Your Guide to Tent Rentals

Event tents, such as wedding tents are used when you want to make a spectacular outdoor scene. They are generally temporary structures installed at a location for a specified period of time. All you need to do is pick a scenic location that allows for tenting, and have the tent rental company do the rest.

Why A Tent?
Commercial tents are used as protection from the sun, potential rain or simply a gathering place. They can make a stunning statement for a wedding reception, a creative atmosphere for an outdoor corporate event or an intimate setting for family gathering. Expressly large clearspan tent structures have been used often as temporary shelters for the military and in emergency circumstances.

Short Term and Long Term Tent Rentals
Tents can be rented or leased for short or long term-either a few hours, a day, a long weekend, weeks, months, or in some cases years. For one- or two-day events, the tents are usually installed a few days before the event, depending on scheduling and weather, and remain up until a few days after the event (or several days after, again, depending on scheduling and weather). Many rentals are quoted for the entire week, allowing for time to set up and design the interior and exterior. Some tents are built for exceedingly long-term events and have been installed and remain installed for years.

Tent rental companies come in all sizes - from small-sized companies with just a few marquee tents to exceedingly large-sized companies - carrying dozens of several sizes and styles of tents. Some general rental companies rent from tent rental companies to accommodate their client's needs. You may be surprised to know that some tent rental companies rent from each other, too, all dependent on fulfilling a client's needs.

You may know you want to use a standard marquee tent for your event, or your event planner may already have in mind to use a marquee tent. You have options! There are lots of other stunning structures and tent styles out there. Some are unique and make a statement of their own. Ask the rental company you're working with for a list of the type styles they have on hand.

Basically there are two main families of tents: Frame and Pole. However, some tent companies will differentiate between Frame tents and Clearspan tents.

Frame Tent: A self-standing structure without center poles. It has a top and may include sides (optional). May or may not be staked. Generally Frame Tents are used in more formal events.
Pole Tent: A structure requiring the use of a center pole or poles. Tension is created by taut cords and driving stakes into the ground. Pole tents are generally square and rectangular, however, they can be round or unique-shaped. For the less formal event.

Guide To Tent Styles

FRAME TENTS
Clear Span Tents (Clearspan Tents) use aluminum frame structures and are especially sturdy. These tents can be especially large and offer lots of open space. They have peaked roofs and may or may not have side walls. Additionally, they can be installed with glass or hard sides, joined with other units for unique shapes and be rectangular, square or circular. They can be used for long-term placement as well.

Marquee Tents typically have interchangeable parts. They can be expanded to larger sizes and are available in a variety of colors. Traditional white is the most popular color used. Walls and walls with windows and doorways may or may not be used, or just the top may be used. There are both pole marquee and frame marquee tents. Frame marquee tents often use an aluminum framing.

Saddlespan (Saddle Span Tents or Arabesque) tents have dramatic unusual swooping structure, mostly round or circular, similar to a saddle. These tents do not require center or interior supports. It is a frame structure that may or may not include end walls.

TopTent is relatively new on the scene. They're made in Canada and are basically round, clear span structures utilizing a frame. TopTents are great when you have a site which doesn't allow for staking. This makes the tents quite versatile. They can be installed in a matter of minutes.

POLE TENTS
Canopies use poles, frames and ropes. They may include side walls, but usually do not. They are open and can come in many sizes from small canopy tops to large canopies. Some are interesting and unusual shapes and colors.

Century Tents are supported by center poles and side poles. They have high peaks and no visible internal frame.

Triangular Tents/Tipis, Circus Tents & Yurts These class of tents usually require poles and roping. Triangular tents are used in fairs or festivals in special circumstances, however, they do not have the capacity as other tent styles. Circus tents are customized and yurts are round shelter-oriented structures.

What Size Tent Will I Need?
The size of tent depends on a few factors:
1. The number of guests you expect
2. Layout or seating arrangement or the style of event you're expecting:

• Wedding reception with round tables?


• Speaker engagement with classroom-like seating?


• Will you need a dance floor?


• Will you need display areas for your products?

Often, tent rental companies include "Capacity Guides" on their sites. But as a for instance, if you're expecting 200 guests, an S2000 Saddle Span holds 200 which includes a dance floor, an 8-person wedding party area and a small 3-piece band area comfortably. If you'd like a lot more room and a bigger dance floor, there's an S5000 Saddle Span. If you are interested in a Marquee Tent, you can expect to need about 2,000 - 2,500 square feet for 200 seated guests. That could mean a 40 x 60 size tent. Always ask the tent rental vendor directly and they'll give you the best information about the size of tent you'll need.

Pricing varies widely, but you can expect to pay within the range of $1.00 to $2.00 per linear foot for a tent with no side walls. Costs will depend mostly on the style of the tent. If you were to rent a 40x60 marquee tent for about 200 folks, with no side walls the tent could run you about $1,200.

As always, call several local tent rental companies for comparison pricing. You can get some great package deals when you include all the incidentals for the rentals in one order. Ask about flooring, lighting, sound systems, chairs, tables, decorations, etc. and compare prices with each vendor. And if you want a truly unique and spectacular event, consider a different style tent that blows the socks off your guests!

For more information about tent rentals, tent decorating, etc., visit tentrentalsguide.com.