come in drips and drafts that you'll have.
Oh, yeah, I know.
I'm just going to knit round this guy over in here and it kind of loses the impact as well, because you want.
You plan your marketing design it with people are walking here.
There's like a nice space that they can see.
You know, you put the table numbers names so that people can see them and then they come in round the sides and things.
And I think having portico entrance really helps guide the guests.
Yeah, walkway helps with that as well.
Yes.
Yeah, that's doing it.
Yeah, something like that.
It's like you watch nearly on the day.
Thinking of one recently where it was coming in all angles and coming from the toilet's round of art.
Yeah, you try.
I don't think that's one of the things that a planner brings is the ability to structure the day.
Structure the way the space is used.
Yes.
So I mean, you know, one of the simplest and most effective methods, as you will know, is to let the grass grow in their mouth path.
Yeah, no, yeah.
And what happens is I think that guests are not deliberately being awkward by going in the direction you didn't want them to go.
It's because it's not clearly enough signals.
Yes.
And I think that the more you can do to make it obvious what it is that people are supposed to do, the more likely they're going to do it.
And they're happy they'll be as well because it removes all the doubt from their minds. I can see where I'm supposed to go.
Yeah, yeah.
I can see that I'm supposed to have a room there.
That's the path.
I'm good.
I'm off I go.
I think you're right.
People need to have that understanding of how things are meant to go.
And I think we're doing so many times.
People are a bit funny because they're kind of out of control.
They don't necessarily know when they're eating what they have and when.
And I think having, I mean, I'm not quite a fat.
I don't really like order of the day.
No, no, no, no.
We've got, oh, we're meant to be doing stealing.
Yeah, mostly people know generally how a wedding flows.
But I think these subtle signs, as you say, to show people easily, like how it's known where they're meant to go.
It really helped calm people's nerves.
They're probably not consciously thinking down the subconsciously.
You like against experience as well.
Yeah, I think it really helps to just improve that guest experience because they understand.
Yeah, no, you're not being obvious about it.
And it helps you get them to the right place at the right time.
It also helps to hold them in the right place.
Yeah.
So if you're having a marquee, regardless of whether it's at home or at home,
then you are probably doing it because you're someone who enjoys the outside.
Yeah.
And you want this sort of quintessential riftish summer occasion.
And a good part of that is the outside.
So unless it's raining, unless it is sometimes it does, but very rarely all day.
Yeah.
What you want to be able to do is to use the outside.
And what you also need to do at the same time is to consider how you stop all your guests from disappearing off.
Yes.
And so you don't need to build a fence and hold them in.
But what you can do is you can put up some lighting.
Lighting.
Which is a, it's not a physical barrier, but it's a, it's an emotional barrier.
It sort of holds people within the space that you, you want them to stay within.
So that you can, you know, to the access range of the, the bar.
Yeah.
Or the counterpays.
Yeah.
I think that we've talked actually.
We've talked a lot about how you can use lighting to help guide your guests throughout the day and change the feel of the market around the day.
So you can really use lighting.
Yeah.
And it's, we were saying it's underrated and obviously it's a really cost effective way because it's not something that's going to go to waste.
It's something, you know, you hire in and it's really simple.
It's really simple way to change moods and guide people where you need them to go.
We will say that the two most important decorative elements of the tent on the flowers and the lights.
Yeah.
Of course, the flowers have the most impact, I think, during the day.
Yes.
And then although the lights are impactful, even in broad daylight, they become, they're coming to them more and more if the light starts to drop.
And they're very, very important.
I think that one of the things that I will worry is if people use hard lights.
And then, you know, sort of that neon pink, the electric blue in it.
It's not right in my opinion.
Yeah.
And in the sense, it needs to be a softer, more gentle approach. And I think that's organic.
Yeah.
Yeah. I think it also complements the surroundings as opposed to clashing with them.
Yes.
I was also going to ask you about flooring because flooring is something that I think people don't necessarily think about practically always.
And also aesthetically, if they, you know, they want this image of a wedding and then they put meeting in that changes obviously the whole vibe of the day.
So what sort of options do people have with flooring?
I'll start out by saying something is probably a bit unpopular.
I think the tents look amazing on grass.
Yeah.
I love it.
It's so, you're in your garden.
You think it looks better than me?
Yes.
I think it's one extreme or the other you can go for the polished hard floor with a carpet or grass.
I agree with you.
When I look at the photographs of America, it's a much more popular option there to not floor the tent.
I don't know why that is.
Do you think it's weather though?
Wow.
Before the tents go up in a harder, harder ground essentially because obviously sometimes chairs think.
Yeah.
I mean, I think if the ground is like that, then you probably shouldn't risk having a grass because having grass, you need to put a flooring.
I mean, I'm talking about when the ground is good enough to allow you to do it, which is basically a lovely flat lawn.
Yes.
Not a field.
Yeah.
Well, you can turn a field into a lawn point is you need to pick your pick location.
Absolutely.
If you're lucky enough to have that location, then it's something I think people should consider more.
It's much cheaper.
And I think it has a look which is very beautiful and naturalistic.
I have to say I'm on a losing battle with this because almost no one agrees with me.
I think it's because it's too informal.
People feel like it's an informal option.
It's too informal, though.
It does it like it can still feel very formal.
If you decorate the tables well enough, the other thing I think that's nice about doing that is you're taking away a beige element.
Yeah.
Markies can be.
They have a lot of cream, a lot of white, a lot of neutral colors.
And that grass, that green just changes the lid.
It warms up the whole space.
I think it does the better than that thing.
People also know what to expect with grass as well.
Whereas with matting, you are literally putting down over the grass.
You still have all the undulation, you have small little potholes and stuff and things like that.
Whereas when it's actually on grass, you can see it.
Yeah, it's a little bit stunning.
Whereas people are feeling feel that matting.
I've seen chairs disappear in like a matting hole.
Yeah.
There are people trip because the matting looks level and then you step on it.
It's not there.
But then on the other end of the spectrum, you've got the ability to hardflops.
We do.
Thank you.
We'd like to talk about that.
I want to just stick on something.
You know, you talk about a little bit about the beige and the creams.
So interestingly, it's not well known, but white.
You'd think it would be one of the worst colors for dirt.
It's not, actually.
You know, a black tent will show the dirt.
Yes, dirt.
Yeah.
I don't know why, but it's true.
It's like dark carpet.
It's a black mark.
It's a prevalent graphic.
I had a marquee last year and they split the day completely.
So they have far fewer guests in the day.
So we did a dining tent.
We had a walkway through the evening tent, which we did.
Blackout lining, blackout ceiling, black carpet.
I think I must have hoved that carpet in the day about five times.
Because it just shows everything.
Every tiny little mark.
They're also tripping their podiums as well.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
That's right.
I think it's black actually shows more.
It does.
Yeah.
I think it's important.
I mean, black has its place.
And I think it's important, for example, the carpet at the stage.
Yeah.
Otherwise, you know, it looks a bit unfinished.
Yes.
You know, we've been fortunate to work with some really great driven companies.
And they can.
They can take a white space, which has it, I think, has its own beauty.
Yes.
Sort of the lofty height of the canopy is a lovely space to decorate.
Basically, it's a lovely space just to have that light airy feel above your head.
But if you want to introduce color, the reaping company is a great way of doing it.
Yeah.
And if you've got the budget and you've got the time, then because we make the tents,
you can have gold finials, you can pink tents.
You could have black and white, twisted ropes.
Yeah.
You have whatever you want, because we can make it.
Yeah.
I mean, it obviously needs budget.
Yeah.
Not a budget.
Everything is doable.
Yeah.
There's budget to get one of the other main considerations when it comes to floor.
Yeah.
Because obviously, no floor is cheap.
And then the next price point up would be a matching floor.
Mm-hmm.
And then, you know, the majority of market companies will also are a flyboard for insolking flyboard for,
which has a vent carpet to turn it.
Yes.
And, you know, we certainly offer that as well.
But what we have done is we wanted to take it a bit further.
Because, as you've said, the flyboard for follows the controls of the ground.
So, it doesn't give you everybody thinks that they're going to get a perfectly level floor.
But you don't know.
They get a solid floor that sits at ground level and follows the ground.
Yeah.
So, we developed a level platform floor, which is, we believe, the gold standard,
because it's a polished wood surface, which you can either carpets or not carpets.
Yeah.
I like that as well.
I like having a wood.
Yes.
I like not having a dance floor.
Like a dance floor.
Like a dance floor, like a pendant area, because it's never usually big enough for all your guests.
Quite.
And then, if hardly any of your guests want to dance, it looks enormous.
Yeah.
So, I really like having a space that's got just a solid floor that you can use.
Yeah.
That's either an area to stand in and communicate or as a dance floor.
Some people like carpeting the dining area.
Yeah.
And then the rest of the tent being the warden area.
Yeah.
If you don't have to have straight lines out there, you can create lozenges or circles or
or different shapes of carpet to suit your skin.
That looks amazing.
Or rocks.
Yeah.
Which is another way of doing it.
I think the beauty of doing a tent on a platform is that you can make the platform as big as you want.
You can literally have the footprint, which is the size of the tent.
Yeah.
Steps up to the platform.
Or you can create a bigger space in there that you've got an outside terrace.
Yeah.
And then the platform enables you to do is to put a tent weight anywhere you want.
Yeah.
You can put it half in a lake.
Yeah.
Put it on a big slope overlooking a view.
Mm-hmm.
Or you can just have it as I want the perfectly flat floor on already pretty flat space.
So those are the options really.
And they go up in price according to which one you go for.
Yeah.
Obviously we've talked a lot about what you can do and sort of the process.
I think sometimes people don't realize where the marquee sitting up and how far in advance maybe you need to put up a marquee.
Almost practicalities of what happens.
You know you need the structure and before florister and kind of you know those sort of things people don't always think about.
So what happens.
Obviously it would vary between every event what flooring they're having that they're having a platform raised floor.
What is the average or normal sort of set up week for couples having a marquee.
But if the building is on a Saturday you're absolutely right.
It's really important that there's time for the other suppliers to come in and to set up that does depend on the level of production for the event.
I would say that we typically for a Saturday wedding would set up on a Wednesday or Thursday.
And unless the clients are using the tent on the Sunday we'll come back on the Sunday or if they all come on the Monday.
Yeah.
For bigger jobs it's not uncommon for us to have to start setting up the weekend before.
If it's a really big tent to in pole tent for example on a platform five six sometimes even seven days worth the set up.
The sort of considerations really are if it's a private home that's not really a problem.
But if it's a venue then it's something to be very seriously consider because of the turnaround from the previous occasion.
And whether or not the venue charges you an extra fee for coming in early.
Yeah.
But it tends to be if you if you need a set up that takes five days it's probably because you're having a really big deal with a lot of guests which requires a bigger tent.
Yeah.
And whilst there is all the shouldn't be a direct line between size of tent and price it tends to be there is a direct line between the size of the amount of time it takes us up.
Yeah.
And it's slightly on that track of whether a presentation of setting up do you have to check the weather when you're going to set up.
That's quite crucial.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
I mean we're weather balls.
What do you use for the weather because my husband's in agriculture and he has this really good app where literally like it shows the rain coming over like ever by ever.
It's never known people use what you're asking what it is.
So there isn't that for wind.
Yeah.
I use that but that's quite coastal.
We use a number.
So we use when we use the BBC.
Yeah.
We're also anybody who recommends anything.
We're going to have a look at it.
A rain will not stop you putting up a tent.
It just makes the invisible experience for those who are doing it.
Yeah.
Very heavy.
Yeah.
It's a little heavier.
Wind is that is the issue.
I mean, if the wind go above a certain speed, which is typically 15 to 20 miles an hour, then you really need to stop and wait.
I mean, there was one occasion where we literally sat in a garden for 10 hours.
And then we couldn't start in the tent up to about, I think it was hard plus seven at night.
Oh my gosh.
And maybe we would split it all night.
I was blessed.
Because we have never not would have a tent.
Yeah.
We had to go up because that wedding is taking place for that party is taking place.
No one's going to move the date of the events.
So they always go up by hook or by crook.
But whether it is, is important to really is.
It's also important to know that they've got the time after the tent is put up and that they're confident it's going to be up and whether approved.
Yeah.
Definitely.
I think obviously timing depends as you say, like the size of production, flooring, all things like that.
That indicate the setup and then it was cleared down.
You mentioned coming in on the Sunday.
This is my bug bear where people suddenly go, you know clients, even suddenly go like two months out.
I mean, so we're going to have like people over on the Sunday and I'm like, OK.
Yeah.
I've got one this summer where they're waiting to find out they've kind of said they're going to do something on the Sunday.
But the marquee company said, can we even just come and take some chairs later in the afternoon if you're not using them.
It's just because of the you've got to then get the tents down, clean them, make sure they're OK.
And then get them ready to go back out again.
So it's true.
We tend to be very frantic about these things.
So we will say, are you planning to use the tent on the Sunday?
And if people are planning to do it, then it's a Monday takedown.
But we try to avoid the scenario where we find out the last minute.
I mean, I'm not saying it doesn't happen.
It does.
But it's one of those things we will try to avoid.
Do you find your work is, well, it obviously is seasonal because most people choose to have nice weather.
But when you put up a tent all year round.
Well, it can.
You could put a wheels up anywhere pretty much anytime of the year.
But is it a good idea?
I don't think it is really honest.
I mean, you know, this is a white canvas tent.
Yeah.
The not best friends with mud.
Yeah.
Also, it's freezing cold.
Yeah.
I personally would, we operate and we have gone outside this.
But we operate from the start of April to the end of September.
We will go into October occasionally, but we don't have to go on that.
Yeah.
And the reason is because it's not fun.
No, yeah.
It's not fun for us.
It's not fun.
I don't think it's fun for the clients.
No, yeah.
You know, it's cold.
It's windy.
There's more risk to the weather.
There's more mud on the ground.
Yeah.
There's water.
Yeah.
that was garden as well yeah yeah if you're holding it to his to like to show up your garden.
I mean I will say that if you if you're planning a winter wedding or a winter party then I would
say that a pole tent canvas pole tent it's not the right solution yeah I would say good for a
frame tent yeah yeah yeah or um or even a tp. Yeah definitely. We sort of have that vibe I think
yeah the cozy light fire we can finish you have fire in a tp kind yeah what would you say I mean
I mean obviously you're not you know something from your service but you're there on the day but
well be one of your most memorable events do you think that you've experienced since setting up them
well you're from there on the day yeah because either we're invited to be there to help or
we we are attending because so we will always go to sight whether we're being paid or not if
we've got any concerns about anything yeah so for example if it's a windy day you won't know
where they're there but we'll be there just hiding at the back just to make sure that yeah everything
say everything's right I'll give you the cheesy answer first yeah we're doing
yeah good answer I hope it's so married why obviously it was your own wedding day but what about
well it kicked the whole thing off yeah yeah and it was in our garden at home and it just felt
the lovely occasion you know celebration at home in the garden I think it takes some beating we
heard of yeah friends and family there and celebrating your lovely day yeah and I think that
that was just us experiencing something that we very much enjoyed and we hope that other people will
have that cheesy and the same enjoyment you know yeah have you been any that you were like
does it be really different or clients where they've maybe had a humongous budget and done something
like amazing or I'm sure everything's amazing but we did do want it locally in Yorkshire didn't we
where we were talking about not having carpet you know stand on grass and it was done a very long
border with the herbaceous borders on either side there's newbie hall okay you may not tell
it's a rip and I think it's the longest border it's a UK I think it is why it's herbaceous it's a
grass path with herbaceous borders on either side and we built a tent that was really really long
that fitted the grass part and so that it was no walls so it was a one table right in the whole
length of the tent wow that's really did it a perfect fit wasn't it the perfect fit yeah the spoke
because we made it really long yeah yeah so walls flat it came into the tent at the sides
so yeah yeah yeah yeah and a few other tables as well but I mean you know the floor
impact and the smell yeah it's amazing so yeah good one remember we'll just have to see some
branches yeah that sounds amazing so you can say I mean probably the biggest budget one we want
shipped a tent to Bolivia wow wow and then we flew out to meet the tent and put tent up for a family
and the paths that's pretty memorable yeah a lot of forget them on our own hurry no how long did it
take to ship the tent out a few weeks yeah yeah I think we never was the one where it got stuck
and got stuck in the pan market oh luckily we sent it so barn involved yeah yeah it managed to
make it through in time oh my gosh the one that I'll never forget was and we do a lot of work at
places that you've never had the worst get to see yeah in fact you know most of our work isn't at
venues it's at private homes and mostly turned out very private so you can't always talk about them
and this is the one I was going to tell you about was in Yorkshire and it was in a place called
the Splash it's not on the map it is a chalk stream rising up out of the ground where the state owner
his grandfather had I think it was the grandfather came back from the war and created an
arboretum around this naturally occurring spring no one knows it's there no one gets access to it
it's a beautiful oasis amongst farmland and we put a little tent up there for a wedding and it was
just magical to be in amongst these ancient trees and with the with the fountains coming up and
you never know it was there that's beautiful so those those sort of events really do stick in our
yeah we touched on it a little bit throughout but give us some more information on
wells who you guys are with there's a business where you cover yeah where you go as far as glilia
now again oh no we go back I don't know if it's a lovely country it's it was a very fascinating
experience so who are wills well wills was founded by Lindsay and I and my son
one son will at the very beginning when he was very young I think he was only 16 or maybe 15 I
can't remember exactly and we sort of grew from hobbyists I suppose so what we are now which is
a national company we previously sold our tents to a very small number of partners in the UK but for
various reasons we no longer doing that which means we're now a national company and we've merged
with our friends and partners people who used to buy the tents from us in Scotland and in Lincoln
share so we are now a bigger company we're operating nationally and that's who we are but we're
talking a little bit about our founding principles and our merging partners have this share the same
you thought so it's very simple perfect tents and lovely service so everyone so I'd say that's
that's really who we are we're always striving to do better yeah and where can couples find you if
they want to find out more about wills e on instagram what's your website i will put it all in the
show notes or type it all up so people have the direct links but where can people find you i'll
definitely on instagram facebook i believe we have tiktok then website yeah and then we've obviously
the regional hubs where you can go and see markys slash so you've got your and Lincoln chance
Scotland's got the amazing it's two Scotland Aberdeen and Keanu Ross which is just outside Edinburgh
and then we've got obviously a lot of quarters in Yorkshire where you say where people can't find us
they are very everybody is very welcome to come see where we make the tents we make everybody
welcome it is a it's a nice environment there's a not just a yard full of lollies you know we've been
to a few markys yeah the players the yards full of lorries yes lorries in the south off being a
port car yeah it's a lot nicer than that yeah and in south we are in the process of developing
our bases further south but they're coming in there around more in midlands so Lincolnshire and
Staffordshire what's that we say yeah right yeah so we hope to be in the cut source and we hope to be
coming in to be closer to you as well yeah you're in Kent we like to end our episode with a tip
from our yeah it doesn't have to be marky related just wondered if you had a talk so we're doing
click for us now got couple heating yes think about heating we do live in England yeah it is
not with moiling hot so think about heating the other thing i would say and this is probably going to
cover but i were we were talking about this if you're not working with a plant then it makes a really
good idea for the client to send a note introducing all the suppliers so that the suppliers can talk
to each other yeah i mean often the suppliers will know each other they don't always and it's it's very
useful if you know who's going to be there because you and they can pick up the phone and not bother
the client with an issue that they don't need to be involved in yeah because what we would all
try and do is to fix stuff without anybody knowing about it so and also it's nice it's nice for
yes to know everybody else and to collaborate and help each other definitely so that would be
i i think another one that we would we would we would highlight i think they're great tips and not
ones we've had before rather i think introducing suppliers i mean i you're building we always do it
yeah it is it isn't something that i guess couples would necessarily think no i don't think it's
really good one and the heating one is you know the last thing you want to happen is your
they to be finished early because people are leaving because they're so full so yeah especially
that evening it does get much cooler yeah exactly there was a witness earlier actually and for me
it's trust yeah yeah because i think that it's very difficult to trust people you don't know
yeah particularly when you know that they're job is to provide something to you for for money
yeah and i think we brits are particularly bad at this because we sort of we're always looking for
the angle how are they going to get me yeah yeah and i think that it's not the case it means perhaps
maybe it's sometimes but i would like to think that all the people that we work with certain people
that we know and other market companies they're actually genuinely motivated by wanting to make
a one little occasion because that's how you get a name for yourself and and how you you become
established so my tip is if you can possibly bring yourself to trust the people that you're paying
to provide you a service then then do so because they'll they'll do a better job for you and you will
enjoy the you'll enjoy it more and it will be a more collaborative experience where you're able to
genuinely benefit from their experience fun's the most then i think we've come across this a few times
where you've had clients who you've told or explained that their ideas as wonderful as they maybe
may not necessarily work in the way that they want them to work and you tell them time and time again
and they don't listen or take that information on board and that trust relationship is really really
tricky because you're trying to impart your knowledge on them but they believe their way is
the way that they want to do it and you're like please please just trust like i've literally
seen it happen before and it's not work yeah trust why are you going to be the one time it does
well thank you so much it's been so wonderful to chat to you guys for so so knowledgeable insightful
that's yeah thank you so much and i know you've always come down and been exploring Kent and Sussex
so we appreciate that you've taken the time on your southern tour to come in chat with us
and feel the podcast yeah so much a lot of pleasure thank you very much for having us i'm just
like to repeat please kind of see us we've got to host you in in Yorkshire thank you thank you yeah
thank you so much now everyone make sure you're listening subscribing following sharing downloading
everything and we will see you next time see you next time bye bye