Categories
Special Events

Your Guide to Creating the Perfect Wedding Reception Tent

Planning your reception is just as important as planning the ceremony itself; so take a meaningful first step and rent a wedding reception tent.

This is your time to shine with your newly partnered self and all your family and friends. It is when you will celebrate and rejoice in the love that is between you and your spouse and the love that flows around you. Of course, it’s also the perfect time for a toast, a few cocktails, maybe dinner, some dancing, and some mingling.

In all, you need your wedding ceremony to be the perfection you have always dreamed about, but you need your wedding reception to be perfect, too. If you are planning an outdoor wedding reception, to ensure that all goes well, you are going to want to take a meaningful first step: rent a tent.

To make the most of your wedding reception tent rental, we’ve got your guide to perfection.

 

Why You Need a Wedding Reception Tent

You may love the outdoors and just know that it where you want to celebrate.

But, Mother Nature often has her own agenda – and your wedding day just may be the day she wants to wreak havoc on your area. Don’t leave yourself and your wedding reception vulnerable to the great outdoors.

With a wedding reception tent, you can still enjoy being outside with having some of the perks of protection indoors can bring. Besides, there are so many benefits:

  • Covered space, free from outdoor pests.
  • Climate controlled space
  • Views of outdoors
  • A blank canvas for decorating and designing the layout
  • Choice of location
  • Happy guests

And so much more.

 

Determine Your Tent Size

The very first step in securing a perfect wedding reception tent is to determine the size of the tent you will need.

Before you can even determine where you will construct it, you will need to know its dimensions. But, to discover the dimensions, you will need to have an idea of what your guest list – and your overall wedding reception – will look like.

Calculating space requires knowing what you will be doing.

Many Considerations

Will you have a stage? A dance floor? Will you be providing a sit-down, plated meal? Or, will you be serving your guests a buffet? Maybe you are simply having cocktails and tapas.

Whatever you do requires a specific amount of space. To get the tent to best fit your needs, you will need to have this information when you rent it. But, to get an idea of spacing for yourself, here is a good rule of thumb:

  • Having a dinner, plated or buffet, with large round tables, multiply the number of guests by 12.
  • If you are using banquet tables, multiply the number of guests by 10.
  • Having a cocktail party with limited seating, then multiply the number of guests by 8.

Keep in mind that this is just a general idea to calculate the required square footage.

 

Location, Location, Location

You can plan your wedding outdoors and be prepared with a tent, but if you pick a less-than-stellar location, there is likely little you can do to make it better.

Take time to decide where you want to hold your reception. You have a lot of flexibility with a tent rental as they are incredibly versatile.

In fact, they can be erected on nearly any surface – grass, dirt or sand, concrete, asphalt, etc.

So, the things you want to look for (or, at least keep in mind) are:

The Proximity:

Proximity of the reception space to the wedding ceremony is important.

  • Will you be holding them in the same location?
  • If not, you don’t want to have your guests driving too great of a distance between the two.

Be sure you find a location that will fit your needs – at a reasonable distance.

The Size:

The size of the space is important.

  • If you are renting a tent for 200 people, then you don’t want to choose a location that only has space for a 50-person tent.
  • Likewise, if you have 50 people, you may not need a full tent that fits 200 people.

Keep in mind that you will want some moveable space around the outside of the tent, as well.

Parking:

Do not forget parking unless you plan to bus your guests or have them walk, you will need to make sure the parking accommodations will fit your tented space.

  • If there is no parking lot, be sure that you have enough room for a makeshift parking area.

 

Pay Attention to the Accessories

When renting a wedding reception tent, it is important to remember that you are moving everyone outdoors.

In other words, you are stripping your guests and wedding party of all the conveniences they have grown to love of modern-day structures.

What does this mean for accessories?

You will want to invest in the things that will make your wedding reception go smoothly while keeping everyone safe and comfortable. Of course, throw in all those extras that will give you the overall look you are seeking.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Portable restrooms
  • Dumpsters
  • Lighting
  • Tables and chairs
  • Dinnerware, drinkware, and silverware

Flooring is another important accessory to consider. Depending on the ground underneath the tent, you may want to invest in flooring for your tented space. This is especially important if you are not having a casual wedding. Formal attire and grass or dirt don’t necessarily mix.

With available heating and air conditioning systems, you may want to consider adding this to your tent. If you are holding a wedding in a climate that is either too cold or too hot for the comfort of most individuals, providing a climate controlled space under your tent will be much welcomed.

 

Final Thoughts

Your wedding is likely to be one of the most memorable days of your lives.

If you want to host it outdoors, then go for it. But, do so smartly. Don’t allow anything to stand in the way of your big day – including the weather and flying insects.

Tents are simple, versatile options for creating the perfect outdoor wedding reception space wherever you want it to be. If there is room, it can happen.

 

Categories
Special Events

10 Wedding Essentials for a Summer Ceremony

Summer weddings are extremely common, and they come with their own pros and cons. Before your big day, here are 10 wedding essentials to consider.

Summertime is when the beauty from Spring is in full force. The sun is shining, the weather is warm, the grass is green and, flowers and trees and blooming and thriving. It’s beautiful outdoors. Well, except for the occasional rainstorm.

It is no wonder why so many people – especially those who love the outdoors – what to have a wedding in the midst of it. That means looking at every corner and seeing a natural beauty. It also means that if it rains, you are getting soaked or having to quickly move into Plan B mode (if you even have one).

This list includes 10 wedding essentials to consider, before it’s too late.

 

10 Wedding Essentials & Things to Consider

Thankfully, you have options for outdoor summer weddings. One of which is renting a wedding tent.

They come with so many perks – and they give you the confidence in moving forward, knowing that your special day will kick off as planned, regardless of rain or shine.

So, grab your tent and start planning with these summer wedding essentials.

 

1. Consider the Weather

When you mention a summertime outdoor wedding, the weather is usually the first thing on everybody’s mind.

No one likes to be hot and uncomfortable. And, there is that chance of rain, again.

Make sure your venue of choice has some airflow to keep the peace. If the temps are too high, you and your guests will be having a miserable time.

 

2. Know Policies and Permit Regulations

Sometimes there is more involved than simply renting a tent.

Depending on where you intend to hold the wedding and construct the tent, you may encounter a need for obtaining a permit or abiding by rules regarding placement, sizing, etc.

In order for your wedding day to go off without a hitch, it is important for you to dot all your i’s and cross your t’s.

 

3. Know Your Budget (and How to Stick to It)

One of the biggest summer wedding essentials is utilizing your budget smartly.

When you rent venue space for your wedding, your space usually comes with electricity and facilities. However, when you opt to rent a tent, you are essentially starting with a blank shell.

That is what makes them so perfect. You are able to design your wedding space exactly how you want it.

Plus, with so many awesome accessories to add on, it is easy to get carried away if you don’t set your budget in advance.

 

 

4. Design the Layout Appropriately

Your tent rental will be a wide open space. One of the perks of tent rentals for weddings is that you get to design how you want the layout set up. However, it is very important that you keep the entire event in mind when planning this part.

You will be maneuvering many guests throughout the space, potentially between:

  • A ceremony
  • A reception
  • Cocktails
  • Dinner
  • Dancing
  • Restrooms, and so forth

So make sure there is plenty of room for the layout to flow with ease.

 

5. Choose your Décor

Again, by opting for a tent wedding, you can design the space any way you want.

Flipping through magazine after magazine and pinning hundreds on Pinterest, there is a good chance you have a very detailed idea of how you want your wedding tent to be styled.

Just be sure to take the space and your guests comfort into consideration when you do.

 

6. Consider Electrical Outlets

Unless you are taking your wedding back to a long past era, there is a high chance that you will need access to power.

This could be for cooking, lighting, music, and entertainment, or even just a place to charge your cell phones.

Be sure to plan ahead so that you have enough power to do everything you plan to.

 

7. Create a Wedding Dress Code

How do you envision your wedding day?

  • Do you want your guests to be dressed out to the max?
  • Or are you looking for a low-key, casual affair?

This is something to keep in mind on your big day if you choose an outdoor, tented wedding. Having a formal dress code means women in heels and men in suits.

For summer temps and grassy areas, these could both pose an inconvenience. Of course, opting for a climate-controlled tent with flooring could solve this problem entirely.

 

 

8. Find Decorations to Create a Magical Space

When you begin creating your space, you have a blank canvas to do what you want with. In fact, you can make your special day into whatever you have always dreamed of:

  • String lights
  • Hang fabric
  • Magnificent centerpieces
  • A dance floor
  • Carpeting
  • Couches and cocktail tables
  • Or, dinner seating with 10 tables for eight

Whatever vision you have in your head, that is what you can design. It just requires a little planning first.

When renting your tent, ask about all the options for accessories and you may be surprised at how easy it is to get everything ordered at one time. This is an important day so transform it into something wonderful.

 

9. Don’t Forget About Outdoor Pests

When you throw your wedding outdoors, know that you are doing so in the home of wildlife and creatures, big and small. And, well some insects, too.

These may not be as welcomed as you’d like to be when celebrating. Take precautionary steps – in advance – to keep unwanted pests at bay. After all, you should be the focus of the day – not the pesky bugs!

 

10. Finally, Relax

This is your big day. You know, that one you have waited so long for. You’ve made the smart decision to rent a tent for your outdoor celebration. So, the rest will be a piece of cake.

Keep your stress to a minimum and have the confidence that you did all you needed to for the day to be perfect – and it will be.

 

Conclusion

Renting a tent can allow you to have a beautiful outdoor wedding this summer, come rain or shine. Take advantage of all they have to offer.

With these summer wedding essentials, you’ll have the perfect wedding. Design your plan and put it into action. Then, sit back and enjoy the special day you have been waiting for.

Categories
Special Events

Benefits of Wedding Tent Rentals On Your Special Day

Wedding tent rentals can make your special day even better, here’s why.

Your wedding is your special day. You know, the one that has been secretly planned in hopes and dreams from childhood.

So, why would you do anything at all to risk the perfection of the day?

If your ideal wedding is one that includes you saying “I do” in the great outdoors, consider a wedding tent rental.

 

Why Consider Wedding Tent Rentals?

There are so many reasons why this could be the one thing that can transform your wedding day into the most unforgettable experience.

Sure, you can go forward without one, but – with all these perks – why would you?

Here are 8 reasons to use wedding tent rentals for your special day.

 

1. Safety from the Weather

A weatherman or woman brings home a decent paycheck at the end of each week. And, although they use a lot of science and have studied meteorology, it does not guarantee that they know something the rest of us don’t – how to accurately predict the weather.

We can guess, make great assumptions, but at the end of the day, no one truly knows what the weather is going to do.

This is especially the case when it comes to planning your outdoor wedding.

You can plan to hold your wedding during the most beautiful weather season in your region, but the weather on that special day could be something totally unplanned for.

Don’t risk your wedding day – protect it with wedding tent rentals.

No matter the weather – wind, rain, sunshine – you and your guests will be covered and protected.

And, your wedding will march on.

 

2. A Blank Canvas for Decorating

If you are someone who has a vision of what you want your wedding ceremony and reception to look like, then you may have difficulty discovering the perfect venue to meet your decorating needs.

With wedding tent rentals, however, you are given a blank canvas to decorate as you wish.

It’s a wide-open space underneath the fabric. Plus, with frame tents, such as clearspan tents, you will find that there are no poles underneath holding the structure – so it is a wide open area for you to use.

The added bonus of this wide open space is that you have no pre-determined layout.

You can design the layout of your wedding to meet your own specific needs.

This means that you can decide where you want your guests to sit and where you want them to dance – and every other aspect of wedding planning.

 

 

3. An Outdoor Wedding Any Time of the Year

Having a wedding outdoors during the winter, rainy spring season, incredibly hot summer, and so forth may seem like a great idea – until it isn’t.

Choosing to have an outdoor wedding may seem wonderful in theory, but when you take into consideration all that comes with it – such as:

  • The weather
  • Bugs
  • Complaining guests
  • Wet or ruined shoes and clothing, and more

It may no longer seem worth it.

Unless… you rent a tent.

With wedding tent rentals, you can have an outdoor wedding any time of the year.

The strong and sturdy structures will protect from any inclement weather that may appear.

Plus, the side panels will keep out pesky creatures, and your guests will be happily content.

After all – it is your wedding day, so you should be able to have your cake and eat it, too!

 

4. Unlimited Accessories

Tent rentals come with options for many, many accessories to consider.

When you are planning a wedding, you know how helpful it is to find a one-stop-shop.

Instead of having to seek out various different vendors for things such as tables, seating, linens, and lighting, you can get it all when you rent your tent.

Now, that is wedding planning convenience.

 

5. Customized to Meet Your Needs

Having a large wedding? A small wedding? Want to have two separate spaces – one for the ceremony and one for the reception?

Wedding tent rentals are wonderful in the fact that they allow you to customize them to meet your needs.

You will find a tent that is just the right size for your wedding celebrations.

And, you can customize it to include things such as flooring, side walls, and the like.

 

 

6. Utilize the Nature Around You

Do you know how many people strive to find the perfect backdrop for their wedding pictures?

The quality of the photos depends greatly on the photographer, of course. However, the background is not always something he or she can control.

Finding a neat spot in the venue you chose is part of what they have to do.

But what if you utilize the nature all around you for your outdoor wedding?

The great outdoors provides a beautiful and unique backdrop for your photos that will take you down memory lane every time you look at them.

 

7. Go as Formal or Informal as You Desire

You cannot host a wedding at an extravagant hotel ballroom and tell your guests to come barefoot.

You can, however, go as formal or informal as you desire when you choose to use a wedding tent rental.

Because the decorating is all up to you, you can choose to do something incredible and formal.

Or, you can keep the whole celebration low key with an outdoor barefoot, blue jean barbecue.

The choice is yours. After all, it is your wedding.

 

 

8. Reduce Your Venue Rental Costs

Finally, if you have done any searching for the right venue, you know that the cost of these venue rentals can be very steep.

They often come with their list of “approved” vendors that you can use and other various requirements.

Renting a tent for your wedding means you can save money at your venue cost.

It also means that you can shop around and use the vendors you prefer, trust, and that meet your budget – without restriction.

 

Conclusion

Make your wedding day memorable. Choose wedding tent rentals and enjoy all the perks that come with it.

You won’t be disappointed on your big day.

Categories
Special Events

How to Create a Beautiful Backyard Engagement Party

There is a lot of pressure to create an extravagant yet budget-friendly party for your engagement. Now you can, with these tips for planning the best backyard engagement party.

Getting engaged is BIG news. It can be exciting to share this special time with all of your friends and family. And, what better way to start announcing yourselves as the future married couple than by having a party to celebrate your engagement.

After the momentary excitement surrounding the engagement and party announcement starts to wear down, reality may set in.

 

Benefits of a Backyard Engagement Party

Getting married can be a very costly event.

Depending on your choice for tying the knot, it may or may not wreak havoc on your budget.

Does that mean you should give up an engagement party so you can save money?

No way!

Believe it or not, you can have your (wedding) cake and eat it, too. All you have to do is create a classy and budget-friendly backyard engagement party using these 9 ideas.

 

1. Invitations

Because you can’t have a party unless you invite the guests, let’s start with the invitations.

Ask yourself – do you know how to reach your friends better by their actual address or their email/social media page?

Nowadays, with so many people online, it is easier to create an online event (such as on Facebook) and send out the invitations. Or, use a free service, such as Evite.

Not only are you saving money on buying the invitations and stamps, but you are also being eco-friendly.

 

2. Invest in a Tent

Renting out a venue can be quite costly.

To throw your engagement party on a budget, a backyard is a perfect choice.

However, since you don’t want to risk your party getting ruined by inclement weather, be prepared by investing in a tent.

These temporary event tents can be customized to meet your exact needs – design and space – and can give you and your guests a place to be protected from the outdoor elements.

 

3. Use Candles for Lighting

If you are looking for a romantic ambiance to host your backyard engagement party, then you should consider having it after sunset – and use candles for lighting.

You can purchase these at discount stores or online in bulk.

You will give the tent a warm, cozy feel – and you won’t have to worry about running electricity to the tent, buying and stringing lights, etc.

Just be sure to invest in a fire extinguisher or two as a safety measure.

 

 

4. The Entertainment

Your wedding is sure to have a live band or DJ.

Your engagement party is about you and your significant other – and there is no entertainment necessary.

Of course, a silent room is no fun, either.

All you need to do is simply hook up your computer, tablet, or phone with a pre-set playlist. Then, let it play.

The music in the background should be all you need.

If you want to have some fun with it, create a theme of music, such as love songs or popular music from the year you both met, etc.

The best part?

It doesn’t cost a thing.

 

5. The Decorations

When it comes to decorating, there are many ways you can save money. No one is coming to check out your decorations, but you want to have them.

You can get some great décor from the dollar tree.

For example, glass vases to fill with simple flowers or larger vases to fill with water and float tealight candles.

Tablecloths, cutlery, plates, and more can also be purchased at these discount stores. Save your extravagant centerpieces and the like for your wedding.

 

6. The Food

Keep the food simple. You are having the event in the backyard.

So, what does that mean? Can anyone say, barbecue?

What a perfect venue for some tasty grub from the grill. And, don’t worry, if you are trying to keep it classier than a barefoot barbecue, you can still use the grill – just in a more gourmet way.

The best choice would be to skip the sit-down, plated meal type party and, instead, offer your guests bite-sized finger foods that taste good and really hit the spot.

Grill up some:

  • Hamburger sliders
  • Shrimp skewers
  • Blackened fish tacos
  • Roasted veggies
  • S’mores over an outdoor fire

 

7. The Beverages

You can choose whether or not you want to have adult beverages or not at your party. You also have the option to make it a B.Y.O.B.

Or, you can create one beverage and have that for your guests.

This could be:

  • Champagne
  • Beer
  • White and red wine
  • A mixed drink that is your “special” drink

For example, creating a cocktail that is a mixture of you and your future spouse – like sweet and sour.

 

8. Gifts and Party Favors

Party favors are often a thank you for coming. However, they are often given as a token of thanks for coming – and bringing a gift.

You can avoid this whole scenario of gift and favor expectation by advising your guests in advance not to bring a gift.

Let them know that it is just their presence you are seeking.

This answers their question of whether they are supposed to bring a gift and it reduces your need for providing party favors.

 

 

9. Games – Just in Case

If you follow these ideas, you are sure to have a wonderful backyard engagement party with your closest friends and family.

But, just in case your music isn’t enough – or your guests start getting bored, you can always have a few tricks up your sleeve to get the party going. Consider these:

Pull out a karaoke machine.

Who doesn’t have fun with this?

Have a bar-style trivia game.

Play cheesy party games, such as carrying an egg on a spoon or musical chairs.

These are much more comical as adults, so you are sure to get a ton of laughs.

 

Conclusion

Your backyard engagement party is meant to be a time of showing off your love for one another and your future joining together as one.

Remember – it is not about the money you spend (or don’t spend), but the fun and enjoyment you have with those around you.

Categories
Special Events

How to Plan the Perfect Winter Wedding Reception in a Tent

Winter weddings are becoming more common, and more popular. With all these new advances and trendy wedding ideas available, you can plan the perfect winter wedding reception in a tent.

The outdoors at wintertime can be bone-chilling, but beautiful.

If you’ve always wanted a wedding that stars you in a setting like Elsa from Frozen, then you are in luck.

It is possible to have a perfect winter wedding reception celebration outdoors during the coldest months of the year.

Here is what you need: a tent.

 

A Tent for Your Winter Wedding Reception

Let’s face it; weddings in the winter time are absolutely magical, but there’s also a chance that the weather may make your big day not-so-perfect.

Depending on your location, you may find yourself battling mother nature – and you must be prepared for what the weather may throw at you.

Renting a tent is an integral part of a successful winter wedding reception; luckily, we’ve got you covered – literally – with a clear span tent.

Don’t believe us?

Here’s why you should.

 

Have Your Reception in the Location of Your Choice

Have you been trying to find the perfect location for your winter wedding reception?

When you have a vision in your head, this is hard to do because, for most brides, this vision has been forming for a very long time.

You may tour many available reception locations, but with pre-designs, brick-and-mortar locations, they may not be exactly what you have dreamt about.

So, what if we told you that you could have your wedding reception anywhere you wanted to?

With a tent – you can!

Renting a tent means that you can have your wedding reception just about anywhere.

All you have to do is make sure you have enough space and, of course, a permit or any other legality necessary in your area. Now you can hold your wedding anywhere:

  • Backyards
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Vacant lots
  • Parking lots
  • Golf courses
  • Gardens

All are viable options for constructing your winter wedding reception tent.

Discover the area that works best with the size of your reception and the location. And then halt your search for the perfect reception location – and rent your tent.

 

 

Keep the Wedding Party and the Guests Warm

Yes, it is cold outside during the winter months, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have your wedding reception outdoors.

With a tent, you can keep everyone nice and toasty inside and keep the cold, icy weather outside.

Tents can come with HVAC systems, meaning they have a heating system that can keep the temperature under the tent as warm as if you were indoors.

Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?

You can always take advantage of more simple options, too, such as:

  • Providing heaters
  • Have outdoor fire pits (a safe distance from the tent, of course)
  • Offering warm blankets, scarves, gloves and the like, to your guests

Anything that you can provide as an amenity to your guests to keep them warm will make the occasion even more enjoyable.

 

Decorate the Open Space in the Way You’ve Always Imagined

Have you always imagined that your wedding reception would be decorated with a specific design and layout? When renting out venues, this can be difficult to achieve.

Interior designs and permanent walls and other fixtures can impede on the look you have in mind.

Thankfully, a tent rental gives you a wide-open, unobstructed space to design the wedding reception of your dreams.

You will not have to deal with anything that has been pre-designed for you.

So, you can arrange the entire event based on your preferences.

This wide-open space means that it is up to you to decide where you want to put things such as your

  • Dance floor
  • Seating areas
  • Food areas
  • Other designated spots

The flow of the entire event is designed by you. After all, it is your wedding.

 

Let the Food Warm up the Wedding Party and Guests

Something to keep in mind when planning a winter wedding reception is the delicious food you decide to feed your guests.

You have a choice to feed them anything you want, of course. But, with an outdoor wedding, sometimes a hearty meal can simply warm guests from the inside out.

For a winter menu, consider foods such as

  • Beef stew
  • Grilled cheese and tomato soup (or any sort of soup or stew)
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Pot roast
  • Turkey and stuffing

Avoid cold foods, such as fruits, salads, finger sandwiches, fish, etc.

The idea is to fill your guests up with something filling and hot.

No matter how chilly it is outside, they will be feeling the warmth inside. And, because your tent allows room for handling this food, the temperature will remain hot and unaffected by the outside temps.

 

 

Spread the Fun Outside of the Tent, Too

If you want to have your winter wedding reception outdoors, then you are obviously a fan of winter. Try to incorporate it into your reception by spreading the fun outdoors.

Consider buying (or renting) heaters and fire pits to place outside the tent. This not only lets those who want a breath of fresh air to do so without freezing, but it also adds to the ambiance.

Use the winter landscaping as a backdrop for photo shoots with the bride and groom, the wedding party, and wedding guests.

Take it a step further and choose a tent with clear panels. This will allow the outdoor wintry scenery to become the background for your reception.

What a way to save on decorations!

 

No Need to Count Your Guests

Weddings can get incredibly expensive. The more people you invite, the greater your cost. And finding the right venue to hold all of your guests can get frustrating.

What you find to be the perfect spot may not be able to accommodate your guest list.

A tent rental is always going to be able to accommodate your guest list.

It doesn’t matter how many people you invite to your wedding reception; your tent can be customized to meet the need.

You can rest assured that your guests will have ample room to move about comfortably and freely without worry.

 

Conclusion

Winter time is the perfect time to tie the knot as there is something magical about the chill in the air.

Don’t let the low temperatures halt you from fulfilling your dream. Instead, enjoy all that a tent has to offer

  • Customizations
  • Heating systems
  • Wide-open spaces
  • A beautiful wintry backdrop

Remember, this is your dream wedding. Don’t settle for something less than you desire.

If you have always wanted to have an outdoor wedding – then do it. Just, rent a tent!

Categories
Event Industry

A Tent Wedding: Transitioning from Ceremony to Reception

You have always dreamed of having a wedding ceremony and reception under a tent outdoors.  Fortunately for you, your dream is finally coming true. The time has arrived to do the planning for your tent wedding and you aren’t quite sure how to pull it off: two events, one location.

What do you do when you have a tent wedding ceremony and reception in the same location? How can you make this transition smooth – free of stress and chaos? Transporting your wedding guests from part A of the event to part B, while you are focused on pictures can be a bit tricky. Luckily, however, it is do-able.

Depending on your likes and dislikes, there are several ways to get through this transition smoothly. Take some time to read through these suggestions and decide what will work best for your individual scenario.

Gather a transition team to assist

If you are truly holding the separate events in the exact same location, you will be making a big transition between the ceremony and reception area. You are going to need some help. Gather a team of professionals to assist you to make it quick and easy. For example, a wedding planner, the florist, caterers, a few friends. While you are concentrating on the fact that you just tied the knot and want the pictures to prove it – your team will go to work transforming your ceremony area into the most magical reception area possible.

Quick transitioning tips:

  • If you plan on having a fairly short ceremony and are not opposed to your guests standing, this will reduce the number of chairs and furniture involved when transitioning between the two events.
  • Keep decorations Complex décor will only add to the transition time, whether taking it down from the ceremony or decorating for the reception.
  • Plan to keep a similar flow for both events. The more alike the décor will be, the easier to transition.
  • It is a good idea to have everything necessary in close proximity and to even do a trial run before the big event to cut down on the chance for any errors or missing pieces.

Make sure you can count on your team – and that they are ready for the challenge!

Create a temporary mingling space

While your team is re-creating your tent wedding space, you will need to find something to do with your guests. Why not create a space beside the tent location for them to mingle while they wait? Here are a few ideas you can do to keep them occupied:

  • Have a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres.
  • Set up a popcorn station. Serve small cups or bags of popcorn and provide a wide array of unique toppings, such as chocolate drizzle, caramel drizzle, nuts, candy pieces, etc.
  • Pass out note cards and have guests write notes, memories, or words of wisdom to the newlyweds.
  • Provide disposable cameras and have guests begin taking their own pictures. Collect these cameras as the wedding reception is concluding.
  • Set up lawn games for your guests. Take advantage of the outdoors by setting up cornhole, croquet, giant chess, horseshoes, etc. for your guests to play as they wait.

Use your creativity and decide on something that will make your guests content while they wait for you.

Use dividers and split your tent wedding

If your guest list is not too enormous, you may be able to divide your tent. Using customized decorative dividers, you can get a two for one deal. Splitting your tent in half will allow you to set up for your ceremony and your reception. This will require no transitioning between – other than a short walk for your guests.

Hold the ceremony in the reception area

It isn’t too uncommon for weddings to be held in the actual reception area. Instead of guests standing or sitting in auditorium style they will be sitting at their designated tables. The setup will include an aisle through the venue for which the wedding party will use to walk on for the ceremony. Choosing to go this route means that there will be no awkward in-between time and there will be no need for the major transitioning of spaces.

There is one downfall: pictures. Usually, after the ceremony, guests will be ushered elsewhere while the wedding party remains and collects a ton of pictures. However, because both events are taking place in the same location, that would mean the pictures would be taken there, too. Photographers often find it difficult to keep the focus of the wedding party as the ceremony concludes. Perhaps another option would be to take photos before the ceremony begins.

Decide to use two tents

Depending on the size of lawn you have available, you could choose to use two tents. One can be designated specifically for the ceremony, the other for the reception. This gives the feel of a traditional wedding – with the ceremony at the church and the reception in a different location. The perk is there is no driving involved!

This option surely isn’t for everyone. It would require a large outdoor space and could hike up your expenses just a bit. On the other hand, two tents also cut down on the need for a transition team and all the stress that it brings. The reception area will already be set up and waiting for your guests while you and your wedding party are spending some time with the photographer.

This is your wedding, your reception, and your day. There is no set guidebook that tells you how you must have your ceremony and reception. Decide what works best for you and your tent wedding – then practice its execution so that it is flawless on your big day.

 

Categories
Tent Rentals

Ceiling Designs for Your Wedding Tent Decorations

You are hosting your wedding and your reception in an event tent outdoors. Smart move — this means that you get to choose all your wedding tent decorations from the ground up!

No, just take a moment and picture your wedding day: You and the one you love – finally tying the knot. You are surrounded by the smiling faces of friends and family, flowers and table centerpieces in your wedding colors, and – wait. What’s that? A blank, white event tent ceiling. You can spend your entire time celebrating and worrying about guests wondering what happened to the decorations for your forgotten ceiling. Or, you can prepare in advance to use this blank canvas to create a magical area. The choice is yours! It doesn’t have to be difficult or extravagant to make a statement.

Here are 6 beautiful and amazing ceiling designs and wedding tent decorations to transform your tent into a magical space.

Wedding Tent Decorations & Chandeliers

Chandeliers scream elegance. They provide a beautiful means of a light source for your wedding. The great thing about chandeliers is you can match them to the theme of your wedding. For example, if you are having a rustic wedding, you can use chandeliers made from wagon wheels or lanterns. Or, if your wedding is a black-tie affair, you may want to opt for a crystal (or crystal-like) chandelier. The lights reflecting off the crystal create a magical, dim glow.

You may choose to use one large chandelier as a centerpiece or several smaller ones to hang throughout. The idea is to maintain uniformity of the decorations – including the lighting.

Fabric Draping

It may sound odd, but if done correctly, flowing fabric can look beautiful on your wedding tent ceiling. You can even match it with the colors of your wedding—extend your colors to the ceiling. Depending on how you choose to drape the fabric, you can make it look like a warm blanket or keep it light, open, and airy. If your wedding is taking place during the daytime, you can use the fabric in part – rather than covering the whole ceiling, allow for strips of flowing fabric and then strips of tent. This will allow the bright sunlight to shine through.

Beads and Garland

Get unique with your ceiling. The decorations you choose do not have to be the norm. In fact, this is your wedding day – you want it to stand out. Here are a few ideas:

  • String crystal beads down from the ceiling to give the effect of icicles.
  • Garland of greenery or even in various colors can be strung across the tent and down poles on every side to add a splash of color to the white ceiling.
  • For rustic, outdoor weddings, use a combination of tree branches and twinkle lights to decorate the ceiling.

Flowing Flowers

All wedding tent decorations need flowers. Most of the time they are used in table centerpieces or as decorations to line aisles. However, what about flowers flowing down from the ceiling? These magical bouquets look as though they are blooming out of the ceiling. Again, you can choose one large bouquet or smaller ones throughout the tent. Or, be a rebel and go all out – Maybe a large upside down flower bouquet over the dancefloor and smaller ones throughout the rest of the space?

For a soft, romantic glow, mix pastel flowers with a candlelight chandelier. If you are considering a tropical paradise, use bright bouquets – reds, oranges, yellows — and combine them with tiki torches along the ground. Experiment with different flower and light combinations to obtain the look that is just right for your tent wedding.

Lanterns and String Lights

For your wedding tent decorations, lights are a must. Think beachside wedding, lighthouses, and lanterns. Symbolically let these lanterns guide you into your future as a happily married couple. You can decorate the ceiling with single lanterns throughout the venue. Another take on lanterns is using Japanese paper lanterns. This type of lighting gives a soft glow and symbolizes a wish for a bright future. What more could you ask for on your wedding day?

String lights are romantic on their own. Put them under a tent on your wedding day and it can take the sweet moments to new heights. You can string these lights across the tent in a bistro style or have them dangle on a clear string, appearing to be twinkling starlight. Here is an option – rent a tent with a clear ceiling and let mother nature be your backdrop with just a few string lights under the starts. It is like having a real outdoor garden party, without the risk of bad weather conditions!

Gobo Lighting

Gobo lighting is a spiffy light trick. It basically can take your boring, blank what slate of a tent ceiling and turn it in to something completely stunning. Gobo lighting uses projectors and stencils to project images through a light source and on to your ceiling. There are many ideas that you can choose to do with this sort of lighting technique:

  • Use specific words or phrases. You can project names, initials, dates, etc. onto the ceiling.
  • Tree outline. Using a tree stencil can make it look like tree shadows on the ceiling and give a neat effect.
  • Specific floral or paisley pattern.
  • Make it appear that the ceiling is water – and that you are under water when inside the tent (though this may not be good for your claustrophobic guests!).
  • Stars and the moon on the ceiling.

Use your imagination and draw your own stencils. This gobo technique is a much easier way to decorate the ceiling without having to actually decorate it! In other words – no crazy long ladders required.

You can decorate your event tent ceiling in any way you wish – it is your wedding day. The above are just suggestions to get you started. If you are daring, you can combine them together for a unique look. For example, use string lights with your fabric draping or flower bouquets and crystal chandeliers. However you decide to do it, make sure you leave a lasting impression with your wedding tent decorations that keep your guests looking up!

 

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