What the base price covers
- The tent itself, at the quoted size
- Delivery to site and collection after the function
- Rigging and take-down by the crew
- Anchoring — pegs on soil, weight plates on hard surfaces
- The standard hire period: rig the day before, strike the day after
That is the structure standing on your site, empty. Everything a guest actually sees is quoted separately.
What is extra, and what it runs
| Line | Typical rate | On a 100-guest wedding |
|---|---|---|
| Roof and wall draping | R45–R90 per metre | R1,800–R3,200 |
| Full roof lining | quoted per structure | above draping |
| Flooring | R60–R120 per m² | R9,000–R18,000 full cover |
| Tiffany chairs | R35–R60 each | R3,500–R6,000 |
| Plastic chairs | R7–R12 each | R700–R1,200 |
| Round tables (10-seat) | R90–R160 each | R900–R1,600 |
| Fairy-light canopy | R850–R2,500 | R850–R2,500 |
| Gas patio heaters | R350–R550 each | R1,400–R2,200 for four |
| Sidewalls | R55–R95 per running metre | varies by perimeter |
Full flooring is the line that surprises people most. Most weddings floor the dance area and the aisle only, not the whole footprint — which takes that R9,000–R18,000 down to a fraction of it.
The four questions to ask before signing
- Are sidewalls included or extra? The most common gap between two quotes that look identical.
- What is the hire period? Rig the day before and strike the day after should be standard, not an add-on.
- What is the deposit and when is the balance due? 50% to hold the date with the balance on delivery is the usual structure.
- What happens in bad weather? Confirm the fabric grade in writing and ask what the wet-weather plan is — the tent is the wet-weather plan.
Wedding packages in Durban
The metro range these figures come from is at tent hire in Durban. Coastal weddings carry two extras as standard rather than options: storm strapping and doubled ballast on sea-facing sites. Local wedding planning is at wedding tent hire in Durban, furniture rates at tables and chairs for hire in Durban, and the full add-on list in tent hire prices in Durban.
Common questions
Does a wedding tent package include chairs?
No, usually not. Entry-level party packages often bundle plastic chairs, but wedding quotes normally price the structure separately and itemise chairs, tables, draping and lighting on top.
Why is one wedding marquee quote double another?
Because one is the bare structure and the other is dressed. The same 10m × 15m marquee is about R6,500 as a shell and R8,500–R18,000 dressed with draping, flooring, lighting and upgraded chairs. Separate the structure line from the dressing line before comparing.
How far ahead should a wedding tent be booked?
Two to four weeks is enough for a frame marquee outside peak season. For December and the wedding season, work on two months — the widest structures and the glazed stock go first.