Renting a Tent for Your Outdoor Wedding: The Basics

Outdoor wedding planning is a popular choice during the spring and summer months, but scheduling your wedding and your wedding decorations around the weather can be quite difficult. To keep your event from being rained out or to shelter guests from the elements, tents are the way to go. Read on to learn the basics of renting a tent for your outdoor wedding.

Selecting a tent size:
First things first: you’ll need to determine the number of people you expect to attend your wedding. That will help you decide how large a structure you will need. Accurately sizing your tent is very important, as it will need to house tables, chairs, guests and vendors comfortably, with room to walk around, mingle and dance.

Location of the tent:
The tent site should be a completely flat surface, away from any standing water or areas where rainwater typically accumulates. This is key in case you will want to install tiles and flooring. As a safety precaution you’ll want your tent rental company to conduct a site inspection to survey the area. If your outdoor wedding will take place at a private home, you may be required to contact the utilities company to mark off underground lines around the area (gas and electricity). When the rental company arrives to place stakes in the ground to mount the structure, they’ll need to know this information as to not damage any lines.

View our gallery of wedding decorations for more ideas.

Styles of tents:
Push-pole Tents are the most popular type of tents for outdoor weddings. These structures are kept in place with center poles and are staked into the ground. Push-pole tents are typically the least expensive tent and work best on grass or other pliable surfaces. Sizes range anywhere between from 10 x 10 feet and up and can be covered with fabric or PVC roofs or toppers.

Frame Tents are best for tight spaces. These structures cost more than the push-pole version, because they don’t use poles to support the structure, but a frame. Thusly, they can be positioned on any type of surface. Accommodating all of your wedding decorations and needs.

Additional considerations:
Some rental companies are full-service, also supplying tables and chairs. Inquire on the availability of this service during your tent rental search. Sidewalls are another type of “accessory” that tent rental companies can provide. Sidewalls are used to create ventilation or protect guests from rain or wind.

Before signing a contract with a company, be sure to specify where and when the tent will need to be erected and dismantled. Typically, most companies will set up a couple days before the event and removal is the next day (this time frame may vary due to holiday or weekend schedules).

The best thing about an outdoor wedding is the natural landscape. Although beautiful, the outdoors can come with its fair share of surprises. Renting a tent will help protect you and your guests from any weather emergencies.
Check our our gallery of wedding decorations for more ideas.

Image courtesy of The Sonnet House.