A bell tent and a stretch tent do two completely different jobs at a wedding. Bell tents are sleeping accommodation: a village of canvas tents where your guests stay over, with real beds as an optional add-on rather than camp beds. A stretch tent is your covered reception space: one big flowing structure for the ceremony, dinner, or dance floor. Most weddings that go full festival-style use both, and that is usually the right answer.
We have set up bell tents and stretch tents across more than 300 Yorkshire weddings and events since 2020. Here is the honest comparison so you know which one you actually need.
In this guide
What is the difference between a bell tent and a stretch tent?
A bell tent is a small canvas sleeping tent for one or two guests; a stretch tent is a large open-sided fabric canopy for gatherings. Bell tents solve “where do my guests sleep”, stretch tents solve “where do we eat, drink, and dance”. They do different jobs, and most festival-style weddings use both.
| Bell tent | Stretch tent | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Guest sleeping accommodation | Reception / ceremony / dance space |
| Holds | 2 adults per 5m tent | 50 to 200+ guests under one tent |
| The look | A village of canvas tents | One dramatic sculptural canopy |
| Weather | Fully waterproof, cosy in rain | Waterproof roof, open or zipped sides |
| Best for | Guests staying overnight | The party itself |
| From | £159 per tent | Price on enquiry |
Which one do I need for my wedding?
You need bell tents if you want guests to stay over on site, and a stretch tent if you want covered space for the celebration. If your venue already has a barn or marquee for dinner, you may only need bell tents for accommodation. If your guests are heading home or to hotels, you may only need a stretch tent for the day. For the full festival-wedding feel where nobody leaves, you want both: dance under the stretch tent, then walk thirty seconds to your own bell tent and fall asleep.
How many guests does each tent hold?
A 5m bell tent comfortably sleeps two adults, so a wedding with 20 guests staying over needs around 10 bell tents. A single stretch tent can cover anywhere from 50 to over 200 guests depending on size and layout, so most weddings need only one or two stretch tents for the whole reception. We size the stretch tent to your guest count and how you want to use the space, whether that is a seated wedding breakfast, a drinks reception, or a dance floor.
Bell tents for wedding accommodation
Bell tents turn your venue into a place guests stay rather than leave. Each 5m tent sleeps up to four, comes fully waterproof, and can be furnished from a simple setup to a styled luxury interior with rugs and soft furnishings. The best part for couples: nobody disappears at 10pm for a taxi, and the morning after happens together around the fire.
Our bell tent packages:
| Package | Price per tent | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Empty Tent | £159 | 5m bell tent, groundsheet, pegs, unfurnished |
| Essentials | £180 | Bell tent with table, light, door mat |
| Luxury | £209 | Styled inside with rugs, cushions and finishing touches |
Beds are priced as add-ons so you can mix real beds for parents and grandparents with air beds for guests happy to go festival-style. A real bed (mattress plus frame) is £48; air beds are from £6. We also offer a bridal tent from £375 and a 7m Queen tent from £500 for families or a communal space.
Stretch tents for the wedding reception
A stretch tent is your reception space and your biggest decoration in one. The flexible waterproof fabric pulls into dramatic shapes without a rigid frame, so it looks striking whether it’s on an estate lawn or in your own garden. Open the sides for summer views, or zip them down if the weather turns. It hosts seated wedding breakfasts, drinks receptions, and dance floors, and it costs substantially less than a traditional marquee for equivalent coverage.
How much do bell tents and stretch tents cost for a wedding?
Bell tent hire starts from £159 per tent and a typical 30-guest wedding lands around £3,500 to £4,500 once you add beds and a bridal tent; stretch tent hire is priced on enquiry because it depends on size, layout, and your venue. For a worked example, 15 luxury bell tents for 30 staying guests, mixed beds, and a bridal tent comes to roughly £4,100 plus delivery. A stretch tent for the same wedding is quoted to your guest count and site. We always give a complete quote with the delivery charge shown, no hidden extras.
Do guests book and pay for their own bell tents?
Yes, and it is free. Once your tents are confirmed we create a private booking page for your wedding. You send guests the link and they choose who they share with, pick their package, add beds and bedding, and pay for their own stay directly. You do not chase money or run a spreadsheet. The guest booking system is free for every event; the only cost to you is the delivery fee. You can also cover part of each tent yourself, so guests see the lower price and pay the rest. For most couples this is what keeps the tent village from turning into a second job.
See what your guests would see →
That opens Paige and Jack’s real booking page on top of this one. Yours would look like it, with your names, your venue and your prices.
Which is better for wedding photos?
Stretch tents win on external photos thanks to their sculptural shapes against a venue backdrop, while bell tents create the magical “village of canvas at dusk” shots guests love. Together they give your photographer both: the grand reception canopy and the glowing tent village after dark. It is one of the reasons festival-style weddings photograph so well.
Can I hire both from The Glamping Group?
Yes. We supply bell tents and stretch tents together as a single package across Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, the Peak District, North Wales, Northumberland and Nottinghamshire, all from our base near Malton. Booking both from one supplier means a single crew handles delivery and setup, you deal with one person throughout, and we lay out the tent village and reception space to work together on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a bell tent as the reception space?
Not really. A 5m bell tent fits two people sleeping, not a seated meal or a dance floor. For the reception you want a stretch tent or a 7m Queen tent as a small communal space. Bell tents are for sleeping.
Do stretch tents keep guests dry?
The stretch tent roof is fully waterproof. For summer weddings (May to September) the open sides are usually fine, and if the weather turns we can drop and zip the sides for full cover. For very exposed sites or cooler months we will advise on layout.
How far in advance should I book?
Peak season weekends (May to September) book 9 to 12 months ahead, and popular dates go a year out. Earlier is always better for both the tents and the date.
Do you set up and take down both?
Yes. Professional setup and takedown are included for both bell tents and stretch tents. We arrive the day before and collect the day after as standard.
What if I only need accommodation, not a reception tent?
Then you only need bell tents. Plenty of our weddings already have a barn or marquee for dinner and just want the bell tent village for guests to stay over. We are happy to quote bell tents alone.
Ready to plan yours? Get a quote for your wedding and tell us your venue, date, and rough guest numbers. We will come back with transparent pricing for whichever tents your day needs.
