Deciding on a marquee is only one part of planning an event. Once the structure has been decided, the next step is working out what needs to go inside it. Tables and chairs are usually the starting point, but your setup might also include a bar, dance floor, stage, or informal seating. Each addition takes up space and affects how guests move through the marquee.

At BSW Marquees, we encourage customers to think about how the event will flow from beginning to end. Where will guests go when they first arrive? Will everyone sit down at the same time? Does the bar need to remain open during any food service? Will people need to move from dining tables to a dance floor later?

Considering these details early helps create a layout and choose furniture that feels comfortable, practical and suited to the occasion.

Start With How You Will Use the Marquee

Before choosing individual pieces of furniture, think about the main parts of the event.

A wedding might begin with a drinks reception before moving into a seated meal, speeches and evening entertainment. A birthday party might need a few tables but leave more room for standing and dancing. A corporate presentation might require rows of chairs facing a stage, while a networking event could work better with bar tables and fewer seated areas.

So, the same number of guests can require very different marquee sizes. One hundred people attending a standing reception won’t need the same layout as one hundred guests seated for a formal dinner. When choosing a marquee to hire, you always need to consider how the event will unfold, then the furniture can be planned from the outset. 

Which Tables Should You Choose?

The best table style depends on your event, catering arrangements and preferred atmosphere.

• Round tables are popular for weddings and formal dinners. They create a traditional reception layout and encourage conversation, although they require a reasonable amount of room once chairs and serving space are included.

• Trestle tables are more flexible. They can be used individually or joined together to create long dining tables. Their rectangular shape often works well in narrow marquees and makes them suitable for relaxed weddings, parties, community events, and shows.

• Bar tables are useful for drinks receptions and networking events. They give guests somewhere to place a drink without filling the marquee with dining furniture. 

Rather than choosing tables based on appearance alone, consider how food will be served and how much time guests will spend seated.

Plan Seating Around Comfort and Space

For a seated meal, you will normally need one chair for every guest, along with any additional seating required for suppliers, performers or members of staff. 

The chair style can influence the overall appearance of the marquee. At BSW Marquees, we supply a range of options including wooden folding chairs, limewash Chiavari chairs and oak cross-back chairs, each suitable for a variety of occasions.

Whatever style you choose, there needs to be enough room for guests to sit down and move their chairs comfortably. Tables placed too closely together can make it difficult for people and serving staff to get past, even when the furniture fits on a floor plan.

You might also want some less formal seating. A small seating area can give guests somewhere quieter to talk or allow people to take a break from the dance floor. However, lounge-style furniture uses more space than dining chairs, so it should be included from the outset.  

Position the Bar Carefully

A bar often becomes one of the busiest areas inside a marquee, so its position can affect the flow of the whole event. Placing it beside the entrance can create congestion as guests arrive, whereas putting it near the dance floor can work well later in the evening. However, it shouldn’t block the main route to the toilets, exits or catering area.

The bar also needs sufficient space behind it for staff, stock and glasses. Stools can help define the area and give guests somewhere to gather without creating rows of additional seating.

Practical requirements should be considered as early as possible. For instance, the bar might need electricity, refrigeration, water access and a clear delivery route. Planning these details avoids having cables, crates and equipment crossing guest walkways.

Do You Need a Stage or Dance Floor?

A stage can create a clear focal point for speeches, presentations, live music or award ceremonies. It can also help keep performers and their equipment separate from guest areas.

The size should reflect its purpose. A single speaker with a lectern needs much less room than a full band with instruments, monitors and lighting equipment. An oversized stage can reduce your seating capacity without adding much value. The same principle applies to the dance floor. It should be big enough so everyone can dance, but not too big that it appears empty.

Dance floors are usually positioned close to the bar and other entertainment, creating a natural evening section within the marquee. Tables shouldn’t be so close that guests feel crowded once dancing begins. At BSW Marquees, we can provide oak, parquet and black-and-white dance floors to suit different event styles.

Leave Enough Room to Move Around

A successful marquee layout doesn’t just contain the correct number of tables and chairs. Guests also need room to arrive, find their seats and easily move between the main areas. Clear routes should connect the entrance, tables, bar, toilets, dance floor and exits. Serving staff might also need space to move between the catering area and dining tables, while performers, exhibitors and suppliers could require access without crossing through seated guests.

The space behind chairs is often underestimated. A chair takes up more room once someone is sitting in it or pulling it away from the table. So, a layout that looks spacious when empty can quickly feel cramped when every seat is occupied.

For exhibitions, shows and events open to the public, aisles might also need to accommodate display stands, wheelchairs, pushchairs and periods of heavier footfall. It’s useful to think about moments when several guests will be moving at once, such as the end of a presentation, the start of entertainment or the opening of the bar.

Can Furniture Choices Help Keep Costs Under Control?

The furniture you choose can affect both the size of the marquee and the overall cost of the hire. The aim shouldn’t be to squeeze as much as possible into the smallest structure. An overcrowded marquee can be uncomfortable. However, a carefully planned setup can prevent you from hiring more equipment or space than you genuinely need.

A garden party where guests will mainly stand might only need a limited number of tables and chairs. A smaller wedding might not need a separate lounge area, while a corporate drinks reception could use bar tables instead of full dining arrangements.

When customers ask us about affordable marquee hire, we look at what the event genuinely requires. Removing unnecessary furniture can reduce costs, but it can also create a cleaner layout and make better use of the available space.

Should You Hire Furniture With the Marquee?

Hiring your furniture and marquee together can make planning more straightforward. The structure, guest capacity and equipment can be considered as one complete setup.

At BSW Marquees, we can supply tables, chairs, bars, staging, dance floors and other accessories. We’re also happy to work alongside other suppliers when you’ve chosen particular furniture or specialist equipment, aiming to make the whole process stress-free.

When using several hire companies, make sure everyone is working from the same measurements and schedule. Confirm when each supplier needs access, who will position the furniture and whether the marquee needs to be complete before deliveries begin.

What Information Do We Need?

You don’t need to finalise every detail before speaking to us about marquee hire. However, it helps to have an approximate guest number and a general idea of what the event involves. 

Our team will usually ask whether there will be a seated meal, which table style you prefer and whether the setup needs a bar, stage, dance floor or any separate areas. Catering and entertainment plans are also helpful because they can affect access, power requirements and the space needed behind the scenes.

Guest numbers and furniture choices can often be adjusted over time as plans develop. Starting with a realistic outline simply helps us recommend a marquee that won’t feel too cramped. 

Complete Your Event Setup With BSW Marquees

The best marquee furniture setup is one that supports your event. Tables, chairs, bars, staging and dance floors should work together rather than compete for space.

At BSW Marquees, we help customers plan the complete layout, from the arrival of the first guest to the final part of the evening. We can advise on furniture quantities, seating arrangements and the space required for dining, entertainment and comfortable movement.

Whether you’re planning a wedding, private party, corporate event or public show, we can provide a suitable marquee and the equipment needed to complete it. Contact our team to discuss your event and arrange a no-obligation site visit.