But all that has changed. Marquee design has improved enormously, becoming stylish, chic and well-ventilated and we, as a nation, now embrace the alfresco lifestyle at every opportunity.

Neither is hiring a marquee any longer solely the preserve of the rich and famous. There are all shapes and sizes to suit all events and budgets and many companies who hire out wedding marquees also offer furnishings and sometimes cater for the whole event.

So what are the pros of hiring a marquee?

With a marquee in the garden you can invite guests to your home without having them actually trampling all over the house or, if that is not a problem, the marquee becomes an extension of your home affording much more in the way of space and potential for special, personalised decoration – not always possible in a hired indoor venue.

Once you have made up your mind to go for a marquee it pays to do some research to ensure that you choose the right company to work with. The last thing you want is to be let down on the day.

So first and foremost, find out if they have what you require available when you need it.

Ensure that the company is willing to come out and check the suitability of the site well in advance of your wedding day.

If the company offers other services such as catering, flowers and power generation, find out whether they sub-contract them out reliably. Then check that they have experience in catering for wedding parties.

Find out what arrangements are made with regards to clearing up afterwards and clarify in writing the state in which you should expect to find the grass once the marquee has been dismantled.

Does the marquee have lighting and heating facilities?

Clarify what is included in the price. What kind of deposit is required to secure the booking and does the total cost include VAT, travel expenses and the time taken to erect and dismantle the wedding marquee?