A marquee turns an ordinary lawn into a proper venue. It gives you shade and shelter and a clear sense of occasion. The real magic comes from what you put inside it. These backyard marquee ideas use furniture and lighting you can hire from one supplier, so you can plan the whole look in a single booking. Whether you are hosting a birthday, an engagement or a family milestone, there is something here to suit your space. Work through the list in order or pick the ideas that match your guest list and budget. Most of them can be combined in a single booking.
1. Start with the right marquee for your lawn
Pagodas suit smaller gardens because the peaked roof looks elegant and the footprint is easy to fit. You may also hear them called pinnacle or peak-top marquees. They can be joined side by side for a longer covered space. Our pagoda marquees are installed by our team and are waterproof. Not sure whether a pagoda or a pop-up gazebo is right? Read our guide to pagoda marquees vs pop-up gazebos.
2. Go bigger with a structure marquee
For a seated dinner or a larger guest list, a structure marquee gives you generous open space. As an approx. guide, a 6m x 9m marquee seats approx. 60 guests at round tables or approx. 72 at rectangular tables. These figures assume tables fill the marquee so allow extra room if you want a dance floor or a bar. Add event flooring to create one.
3. Light it with festoons
Strings of festoon lights across the roofline give a marquee a warm glow once the sun goes down. Browse our event lighting range for festoon lighting. You can install the lights yourself or have our team install them. They need mains power on site. Our battery-operated LED up-lights do not.
4. Set tables and chairs for conversation
Long tables encourage guests to linger. Round tables suit smaller groups. Our table hire and chair hire ranges make it simple to match your layout to your guest list. Leave a clear walkway between tables so guests can move easily. Choose full set-up if you would like our crew to handle it all.
5. Dress the tables in crisp linen
Fresh table linen is the quickest way to make a trestle table look polished. There is no need to wash it because we launder every piece ourselves. A white cloth on every table keeps the look calm. Our team can also help you choose the right quantities.
6. Set a proper table
Quality glassware and crockery lift a backyard meal into something special. Add tableware and bar supplies such as wine buckets to keep drinks cold. Please rinse glassware, crockery and cutlery of food scraps before return.
7. Create a bar corner with wine barrels
A pair of wine barrels makes a rustic bar or a standing spot for guests to gather. Place the bar near the entrance of the marquee so people flow naturally through the space. Keeping drinks to one side also leaves the dining area free for tables.
8. Add a relaxed lounge
Give guests somewhere to unwind. Bean bags and pallet furniture suit a casual garden gathering and sit well on the lawn at the edge of your marquee. Guests can drift between the table and the lounge as the afternoon unfolds. It also gives children and older guests a comfortable place to rest.
9. Bring in glow furniture for after dark
Glow furniture lights up your seating once it gets dark. Each piece runs on an internal battery module for approx. 8 hours. It arrives fully charged and works outdoors. Group a few cubes or lounges near the bar so the lit area draws guests in as the evening goes on.
10. Keep everyone comfortable
Cool evenings call for a patio heater. Use heaters outside only and keep them well away from the canvas. Warm afternoons are easier with a portable misting fan from our cooling hire range. If you need to keep food or drinks cold, browse refrigeration and eskies.
Plan the details
- Delivery: our standard fee shows in your cart as Delivery & Collection (incl. tolls). If equipment needs to go into a backyard, Extended Carry & Access may apply. See our delivery information. We deliver across Brisbane, the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast.
- Booking: check live availability on any product page. You can book online 24/7. All hire is covered by $20,000,000 public liability insurance.
- More ideas: see our backyard party hire page. For other occasions see 21st and 18th birthday hire or engagement party hire.
- Everything marquee: browse our full marquee hire range.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval for a backyard marquee?
Permits and approvals are your responsibility, so check with your council early. We can help with risk assessments and engineering reports. Engineering certification needs at least 28 days' notice.
Can your team set everything up?
Yes. Choose full set-up of your whole event or marquee-only installation if you would prefer to arrange the furniture yourself. See our FAQs for more.
What happens if it rains?
Our pagodas and structure marquees are waterproof. Pop-up gazebos are suitable for light rain only.
Ready to plan your backyard marquee? Check live availability on any product page or send us an enquiry.
