Everything You Need to Know

While the first iterations of wedding tents offered guests basic protection from the elements,  modern versions allow you to create a completely bespoke interior in any environment— from your childhood backyard to a wide-open field. Spacious interiors give you room for stunning floral installations, custom dance floors, and weatherproof walls. It’s a radical transformation from the simple canvas covers used decades ago. “The magic of tents lies in their combination of function and beauty,” says Joe Sandone of Sandone Productions. “With a tented wedding you can bring your guests to your home, a piece of family land, or expand the space of a favorite venue. You then have the proverbial blank canvas on which to design a truly unique experience to share with your family and friends.”

While you can order tents with frames, anchoring systems, and capacities that suit weddings of any size and almost any location, choosing the material and overall aesthetic that matches your preferred aesthetic is essential (think: sailcloth for a beachfront affair or a glass-walled conservatory-style for a formal event). Additionally, it’s critical to understand the details associated with a tent rental and how they’ll affect your budget, week-of timeline, and overall planning task list. Below, the experts break down all of these considerations, helping make your decision whether to have or skip a tent at your wedding a little bit easier.

How Much Does a Tent Wedding Cost?

While a relaxed outdoor wedding with a tent may seem like a cheaper alternative to a high-end venue, it’s typically not: The costs of installing a tent add up quickly. “Many people think a tented event will be more affordable, but it’s often the opposite,” says Sandone. “Not only are you building a venue from the ground up, but you must also supply everything else needed to host an event. That can be generators, restrooms, heating and cooling, and all the other rentals—like tables, chairs, and glassware—that a venue typically provides.”

Price varies on a number of factors—from the size and type of tent you choose to the region where you’re tying the knot. However, experts say you can typically expect to spend around  $50,000 for a basic setup and as much as $200,000 to $500,000 for luxury build-outs. “Tenting is almost always more expensive than a venue,” says Lauryn Prattes of Lauryn Prattes Events. 

Since tents can accommodate any size guest list, your budget will likely determine whether or not you have one at your nuptials. “Most of the gorgeous tents that you see are expensive structures, and budget is the first thing to consider,” says Michelle Norwood of Michelle Norwood Events. “Think of it as you are building a brand new venue, and you have to add everything from electricity to flooring.” 

4 Common Tent Types—And Why They May Work for You

Below, the experts break down some of the most popular tent styles—and the key aspects to consider when weighing each of your options. 

Sailcloth Tents

Known for their wooden-pole construction and canvas exterior, sailcloth tents are simple—but also stunning. “These are one of the more cost-effective tent styles, as it doesn’t require additional draping,” says Prattes. “You often see these types of tents in coastal settings.” While the posts provide fewer hanging points for ceiling installations, many couples choose to hide the posts with greenery, says Norwood. “A tent can work at any wedding—the tent posts are the problem,” she adds. “Planning your wedding with tent specs is good…otherwise you’re going to spend a pretty penny floraling out tent posts to camouflage them.”

Note that with sailcloth tents, the only option for side walls (should you need them) is clear plastic. They’ll also require staking into the ground. However, that doesn’t mean that this type of structure isn’t a great option: “They’re one of the most popular tent styles right now,” says Tara Franklin of Holland Park Tents. “Beautiful peaked tops, wood poles, translucent vinyl—with the right lighting, it absolutely glows as the sun sets.”

Frame Tents

Since frame tents don’t have central poles, they often feel a bit more open than other covered structures. And because they can be secured with either stakes or weights, they’re typically a versatile option for a variety of different landscapes. Plus, they can be finished with clear or white sides and tops, allowing you to completely seal the tent. This type of tent may be perfect for you if you want to prioritize draping or hanging florals. “These tents can start out inexpensive, but the metal legs require leg drapes to finish them, and white tops typically need some sort of fabric tent liner,” says Prattes. “This style tent can be a good choice for a wedding with a lot of décor that transforms the tent.” If you opt for white walls and roofing, Franklin recommends clear gable ends that allow for natural light; if you choose clear walls, she suggests adding air conditioning to combat summer heat. 

Clear Span Structure Tents

These tents have the same perks and overall look as a frame tent, but they’re sturdier—making them a better match for more elaborate decorating schemes or inclement weather. “This heavy-duty style is perfect if you have a lot of décor going in the ceiling, or are at a venue with high winds,” says Franklin. “Definitely the most luxe of all tent styles.”

Greenhouse Tents

A current favorite among many newlyweds, greenhouse tents—also called garden or conservatory tents—are recognizable by their black metal frame and clear sides, Prattes says. “These really work well in almost any setting, especially if you want to showcase the views,” she adds. “These styles can be expensive, but they don’t require any sort of draping.”

How to Choose the Right Tent for Your Wedding

Based on the type of tent you select, you can sometimes pick your preferred materials, colors, and décor to customize the look for your wedding-day style. “A tent can really work with any type of aesthetic—choosing the right style tent is important, though,” Prattes says. “A sailcloth pole tent is going to have a very different feel from a clear top frame, which feels different from a greenhouse style.”

The type of tent you choose also determines the cost. As tempting as it may be, avoid opting for the cheapest option just to save money: You need to pick the one that works for your guest list, climate, and location. “You absolutely need to consider weather and wind when selecting your style of tent,” Prattes says. “Sailcloth tents have a lower wind rating than a metal frame tent. If you are in an area known for high winds you may want to plan on a frame tent.” 

When requesting a quote from a tent company, Sandone recommends providing clear details for where and when your event will take place. “We receive many inquiries highlighting how flexible they are on the date, location, or vision for their event,” he says. “Flexibility is not an asset for us. Changing the date or location of the tent can affect what type of tent will work best or how we will install it. The more details—and the firmer they are—the better.”

What to Know Before You Decide to Plan a Tented Wedding

In addition to inflating your expected spend, planning a tent wedding also requires a fair number of logistical arrangements—from extra setup time and last-minute weather changes to understanding potential safety hazards. Here are some key aspects to consider before securing your rental.

Consider Setup Time 

Holding your entire reception under a tent requires more than just a few hours of setup: Plan for about a week—or more. Norwood typically begins installing tents on the Monday before the wedding. However, Franklin says that some tents require even more time. “Our average tent build is seven to 10 days—that puts us on site up to a week-and-a-half before the wedding,” she says. “We average seven to 12 installers each day and a project manager. We roll in with box trucks, tractor trailers (if there is a floor), pickup trucks, and equipment to put the tent up.”

If you’re getting married in your backyard, this might not be a huge inconvenience, but if you’ve reserved a venue, you’ll pay extra for this additional setup time. Prattes offers additional words of caution: “If you are at a private residence, you also have to account for the grass most likely dying in the process,” she says.

Think About the Number of Tents You’ll Actually Need

While setting up a singular tent simply to shade your cocktail hour may be a low lift, a fully-tented wedding with no access to indoor space requires multiple covered areas, as well as access roads and well-lit pathways to move between 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,” says Prattes. “If the venue is entirely outdoor, unless you are in a very dry climate such as California, we typically recommend planning on a tent at least for dinner. An additional consideration is that most bands require some sort of tent-like shelter even on a sunny day; direct sunlight can damage their equipment.”

Understand Safety Requirements

Properly securing the tent to the ground is a must. “The most important thing to know is if the tent can be staked into the grass (or asphalt) to safely anchor it,” says Franklin. And if stakes aren’t an option, you’ll need to weight the tent with concrete blocks. “The safety of the tent is so important,” she says. “Staking is best, but if you need to weight the tent, then the industry standard is 10 pounds per square foot. If you have a tent that’s 50 feet by 80 feet, then you need 40,000 pounds of weight. Don’t skimp on safety.” She adds that you should also expect your tent company to include a quote for protecting the ground. “Professional tent companies will offer ground protection in your quote to protect your property from becoming a muddy mess,” she says. “It will get a lot of wear and tear, but the results will blow you away.”

Account for Those Finishing Touches

Be prepared to add essential indoor amenities—like electricity, air conditioning, and flooring—to your tented areas. “Nothing [is] worse than having your entire event without power,” says Norwood. As a result, she requires that all of her events have dedicated electricity for the catering, band, lighting, and restrooms. That way, if one of them goes out, it doesn’t shut down the entire celebration.

Expect to use generators for power, she says—and to invest in the lowest-volume ones you can find. “Quiet generators are a must,” she says.“During toasts or your first dance, you don’t want to hear the loud sounds of a generator.” (You’ll also need to have many of these elements, including power, restrooms, and air conditioning, available for your vendors to use during your wedding setup week, so it’s important to factor those details into your rental plans and budget.)

Is a Tented Wedding Right for You?

It depends. Creative couples who trust their planner, have a specific vision, and aren’t stressing over every penny can create a memorable and unique wedding venue with a tent. “There is nothing like a tented wedding,” Franklin says. “You have a blank slate and options for design are truly endless.” But is a tented wedding right for you? Here’s what to consider.

Yes: If You’re Not Worried About Weather

A tent will offer protection from sun and rain at an open-air venue, but you have to be willing to use it even in less-than-ideal conditions. “Moving a wedding design from a tent to an indoor space isn’t a very easy undertaking, so more often than not an inclement weather plan is still keeping the event in the tent,” Prattes says. “Do a tent if you are still going to be okay with the rain plan. Skip the tent if rain on your wedding day is going to cause you to panic.” 

If your tent is plan A and B, you’ll also need to leave room in your budget for bad-weather accommodations, such as side walls, doors, and even gutters. “If it is going to rain, you want to ensure that you have budgeted for these items,” Norwood says. “No rain, no need, but you will need them if it were to rain, to protect your event.”

No: If You Don’t Want to Hire a Planner

Experts emphasize the importance of bringing on a full-service planner if you hope to have a tented wedding. “The planner will be the consultant who guides you through the many decisions you will make,” Sandone says. “They should have experience working with multiple vendors, including power, A/V, and specialty rentals, to create an effective—and beautiful—plan for your wedding.” Prattes agrees: “Do a tent if you have an experienced wedding planner, skip the tent if you don’t plan to hire a planner—there are too many moving parts with a tent wedding.” 

Yes: If You Want to Tap Into Your Creativity

While a full-build can feel overwhelming, it also provides endless opportunities to customize a space that’s completely one-of-a-kind. “If you are in an open field that doesn’t offer anything, a tent is a great option to add over-the-top decor,” Norwood says. From custom wood-covered frames to bespoke dance floors, choosing a tent for your wedding guarantees your guests will never see another reception like yours, Prattes says. “You can really make a tent into anything,” she adds. “A tent allows for a completely custom experience from start to finish. Every single detail is brought in, so you can control the choices, the design, the style.”