The Top Six Things You Need To Consider When Planning A Tented Wedding

Many couples think having a tented wedding is more cost-effective and allows them to be more creative with their wedding vision. Don't get me wrong. You definitely have more free reign to bring your wedding vision to life; however, there is a lot that goes into having a tented wedding that not all couples consider. That's why I am sharing the top six things you need to consider when having a tented wedding.

Things To Consider For Your Tented Wedding

Ensure you have a backup weather plan

You may have envisioned an open concept with the tent, but the weather must cooperate. There could be rain, wind, hail, etc., so it is important to have a backup weather plan.

If you originally planned to do your ceremony outside the tent, ensure you have space inside the tent for it should there be inclement weather. In advance with your wedding planner, decide on a plan A and plan B, as well as when you will make the weather call. This will save you the stress of making any weather calls on your wedding day.

Be sure your wedding planner or close family knows how to set up the tent walls should the weather change. Your tent walls can help keep guests warm and dry and prevent decor from falling over in strong winds.

2. How level is the ground

One detail often overlooked is whether the ground is even and level. For example, if you bring in a dance floor or a tent floor, the ground needs to be flat. Otherwise, parts of the floor may lift, which becomes a tripping hazard. The last thing you want is a guest tripping or someone getting hurt.

Instead, I recommend designating a grassy area outside the tent as the dancing space. Be sure to inform your guests that it will be a tented wedding so they can plan their footwear accordingly.

3. Setting Up Rentals Takes Time

Typically, with tented weddings, the rental companies come to set up the tent and dance floor. Any additional decor, furniture or rentals are set up separately. Be sure to determine a plan as to how these rentals will be set up. Do you have room in your budget to hire a set-up and take-down crew? Or will you enlist friends and family to help you?

Depending on who you have helping you, setting up tables, chairs and decor can take several hours. That is why it is crucial that you ensure you have allotted enough time and enough people to get everything done.

Some tent rental companies will know which day they will be coming for set up the week before your wedding. So, it is important to have your set up and take down crew organized and scheduled to assist as soon as the tent is ready. The more hands you have to help, the better.

4. Ensuring guests are not too hot or too cold

Whether you have a tented wedding in the spring, summer or fall, you will want to consider the temperature. Think about how hot it could be in the tent for weddings from June to September. If it's 30+ degrees outside and you put all your guests into a tent, it will be hotter. That is why renting portable air conditioning units could make all the difference for you and your guest's comfort levels.

On the other end, if you are having a tented wedding in the spring or late September - October, you may want to rent heating units. Even though the days are typically warm, temperatures in the evenings start to drop during these months. I recommend heating units in the tent or surrounding the tent to help keep your guests warm.

A fun way to warm guests up at a tented wedding is to include a fire pit outside the tent with a smores station or have blankets and shawls available. These could make great favour ideas too!

5. Knowing your power needs

Besides the tent itself, power is one of the most important things you need to consider when having a tented wedding. Take the time in your planning to ensure you plan power accordingly, as you want to avoid blowing a breaker during your first dance.

If you are booking your vendor team yourself, you will want to find out from each vendor if they require access to power and how much. Once you know your power requirements, you can determine if you can draw power from your house or a nearby building or if you need to rent a generator. When considering power requirements, remember to consider your portable washrooms, as they require a large amount of power. Also, leading up to the wedding day, I recommend testing everything in advance so there won't be any surprises during the reception.

6. Ensuring you have adequate lighting

Most tent rental companies will have some form of lighting inside the tent. Depending on the theme of your wedding, you may want to add some decorative lighting, such as chandeliers.

You will also need to think about exterior lighting. It is essential that areas where guests will be spending time, are well-lit for safety. Some places to consider are where guests will be parking, walkways, washrooms, bars, lounges etc. If trees are around the tent, consider adding lights or renting some great stand-up lights.

Try to avoid candles if possible. Don't get me wrong, candles are great and add that romantic touch; however, more light is needed to light the entire space safely.

Budgeting For A Tented Wedding

Depending on how you budget your wedding, a tented wedding may be the most cost-effective option, or it can blow your budget. No matter what decisions you make when it comes to planning a tented wedding, it is crucial that each item is factored into your overall budget.

If you need help with a budget for your tented wedding or planning the logistics, I'd love to help you! I specialize in guiding my clients through every step of the planning process in a stress-free and enjoyable way. I want to help you, whether it's a backyard tented wedding or a tented wedding reception in a field. So, be sure to fill out an inquiry form and share your plans for your dream tented wedding and how I can help you!