How to Heat a Tent

Securing Tent Sidewalls Video

When you’re planning an outdoor winter event, one of the most important aspects of the tent is the heat, specifically keeping the heat inside the tent. Typically, the standard tent walls do a great job. However, wind can play havoc with the walls that hang to the ground. Frame tents with kedered walls don’t normally have this problem, but pole tents can. The best way to solve this problem is to secure the bottom of the tent walls. If you’re concerned about wind, you can add this option to your order. One way we secure the walls is wood boards under the tent poles. We screw the walls to the boards. This can make the difference between walls that look like this… and walls that look like this in case of a storm. Ask us how we can keep your guests warm and comfortable at your next outdoor tented event.

Planning a camp wedding video

One way to begin the adventure of a lifetime is host your wedding at a campground. A campground includes lots of natural beauty and is the perfect setting for a casual wedding. This is a trend we’re noticing among couples who love the great outdoors.

Ideas for a great campground wedding:

1.       Invite your closest friends and family to stay in cabins at the campground.

2.       Why limit your wedding celebration to a day? Enjoy a whole weekend together.

3.       Include your favorite camping traditions: campfires, smores, canoes, red Solo cups

4.       Leave time for guests to enjoy other fun activities at the campground

Tips for planning an enjoyable camp wedding

1.       Plan well ahead to be sure you can book the time and space you need.

2.       Advise guests to dress for the outdoors

3.       Have a rain plan for any outdoor portion of the wedding

4.       Keep decorations simple. It reduces your stress and draws everyone’s attention to the great outdoors.

5.       Use camping as inspiration for your décor

Want to start planning your camp wedding, contact us today and we’ll help you create a memorable wedding for you and your guests.

Add some color to your tent event

If you’re planning a formal event with a classic theme, black and white are the colors of choice. But, an outdoor event is a great time to have some fun with the color palette. Celebrate a spring party in a tent with some pastels. Enjoy summer with bursts of bright color. Decorate for your fall wedding with warm earth tones. There are numerous ways to add color to a tent event.

• Lights: Lighting can set the mood for any tent event.

• Linens: Our linens are available in over 50 different colors plus prints.

• Striped tents: Many tents are available in blue and white, red and white, or yellow and white

Want to make your event stand out? Get a tent rental quote today.

Outdoors or In?

If you’re planning a wedding or other event, you may wonder if you should plan it outdoors. 

Here are the top 5 reasons to choose the outdoors:

1.       You get to experience the great outdoors, fresh air and sunshine or stars.

2.       The outdoors is a great backdrop for a country or rustic theme.

3.       Even if your home is small, you can have a large guest list.

4.       You don’t need to worry about guests damaging your home by leaving punch stains on the couch or mud on the carpet.

5.       Outdoor events feel very relaxed and casual.

Here are the cons of outdoor events:

The weather is unpredictable. It can be hot our cool. (although tent heating, fans and cooling are available). It’s also important to have a plan to host everyone underneath a tent in case of rain.

If you aren't willing to adjust plans to work with the weather, it may be best to plan your event indoors.

While there are pros and cons of planning events outdoors, we're sure you'll be just as happy with your outdoor event as these customers were.

How To Guarantee A Great Time At A Garden Party

Garden parties during the spring and summer months can be incredibly fun. There's no better way to celebrate the warm weather than spending time outdoors with friends.

However, while garden parties can give you the right amount of socialization we all crave, they can go downhill if not planned in correlation with the weather. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your garden party is an event to remember.

Plan For All Types Of Weather

Even when the weather forecast tells you there will be nothing but sun, it's important to be prepared in case the sky decides to open up and rain on your parade. After all, most parties are planned in advance and you may not know for sure what the weather will be like until the week before.

Renting a tent will reduce the risk of your party being ruined by unexpected weather. Tented events are less likely to be rained out because guests are properly covered. And even if it doesn't rain, perfect tent rentals like a backyard party tent will keep your guests shaded from the harsh rays of the sun. Depending on the style of tent you're looking for, you can either choose from frame tents or pole tents to suit your needs.

Something else to consider for your garden party aside from deciding on the perfect tent rentals is the use of fans. Guests can easily become overheated during outdoor events in the summer. Keeping them cool should be your number one priority. If you don't have electrical fans, consider making paper fans as a DIY project. Not only will it be creative, but your guests can admire your work while keeping themselves cool.

Keep Lighting In Mind

Whether you rent a tent in your backyard or you've rented out a space for your garden party, lighting is something you'll have to think about. Landscape lighting will keep the area of your yard well-lit so everyone can see.

However, if you don't have landscape lighting at your home (or if you simply want a more romantic touch) you can consider using cafe lights or even mason jar candles. Another idea is to use hanging lanterns, which will provide your party with a soft, warm light to keep the atmosphere mellow and light.

Garden parties can be incredibly fun. But it's important to take weather and changing times of day into consideration to ensure everyone has a good time. Provide your guests with shade with perfect tent rentals, fans, and proper lighting and the focus of your garden party will be on your guests' enjoyment and not their discomfort.

How to Decide if an Outdoor Wedding is for You

As you're planning your wedding, you may wonder if you should plan an outdoor wedding or keep it indoors.

Reasons you should plan your wedding outdoors:

• You love the outdoors, fresh air, sunshine or stars
• You're planning a country or rustic wedding theme
• You have an outdoor space that is significant to you
• You want your wedding to be relaxed or casual

Reasons to opt for in indoor venue:

• You have a low tolerance for cool or warm weather (although tent heating and cooling are available)
• You aren't willing to adjust plans to work with weather changes

While there are pros and cons of planning an outdoor wedding, we're sure you'll be just as happy with your event as these customers were.

Protect Your Guests and Enjoy the Scenery

Sailcloth tent with clear walls

Tent with clear end panel and cathedral window walls

Clear top tent

Clear tent walls

Clearspan tent with clear walls

White tents with clear walls

Clear tent walls

Partial clear top tent

Are you planning your outdoor event at a beautiful venue? Are you wondering how let your guests enjoy the beauty while still being protected from the elements? Many people want to let their guests enjoy the scenery while protecting them from possible inclement weather.

We offer two options to solve this problem:

1. Fair weather tent cancellation plan

2. Clear tents

Our fair weather tent plan is explained in detail on this page. Our clear tents come in many different configurations. A tent can be completely clear or partially clear. The walls can be clear or have cathedral windows. You can hide a food preparation area with white walls and have clear walls on the rest of the tent.

If you are planning a daytime event, we recommend a white top tent or air conditioning since the sun can make the a clear top tent quite warm. Contact us today to protect your guests and while preserving the view.

Introducing the Sheer Top Sailcloth Tent

Ocean wedding tent

Evening wedding in a sailcloth tent

Translucent tent

Sheer top tent at night

Beautiful sailcloth tent designs

Aurora sailcloth tent

Lights on a sheer top wedding tent

Clear walls on a sailcloth tent

Sailcloth tent

Sailcloth wedding tent

So, you've decided to hold your event outdoors, and you love natural sunlight and breeze. If this is you, then the Aurora sailcloth tent is for you. Its minimalist design, clean lines and translucent fabric are the perfect compliment to your outdoor wedding or other event.

• In the daytime, it allows sunlight to softly diffuse through the tent.
• At night, it glows beautifully from the lights inside.
• Its clean, elegant lines complement any event.

Contact us today to find out more about this amazing sheer top tent.

The newly designed Aurora sailcloth tent from Tents For Rent takes the popular sailcloth style tent to the next level in several key ways:

• It is engineered to withstand up to 65 mph winds. So, it's more than just a "fair weather tent".
• Its innovative WeatherShield walls keep out wind and rain.
• Specially designed fabric is stronger and more translucent than other sailcloth tents.

What If a Storm Comes While the Tent Is Up?

As you're planning your outdoor event, you may wonder, "What if the weather doesn't cooperate and there's a storm during my event?" That's a great question. Asking that question now, helps you have a great event rain or shine.  

Here are a few things you should do ahead of time. When planning your event:

• Have an evacuation plan for the extreme worst case scenario.

• Designate one person to decide when the tent should be evacuated in extreme weather.

• Place the tent in an area that is not prone to flooding.

• Be sure to rent tent sidewalls.

• Have a rain plan for any outdoor portion of your event.

• Consider renting a covered walkway for your guests to enter the tent.

• Consider renting flooring if the ground may become muddy.

If severe weather is immanent:

• Keep an eye on the weather forecast.

• If high winds are expected, open the tent side walls to allow the wind to blow through the tent.

• Tighten the ratchet straps on the tent.

If a storm does arrive during your event, like it did at this wedding, you'll be prepared. All of our tents are very sturdy and are designed to withstand storms. Of course, in the case of a very severe storm, you should vacate the tent. Tents are designed to flex and move slightly during a high wind, but here are some signs that the tent is becoming unsafe:

• Wind speed is over 38 miles per hour

• Tent poles are lifting off the ground.

• Tent stakes are pulling out of the ground

• Tent fabric is starting to tear

• Nearby trees begin to fall

• Lightning is striking nearby

If you are unsure about whether your tent is safe, call us at 717.733.9700 (after hours, select option 3 for an emergency). If any of these conditions occur or you feel unsafe inside the tent:

• Immediately evacuate everyone to a safe building.

• If no building is available, guests can go to their cars until the storm passes and the tent is secure.

• After everyone is safe, call Tents For Rent 717.733.9700 and select option 3 for an emergency.

• If possible, send videos or pictures of the tent to us so that we can assess what is needed to secure your tent. You may email them to tents@tentsforrent.net or text them to 717.733.9700. Please be sure to include your name and phone number.

If you are in a tent during a thunderstorm, keep everyone at least five feet from any tent pole. If the lightning is nearby evacuate everyone from the tent.

Even though many events have beautiful weather, it's always best to plan for the worst so that your even can be a success either way. Contact us to learn more about how it's always fair weather in a tent.

Emergency Planning Guidelines from American Rental Association:

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Can I Keep a Tent Warm in the Fall?

Fall Tent

Fall is officially here and the lovely fall colors won't be far behind. God's beautiful seasonal decorations make the perfect backdrop for your outdoor event. But, you may wonder how you will keep your guests comfortable. It's hard to believe that only a few months ago, I wrote a post about cooling a tent. Now it's time to start thinking about heating a tent. Many people ask whether a tent can really be kept warm in fall and winter. The answer is a resounding "yes." A tent is not completely airtight, but it can be heated and kept very comfortable.

So, what does it take to plan an outdoor event in cooler whether?

1. Fall often brings windy weather. So, be sure to rent a sturdy tent from a reputable company. You want to be sure that your tent will be safe and secure.

2. Tent sidewalls: I recommend ordering sidewalls with windows in them so that your guests can see out of the tent and not feel boxed in by the walls.

3. Heaters: We have charts with the average low temperatures listed for each day of the year. So, we can estimate the amount of heat you will need. Keep you eye on the weather forecast though. If colder weather is predicted, you may want to add more heaters closer to your event date.

4. A positive attitude: Embrace the fall weather and colors. Have a campfire outside the tent. Roast s'mores. Relax from the busyness of summer.

This fall, don't let the cooler weather put a damper on your outdoor event. With a little extra planning fall is a wonderful time of year for any event.

I Only Need a Tent in Case of Rain Video

Call us at 717.733.9700 or request a quote to be prepared for any type of weather.

Many people planning an outdoor event or wedding really love the outdoors. So do we. If you're an outdoors loving person, maybe you prefer to have your event outdoors with no tent at all. Maybe you like the full expanse of blue sky overhead during your wedding ceremony. Maybe you have visions of soft moonlight during your reception. Maybe you want to look up at the green canopy of trees overhead.

We understand this and we have a plan in place for you. Most summer days are lovely, warm and beautiful, but you need to plan for hot days with glaring sun or the stormy days with driving rain. That's where we come in. We allow you to reserve your tent and all the other rental items to go with it. If the weather forecast is beautiful, you can cancel the tent. There are several things you should consider when you're thinking of having a tent as a backup plan:

• Rain isn't the only type of inclement weather. Shade from the hot sun can help keep your guests more comfortable too.

• Even if you have your wedding ceremony outdoors, it's a great idea to rent a tent for the reception to cover the food, sound system and etc.

• If you're planning to light the tent, plan for how you want to light the space if you don't rent a tent. Not all types of lighting work as well outside a tent.

• You may want to rearrange your seating layout if you don't rent a tent.

• If in doubt, rent a tent. It's much better to rent a tent and not need it than cancel the tent and wish you had it.

So, how does it all work? When you reserve, we require a 25% deposit. This guarantees that your tent will be available in case of inclement weather. However, you may cancel the tent if the weather forecast looks beautiful. You may make this decision up until 9:00 AM of the business day before delivery and save yourself the remaining 75%. If you cancel after 9:00 AM, you save 50% of the tent rental cost. There are two exceptions to this: linens need to be cancelled one day earlier than tents in order to get a 75% refund and permits are not refundable at all. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your guests will have shade from the hot sun or cover from the rain. Yet, you have the option to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. So, reserve today to plan an event that will be beautiful no matter what the weather.