While the initial models of wedding tents provided basic protection from the weather, newer ones allow you to design a unique interior in any setting, from your childhood backyard to a vast open field.
Spacious spaces allow for spectacular floral installations, unique dance floors, and waterproof walls. It’s a significant departure from the basic canvas covers used decades ago.
The magic of wedding tents is in their combination of function and beauty. A tented wedding allows you to invite guests to your house or a piece of family land or to enlarge the area of a favored wedding venue.
You will then have the proverbial blank canvas on which to create a unique experience to share with your family and friends.
While you can order tents with frames, anchoring systems, and capabilities to suit weddings of any size and location, it is critical to select a tent material and overall aesthetic that complements your preferred look for the event.
In addition to this, it is vital that you grasp the specifics of event tent rentals and how they will impact your budget and your overall preparation task list.
Types of wedding tents and how to use them
Here are some of the most common tent models, as well as the crucial factors to consider when assessing your selections.
Sailcloth tents
Sailcloth tents are basic but beautiful, with hardwood poles and a canvas exterior. These are some of the more cost-effective tent styles, as it doesn’t require additional draping. You often see these types of tents in coastal settings.
While the poles provide fewer hanging areas for ceiling decorations, many couples choose to cover them with flora. A tent can work at any wedding—the tent posts are the problem.
To be on the safe side, plan your wedding around the tent specifications. Otherwise, you’ll spend a lot of money floraling tent posts to hide them.
When you are renting tents, it is worth noting that with sailcloth tents, the only alternative for side walls (if necessary) is clear plastic. You will also need to stack them into the ground.
While this is the case, it doesn’t mean that this form of structure isn’t a good option. They’re one of the most popular tent styles right now, and you can always rent them for your wedding.
Beautiful peaked tops, wood poles, translucent vinyl—with the proper lighting, it glows as the sun sets and will give your tent an elegant appeal.
Frame tents
Frame tents, which lack central poles, tend to be more open than other covered structures. And because they may be fixed with stakes or weights, they’re a versatile alternative for a wide range of landscapes. In addition to this, they can be finished with clear or white sides and tops, allowing you to seal the tent fully. This type of tent may be ideal if you want to focus on draped or hanging florals.
These tents can start cheap, but the metal legs require leg drapes to finish them, and white tops usually require some form of cloth tent lining.
This style tent can be a good option for a wedding with a lot of décor that transforms the tent. If you choose white walls and roofing, ensure that you have clear gable ends that let in natural light; if you select transparent walls, add air conditioning to battle summer heat.
Greenhouse tents
Greenhouse tents, also known as garden or conservatory tents, are easily identified by their black metal frame and clear sides. These really work well in almost any setting, especially if you want to showcase the views.
These styles can be expensive, but they don’t require any sort of draping.
Clear span tents
These tents offer the same benefits and general appearance as frame tents, but they’re more durable, making them a better fit for more elaborate decoration schemes or bad weather.
This heavy-duty type is ideal if you have a lot of décor on the ceiling or are at a venue with strong winds—the most luxurious of all tent styles.
Tricks to have a great tented wedding
In addition to increasing your estimated cost, arranging a tent wedding requires you to pay attention to a variety of logistical procedures, ranging from extra setup time and last-minute weather changes, to addressing potential safety risks. Here are some essential factors to consider when booking your tent rental.
Pay attention to the setup time.
Holding your entire reception under a tent takes more than just a few hours of setup. Plan for a week or longer. This way, you get to experiment with different areas and designs and settle on the best design for your tent and venue.
Think about the number of tents that you need.
While setting up a single tent to shade your cocktail hour may be a simple task, a fully tented wedding with no access to interior space necessitates many covered spaces, as well as access roads and well-lit pathways to connect them.
For a full build-out, you need to think about not only the reception tent but also rain-plan tents, catering tents, a bridal tent, a vendor tent, the band green room, multiple generators, restrooms, and parking.
Understand the safety requirements.
The tent must be properly secured to the ground. The most important thing to know is if the tent can be staked into the grass (or asphalt) to anchor it safely. If stakes aren’t an option, weigh the tent with concrete blocks.
The safety of the tent is so essential. Staking is ideal, but if you need to weigh the tent, the industry standard is 10 pounds per square foot. If you have a 50-by-80-foot tent, you’ll need 40,000 pounds.
Do not skimp on safety, as it is vital for you and your guests.
Hire from a reputable company.
When you are renting your tent, don’t hire from the first company you come across. Instead, you should take your time and find a reputable professional to work with.
For a great experience, start finding event tent rentals Rockland at least three months before the event date. This way, you have enough time to visit and interview several companies. You should always settle on a company stocking high-quality units and willing to provide you with all the support you need for your event.