How much does an outdoor or tent wedding cost?
A venue includes a lot in its price. Outdoors you rent everything separately, from the tent to the restrooms and the generator. We price the full setup and show catering on its own.
Prices updated: · United States (USD) · free, no sign-up
Calculator result
Outdoor wedding
$36,500
rentals and catering
- Rentals
- $24,400
- $210 per guest
- Catering
- $12,100
- Per guest
- $320
Everything you need to rent
- Catering115 × $105$12,075
- Frame tentfor 115 guests (about 2,500 sq ft), installed$6,300
- Flooring and dance floorunder the whole tent$3,450
- Site feeamount from the quote$2,500
- Restroom trailerflushing toilets and sinks$2,500
- Service staff8 servers for the evening$2,200
- Tables and chairs115 seats$1,750
- Lightingstring lights, lanterns, path lighting$1,600
- Generatorwith fuel and a technician$1,200
- Rain plansidewalls or a backup space$800
- Linensincluding cleaning$690
- Extras: walkways, trash, cleanupafter the party$580
- Insurance and securityusually required$550
- Permitstent, fire, and noise permits$300
- A rain plan isn’t optional: the tent needs sidewalls, and guests need a dry path to the restrooms and parking.
- Check the paperwork: the owner’s written permission, tent and fire permits (many towns require them for large tents), noise ordinances, and access for the caterer’s trucks.
- Off-site catering usually costs 10-20% more than at a venue: the caterer brings a field kitchen, dishes, and water. Check whether the quote includes the service charge (often 18-22%) and tax.
How we calculate
- We price everything an outdoor site doesn’t have: the tent, site fee, flooring, tables and chairs, linens, lighting, power, restrooms, staff, insurance, permits, and a rain plan.
- Items that depend on the guest count (tent, flooring, furniture) have minimum prices - rental companies won’t set up a tent for next to nothing, even for 30 guests. A seated dinner with a dance floor needs about 22 sq ft per guest.
- Restrooms: a restroom trailer per about 120 guests, or 1 portable toilet per about 50 guests (at least 2). Servers: 1 per about 15 guests. Outside summer we add patio heaters: 1 per about 25 guests.
- Your area shifts the prices. Catering is shown separately because it is often a separate company.
Cheat sheet: prices and good practice
Tents for 100 guests (2026, installed)
- Pole tent: $2,500-5,000
- Frame tent: $3,500-8,000
- Stretch tent: $4,000-9,000
- Sailcloth tent: $6,000-14,000
- Clear-top tent: $5,000-12,000
Paperwork
- Written permission from the landowner
- One-day event liability insurance, often with liquor liability
- Tent and fire permits, local noise ordinance
- A rain plan with sidewalls or a backup space
Questions and answers
Is an outdoor wedding cheaper than a venue?
Rarely. Rentals and infrastructure alone for 100 guests usually run $15,000-30,000, plus catering that costs more than at a venue. People choose a tent for the setting, not to save money.
How many restrooms do we need?
At least 1 portable toilet per 50 guests and never fewer than 2 - more with an open bar. For a wedding most couples rent a restroom trailer with sinks; one covers about 120 guests.
Calculate next
- Wedding budget A full wedding budget in 30 seconds - from catering to wedding bands, with price ranges.
- Venue and catering Per-guest price for adults and kids, the bar, vendor meals, a day-after brunch, and the service charge and tax that turn a $100 menu into about $130.
- Wedding decor Tables, arch, lighting, backdrop, and chairs - with tables counted from your guest list and a DIY option.
- Guest shuttle Vans, shuttle buses, and coaches for hotel runs, with minimums, wait time, and gratuity - in the cheapest mix.
For the party itself
Games every guest plays at once
Couple trivia, awards and a finale on the big screen. Guests join with a QR code on their phones, no app to download.