Why equip your venue with an event structure?

The indoor spaces of heritage venues often have a capacity capped by their ERP classification (the French public-venue safety category), while demand for outdoor receptions keeps rising: open-air weddings, corporate events under a marquee, immersive experiences in the grounds.

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

The benefit is concrete: an event structure opens up a new revenue stream without permanent construction work or altering the building, while enhancing the venue's heritage and commercial offering.

Renting event structures: flexibility and cost control

Renting event structures covers the majority of needs: it gives access to an installation suited to the venue, without tying up capital, and the rental company takes care of storage, assembly, maintenance and certification. It comes in two formats, depending on how often you hold events.

One-off rental: one event at a time

The structure is installed for a specific event, then dismantled once the reception is over. It's the right format for venues holding a few receptions spread across the year: you pay per use, with no storage or maintenance burden, and the format adapts to each occasion. It's also an ideal way to test a new type of event before committing.

Long-term rental: one structure for the whole season

The structure is installed for several months, for the length of a season. For venues that concentrate their events over a given period, a long-term space extension becomes noticeably more cost-effective than repeated one-off rentals. Maintenance and certification remain the rental company's responsibility.

Buying your event structure: when does it make sense?

Buying your event structure can make sense depending on your venue's profile. Purchasing, or leasing, turns the structure into an asset of the venue: it can be used freely, customised to match the estate's colours, and pays for itself if activity is regular enough.

When it comes to buying, the permanent marquee is often the go-to structure: a long-lasting investment, worthwhile for high-activity venues that pay it off over several seasons. 

Leasing, meanwhile, is a gradual acquisition method: ownership is acquired over time, while maintenance and taxes are the owner's responsibility from day one.

In return, the initial investment is high (from €30,000 to €300,000 or more), significant storage space is needed, and both maintenance and certification remain entirely the owner's responsibility. 

Buying or renting an event structure: the comparison to help you decide

To decide between renting event structures and buying, here are the 6 key criteria that make the difference.

The deciding factor is your frequency of events: 

• under 10 events a year, one-off rental is enough;
• 10 to 25 events concentrated over a season, long-term rental becomes the most cost-effective;
• beyond 25 events a year, buying can become the most advantageous option.

Which structure suits your venue's profile?

The choice of structure depends as much on the venue's aesthetic as on how often it's used and the option chosen. Here's an overview of the main formats and the profiles they suit.

Reception tents: the versatile choice

Modular and available in many styles, reception tents adapt to any terrain and 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 capacity

Sturdy and built for large crowds, the marquee easily accommodates the biggest receptions. In its demountable version, it's rented as needed; in its permanent version, it's installed for good at high-activity venues. As mentioned above, the marquee is often the go-to structure for purchase.

The orangery: the premium option

Bathed in light, the orangery and other glazed structures bring a high-end signature look that naturally complements heritage settings, as shown by an installation at Château de Villette. A format particularly popular with estates and châteaux.

Dome, pergola, tipi: for a memorable impression

Geodesic domes, pergolas and tipis create distinctive atmospheres, ideal for surprising guests and stepping off the beaten path. These formats mostly fit a rental logic, whether one-off or long-term, for the length of a memorable event.

Renting event structures with Atawa: the turnkey solution

As a specialist in renting event structures, Atawa supports venue owners, whatever option they choose, with an offer designed for all three levels (one-off rental, long-term rental and purchase).

Atawa brings together 9 areas of expertise: structure, furniture, flooring, tableware, decor, sanitation, lighting, sound and video, and power. A dedicated advisor supports you, from the initial assessment of your venue through to a coordinator on site on the day, anywhere in France. 

And if buying is the route you're exploring, that same advisor gives you honest guidance, even when the best answer isn't an Atawa solution. Also discover our catalogue of event structures.

Client case study: Château Lascombes

For the 2024 Semaine des Primeurs, Atawa installed, as a one-off rental, a made-to-measure 384 m² orangery facing Château Lascombes, a Grand Cru Classé of Margaux. Despite sloping ground and flooring that needed protecting, the structure blended into the historic setting to host three days of receptions at the heart of the Semaine des Primeurs. Three days, a premium format, zero permanent investment: the perfect illustration of one-off rental.

FAQ – Questions about buying and renting event structures

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

For the vast majority of estates, renting remains the most sensible choice: flexibility, controlled budget and no logistical burden. Buying only becomes worthwhile once activity is very regular (around 25 events a year), and provided you have storage space and can handle maintenance. When in doubt, starting with rental remains the safest decision.

What's the difference between long-term rental and leasing?

Long-term rental makes a structure available for a season, with no transfer of ownership: at the end, the structure is dismantled. Leasing is a gradual acquisition method: monthly payments are made, ownership is acquired over time, but maintenance and taxes are the owner's responsibility from the start.

How much does renting an event structure cost?

The cost of renting event structures varies according to size (from 50 to 500 m²), the type of structure and the duration. Expect prices to start at €3,000 for a standard 100 m² tent. For more detail on pricing, see the guide : Tents, understanding the prices.

Do you need authorisation to install a permanent structure at your venue?

Yes. Any structure open to the public must comply with CTS safety standards (marquees, tents and structures), and a permanent installation generally requires planning permission. Details are available in our article on CTS standards.

Can you rent and then buy an event structure?

Absolutely, and it's even recommended. One-off rental lets you test a format, a layout and a volume of activity full-scale before considering a purchase. It's a chance to validate profitability before investing.

From how many events does a structure become worth buying?

Generally, beyond 25 stable events a year over a 5-year horizon. Below that, renting remains more advantageous once the total cost of ownership is factored in (purchase, storage, maintenance, certification).