| Holding your wedding
reception in a tent is a popular option if
you have the yard space available.
There are nearly three thousand tent rental
companies in the US; almost all of them
provide tents for wedding receptions. Add to
these tent companies, the unknown number of hotels
and other venues who own or rent in tents, and the choice is not as
expensive as you might first think. |
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Many tent rental contractors have
working relationships with local venues
(such as hotels); so even if your back yard is not
suitable or large enough, you don't have to rule
out an outdoor reception.
There are several types of tent used
for weddings in the US:
These include box frame aluminum tents (also called "frame
tents", "clear
span tents", or "clearspan structures").
Heavy duty aluminum box frame tents are often called
"Frame Marquees" or "Clear Span Marquees" as the
design originated in Europe and was pioneered by
companies such as Roder and Losberger in
Germany.
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Light weight tubular aluminum
frame tents (also called "pipe tents", "frame
tents", "canopy" or "party tents"). Tubular
frame / pipe tents are used extensively for
wedding tents by the majority of tent rental
contractors. |
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Traditional pole tents
which are either made from canvas
("traditional canvas pole tent" or "English
style
traditional marquees") or the more
widely used American style pole tent made
from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or flexible
plastic (also mostly called "traditional
pole tents" or "pole tents"). The American
style pole tent has evolved with eye
catching designs such as the twin peak
tents. |
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Small tension structures
(made form PVC / other flexible plastic
materials and a lightweight aluminum frame
and also called "party tents").
It can be very confusing with
different tent rental companies describing their
tents in a multitude of different names.
Essentially a "frame tent" is mostly free
standing and a "pole tent" needs to be supported
with ropes. To find out more about the two most popular
please see our articles on
frame tents or
pole
tents.
The rest of this article deals with some of the
practical issues of holding a wedding
reception in a tent including the space
needed, catering facilities, furniture rental,
stage and dance floor rental, electrical installations,
power
generators and portable restrooms, etc
Space needed:
The yard space available or special site conditions
might determine which type of wedding tent you
will be able to choose. |
| You may need to butt up to a building, in this
case you
will require a frame tent. If your
site is not level turf, you will also
require a frame tent. An uneven or sloping site
may require a suspended flooring system which can only be
fitted to a frame tent. |
If you have a large flat area of lawn or turf you can
choose almost any type of tent. If your space is limited,
keep in mind that a pole tent has
ropes around the outside and will require an
extra 6 or 9 feet on all sides.
Frame tents are more flexible; there are no centre poles
to interfere with
your table plan and if you are ordering doors and window
sidewalls,
they can be
placed almost anywhere around the structure. |
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Catering
Facilities: Your Wedding Caterer will need room to
work. It's often sensible to have a
"catering tent" joined to the main
tent.
For wedding tents of up to 80 guests a 10' x
10', or up to 150 guests a 20' x 10' catering tent will
usually be large enough. This is based on a ready prepared
wedding buffet. If your wedding caterer is
preparing a hot meal on site, or the guest
numbers are more than 150, you will need a larger
catering tent. Don't
forget that
wedding
catering for any outside event will also
require water, power and light.
Furniture & linens / Wedding chair covers /
Dinnerware rental: It is usual for the tent
contractor to provide tables and chairs, some
also rent
table linens.
Many tent rental companies also do general party
rentals of most things you may need.
There are also a large number of party rentals companies in the US
who rent event furniture, table linens,
dinnerware, glassware &wedding
chair covers. |
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Stages & Dance Floors: The majority of
tent rental companies provide portable stages,
platforms and
modular dance floors.
Power, Lighting
and Generators: Some power in the wedding
tent will be needed.
The things that use the most power are water
heaters /
boilers for coffee,
lighting, DJ or a
band. For a large wedding tent you may need to
rent a
power generator.
Restroom
Facilities: If you are having more than
about 80 guests in your wedding tent (or you
are remote from the nearest restroom) you will need
a restroom trailer /
portable
toilets. There are a large number of rental companies
providing luxury restroom trailers for up market
wedding receptions. |
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