7 Ways to Plan a Tent Event on a Budget Video

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This article is part of a series of posts with further explanation on many of our frequently asked questions.

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If you have only a small budget, it doesn't mean that you can't have a beautiful event anyway. Here are my recommendations for planning a great event without breaking the bank:

1. Keep it simple: Plan simple elegance. Decorations can be simple and understated.

2. Do it yourself: Do you enjoy decorating and planning? DIY can be fun and allow you to express your creativity, but don't overdo it. Too many things to do yourself at the last minute can add more stress than it's worth.

3. Go Natural: Let God's beautiful nature be your decorations. If you have a space with trees, grass, water or bushes, don't detract from it by over-decorating the interior of the tent.

4. Skip the tent: Having a portion of your event under the blue sky can be both beautiful and frugal. However, always have a backup plan and a place for your guests to get out of the sun. For more information on reserving a tent only in case of rain see this page for a full explanation.

5. Add some color: To many people's surprise our striped tents are slightly more economical to rent than all white tents.

6. Rent frugally: Some rental choices are more affordable than others. Here are the most economical choices:

   1. Brown folding chairs

   2. Solid colored linens. They are available in 59 different colors. So, we're sure to have your color.

   3. Half length linens cost less than floor length linens.

   4. Globe lighting

   5. Fans are much less expensive than air conditioning

   6. Pole tents are much less expensive than frame tents.

7. Ask for help: Our representatives have years of experience planning outdoor events and would be glad to review your proposal for ways to save cost.

With these tips, you can have a memorable event with some money left over for the honeymoon or to put towards your mortgage.

7 Ways to Wow Your Guests Video

Find out more by calling us at 717.733.9700 or getting a quote today.

This article is part of a series of posts with further explanation on many of our frequently asked questions.

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The charm of an outdoor event alone is an excellent starting place, but a tent gives you so many more possibilities. The fabric of a white tent is like a blank canvas waiting for you to unleash your creativity. Here are my suggestions

1. Lighting: The lights in your tent can set the mood for your outdoor event. If you're planning a relaxed, casual country wedding, try café lights. If you want a high energy event, try colored can lighting. Bright colors can energize your event. Amber lights will shed a soft, warm glow over your guests inside the tent.

2. Tables: There is so much that you can do with size, placement and arrangement of tables. Randomly mixing round and rectangular tables gives your event a more casual feel. For a more country feel, try farm tables.

3. Linens: Table linens are a great way to add color to your event and make it really "pop." Our basic solid colored linens come in 59 colors. So, we're sure to have a color you like. If you like a more country style, try burlap or panama.

4. Chairs: Whether you're looking for an upscale chair or an inexpensive brown folding chair, we have what you need.

5. Flooring: If the ground surface is soft, uneven or sloping, you may want to consider adding flooring and carpet to your tented event. If your event is on grass and you expect guests to be wearing heels, flooring is also a good idea.

6. Restrooms: I'm sure you've used the basic portable restrooms that are common at outdoor events, and it's not usually a pleasant experience. Give your guests something more with our elegant restroom trailers. They include heat, air conditioning, running water and real flushing toilets.

7. Tent sidewalls: Most of our tents come with free white sidewalls. If you'd need to close the walls, it's nice to upgrade to the cathedral window sidewalls. Everyone can see out and it allows more light into the tent.

Wedding tent with farm tables and cafe lights

Randomly mixed rectangle and round tables in a wedding tent

Amber lights give the tent a warm glow

White padded chairs with purple sashes

Cathedral window sidewalls give the tent an elegant look and allow more light to enter the tent

Flooring can make any area tent-ready

Wedding reception with farm tables

Top 5 Mistakes Brides Make When Planning an Outdoor Wedding Video

Almost every day, I help brides, grooms, bridesmaids, parents or other relatives plan weddings. Most people are well organized. They plan ahead, and everything goes very smoothly. However, there are a few mistakes that I see fairly often, and I'd love to help you avoid those mistakes:

5. Renting from numerous different vendors - It's often possible to save a few dollars by renting a tent from one vendor, furniture from another, linens from a third vendor, restrooms from another company and a generator from the local construction rental company. However, coordinating the delivery schedule the day or two before the wedding can be a nightmare. The vendor delivering the tent may arrive 10:00 AM while the vendor delivering the rental items going inside the tent makes his delivery at  8:00 AM. Dealing with as few vendors as possible simplifies setup and helps keep the pre-wedding stress to a minimum.

4. Focusing either too much or too little on budget - I've seen people who are planning a wedding overspend and saddle themselves with debt that they'll be paying off for years. I've also seen people so focused on saving money that they shortchange themselves for this once-in-a-lifetime event. This is the event that the bride has been dreaming about for her entire life. Make it special.

3. Waiting until the last minute - Deciding two weeks before your wedding that you should rent a tent and accessories is not usually enough time coordinate and reserve your rentals.

2. Expecting the best but not planning for the worst - Every bride envisions a beautiful wedding day, but sometimes it can rain on your wedding. If you're planning to hold the ceremony or cocktails outdoors without a tent, have a backup plan in place. The peace of mind alone will be worth it.

1. Spending more time planning the wedding than planning the marriage - Right now, the wedding seems like the most important thing in the world, but remember your marriage will last much longer than the wedding. So, spend time planning for the wedding and the marriage and both can be a success.

What mistakes have you made? What mistakes have you seen? Share them in the comments.

Want to avoid making mistakes? Contact us and let us help you through every step of the process. 

How to Plan an Outdoor Event? Video

This article is part of a series of posts with further explanation on each of our frequently asked questions.

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So you're planning an event, and you're thinking of holding it outdoors. You just don't know where to start. Here's a place to start.

1. Choose a date. If you'd like to see the average weather for a given date, look here.

2. Create a guest list. This will help you estimate the number of guests who will attend. On average about 80% of the people you invite will attend. Will they all be there at one time or will it be a drop-in?

3. Choose a location. It can be your backyard, a park, a bed and breakfast, the home of a friend or family member, or another venue.

4. Research vendors for tents, other rentals, catering, event planning and entertainment.

5. Expect the best weather, but plan for the worst. If you plan to have any portion of the event outside, have a backup plan to add another tent or move indoors in case of rain.

6. Plan the details:

   1. Lighting

   2. Heating or cooling

   3. Tent layout

   4. Tables and chairs

   5. Linens

   6. Flooring

   7. Restrooms

   8. Power

7. Enjoy your event.

We'd love to hear from you with your success stories, comments, suggestions or questions. Contact us to get a rental quote. 

Why Should I Rent From Tents For Rent? Video

Call us at 717.733.9700 or request a quote to discover the Tents For Rent difference.

This article is the first in a series of posts with further explanation on each of our frequently asked questions.

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Why is Tents For Rent the company to choose for your once in a lifetime event, annual picnic or other outdoor event? There are many things that any reputable tent company will provide you with:

• Tents that are clean, safe and regularly maintained

• Heavy-duty tents that will protect you and give you peace of mind even in a storm

• Choice of a wide range of tent sizes

• A wide range of rental items in addition to tents

• Experienced, trustworthy tent installers

In addition to these things, we offer "something more."

• Peace of mind from start to finish

• Free CAD drawings to help you visualize your event

• The option to install a tent only in the case of inclement weather and cancel it if the weather forecast is favorable

• Onsite consultation if necessary

• Helpful staff who will make your planning process as smooth and stress-free as possible

• Showroom where you can see our tents, tables, chairs and linens

• Years of experience with large and small events

• Relationships with local caterers, florists, decorators and event venues

• Up to three days of rental at no additional cost

There are other rental companies who offer discount prices, but just remember that discount prices create discount quality, discount service, discount satisfaction and discount stress levels. 

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.

What If It Rains on My Event? Video

What if it rains on my event? This is a question that may be running through your mind whether you're planning an outdoor wedding, a graduation party or a corporate event. We would all like to imagine lovely weather, 70 degrees and a beautiful sunset, but, especially lately, weather like that has been the exception rather than the rule. We at Tents For Rent are here to help. Here are some tips for planning an event that will be beautiful in any type of weather:

• Have a backup plan for your wedding ceremony. This can be an alternate location or a tent rental on standby.

• Place your tent where there will not be water runoff in case of rain.

• Think about where your guests will walk and plan to have umbrellas or a covered walkway.

• Work with a reputable tent supplier that will provide you with tents that will be safe and secure even during a storm.

Our tents are a wonderful addition to any outdoor event in all types of weather. In the winter, we can heat your tent. In the summer, we can cool it with fans or air conditioning. In the rain, we can keep you dry. We even have an option to reserve a tent and cancel it at the last minute if the weather forecast looks favorable. You can read more about it on our FAQ page. All of our tents are heavy duty, sturdy tents that are designed to withstand wind and rain. We also offer some additional items to help your event go smoothly in all types of weather:

• Covered walkways to keep your guests dry while walking from their cars or the building

• Plastic flooring and carpet to protect your guests, from soft, wet ground or runoff water

• Sidewalls to protect from wind and rain. We include white walls for free on most tents.

• Technicians on call 24/7/365 if you should have any weather related issues

• Optional onsite attendant during your event

Our crews are experienced in installing tents in all types of weather. So, if there is foul weather leading up to your event, you can count on us to install your tent anyway. Our experienced event planners will be happy to help you plan to be prepared for all types of weather. To read more about weddings in unfavorable weather, see this article: Hurricane Weddings