Wedding Tent Rental: A Complete Guide

Wedding tent rentals in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Chicago.

Wedding tent rentals in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Chicago.

Wedding Tent Rentals: A Complete Guide

Congratulations! You've found someone you want to spend the rest of your lives with, and now you're engaged! Here comes the fun part: planning a wedding!

When you're planning a wedding, one of the first details you should tackle is the location. Where are you going to have it, inside or outside? And if it's outside, are you planning on using a tent?

It's definitely a detail you should consider for any outside wedding. Not sure where to start? We're here to help.

Here is your complete guide to wedding tent rentals and everything you should know before your bid day. 

How to Choose a Wedding Tent Size

If you have an outdoor wedding—whether it's the ceremony or the reception—it's always a good idea to have a tent as the backup or main space.

You probably have questions about what size tent to choose from event tent rental companies. A good place to start is with your guest count since you'll want to fit all of your guests. 

Next, you'll want to consider what you're using the tent for. Is it for the ceremony, cocktail hour, a plated dinner, buffet dinner, or a combination? This will tell you the size and how many tents you'll need for your event.

For example, a 100 people tent size for a ceremony requires about 900 square footage of tent space. While 100 people for a seated dinner, on average, requires about 1,800 square feet.

In this case, you could use one 1,800 square foot tent for both the ceremony and seated dinner reception if you flipped the space. Or you may opt for two tents of different sizes.

What Type of Tent Is Right for Your Event?

Before you rent any tent, understand what type of tent is right for your outdoor wedding. There are two main types of tent structures that are usually available for your event.

Pole Tents

The tents that have the sweeping roof and open sides are known as pole tents. Pole tents are the less expensive option and have a shorter setup time. Since there's no frame, you don't need a liner to cover up the poles.

However, these tents will have center poles that can cause an obstruction. Pole tents can have sides and need to be staked into the ground, so their location possibilities are a consideration

Frame Tents

Frame tents, on the other hand, can go on any surface from grass to asphalt. With frame tents, there are more options for shape and configurations so that you can have multiple connected tents.

They don't have center poles or obstructions but have a longer setup time. You can also have walls with frame tents, but the frame will always be visible from inside the tent. Frame tents are the pricier option. 

Tension Tents

For guest counts over 100, a tension tent is the perfect choice. Highlighting tall peaks for your special event and wedding reception. Top tents that you often view at wedding and special day are tension tents. This type of tent is staked into the ground and makes it our most popular tenting choice.


Wedding Tent Extras

Now that you know what type of tent you want for your event, you should consider some extras that can improve your event experience.

It's a good idea to talk about these extras before getting your quote because they can greatly affect the wedding tent rental cost in the end.

Talk to your rental company to see what wedding tent rental packages are available for you.

Here are a few extras you may want to consider for your tent.

Liner

The draping fabric you may see on the ceiling of tents is a liner. They're a pretty add-on, but they're more for aesthetic purposes than a necessary part of the tent.

Be aware that wedding tent liners can cost much more than the tint itself. And if you want colored liners, the price can increase even more.

Walls

If you want to add walls to your tent, you have a few options. Some are solid or clear or made of fabric. Another common type you'll see are the walls with windows called cathedrals.

Whether you need walls may depend on your aesthetic and preference. But, you should keep the weather in mind. If your wedding is in a warm climate, you can skip the walls.

But if it's cooler outside, walls can keep the tent comfortable. If rain is in the forecast, walls will keep everything inside dry. However, fabric walls are for looks more than temperature regulation.

Flooring

If you only rent the tent, the flooring will be the ground. This can be a great coast saver but keep your location in mind. If you're on grass, you may not want to go natural, especially if it rained a few days before.

Instead, you can opt for flooring in your tent. You can add flooring to the entire tent space or only use it to create a dance floor.

Lighting

Night and evening weddings will need lighting and, luckily, you have many options for your tent. String lights, lanterns, and chandeliers are all options that can transform your space for a magical evening.

Keep in mind what kind of power source your lights will use. You may need to rent a generator along with your lighting and tent.

Heating and Cooling

Depending on the weather during your wedding, you may also want equipment to heat or cool the tent, so your guests are comfortable while inside the tent.

Keep in mind that tents aren't sealed or insulated, so whatever equipment you use will require a lot of energy. Whether you're running an AC unit, fans, or a heater, you'll probably need a generator and accommodate for space.

Tent for Catering

Your venue will determine whether you should get a tent for your catering company. This is typically a smaller tent where food is prepared and plated, dishes are cleaned, and trash is kept.

If your venue has a kitchen, then you probably won't need a catering tent. But if you're in a more remote location, a catering tent is a must.

Your Ultimate Guide to Wedding Tent Rentals

A wedding is a beautiful and exciting time where you get to share your love with the people you love. But before you get to that day, you have some decisions to make, from decor to food to wedding tent rentals.

There's so much to consider that sometimes the planning process can seem a bit overwhelming. It doesn't have to be that way when you work with the right event rentals company.

Allow Willie Fun Events to take your private events and weddings to the next level. Our full-service, modern party rentals will make all types of events for you unforgettable. Tell us about your event for a free quote today.