Why Equip Your Venue with an Event Structure?

The indoor capacity of heritage venues is often capped by their ERP (public safety) classification, while demand for outdoor receptions keeps rising: garden weddings, corporate events under a marquee, immersive experiences in the grounds.

To add usable space, venue owners have three options: one-off rental (event by event), long-term rental (for a full season), and purchase.

The case for acting is concrete: an event structure opens up a new revenue stream without permanent works or alterations to the building — while enhancing the heritage appeal and commercial offer of your venue.

Renting Event Structures: Flexibility and Cost Control

Renting covers the vast majority of needs. It gives you access to a premium installation perfectly suited to your venue, without tying up capital — and the rental company handles storage, installation, maintenance and certification. Two formats are available depending on how frequently you host events.

One-Off Rental: Event by Event

The structure is installed for a specific event, then dismantled once the reception is over. This is the right format for venues that host a handful of events spread across the year: you pay per use, with no storage or maintenance to manage, and the format can be tailored to each occasion. It's also the ideal way to test a new type of event before committing further.

Long-Term Rental: A Structure for the Whole Season

The structure is installed for several months — typically for a full event season. For venues that concentrate their events within a specific period, long-term space extension becomes significantly more cost-effective than repeated one-off rentals. Maintenance and certification remain the rental company's responsibility throughout.

Buying an Event Structure: When Does It Make Sense?

Buying — or leasing — an event structure turns it into a permanent asset of your venue: it can be used at will, customised to your brand and aesthetic, and amortised if your event activity is sufficiently regular.

The permanent marquee is the benchmark purchase: a long-term investment suited to high-activity venues that spread the cost across multiple seasons.

Leasing is a gradual path to ownership: ownership is acquired over time, but maintenance and tax obligations fall on you from day one.

In return, the upfront investment is significant (from CHF 40,000 to CHF 390,000), storage requirements are substantial, and all maintenance and certification remain entirely the owner's responsibility.

Buy or Rent an Event Structure: the Comparison

To decide between renting and buying, here are the six key criteria that make the difference.

The deciding factor is how often you host events:

• below 10 events per year, one-off rental is sufficient;
• from 10 to 25 events concentrated in a season, long-term rental becomes the most cost-effective option;
• beyond 25 events per year, purchase may become the most advantageous choice.

Which Structure for Your Venue?

The choice of structure depends on your venue's aesthetic, how often it is used, and which option you pursue. Here is an overview of the main formats and the venues they suit best.

Reception Tents: The Versatile Choice

Adaptable and available in a wide range of styles, reception tents work on any terrain and suit any atmosphere. From the transparent Clear Roof Marquee to the contemporary stretch tent, they offer the best balance of flexibility and elegance for most events.

The Marquee: Large-Scale Capacity

Robust and built for high guest counts, the marquee handles the most ambitious receptions with ease. In its demountable form, it can be rented for individual events; as a permanent structure, it is installed on-site for high-activity venues. As noted above, the permanent marquee is typically the reference structure when purchasing.

The Orangery: The Premium Choice

Flooded with natural light, the orangery and glass-walled structures bring a high-end signature that sits naturally within heritage settings, as illustrated by an installation at Château de Villette. Particularly sought-after by estates and châteaux.

Dome, Pergola, Tipi: Creating Lasting Impressions

Geodesic domes, pergolas and tipis create distinctive atmospheres — ideal for surprising guests and offering something genuinely unexpected. These formats are best suited to rental (one-off or long-term), for the time of a single memorable event.

Renting Event Structures with Atawa: The Complete Solution

Specialist in event structure rental, Atawa supports venue owners whatever the option chosen — one-off rental, long-term rental and purchase.

Atawa brings together 9 areas of expertise: structures, furniture, flooring, tableware, décor, sanitation, lighting, audio-visual and power. A dedicated consultant guides you from the initial site assessment through to an on-site coordinator on the day, anywhere in France.

And if purchase is the route you're exploring, that same consultant will give you an honest assessment — even when the best answer isn't an Atawa solution. Explore our full catalogue of event structures.

Case Study: Château Lascombes

For the 2024 Bordeaux Primeurs week, Atawa installed a bespoke 384 m² glass pavilion in front of Château Lascombes, a Grand Cru Classé de Margaux. Despite a sloping site and delicate surfaces to protect, the structure integrated seamlessly into the historic setting to host three days of receptions at the heart of one of Bordeaux's most prestigious annual events. Three days. A premium format. Zero permanent investment: the one-off rental model at its best.

FAQ — Buying and Renting Event Structures

Is it better to buy or rent an event structure for an estate?

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For the vast majority of estates, rental is the more sensible choice: flexibility, controlled budget and no logistical burden. Purchase only becomes advantageous from around 25 events per year, and only if you have storage space and can manage ongoing maintenance. When in doubt, starting with rental is always the safer decision.

What is the difference between long-term rental and leasing?

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Long-term rental makes a structure available for a season, with no transfer of ownership: at the end of the period, the structure is dismantled. Leasing is a gradual path to ownership: monthly payments are made and ownership is acquired over time, but maintenance and tax obligations fall on you from day one.

How much does renting an event structure cost?

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The cost varies depending on size, type of structure and duration. Budget from approximately CHF 4,500 for a standard tent accommodating 100 guests. For more detailed pricing guidance, see our guide: understanding tent pricing.

Is planning permission required to install a permanent structure on a venue?

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Yes. Any structure receiving the public must comply with CTS safety standards (chapiteaux, tentes et structures), and a permanent installation generally requires planning authorisation. Full details are in our article on CTS standards.

Can you rent first, then buy a structure?

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Absolutely — and it is often recommended. A one-off rental lets you test a format, layout and event volume in real conditions before considering a purchase. It's the best way to validate commercial viability before committing capital.

From how many events does owning a structure become cost-effective?

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As a general rule, beyond 25 stable events per year over a five-year horizon. Below that threshold, rental remains the more advantageous option once total cost of ownership — purchase, storage, maintenance, certification — is factored in.