One of the things best things about summer weddings in Colorado is that it means more tent receptions! There’s a lot to love about marquee or tented weddings. For one thing, they provide a blank canvas to create exactly the look and feel my clients want. They also often have a lot more flexibility, in terms of guest list size and location. Best of all, if you can’t decide between an indoor and outdoor wedding, a tent gives you the best of both worlds! But what many couples don’t realize is that tented weddings can also be a lot more complicated to organize (and set up). Not to fear, we’re here to help! Here are my top five tent wedding planning tips to help you overcome these challenges.
Don’t underestimate the practicalities. Many couples think of a tent reception in a remote location or backyard as a relaxed, budget-friendly option. But when you add up all the extras, it can actually be the opposite. Remember, everything needs to be brought in, including most often electricity, plumbing, lighting fixtures, furniture, parking, toilets, and catering facilities. When working with your vendors, go over everything carefully to make sure that you have it all covered. You should also be sure to account for all those extra costs. Otherwise you may find yourself going unexpectedly over budget.
Call in the experts early on. With my first tip in mind, I would always recommend that you work with a wedding planner as well as a reputable tent company. Having the experts on board right from the beginning means that you can pick the perfect site and won’t overlook any necessities. It also makes the whole process a lot less stressful! A great wedding planner will help you see all the creative possibilities of a tented reception space and guide you along the way.
Choose the right tent. These days, there are so many incredible options for wedding tents: traditional canvas tents, contemporary clear span frame marquees, luxurious Sperry sailcoth tents, pole tents, tipis, yurts, glass greenhouses and more! It’s important to choose the right tent for your needs as well as your wedding style.
Be prepared for any weather. Even though a tented wedding isn’t in the open air, weather can still cause all kinds of challenges. For example, rain before or on the wedding day can make grass hard to walk on (I would always recommend some sort of flooring). Extreme heat can make a closed tent very uncomfortable, and similarly, you may need heaters if it’s too chilly. Again, your planner and tent provider can advise so you plan ahead perfectly!
Don’t forget the inside. When planning tented weddings, it’s easy to only consider the exterior, but the inside is just as important as the structure itself. The interior space should flow well and feel welcoming to your guests. One trick is to divide the space into different areas. Another tip is to use lighting carefully. With the right décor, a tent can be magical!
Are you considering a tent for your wedding?
Top image by Edmonson Weddings
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