Do I Need to Rent a Tent for My Outdoor Wedding?
Choosing the right location for your outdoor wedding can save you money and make your wedding even more beautiful.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding, there is a good chance that someone has asked you already, “Are you going to rent a tent?”
Of course you want your guests to be comfortable and not exposed to the sun, rain or other weather elements. This is why many couples immediately jump to renting a tent for their outdoor wedding.
But is renting a tent even necessary for your wedding?
As we have worked on many weddings and events over the years, we have seen some of the most beautiful outdoor weddings not have a tent. It is possible to have a beautiful outdoor wedding without renting a tent and having an expensive tent installation.
A tent can be a great investment for some, but can also consume a lot of the wedding budget. Selecting the right location for your wedding can be one of the best decisions you make to keep costs down.
The Location Is Everything
If you’re trying to save money on your outdoor wedding and don’t want to rent a tent, start with the location of your wedding.
Look for places with lots of natural shade.
These types of locations are perfect for a beautiful and unique outdoor wedding. Mature trees, landscaped areas and existing buildings are ideal for your ceremony and reception.
The trees can provide the best shade for your ceremony and then you can move to another area of the property for your reception. Trees also add a lot of character to a wedding and can be used for many different things such as ceremony, dining, and lounge areas.
This needs to be checked prior to booking the location as the area that looks shady in the morning can be in full sun by the time of the wedding.
Check out the location at the same time of day as your wedding. Note where the sun is and where your guests will be seated. Make sure there are shaded areas for dining and for guests to gather and mingle.
Consider Alternatives to a Tent
You don’t have to cover an entire wedding to make guests comfortable.
There are several ways to create shade without renting a full-size tent.
Large umbrellas: Market-style umbrellas can provide shade over dining tables, cocktail tables, and lounge areas. They’re flexible, attractive, and can be placed exactly where they’re needed.
Sunshade sails: These are typically used to cover larger areas of shade. They can be very effective when there are suitable trees or other structures to anchor them to.
Existing buildings on the property: Such as garages, barns, sheds etc. These can be beautifully decorated to be used for the wedding reception.
Draping can transform a normal garage or barn into something quite different and can be complemented with lighting and furniture and other decorative items to create a very charming reception area or even a weather proof area for your guests.
This would be using the existing structures on the property as they are, and then possibly adding some décor, lighting and furniture to create a beautiful reception area.
Schedule Your Wedding Around the Sun
In the warmer months, evening weddings are typically better.
The sun is lower in the sky and temperatures begin to drop as the day turns into evening. The lighting is soft and very flattering for photographs.
Scheduling an outdoor ceremony for later in the day will be so much more comfortable for your guests than holding it in the heat of the day.
Think about the rest of your wedding day too. Where will your guests be before the ceremony? What time will you be serving dinner? Will the sun be setting on the tables where your guests are dining?
A little planning can make a big difference.
The Real Cost of Renting a Tent
Another thing that can surprise couples is the real cost of renting a tent. Many people only look at the cost of the tent itself and do not realize that there are other costs that can add up quickly.
In addition to the advertised rental price for a tent, there are several other charges you may incur when renting a tent for your wedding.
- Delivery and pickup
- Setup and takedown
- Sidewalls
- Block-and-roll weights
- Water barrels or other anchoring systems
Those items can add up quickly.
Water barrels used as weights for tents may require a water source at the property, another detail to ask about when getting a quote.
When comparing tent prices, make sure you are comparing the total cost of the installed tent including delivery, set up and take down, and any additional charges for sidewalls, block-and-roll weights, water barrels, etc.
You may be surprised by the actual cost of the tent.
And that’s money that could be spent elsewhere.
Don’t Forget About the Weather
The weather, however, is something that must be taken into consideration for an outdoor wedding. It can rain, the wind can blow and the temperature can change.
Keep in mind, though, a tent does not mean you can forget about the weather.
Southern Idaho has been known to have sudden microburst winds that can develop quickly even on a nice day. These winds can cause damage to a tent in a matter of moments.
A tent can provide shade and can protect your guests from normal rain but severe weather can still cause problems with a tent.
The wedding can still take place with or without the rental of a tent.
If you have a barn, garage, shed or other structure on your property, consider how you would use it for an outdoor wedding should the weather turn. Know where you would send guests, how quickly the space can be set up and what changes would need to be made to your overall plans.
Talk to your venue and tent company about weather procedures and safety requirements for tents.
Put Your Tent Money Toward the Details That Matter
This is where skipping a tent can become especially appealing.
Tents can take up a lot of the budget for a wedding. If you have found a great location with lots of shade then why spend money to cover up the area of your wedding that is already comfortable?
Instead of spending your wedding budget on a tent, invest in details that your guests will actually see and experience throughout the day.
Upgrade your chairs. Beautiful seating can make a tremendous difference in the overall appearance of your wedding. Your chairs are part of the design, not just a place for guests to sit.
Choose specialty linens. The right tablecloths, textures, and colors can transform an ordinary dining area into something memorable.
Invest in flowers and décor. Use the natural surroundings of your wedding and enhance them with beautiful flowers and other decorations.
Create comfortable gathering spaces. This can be as simple as adding lounge furniture, cocktail tables and other areas for your guests to relax and visit with each other.
These things can create a larger visual impact on your wedding than the tent would.
Some of Our Best Weddings Have Been Without Tents
Some of the most beautiful weddings we have been involved with over the years have been completely outdoor events without tents.
There’s something special about a wedding that embraces its surroundings.
The mature trees, beautifully landscaped gardens and surroundings of nature, make for a beautiful setting for an outdoor wedding.
The weddings were beautiful not because of the money that was spent on them but because of the location, the time of the wedding and the overall design.
That’s what good planning is about: making smart choices that create the experience you want without spending money where you don’t need to.
So, Should You Rent a Tent?
Our advice is pretty simple.
If you have very little to no shade at your wedding location, then yes, renting a tent can be very worth it. If your venue allows for a tent and it fits into your budget, then go for it. Your guests will thank you for the shade and comfort.
Just because you have found the perfect backyard, park, ranch or other location for your wedding does not mean you have to spend thousands of dollars on a tent.
Use the trees. Consider umbrellas or shade sails. Schedule your wedding for the evening. Make use of existing buildings and have a sensible backup plan.
The money you save can then be put into other wedding details such as beautiful chairs, specialty linens, flowers, lighting and other details that make up your wedding.
You do not need a tent to have a beautiful outdoor wedding. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let nature be part of the design.
________________________________________
At MME Event Rentals we believe that great events start with great planning. Whether you are looking for beautiful seating, specialty linens, furniture, lighting, tabletop and more, we can help you create the perfect event that reflects you.
MME Event Rentals — We Create the Magic.