To Board or Not to Board? The Great Wedding Marquee Debate
When planning a marquee wedding, one debate consistently steals the spotlight: Do you really need a boarded floor?
Picture this — a Sunday morning around the kitchen table. The bride and groom, their parents, all contributing to the big day, discussing logistics over coffee. The groom and father-of-the-bride are firmly in the “it’s a waste of money” camp, while the bride, her mum, and the groom’s mum can’t understand why it’s even a question.
“It’s invisible!” argue one side. “It’s essential!” insist the others — citing high heels, wet weather, and the subtle but undeniable impact flooring has on the feel of the day.
Sound familiar?
It’s a conversation we’ve heard time and time again — and one that reminds us of a particular wedding, set on a beautiful tennis court, that very nearly became a disaster. Here's what happened…
Case Study
Background
A few years ago, we were commissioned to install a wedding marquee on a beautifully flat grass tennis court. It was the perfect blank canvas: dry, level, and firm. The clients, confident in the weather forecast and banking on the “glorious 12th” living up to its name, decided against having a boarded floor — despite our strong recommendation.
Our team advised the couple multiple times that even a well-drained surface could become problematic without proper flooring, especially if it rained. Without it, there would be no way to direct water away from the interior of the marquee. The response was always the same: “It won’t rain — it never does at this time of year.”
The Setup
In the weeks leading up to the big day, the weather played along. Sunshine, clear skies, and warm breezes gave the couple a sense of security. The marquee was erected on schedule, with tables laid, the seating plan arranged, and the final decorative touches added. Everything was picture-perfect.
Until the night before the wedding.
The Storm
Out of nowhere, the skies darkened. A dramatic thunderstorm rolled in, complete with a deluge of rain that the dry ground simply couldn’t absorb. The rain cascaded down the marquee roof and poured directly under the sides, flooding the interior — just as we had warned.
The carpet was soaked, the floor became marshy, and panic set in.
The Response
Following a frantic call from the bride, our team sprang into action. Operation “Re-Dress the Marquee” began immediately.
A full crew was dispatched with a lorry loaded with boarded flooring.
The tables and décor were carefully moved to one end of the marquee.
The sodden carpet was pulled up and the boarding laid down.
Fresh carpet was rolled out on top.
The process was then repeated on the other half of the marquee.
By the early hours of the morning, the transformation was complete. The marquee was back to its beautiful best — and this time, protected from whatever the weather had in store.
The Outcome
While the final result looked flawless and the wedding went ahead as planned, the cost — financially and emotionally — was significant:
Additional expenses in labour, flooring, and replacement carpet
Unnecessary stress for the bride, groom, and family
So… Is It Really Worth It?
With all of the above in mind, I wouldn’t even consider asking the question anymore. Just have a boarded floor and get it right from the start. The pros far outweigh the cons — and here’s why:
It makes walking in heels a non-issue — and let’s face it, that’s at least 50% of your guests.
It keeps the marquee warmer as you party into the night (especially important for UK weddings).
It gives your marquee a high-end, polished look — no matter your theme or budget.
It protects your carpet from getting damp or ruined, even if the weather turns.
It just feels better — solid, safe, and stress-free.
In short: if you want your marquee to look great, feel great, and hold up come rain or shine… just board the floor. You’ll never regret playing it safe — but you might regret not doing it.
Picture of Wedding breakfast area of marquee, with ivory pleated linings, round tables and limewash chivari chairs.
