Understanding Different Tent Styles
At first glance, party tents seem pretty simple - they all seem to serve the same purpose, cover the same types of events, hold a certain amount of tables and chairs, and so on. Once you really look into it, though, you quickly realize that there is so much more variety in the different styles of tents, and each of these options has its pros and its cons.
We offer and specialize in two main styles of tents - the frame tent and the pole tent. These tents serve similar purposes but each style of tent is more suitable for different types of events.
Pole Tents
Though the oldest style of tent, the pole tent is the most popular tent choice even today, and with good reason. They are easy to set up, aesthetically pleasing, and sturdy for most weather conditions.
Pole tents are erected on tent poles (hence its name), including a center pole, which is held up by taught ropes. These ropes must be staked into the ground (typically grass), with the center pole being set in its place by the tension of the outer poles and ropes.
Pole tents provide a sleek, classic look with their raised center poles. They are typically easier to set up than frame tents, though they tend to be a little less sturdy. They are also a bit more cost efficient than its sibling, the frame tent.
The main hesitation some clients have when considering a pole tent is that they must be staked into the ground, whether the surface is grass or pavement. If the event will take place in the grass, no worries there! We can stake right into the surface. However, if the event will commence on pavement or concrete, we would need permission to stake through these surfaces in order to properly secure the tenting equipment. At this point, we typically would recommend using a frame tent for safety purposes.
Frame Tents
A more modern take on the tent, the frame tent corrected a number of design flaws from the pole tent. While pole tents are erected on poles held up by rope, frame tents feature a more rigid, sturdy frame (hence its name) built from the ground up, topped with a tent top. This structure is then securely mounted onto tent poles.
Though not as aesthetically pleasing as the pole tent, frame tents are much more versatile as they can withstand most weather conditions. They can also be set up on most surfaces, such as grass, pavement, or concrete. The frame tent can be anchored down with either stakes, concrete weights, or water barrel weights, unlike the pole tent which can only be staked into the grass.
Another benefit of using a frame tent over a pole tent is that there are no poles underneath the tent itself, leaving more room for walking, dancing, setting up tables, etc. Oftentimes when renting a pole tent, we see issues arise with how to set up your tables and chairs while taking the poles into consideration; it definitely adds on another obstacle that could otherwise be avoided by renting a frame tent.
Frame tents are used at popular and common events, such as birthday parties, corporate events, graduation parties, festivals, and even weddings!
When choosing between our pole tents and frame tents, it's important to think about this main factor - do you want that classic, more elegant vibe for your event with a pole tent, knowing that they are less sturdy in case of inclement weather? Or would you rather choose the modern-day look and style that adjusted the pole tent's flaws, though not as aesthetically appealing in the frame tent? Both are excellent options for any event, it all just depends on preference, surface, and budget!
