Events Guys Unpacks the Marquee vs Stretch Tent Decision for South African Events

Events Guys compares traditional marquees and Bedouin-style stretch tents, outlining how each option suits different event atmospheres, sites, weather conditions, and production requirements.

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 23rd Jan 2026 – Events Guys, a South Africa-based event infrastructure and production company, has released an in-depth perspective on how organisers can navigate one of the most fundamental outdoor planning choices: whether a traditional marquee or a Bedouin-style stretch tent is better suited to their event.

Drawing on years of experience providing tenting, staging, flooring and technical support for weddings, festivals, corporate functions and public events, the company outlines the structural, aesthetic and practical differences between these two leading options in the local market.

Marquees as Structured, Controlled Environments

According to Events Guys, marquee tents remain the preferred option when event planners require a clearly defined, controllable interior environment that functions almost like a temporary building.​

Marquees typically feature:

• A rectilinear footprint, with clear-span or pole-supported structures that create predictable layouts for seating, staging and catering.
• Sidewalls, doors and optional internal partitioning, allowing organisers to manage light, sound, temperature and access more tightly than in open-sided tents.
• A strong association with formal banqueting, gala dinners, exhibitions and conferences that require infrastructure-heavy setups such as trussing, AV rigs and large catering stations.

This more architectural character makes marquees well suited to:

• Corporate events and product launches where branding, presentation screens and controlled lighting are central requirements.
• Weddings and receptions needing symmetrical layouts, chandeliers, draping and flooring similar to an indoor venue.
• Multi-day events where weather consistency, secure overnight setups and predictable logistics are priorities.

In many cases, marquee projects incorporate levelled flooring, carpet, climate solutions and structured décor concepts, turning open land into a temporary venue that can mimic a hotel ballroom or conference hall.

Bedouin and Stretch Tents as Flexible, Sculptural Covers

Bedouin and stretch tents, by contrast, are defined by their free-form, fabric-sculpted design, which allows them to adapt to irregular terrain, existing structures and natural features.

Key characteristics include:

• Highly flexible stretch fabric that can be tensioned into different shapes, heights and openings, creating organic canopies that respond to the site.
• The ability to wrap around trees, attach to buildings, span uneven ground or frame views, integrating the surrounding landscape into the event design.
• A distinct visual identity associated with contemporary outdoor events, beach parties, music festivals and relaxed but curated private functions.

These qualities make stretch tents particularly suitable for:

• Outdoor celebrations, brand activations and live music concepts where the atmosphere benefits from visual flow between the covered area and the environment.
• Venues where the brief calls for a less rigid, more immersive aesthetic that feels integrated with the sky, scenery and natural light.
• Sites where conventional marquee structures cannot be easily installed due to gradients, obstacles or irregular boundaries.

The fabric technology commonly used in modern Bedouin tents in South Africa is waterproof, UV-resistant and fire-retardant, making them a practical as well as stylistically distinctive solution.

Different Atmospheres: Formal Architecture vs Organic Flow

In its analysis, Events Guys notes that one of the most important distinctions between marquees and stretch tents lies in the atmosphere they create.

Marquees tend to offer:

• A more formal, contained environment, with straight lines and closed sides that lend themselves to clear spatial zoning.
• A strong sense of “inside versus outside”, which can help in managing guest flow, program structure and acoustics for speeches, presentations and plated dining.

Stretch tents, on the other hand, are associated with:

• Open, flowing spaces where boundaries are softer and guests can move more freely between covered and uncovered areas.
• Visual continuity between the event and its surroundings, reinforcing themes such as nature, coastal settings, vineyards or urban rooftops.

For planners, the choice therefore often reflects the desired emotional tone: structured and ceremonial versus fluid and experiential.

Weather, Terrain and Practical Considerations

Events Guys emphasises that climate, season and terrain play a decisive role alongside aesthetics.

In environments with unpredictable or extreme weather, marquees can provide:

• Greater ability to close off sides completely, creating shelter from wind and heavy rain.
• More predictable rigging options for lighting, sound, draping and suspended décor inside a defined frame.

Stretch tents, by contrast:

• Perform strongly when the key requirement is to provide shade and rain cover while preserving airflow and a sense of openness.
• Are particularly effective on uneven or complex sites where conventional frame or peg-and-pole marquees would be difficult to pitch.

Both tent types rely on professional installation and appropriate anchoring for safety and structural integrity, especially in high-wind conditions or on challenging surfaces. Events Guys’ work in technical and infrastructure management emphasises site assessment as a critical starting point before the tent type is finalised.

Use Cases Across Weddings, Corporate and Public Events

The company’s portfolio shows how different event types naturally gravitate toward one option or the other, or in some cases, a combination.

Typical marquee applications include:

• Corporate conferences and year-end functions requiring clear stage sightlines, presentation areas and controlled acoustics.
• Expos and trade shows where exhibitors need structured bays, straight aisles and consistent ceiling heights.
• Banquet-style weddings, fundraisers and gala evenings with formal seating plans and multi-course menus.

Stretch tents are frequently utilised for:

• Festivals, concerts and outdoor markets where attendees move dynamically through the space and the environment is part of the experience.
• Beach, garden and wine estate weddings that prioritise scenery and relaxed elegance.
• Brand activations and lifestyle events where visual impact and an integrated backdrop are important.

In some large-scale projects, organisers deploy both: marquee structures for catering, back-of-house or conference-style elements, paired with stretch tents for lounges, chill-out zones and performance areas.

Technical Integration: Flooring, Lighting and Production

Because Events Guys also manages flooring, staging and technical production, the company’s comparison extends beyond the tents themselves to how they work with the broader infrastructure of an event.

Marquees often integrate with:

• Full subfloor systems or cassette flooring to create level surfaces on uneven ground.
• Trussing grids for complex lighting, LED walls and sound systems.
• Enclosed climate solutions such as heating or cooling, where appropriate for the season and guest comfort.

Stretch tents typically align with:

• Selective use of flooring to preserve some contact with the natural surface, such as grass or sand, or to define specific functional areas.
• More sculptural lighting approaches that emphasise the curves and lines of the fabric canopy.
• Site-specific production choices that work with, rather than against, visible landscape elements.

By examining the tent choice together with these additional factors, Events Guys positions tenting as one part of a cohesive technical and aesthetic system rather than a stand-alone decision.

Regional Context in South Africa

South Africa’s diverse climates and landscapes further influence the marquee versus stretch tent decision.

In Gauteng and inland regions:

• Marquees are often used for formal functions, corporate gatherings and large private events hosted on estates, farms and open plots.
• Weather patterns can shift quickly, making enclosed structures attractive during cooler months or storm-prone seasons.

In coastal and tourism-focused areas such as the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal:

• Stretch tents are strongly associated with lifestyle events, destination weddings and festivals that lean into beaches, vineyards and outdoor vistas.
• Bedouin-style installations complement the visual character of these locations while still providing necessary shelter.

Events Guys’ view is that the South African market increasingly values the ability to align tent choice with local geography, climate and identity rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Evolving Client Expectations

As South African audiences gravitate toward more immersive and experience-led events, tenting decisions are increasingly tied to narrative and brand rather than purely logistics.

The company observes that:

• Corporate clients are more frequently using tent structures as extensions of their brand language, whether that means clean, controlled marquees or expressive, organic stretch canopies.
• Private clients planning weddings and celebrations are prioritising how the tent will feel and photograph, alongside traditional considerations such as capacity and budget.
• Festival and live event organisers routinely integrate stretch tents into staging, VIP and lounge areas as part of the event’s visual identity.

This shift reinforces the idea that tenting has become a creative decision as much as a functional one.

About Events Guys

Events Guys is a South African event infrastructure and production company specialising in full-service support for corporate, public and private events. From marquees, stretch tents and flooring to staging, audio-visual technology and technical management, the company provides integrated solutions that link creative concepts with reliable on-site execution.

Operating from its Gauteng hub and servicing projects across the country, Events Guys works with organisers, brands and agencies to deliver structurally sound, technically coordinated and visually coherent event environments.

For more information, visit: https://www.eventsguys.co.za/ 

Media Contact

Organization: Events Guys

Contact Person: Paul Firbank

Website: https://www.eventsguys.co.za

Email: Send Email

Contact Number: +27733512247

Address:10 Banfield Rd Industria North,

Address 2: Randburg

City: johannesburg

State: gauteng

Country:South Africa

Release id:40510

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