At the least, people will appreciate the climate control a wedding tent provides - air conditioning, heat, shade...whatever your friends and family need to be comfortable and happy, your tent will provide. Additionally, wedding tents can be incredibly elegant and cozy reception decorating choices, desirable simply for the atmosphere they can bring to your special day.
Wedding Tent Location
If you're having a garden wedding, you've probably got a gorgeous spot all picked out that will be perfect for a wedding tent. Backyards, open meadows, city parks, and botanical gardens are all wonderful spots for set up. Regardless of where you choose to place your tent, make sure that the area is free of sprinklers, underground power lines, and other hazards which might cause problems with the tent's location.
Arranging for a Wedding Tent
If you're contracting with a company for a wedding tent, you'll most likely need to sign an agreement and make a deposit about six months prior to your wedding. Many wedding tent suppliers can help you with finding a location, if you don't have one already picked out, and most are also able to provide different styles of heaters, air conditioners, and misting fans to keep your guests cozy or cool, as the case might be.
Be aware that some wedding tent companies have clauses in their contracts stating that the deposit is nonrefundable if you opt out of the contract within two weeks of the wedding - this is a good thing to ask about before you put your name to a contract.
Wedding Tent Size and Style
Wedding tents come in all shapes and sizes - what will be the best fit for your wedding? Again, your supplier will be the person with which to speak! Most wedding tent providers have numerous styles of tents that are highly customizable based upon the number of guests, location, and your specific needs. Cathedral-style tents are very popular, as are tents with clear plastic windows, allowing natural light to enter.
Generally, tents must be big enough to encompass all the basics a wedding reception requires - guest tables and seating, dance floor, DJ booth, bar, cake table, gift table, and hors d'oeuvre station. Not sure how big to make your dance floor? Take your number of guests and divide by four to find out how many people will be dancing at any given time. Then, take that number and multiply by ten to find the number of square feet your dance floor will need to be!
Wedding Tent Colors
In the United States, white is by far the most popular choice for a wedding tent's color, suggestive of airy elegance that matches well with the classic white bridal gown. However, many other colorful choices are available, and may add a distinctive and memorable feel to your occasion. A red and gold tent symbolizes power, love, and strength, while a multicolored canopy contributes to the feelings of festivity, diversity, and good times - everyone is happier under a rainbow-colored tent!
Wedding Tent Decorations
There are lots of ways to make the inside of your wedding tent beautiful. Wrap flowers (real or silk) around the tent poles, or hang baskets of blossoms from the ceiling. Poles can also be wrapped in various fabrics, ribbons, and strands of Christmas lights, all which contribute to a festive atmosphere.
For lighting, consider strings of paper lanterns across the ceiling, and, if the tent is to be open-air, mosquito candles on the tables. Finally, think about other creative ideas like archways, gazebos, and portable wells for your friends and family to pitch pennies (and good wishes for your health and happiness) into throughout the reception.
Whether you're looking for a way to stay out of the rain, beat the heat, keep warm after the sun goes down, or simply to add a festive atmosphere to your reception, a wedding tent may be just the thing for which you've been searching.
