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Tent Rental 101

No matter what, if you are planning an outdoor event, there's always the chance it will rain that day. There are only two ways to avoid making last minute phone calls searching for another venue as the rain pours down. Either rent a tent, or book a backup indoor location.

My preference would be to rent a tent, as it allows you to enjoy the outdoors while still being protected from the elements. Tents can provide a place to escape the heat or rain and can help keep pesky insects at bay. Prices for a tent rental can start as low as $100 to upwards of $10,000 depending on size, so it’s best to know how many people it will be accommodating.

If you pick a tent which is too small, everyone won’t fit in – if it’s too large, your party will lack atmosphere and you’ll waste money. One thing to remember is that you can always make a place look smaller by using lighting, drapes or decorations. Pay attention to what it looks like inside as much as you do to the outside, as this is one of the main things that will set the mood of your event.

Before you start asking tent rental companies for a quote do some homework. Cover the basics such as knowing the approximate number of people attending, when the event will take place and what time of day it will be.

Depending on the guest list, size and the formality of your event, you may want to rent flooring. Outdoor seating can be troublesome, imagine your dance floor turning in to a muddy mess. Renting a floor for your tent is fairly inexpensive and most tent rental companies offer this service.

After you’ve determined the basics it’s time to call. Use this list of questions to determine which tent rental company to go with. Good Luck!

20 Questions

1. What size tents do you have?
2. Which style tent would work best for my event?
3. What months are tents available for my event?
4. What rental tent colors are available?
5. Are sides available for tents?
6. Are your tents fire resistant?
7. Are your tents engineered?
8. How do you ensure that the tent is clean and tear free for my event?
9. Are permits required?
10. What are my tent flooring options?
11. For an evening event, what type of tent lighting is available?
12. How much notice should I give when placing an order?
13. What are your rental periods?
14. When do you require payment?
15. Do you require a security deposit?
16. What is your cancellation policy?
17. What is most frequently required to get a permit?
18. When will my rental items be delivered?
19. What do I need to do to rental equipment before returning it?