When planning a marquee wedding, many couples focus on the visible elements, the flowers, the dress, the food, the music. But behind every beautiful outdoor celebration is a practical foundation that makes it all possible, and that is, power. Without it, the lights don’t shine, the band doesn’t play, the food doesn’t cook, and the toilets won’t flush.
That’s where wedding generator hire comes in.
If your wedding is taking place at a private site, remote venue, or somewhere without access to a reliable mains supply, a generator is essential. It’s the safety net and heartbeat of your event.
In this post we’ve outlined everything you need to know about hiring a generator for your marquee wedding. From choosing the right size to understanding regulations, this is your complete planner’s guide to a worry-free, well-powered wedding day.
Why Marquee Weddings Require Generators
Understanding the Power Needs of an Outdoor Venue
Marquees are celebrated for their flexibility, elegance, and the freedom they offer, but they don’t come with built-in electricity. Most private gardens, fields, and estate grounds lack the infrastructure to power a full-scale wedding, which is why a standalone generator becomes crucial.
Consider everything that needs electricity on the day:
- Interior and exterior lighting
- Catering equipment (ovens, fridges, coffee machines)
- Music systems, microphones, and DJ/band gear
- Luxury toilets
- Heaters or fans depending on the season
A dedicated generator makes everything runs smoothly and simultaneously without overload or failure. As outlined in our guide to hiring power generators, power planning is one of the first conversations we have with clients during marquee design.
How to Choose the Right Generator
Size, Output, and Backup Planning
Choosing the right generator starts with understanding your total power demand. This includes the wattage required by all lighting, sound, kitchen equipment, and any extras like phone charging stations or heaters. But don’t worry, you don’t need to do this maths alone.
We handle the power calculation as part of our marquee planning process, factoring in the number of guests, duration of the event, and supplier requirements. Typically, we recommend diesel silent generators for weddings. These are quiet, efficient, and suitable for all-day use.
We also always suggest including a backup plan. Whether that means a secondary generator on standby or a unit with built-in redundancy, having a safety net guarantees your celebration isn’t disrupted.
Need a deeper dive into sizing? Our blog on how to choose the right generator breaks down the options with practical examples.
What’s Included in a Wedding Generator Hire Package
Full-Service Support Without the Stress
When you hire a generator from Carron Marquees, you’re not just getting a piece of equipment dropped off and left on-site. Our wedding generator hire service is designed to integrate seamlessly into the overall planning of your marquee setup, and that means delivering everything required to keep your event running smoothly.
We supply the generator fully fueled and ready for action.There’s no need to worry about refuelling midway through your reception or running out of power during the evening speeches.
Alongside the generator itself, we provide all the necessary cabling and distribution boards to safely route electricity to every part of your marquee site. That includes lighting, catering areas, toilets, entertainment stages, and any outdoor spaces requiring power. Everything is installed and tested by qualified engineers, so you can be confident your setup is both safe and reliable.
Perhaps most importantly is the fact that we include technical support. If anything unexpected occurs on the day, a tripped switch, a supplier’s last-minute power request, or changing weather conditions, our team is on hand to troubleshoot and assist. This level of service sets Carron apart from other wedding generator hire firms, and we take full responsibility for the practical side of your celebration, so you don’t have to.
Placement and Practical Setup
Strategic Positioning for Safety and Discretion
Where a generator is positioned on-site plays an essential role in both safety and guest experience. We take care to place each unit strategically far enough from the marquee to minimise noise and visibility, but close enough to maintain efficient cabling and secure connectivity.
Weatherproofing and Ground Stability
Whenever possible, we locate the generator outside the main marquee space, in a well-ventilated area with good ground stability. This keeps the machinery operating optimally without overheating or exposure to moisture. If the weather is poor or the site is particularly exposed, we use raised platforms or protective coverings to shield the generator from water ingress and mud.
Minimising Noise and Disruption
Noise is always a consideration for weddings. That’s why we exclusively use silent-run diesel generators, which operate with minimal disruption. Even when placed near catering tents or ancillary spaces, they blend discreetly into the background. Guests are unlikely to even notice they’re running.
Cable Management and Guest Safety
Cable management is another area where experience matters. We route all cables away from high-traffic areas and secure them using matting or cable covers to prevent trips or tangles. Our goal is always to create an invisible power infrastructure, one that supports your day effortlessly without becoming part of the visual backdrop.
Need a Permit for Your Wedding Generator Hire?
Understanding UK Regulations
For the vast majority of weddings, you won’t need a permit to use a generator. However, there are scenarios where environmental regulations come into play, particularly for larger events using high-capacity generators over an extended period.
The UK government requires permits for some generators used in commercial or industrial contexts. While these rules rarely apply to weddings, it’s still wise to be aware of them.
You can review the official GOV.UK guidance on specified generators for full details. And rest assured, if your event falls into a category that requires compliance, we’ll inform you and handle the process.
In our experience, most wedding clients don’t need to worry about permits. We handle everything on your behalf, so you can focus on your day.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Underestimating Power Requirements
One of the most frequent oversights is underestimating how much power a wedding truly needs. Couples often focus on lighting and music, but forget about the heavy power draw of catering equipment, refrigeration units, bar setups, and external lighting. If power calculations are left to guesswork, it’s easy to hire a generator that isn’t powerful enough. At Carron, we calculate your load requirements based on real supplier needs and event timelines, removing the guesswork entirely.
Skipping a Site Visit
Every site is different so what works in one garden may not work in another. Without a professional assessment, you might find that your chosen spot has poor access for delivery vehicles, uneven ground, or obstacles like trees and fencing. That’s why we always include a pre-event site visit. It enables us to assess access points, check space for the generator, and plan cable runs and marquee placement accordingly.
Overlooking Backup Planning
No one wants to imagine their generator cutting out mid-speech, but power failure, however rare is, something you should be prepared for. Some couples hire a generator with no fallback, leaving themselves exposed if something goes wrong. We always discuss options for redundancy with any wedding generator hire, whether that means a second generator or a split-power setup with contingency in mind.
Assuming Suppliers Bring Their Own Power
Not all suppliers are self-sufficient. Bands, DJs, caterers, and toilet providers often expect access to a central power source. Assuming they’ll bring their own can cause late-stage surprises. As part of our process, we liaise directly with your suppliers to confirm their power needs and make certain everything is accounted for.
Treating Generator Hire as Separate from Marquee Planning
One of the biggest mistakes is when a generator is hired as an afterthought, separate from the rest of your marquee planning. Doing so risks poor placement, incompatible timelines, and even duplicated costs. At Carron, we incorporate wedding generator hire as part of your full marquee package to create a cohesive, coordinated plan that works from the ground up.
Why Hire from a Specialist Marquee Provider
Integrated Planning, Seamless Service
When you hire from a standard generator hire company, you just get the equipment. Conversely, when you hire from a specialist marquee provider, you get experience as well.
At Carron Marquees, our wedding generator hire options are just one part of a complete planning process. We understand the intricacies of outdoor weddings, and where to position the generator for sound and safety, how to run cables invisibly, and how much fuel is really needed for an all-night celebration.
Our team will:
- Visit your site to assess space and access
- Plan your generator placement within the marquee layout
- Coordinate power distribution to all suppliers
- Provide real-time support on the day if needed
You can explore the full scope of our generator hire services to see how we manage everything from logistics to load testing.
Wedding Generator Hire: Your Complete Power Solution
A generator may not be the most glamorous part of your wedding, but it powers everything that makes the day magical. From lighting and food to music and memories, having a reliable power source is non-negotiable for any outdoor or marquee event.
At Carron Marquees, we make wedding generator hire simple, safe, and stress-free. With decades of experience and an eye for both technical detail and event flow, we can make certain your marquee wedding is beautifully lit, perfectly powered, and completely unforgettable.
If you’re planning a marquee wedding and need expert help with power planning, get in touch with our team. We’ll help you choose the right generator, install it discreetly, and make sure every moment runs without a hitch.
