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| DO YOU KNOW? |
| When considering tent size,
take your guest count seriously; a dozen extra people could
force a leap to the next, more costly size. |
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| Wedding Tents |
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| A tent can provide you with
the flexibility to have your wedding where, when,
and how you want it, providing extra shelter in
popular sites such as gardens, public parks, and
historic sites. |
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Renting
a Tent
Ask the caterer or event planner to refer tent-rental
companies in the area. Be sure that the company
carries liability insurance and that one of the
installers will remain at the event to make adjustments.
All of the company’s tents should be certified as
flame retardant, and the tent company should be
willing to find out which permits and notices are
required to put up a tent at the site. Ask the company
to bring photographs of previous jobs (particularly
if they have set up tents in the past at the site
you’re considering), examples of site plans they
have drawn up, and references. |
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| Any reputable company should
arrange for a site inspection to provide an idea
of what can be done and at what cost. For instance,
sloped ground may require flooring, for which there
will be an additional charge; an experienced tent
installer will be able to spot this and other similar
situations. Most companies offer inspections at
no charge and with no obligation. |
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Tent Types
A push-pole tent is the most familiar and least
expensive type of tent. The ceiling slopes gently
downward from a row of tall center poles to a shorter
set of poles called quarter poles, then out to the
perimeter poles. |
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| A tension tent has high center
poles, a steeply sloped ceiling, and a more open
feeling inside. |
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| A frame tent is ideal for tight
spots; it needs no clearance around its sides, whereas
the push-pole and tension tents need at least seven
feet. Because it can be as narrow as ten feet wide
and has no interior poles, a frame tent is ideal
for covering long, narrow areas or for forming an
entrance. |
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Flooring
Because floors are an added expense, many people
choose to put in only a dance floor; others choose
none at all. But if the wedding is planned for a
month that normally has high rainfall or if the
tent will be erected on low ground, a floor is a
worthwhile investment. |
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| The most desirable (and most
expensive) choice is a plywood floor, which is laid
over a custom-built subfloor that resembles the
framing beneath the floor of a house. Plywood flooring
requires a considerable amount of labor and lumber,
but it will provide a sturdy raised floor over terrain
of almost any type. After installation, the plywood
is often painted or covered with artificial turf
or carpeting. |
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| For paved surfaces (such as
tennis courts or parking areas), a rigid plastic
floor can be laid at roughly half the cost of plywood.
A parquet-wood floor, assembled in sections, can
serve as a dance floor. Artificial turf rolled right
over the ground is the least expensive option, but
it will not keep feet dry if it rains. |
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Sidewalls
and Doors
The three basic types of sidewalls are solid white
(for privacy), clear vinyl (to let in light),and
the more decorative cathedral-window walls, which
also let in some light. Doors can make everyone
more comfortable during winter or cold-weather events. |
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Cost
Tent-rental prices vary by region, but in the Northeast,
a basic fifty-by-seventy-five-foot tent that accommodates
up to two hundred people could cost from £1,000
to £10,000; the price includes the lighting,
flooring, and the cost of delivery, setup, and removal.
(Eliminate all the extras, and the cost may be as
little as £700 to £4,000.) |
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