Luxury wedding marquee: glass tent, orangery or crystal tent?

The crystal tent uses the aluminium frame of a marquee and changes the cover: it is transparent. It is the most flexible choice in size, as its formats run from 6×10 m to 15×30 m.

The glass tent is a free-standing glass-type structure, available from 10×10 m to 15×30 m. The cathedral glass tent is its largest and most high-end format: from 10×20 m to 20×40 m, up to 800 m².

The orangery is a free-standing portal-frame structure, from 10×15 m to 20×30 m. Its silhouette is closer to a building, which matters when it stands next to a château or a house with character.

These three families do not rule out the other structures in the range. A stretch tent or a silhouette tent gives a more natural, boho result. To compare the whole range, see the guide to choosing between a stretch tent, a marquee and an aluminium structure.

The capacity table gives the basis: 1.2 m² per guest for a seated meal at round tables, 1.5 m² with a dance floor. For 120 guests with a dance floor, allow 180 m² of usable area, which points to a 200 m² format.

On top of that come the items that take up space without seating guests: a buffet or catering area, a stage for the band or DJ, a lounge corner, an entrance with a cloakroom. A larger structure is not wasted luxury: it lets people move around without the room feeling full.

The site matters as much as the room. Each structure needs clearance around it for setup, ballasting and crew access. A technical visit with the hire company is the only way to check that the chosen size really fits on the lawn.

A transparent cover changes how the day feels. There is plenty of natural light for the ceremony and lunch, but the sun in high summer can warm the inside. Ask the hire company how the structure is ventilated and shaded, and what options exist to cool or screen it.

In extreme heat, the official advice on Service-public.fr is simple: stay cool, drink water, avoid alcohol and check on the most vulnerable people. So have water available for guests from the moment they arrive.

Conversely, from November to March, daytime transparency turns into night-time light: lighting and heating become the decor. Both topics have their own guide: lighting for a reception tent, and heating a tent or marquee.

Under a transparent structure, the floor is on show. A floor, a carpet or a floor laid over the lawn changes the overall impression, and it gives a level room for heels and armchairs. The guide to flooring in a reception tent covers the options.

Furniture follows the same logic: round or imperial tables, quality chairs, table linen, hanging lights. With a transparent cover nothing is hidden: the underside of the tables, the cables and the generator are visible too. Plan the power supply out of sight, with the hire company.

For floral decoration, a drape or a stretched ceiling, ask before booking what attachment points the structure can take. Do not fix anything to the frame without the hire company's agreement.

The fire safety regulations for public premises contain articles dedicated to marquees, tents and structures (the CTS articles). They apply to premises for at least 50 people (article CTS 1); between 20 and 49 people only article CTS 37 applies.

Within this framework, article CTS 3 provides for a certificate of conformity, with a verification report on the stability of the frame and the reaction to fire of the envelope. Article CTS 5 requires a clear outside passage at least 3 m wide and 3.50 m high along half of the perimeter. Article CTS 7 requires evacuation if snow exceeds 4 cm (unless accumulation on the roof has been avoided) or if the normal wind exceeds 100 km/h, unless a higher value is justified by a calculation note.

Does a private wedding fall within this framework? That is for the town hall and, in some cases, the safety commission to say: do not decide alone. The guide to marquee permits and public premises procedures sets out the process. In any case, ask the hire company for the structure's documents (calculation note, fire classification of the fabric) before signing.

Many prestige weddings are held in a château or on an estate. Under planning law, a temporary construction in place for three months or less is exempt from formalities (article R*421-5 of the Planning Code), and the duration of an event can go up to one year in some cases. The builder must restore the site at the end.

In a listed site or one awaiting listing, in the surroundings of a historic monument or in a remarkable heritage site, article R*421-7 cuts the three months to fifteen days (and the one-year event duration to three months). A wedding lasts a few days, so it usually fits within that limit, but the town hall remains the contact to confirm what applies to your site and whether a permission from the venue is needed.

Also ask the estate owner for their own rules: truck access, lawn protection, setup times, insurance.

Large structures are fewer and are booked early, especially for June and September weekends. The booking timeline for a reception tent shows when to request a quote.

On the day, Météo-France warnings use four colours: green, yellow (be attentive), orange (be very vigilant) and red (absolute vigilance is required). Agree in advance with the hire company who decides, and what happens in the event of an orange or red wind or storm alert.

Before signing, check these points in writing: