Where Can I Rent a Wedding Tent on Long Island?
Groom and groomsmen throwing bride into the air inside a tent. © Dan Wagner 2023
Finding the best places on Long Island to rent a wedding tent, dance floor, lighting, restrooms, and everything else you need is a lot of work. So much can go wrong! Do you have a good location with easy access to electricity and proper drainage for your wedding tent? Have you calculated the space you will need for extras such as a DJ, bartender, and a buffet?
If you’re one of those lucky couples who are having a tent wedding at a country club, then the club manager and staff will be indispensable. Why? Because they’ve probably supervised dozens if not hundreds of weddings for club members. This means that they should know what they’re doing, and more importantly, their reputations are at stake if they make even the tinniest mistake.
Some hotels and other tent wedding locations may be able to offer similar support. Long Island tent weddings are one type of wedding where planners really earn their fees. Thinking back on the tent wedding I’ve photographed, it’s amazing how smoothly they went. One exception was a Long Island family out east that failed to provide a tent location with proper drainage. Fortunately, they were able to get water pumps and fans to dry the area in time.
This Best Long Island Wedding Tent Rental Companies list will help you spend your wedding tent rental budget wisely. As with anything desirable in life, brides and grooms owe it to themselves to compare the pros and cons of wedding tents, photographers, and other wedding vendors. To maximize the usefulness of this Long Island Wedding Blog, I’ve decided to create a series of blog articles designed to make your vendor comparison searches easier, faster, and more informative. Being somewhat of a shopaholic myself, I’m an expert at separating the wheat from the chaff—in other words this blog can help you avoid the worst fate known to mankind—buyer’s remorse!
Please feel free to let me know if I haven’t included your favorite wedding tent rental business, so I can add them to this list. By the way, please don’t judge the Long Island wedding tent rental companies from this webpage. Instead, please view their websites, and contact them to learn more. Also, the photos next to the wedding tent rental companies info are screenshots from the tent rental company’s website or Instagram. Thank you!
Use the wedding tent rental email addresses for information and pricing requests!
Note: Any best list is subjective. Just because I haven’t included a Long Island wedding tent rental place on this list, doesn’t mean they’re not one of the best. A few of the wedding tent rental places on this list provide contact forms instead of, or in addition to an email address. If you decide to use them, make sure you get their email address so you have an easier way to reach them on the days leading up to your wedding, and on the day of your wedding.
5-STAR Wedding Tent Recommendation!
Please be sure to check out this fabulous blog article How Much Does a Wedding Tent Cost? from our knowledgeable friends at American Tent in Green Bay Wisconsin. Their article covers topics such as What Grade of Wedding Tent is Right for You, Wedding Tent Additions and Extras, Things to Remember that include electrical, zoning, and other vital concerns, Average Wedding Tent Prices, and whether you should Rent or Buy Your Wedding Tent.
5 Best Places to Rent a Tent for Your Long Island Wedding
“At Long Island Tent & Party Rentals, we pride ourselves on making your wedding day special. Our stunning tents and equipment can maximize your outdoor space and transform it into a magical setting. Having seen an increase in outdoor/backyard weddings, most people don’t realize how adding certain touches like fabric draping, lighting, and flooring can create a beautiful outdoor venue.
We are one of the largest companies serving the Long Island and Queens areas. We have a 50,000 square foot facility, a huge inventory, and a fleet of trucks ready to accommodate small to large events.”
What Size Tent Do I Need for My Long Island Wedding?
Great question! Knowing what size tent you will need for your wedding is one of the steps to planning a successful tent wedding. The following list of tent sizes matched to wedding guest numbers is a good starting point. Be sure to ask your tent rental company for their recommendations.
Up to 50 guests — 20 x 40’ tent
50 to 80 guests — 20 x 60’ or a 30 x 40’ tent
100 guests — 30 x 60’ or 40 x 40’ tent
150 guests — 30 x 80’ or 40 x 60’ tent
200 guests — 30 x 100’ or 40 x 80’ tent
250 guests — 40 x 100’ tent
Will I Need a Larger Tent if I Have Some Cocktail Tables, a Bar, and a DJ?
Yes! Seated dining, buffet food service, bar with bartender, a small number of cocktail tables with or without barstools, dance floor size, accessory tables such as DJ, sweetheart, cake, gift, and sign-in tables require additional space.
American Party Rentals in Durham NC has a useful Rental Tent Size Calculator on their website.
According to this tent size calculator, the 30 x 80’ tent size for 150 guests mentioned earlier would need to be increased to a 40 x 85’ tent to accommodate the following:
Seated Dining
Food Buffet
Bar with Server
6 Cocktail Tables with Barstools
Dance Floor (although this is included in previous examples)
8 x 8’ Stage
4’ Round Cake Table
6’ Sign in Table
3’ Round Sweetheart Table
6’ Gift Table
8’ DJ Table with Room for DJ to Stand
Please remember, these are not exact tent sizes—simply recommendations.
TENT SIZE CALCULATOR & LINEN SIZING CHART “Daley Party Rentals is committed to the highest customer value. The way we communicate, the products and services we provide, and our pricing all center around our customers. We understand that renting tents and equipment for your party can be stressful and a bit confusing; with many companies providing similar equipment and services. We also know you need a reliable company you can trust, one that will deliver quality equipment on time and above expectations. Our goal is to make the process of renting for your next event as easy as possible. Parties are not meant to be stressful and neither should your renting experience!”
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Wedding Tent on Long Island?
One of the hardest Long Island wedding expenses to figure out is the cost of renting a tent for your wedding! At first it seems like all you need is the right size tent for your wedding party, and that’s it. After you realize that a wedding tent without the extras is merely a hollow shell, and much like an empty house or ballroom—reality will begin to set in.
In addition to the tent, you’ll need a dance floor, lighting, tables, seating, linens, and someplace for the DJ. You may also need an area for the bar and bartender, a stage, ground preparation and more. And we haven’t even discussed what type of tent, and if your tent rental place offers packages with the style and quality of additions you’re interested in.
While probably more expensive than you first imagined, with a little bit of creativity and help from your tent rental company, wedding planner (if you have one), and a friend or two who’ve had tent weddings—the road to a wonderful tent wedding shouldn’t be too difficult. Hopefully, this Where Can I Rent a Wedding Tent on Long Island? blog article will be helpful.
As a rough guide, renting a wedding tent for up to 150 people with a window side wall, lighting, and a dance floor can easily cost $3,500. Remember, not all wedding tents and extras are created equal. Take the dance floor for example. You’ll need a larger dance floor if you have a high percentage of wedding guests who love to dance. You may also opt for a premium quality dance floor and other extras. Before you know it, this $3,500 cost has risen to $6,000.
“Sperry Tents Hamptons is an award-winning tent rental company and outdoor event specialist located on Long Island. We are the exclusive provider of Sperry Tents—the industry’s most elegant and sought-after rental tent. We provide tenting throughout the Hamptons, the North Fork, Shelter Island, and all of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.”
15 Questions To Ask Before Planning a Long Island Tent Wedding
Do I have a good location for my wedding tent?
Is the tent location graded properly? Is there proper drainage?
Will the tent have easy access to electricity?
Do I need an electric generator? Will it be noisy?
Are there adequate restrooms nearby, or will I need to rent them?
In case of cold weather, will I need heating equipment? If so, what kind?
Will I need fans to circulate the air during the hottest days of summer?
Should I have a buffet or a catered service with waitstaff?
Will I need a tent hallway connecting the wedding tent to a house or other structure?
What type of tent do I need? Should I rent a tent with walls?
What is the rental period of your tent? You will need enough time for delivery, set-up and pick-up.
What are the fees for changes, cancellation, delivery, and pick-up?
Is there an equipment protection plan covering the tent and extras?
Does the tent company offer refunds for unused extras? (Usually the answer is no.)
Do I have to be home for the tent delivery and pick-up?
“Nassau Tent specializes in everything to do with tents. Our staff is trained in all facets of erecting and dismantling tents and sub-flooring, including floors over pools, dance floors, bandstands, and full wood floors.
We also offer numerous lighting options and climate control options. Whether it's too hot or too cold, we supply just the right temperature with pole fans, heating units, and air conditioning. Choose from different types of tents, including pole tents, century tents, frame tents, and structure tents. Most models are available in Clear-Top and/or White-Top.”
What Type of Tent Should I Get for My Long Island Wedding?
Wedding tents come in rectangular and square sizes. Personally, I like the geometry of a square tent. However, choosing a rectangular or square wedding tent might be dictated by location, by the number of guests, and by what your local tent rental places have available.
Tent Liners and Pole Covers. While not a type of tent, some couples like the way tent liners and pole covers look.
Center Pole v. No Center Pole Tents—center pole tents are less expensive, sometimes easier to set up and take down, and might be the only option for the tent size you’re considering. No center pole tents, as the name implies offer a less obstructed interior.
Clear Top Tents—as the name implies feature a clear plastic roof. With views of the night sky, a clear top tent can add a “magical quality” to your wedding. This can be enhanced by lighting any nearby trees or buildings. Clear top tents might not be the best choice on bright sunny days.
Sailcloth Wedding Tents—are very popular and versatile. These tents often feature high peaks, and translucent tops. Many couples describe the style of sailcloth wedding tents as looking classic, elegant, and sophisticated. Bear in mind that sailcloth wedding talents may require added space and a grass surface for proper installation.
VERY IMPORTANT! COOKING INSIDE TENTS IS PROHIBITED UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE
“We serve Long Island, NY and the of the five boroughs of NYC. Whether you’re planning an elegant tent wedding at a premier vineyard, or a venue on the North Fork, Montauk or the Hamptons—Magnif-A-Tent is your go-to provider. There are many party rental services, but few with our owner-operated personal touch. From the moment you contact one of our event planning experts, you will experience the best-in-class service that sets us apart! Our tents are perfectly-maintained and always delivered on time! Your happiness is our number one priority!”
Wedding Tent Photography Tips and Advice
For photographers, it can be difficult to find a safe place to store gear, or setup an extra flash unit and stand. Hopefully there’s a safe location near the DJ. For some reason wedding guests love to park their drinks on photo equipment cases. To safely setup an extra flash unit on a stand, it’s helpful to have a wooden board for the bottom of the stand, a water bottle weight, and some cords for added security.
The great thing about wedding tents for photos, are the white ceilings that provide a perfect bounce light reflector for your flash.
Tents can be hazardous. The stakes and lines are easy to trip over, and the tent poles are easy to bump into while photographing guests.
Bring insect repellent and an umbrella just in case.
Stay tuned for more Long Island wedding photography blog articles!
“Dan Wagner was the best money spent on our wedding. He was nice, professional and did a great job. He took great candid photos—which I love. Not only did we get every picture he took, but the photos were full size and without any writing on them, and they arrived just a few days after we came back home from our honeymoon. We got to choose many pictures for our album. Because everything was digital, he e-mailed me exactly what the layout of the album would be before it was printed, and I was able to make changes. Our album was the nicest I have seen, and everyone who has seen it wishes they had hired him.”
—Genevieve and William
Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on Long Island tent weddings in the comment box below. Have a wonderful wedding, and many thanks for visiting my Long Island wedding photographer blog!