Should You Rent a Tent for your Wedding? (Part One)
The weather in Minnesota is notoriously unpredictable. It can be hot and sunny one minute, and windy with pouring rain the next. But Minnesota is also home to some beautiful outdoor wedding venues, from the shores of Lake Superior to the southeastern bluffs, and everywhere in between. Then there are personal preferences to consider: some want a canopy because of the sun, some want it because of rain, and some simply want to keep everyone out of the house! So, for Minnesota couples who are planning outdoor events, wedding tent rentals can save the day.
But renting a tent is a bit more complicated than you may think, so at Broadway Party and Tent Rental, we do our best to make it easy. Read on for a few tips and tools that will simplify the tent rental process.
Plan ahead
If you want until you hear the forecast to order your tent, it may be too late. How often are meteorologists right, anyway? In Minnesota, we’ve rented both heaters and air conditioners in the same week, with fans for daytime and a heater at night. So don’t decide based on the weather alone.
Another important reason to plan ahead is the logistics of setup. If the tent is being staked, we’re required to get an underground utility locate, which requires a notice of 48 business hours. Some tents can be weighted, but it often more than doubles the cost.
As much as we’d like to accommodate every last minute wedding tent request, we sometimes can’t make it happen, even if we have the equipment available. Much depends on the availability of staff and trucks to load, drive, unload, setup and then do it all again to get the equipment returned. Even if we are available, changing routes at the last minute may end up costing you extra.
The moral of the story? Plan ahead for full availability and the lowest cost!
Get the right size
When you have your guest list finalized (or close to it), then check out our tent seating layouts to determine which size of tent will work best for your wedding. Do you want a tent just for extra standing room with a few tables and chairs? Or do you want room for everyone to sit down at the same time? Are your tables round or rectangular? Do you need space for a dance floor, DJ, bar, buffet tables, gift tables or a staged head table?
Rent tent accessories
With the season, location, time of day, guest list and other details in mind, consider renting accessories like heaters or air coolers, lighting, sidewall, flooring, staging and more.
Stay tuned for more tips on wedding tent rental! And in the meantime, check out our wide selection of wedding rentals. Get in touch to learn how we can make wedding planning easier and more affordable!
