Outdoor Marquees and Heavy Duty Gazebos

Gazebos are traditionally smaller structures and are most often seen in residential backyards and small gardens. Marquees are most often larger structures that are created for commercial use, like outdoor weddings, festivals, and large gatherings.

You can call us biassed, but we think that an Outdoor Instant Shelter is the best gazebo you can buy. We use aluminium when constructing all of our heavy duty gazebos because so many of our customers prioritise temporary set-ups and need to take down and reinstall their marquees at different locations. Created to withstand rain and UV rays, our gazebos can equip you with the shelter needed at any type of event, regardless of the weather or time of day.

In a word, yes. Every Outdoor Instant Shelter structure is designed with waterproof materials to help keep you and our guests dry, no matter what type of event you have planned. Further still, every canopy, wall, and half wall is created with fire-retardant materials to ensure safety is top of mind.

The size of the marquee you need will depend on a number of factors, including your structure or event floor plan, what you intend to use the marquee for, and what the weather conditions or elements might entail. When deciding on a marquee size, one of the most common things we keep in mind is to make sure:

• Layout: is the marquee going to be used for protection from overhead elements and offer standing room for guests only or do you need to set up a market stall and booth? If you’re opting for standing-room only, consider how much space per guest you’ll need–there’s a big difference between needing a portable dance area and cocktails only. 
• Purpose: the latter ties into your marquee purpose–do you need guests to mingle and have the space to do so or are you setting up a transportable dance floor where ample space will be the priority? Better yet–a sit-down dinner will require added supplies that need space like tables and chairs.
• The weather: While every outdoor event can be subject to inclement weather, it’s a good idea to consider the season and likelihood of needing to fully protect guests from the rain and UV rays on a warm day.

Once you’ve considered the most likely scenario, purpose, and layout needs of your marquee, you’ll have a better idea of the canopy size needed. Also connect with our team—we’re happy to help support the decision-making process.

A number of factors will influence whether your gazebo walls are better removed in inclement weather conditions. If your marquee has a half-wall set up, there is still ample space for air to blow through and under the gazebo roof—a great way to protect people against the elements without worrying about the stability of your structure. (Fully walled gazebos that are entirely enclosed on three sides may sway in the wind.)

That said, wind accompanied by rain may leave guests exposed to the elements if you opt for a half-wall solution. We suggest having different wall configurations and optional extras on hand so that you can build your gazebo based on the needs of the event, the number of guests, and the weather on the day of the event.

How you plan to use the marquee will help you decide what kind of material to use for the frame and structure. In short, aluminium-framed gazebos are much lighter in weight and easier to transport between events. Galvanised steel—though incredibly strong—is significantly heavier and is better suited to semi-permanent or permanent structures that don’t need to be regularly installed and packed down.