Planning an outdoor wedding is a beautiful way to personalize your big day, but it can also pose logistical challenges, one of which is the wedding tent. A tent is a must-have for an outdoor wedding. Not only can it help protect against the elements, but it also creates a nice aesthetic vibe.
But you have to plan, because wedding tents can be in high demand, especially during the typical wedding season. At Golden Rentals, we offer wedding tents in a variety of sizes to suit everyone.
When it comes to wedding tents, many people wonder how far in advance they need to book. The team at Golden Rentals has compiled this guide to point you in the right direction.
When Should You Book a Wedding Tent?
Generally, you should book your wedding tent 9 to 12 months in advance of the big day. If your wedding falls during the peak season (usually May through October) or on a holiday weekend, you’ll want to book closer to the 12-month mark, maybe even earlier.
Why Do You Need to Book So Early?
Wedding tent rentals can be highly competitive because many places have limited supplies of popular styles. Sailcloth tents and clear-span structures are incredibly popular right now. Once they are booked for your date, they are gone.
Besides renting the tent, you also have to consider logistics. A tent rental requires delivery crews, installation, and breakdown. Companies can only physically handle so many jobs at once.
When you rent a tent, you usually also rent the flooring, staging, lighting, and fans or heaters. These items can sell out even faster than the tents themselves.
Variables That Change the Timeline
While 9 to 12 months is the general time frame, certain factors might require you to move faster or let you breathe a little easier.
Your Wedding Date (Peak vs. Off-Peak)
If you are getting married in June or September, you are competing with dozens of other couples, corporate events, and high school graduations. If you are getting married in an off-peak month, like November or March, 6 to 9 months should be enough time. But if you know what you want, book it as soon as you can so you can focus on other details of your special day.
The Type of Tent You Want
If you’re looking for standard pole or frame tents, you can usually book them 6 to 8 months in advance. The sailcloth or clear-top tents we mentioned above can sell out faster. It’s best to book these one year out.
Is it Your Primary Venue or a Weather Backup?
If the tent is your plan A, book it 9 to 12 months out. You cannot design your invitations, caterer layout, or rain plan without it. If the tent is your back-up plan, ask the company to hold it and release it if you no longer need it. But this is highly unlikely, especially during peak season.
Necessary Information to Book Your Wedding Tent
Do not call a tent rental company the day after you get engaged. To get an accurate quote and secure the right tent, you need three things finalized first:
- The Guest Count: A tent for 50 people is vastly different from a tent for 200. You need a realistic estimate to determine the required square footage.
- The Venue/Property Boundaries: The rental company needs to know where the tent will be set up. Is it a flat grass lawn? A sloped driveway? A paved parking lot? They may need to do a site visit to check for underground utility lines or overhead trees.
- Your Layout Desires: Do you want a massive dance floor? A live band stage? Buffet stations? A photo booth? All of these elements require extra square footage inside the tent.
If possible, it’s always best to get a tent a little larger than what you need so your wedding doesn’t feel cramped.
Call Golden Rentals Today for Your Wedding Tent
You want your wedding to be perfect, and that includes the tent. To ensure you get the style you want, the size you need, and the installation crew needed to put it up safely, be as prepared as possible; that means booking 9 to 12 months in advance.
Golden Rentals offers a wide selection of wedding tents. Let our experts help you choose the right one for your special day. As a locally owned and operated company in Dillsburg, PA, we have over 100 years of industry experience. Call us today at 717-432-8184 or contact us online for more information.