Clear Marquee vs Hampton Marquee: Which One Is Right for Your Wedding?
It's one of the first questions couples ask us, and honestly it's one of the best ones to ask early. The marquee you choose shapes everything: the atmosphere, the photography, how the space feels at dusk, how it holds up in a summer storm. Here's how to decide.
If you want a light-filled, modern space where the landscape becomes part of the room, choose a clear marquee. If you want a romantic, sail-shaped silhouette with warmth and drama, choose a Hampton. Both are beautiful. Both work brilliantly for NZ weddings. The difference is in the mood you're building.
What is a clear marquee?
A clear span marquee has a fully transparent PVC roof and often clear or white walls, creating a bright, airy space that feels completely connected to its surroundings. The structure is supported by internal aluminium frames rather than centre poles, which means your entire floor plan is open with no poles to design around and no sightlines interrupted.
Clear marquees are incredibly versatile. In the morning they flood with natural light. At golden hour the whole space glows. At night, with string lights or chandeliers overhead, they become something genuinely magical. You can see the stars, the trees, the hills. That connection to the outdoors is something no indoor venue can replicate.
Clear marquee works best when:
You have a beautiful setting you want to showcase, whether that's a garden, a vineyard or a rural property with big views. You're aiming for a clean, contemporary aesthetic. You want maximum natural light in your photos. Your guest count is larger and you need a wide, uninterrupted floor plan.
Lucy's take
The clear marquee is our most popular choice for Auckland and Waikato weddings. The light is extraordinary, and couples consistently tell us the photographs exceeded what they imagined. If you're undecided and your venue has any kind of view, go clear.
What is a Hampton marquee?
A Hampton marquee, sometimes called a sailcloth or stretch tent, has a flowing cream or white fabric roof that peaks and dips in organic waves, giving it a distinctly romantic, sculptural quality. The peaks are supported by timber or painted poles, which actually become a feature of the space rather than an obstacle. Fairy lights woven through the structure, lanterns hanging from the poles, linen draped from the peaks. The Hampton is built to be dressed.
The fabric roof creates a much warmer, more intimate atmosphere than a clear marquee, and it photographs beautifully in a different way, particularly at night when the whole roof glows from the inside out. It has a timeless, slightly European quality that works especially well for garden weddings and rural properties where you want the marquee to feel like it belongs to the landscape rather than sitting on top of it.
Hampton marquee works best when:
You want a romantic, warm atmosphere over a bright, contemporary one. You're planning an evening-focused reception where the lighting really comes into its own. Your aesthetic is more organic and textural, think linen, candles, florals and natural tones. Your site has beautiful trees or established gardens that the Hampton's silhouette will complement.
Lucy's takeThe Hampton is unmatched for evening atmosphere. When the sun drops and the lights come on inside that fabric roof, it's a completely different world to any other venue. If your heart is set on candlelit tables and a reception that feels intimate even with 100 guests, this is your marquee.
Side by side
Clear Marquee
Transparent PVC roof
Bright, light-filled interior
No internal poles
Showcases the surroundings
Modern, clean aesthetic
Stunning in daylight
Best for contemporary weddings, large guest counts and beautiful outdoor settings
Hampton Marquee
Flowing fabric roof
Warm, intimate interior
Timber or painted poles as features
Glows from within at night
Romantic, organic aesthetic
Extraordinary in the evening
Best for romantic weddings, garden settings and evening receptions
What about weather?
Both clear and Hampton marquees are fully weatherproof and designed for New Zealand conditions. They can handle summer rain, wind, and the full range of what our climate throws at outdoor events. Neither will leave your guests wet.
The difference is in how they handle heat. A clear marquee in full summer sun can get warm, so we always recommend sides, adequate ventilation and planning for your peak sun hours. Hampton marquees run slightly cooler in direct sun because the fabric roof diffuses rather than transmits heat directly. For a midsummer Waikato wedding starting at 2pm, this is worth factoring in.
What about sizing and cost?
Both marquee types are available across a range of sizes to suit different guest counts, from intimate celebrations of 40 through to large receptions of 200 or more. Lucy's clear span marquees run in widths of 6m, 9m, 10m and 12m, with length extending from there. Our Hampton marquees come in a similar range and are sized based on your guest count, layout and add-ons like dance floors, bars and bridal table setups.
Pricing for both is similar at equivalent sizes. The biggest variable is guest count, the add-ons you choose, and your location. Use our Marquee Size Calculator to get an instant size recommendation based on your guests and dining style, then get in touch and we'll build a quote from there.
Still not sure? Here's how to decide
Ask yourself this: when you picture your wedding reception, what time of day is the image in your head? If it's golden hour with big open skies and light pouring through the roof, you want a clear marquee. If it's candlelit tables at 9pm with a glowing roof overhead and the sound of the band drifting outside, you want a Hampton.
Both are stunning. Both photograph beautifully. Both will make your guests stop and say something when they walk in. The right choice is whichever one fits the feeling you're building, and we're always happy to talk it through with you in person.
Lucy's Events hires clear span and Hampton marquees for weddings and events across Auckland, Tauranga, the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Palmerston North. Get in touch to discuss your date and we'll take it from there.
