Winter Wedding Rentals, Tent Rentals

Winter Wedding Rental Supplies

There are so many reasons to say “I do” to a crisp and cool winter wedding. Off-season weddings are typically less expensive. You’ll have a wider selection of available dates. You and your guests won’t melt in the sweltering summer heat. And best of all, snow is a stunning backdrop — just imagine the gorgeous wedding photos!

However, in order to avoid any cold-weather fiascos, you may wish to incorporate the following winter wedding rental supplies to make your big day as spectacular as possible while keeping you and your guests warm and comfortable.

Outdoor Winter Wedding Rental Items

If you’d like to utilize an outdoor space instead of a standard indoor ballroom or church for your winter wedding, look into winter tent rentals. Your best bet is to choose a fully enclosed tent to keep cold air out and warm air in. Portable tent heaters can also be rented to keep your event from turning into a freeze-out. After all, body heat alone won’t keep anyone toasty once the weather plunges below 30 degrees. So, where do you start? You’ll need:

The right size heater(s) for your winter rental tent — How big of a heater you need depends on how big of a tent you’re renting and what the temperature is outside. Choosing the right heater is important, and your local ARA-affiliated rental stores can recommend what size heater (or heaters) will work best for your wedding and your budget to keep your tent comfortably warm for your guests.
Propane to fuel the heater — Yes, you can use a propane heater in your tent if you have proper ventilation. You’ll want to get propane heaters for your winter party tent because they work best to get — and keep — guests comfortable. You might also consider a few free-standing heaters (also fueled by propane). Placed around a dining area, these help keep your guests plenty warm.
A generator to power the heater — Generator rentals are designed for safe outdoor use to meet the power needs of your heater, as well as the band, DJ, caterer and more. Most portable generators are equipped with quiet mufflers so conversation and music can be easily heard without the rumbling of a loud motor.
Floors for extra insulation — You don’t necessarily need a floor for your winter tent, but you may regret not having one. If you live in any northern state, by mid-winter, the ground will be almost completely frozen and will feel like frigid ice beneath your guests’ feet. A rented portable floor is a great way to provide much-needed insulation between people’s feet and the cold, hard ground—and will keep everyone’s shoes and clothing clean and dry. And, since no wedding is complete without a place for you and your guests to dance the night away, you’ll want to set up a portable dance floor to keep people moving and having fun.

Additional Items for Your Winter Wedding

Here are some more winter party rental items to consider for your outdoor winter wedding.

Fans — Fans on pedestals can help circulate warm air throughout your tent so you don’t burn as much propane and your guests stay comfortable.
Entry tent or hallway — If you’d like to connect your outdoor tent space with a nearby building, you can give guests a stylish entrance by adding a hallway or connecting a series of small frame tents together and adding sidewalls to create a protected corridor from the wedding tent to the building. This keeps guests from having to trudge across snow and ice to go back and forth.
Patio heaters — Outdoor patio heaters can be used in open outdoor areas for added comfort for your guests.
Chair dollies — Rent chair dollies to expedite setup and teardown and avoid cold fingers and toes.
Portable bar — If you’re planning on having a bartender onsite to serve mixed drinks, you’ll want to have a rented portable bar to facilitate the bartender’s duties. You can combine your portable bar with a simpler skirted table bar where bottled beverages (and even a carafe of hot chocolate or apple cider) can be set out for your guests.

When planning your winter wedding, take advantage of all the resources you can to make it the wedding of your dreams. Check out the Wedding & Event section above to see what equipment, furnishings and decorations you could use to make your wedding an event you and your guests won’t soon forget. Contact your local, ARA-affiliated rental store to learn about winter party tent rentals and other rental products and services to meet your outdoor winter wedding needs. To locate the rental store nearest you, use the Rental Store Quick Locator above. Frequently Asked Question How do you have an outdoor wedding in the winter? The key to a successful outdoor winter wedding lies in keeping your guests warm. Sure, guests can wear a winter jacket, but people still want to look festive and may not want to bundle up in a heavy coat all day and night. And if you keep guests warm, they will stay longer! Otherwise, people will just sit and shiver and wait for a respectful time to leave. As a good host, you’ll want everyone to be warm and comfortable and have a great time. How do you keep guests warm at a winter wedding? In addition to a fully enclosed rented tent, the best thing you can invest in at your outdoor winter wedding: heaters. Luckily, your tent rental company probably rents them and can help you determine the right size heater(s) you need for your tent How do you make a winter wedding special? Get creative with your outdoor wedding ideas and make your winter wedding extra cozy, warm and special by providing throw blankets, serving warm drinks such as hot chocolate or apple cider, creating cozy lounge areas, lighting a bonfire and serving hearty and delicious comfort food such as macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup — all fan favorites on a cold winter’s day. Talk with your rental store representative to see if they offer any rental items to help you pull off any of these unique ideas.

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