Tents
What is the difference between a marquee and a frame tent?
A marquee is the traditional peg and pole tent, with poles in the middle and round the sides, secured with pegs. It takes very large numbers of guests and suits outdoor areas.
A frame tent is lighter, with an aluminium frame. It seats fewer people than the largest marquees, but it goes up where space is limited and on wood, grass, concrete or tiles.
How do I know which tent to choose?
Peg and pole marquees are very secure and cover the largest areas; they need grass or another surface the pegs can anchor in. Frame tents interlock and are held down with weights, so they suit gardens, decks and indoor settings, and they keep tent hire costs down. Stretch tents suit sunny days, events where the look matters and music festivals.
The ground finder takes you through it in three questions.
How do I work out the size of tent I need?
Start with the number of guests and how they will sit: round tables, rectangular tables, or chairs only. Then add what else goes inside: a head table, a buffet, the bar, a dance floor, a podium. The tent planner uses our seating tables to give you a size, and the team confirms it with you against your budget and the space you have.
What else should I think about before the tent goes up?
First the surface the tent goes up on, then the space you have. A peg and pole marquee needs room round it for its pegs; a stretch tent usually does too, although pegs are not always used. A frame tent needs very little room round it. Think about where power cables will run, any slope or trees, and how the crew and their vehicles will reach the site.
Can I make a fire under the tent?
No. Open fires under a tent top are dangerous. Set up the braai or a fire area far enough away from the tent to keep your guests safe.
Are the tents waterproof?
Yes, the tents are made from waterproof canvas. In extreme weather, such as heavy wind, hail or an electrical storm, guests should always move into a brick building.
What if you do not stock the tent I want?
We source it. Our team will find any type or size of tent you need through long-standing relationships with respected suppliers.
Working with us
How far do you deliver?
We comfortably cover 500 km from Johannesburg, and most of our frame and marquee work is in Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Free State. Through long-term supply partners in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, your event can be anywhere in South Africa.
Do you supply what goes inside the tent too?
Yes. Tables, chairs, flooring, dance floors, lighting, cutlery, crockery, glassware, linen, chair covers, décor and draping. We hire it all, and our sister company Dine By Design Catering does the food.
Can I come and see you?
Yes, by appointment. Our office staff mostly work remotely, so book a time for a consultation at the Vaal office and warehouse in Vanderbijlpark, or at the Johannesburg office in Lonehill.