When the landscape is too breathtaking to pass up, couples may feel that no indoor venue can compare to the exquisite views of an outdoor wedding.  In a perfect world, you would find your location, set up shop and your wedding day would go off without a hitch…but the weather gods aren’t always so reliable…or merciful.   Outdoor weddings basking in the beauty that nature has to offer can certainly happen…but a little shelter is always a great idea.  Say hello to your saving grace…the wedding tent.

A tented wedding is designed and managed from the ground up. Most tented weddings will take place on properties where indoor coverage is either not available or not suitable to your style, guest count or aesthetic.  A couple may fall in love with the grounds while the interior of the venue doesn’t match their wedding vision or size…and so a tented wedding is born. 

Here in the DC/Charlottesville area, we think May is the perfect time to have a tented wedding.  The weather is on its best behavior, with the winter chill far gone and the sweltering heat of summer just around the corner.  And for the most part, the spring flowers have made their debut, leaving the pollen haze in the past. A great time to tie the knot, an even better time to do it under a beautiful tent. If you are considering it (and we hope you are), let us give you some pointers on what this type of wedding will entail.  Read on for a couple’s guide to a tented wedding. 

Consider Your Options

One of the best things about a tented wedding is that it is just as much about your personal style as it is about the property and landscape, allowing you to choose the ideal architectural design to fit the mood of your wedding. Picking the perfect tent for your wedding may require a bit of research and consideration. Here are four options we love…

Sailcloth Tents: These tents are simple, but stunning.  Known for their wooden-pole construction and canvas exterior, these are the most cost effective of the bunch. Often used in coastal settings, these tents require staking into the ground with clear plastic as the only option for side walls (should you need them). With beautiful peaked tops, wooden poles and translucent vinyl, we love this option…especially the way it absolutely glows as the sun sets. 

Frame Tents:  Frame tents do not have central poles, making these tents feel a bit more open than other options. If you are looking to up your decor game, these tents are the perfect option for prioritizing draping and floral hangings.  This tent can be finished off with clear or white sides and tops, allowing you to completely seal the tent if you would like to. 

Clear Span Structure Tents:  These tents carry the same perks as the frame tent, but are sturdier making them a better match for some elaborate decor or possible inclement weather.

Greenhouse Tents:  Also known as garden or conservatory tents, they are quickly becoming a favorite of engaged couples. If you are looking to showcase the views, these black metal framed tents complete with clear sides is a great option. This is one of the more expensive styles but does not require draping…allowing you to save in that regard. 

Define the Logistics

Understanding temperature when planning a tented event is logistically detrimental to wedding reception success.  Guest comfort is an important element of outdoor weddings, so make sure you have what you need, such as heating or air conditioning and also the option to add or remove tent walls.  Don’t forget about flooring too, and that goes beyond just the dance floor, unexpected rain can make for a very muddy and messy day.  These important elements need to be determined and executed as much as the design and decor.

Make an Entrance

Tents tend to be accessible from most places so it is important to define an entrance with decor.  This will help the guests determine which way the space is designed to be viewed from, walked through and enjoyed. Drawing the guest’s eye to the happy couple is always a plus for a wedding reception (at least until the dancing begins).  Whether you use delicate draping or some greenery, allowing your guests a specific entry point will keep the flow of traffic and aesthetic in check.

Focus on Lighting

We simply cannot stress enough how important it is to focus on lighting when it comes to tented weddings.  Uplighting on the tent canopy and on the draped tent poles provides a warm inviting glow giving the effect of a very magical evening.  We love the idea of the lighting source coming though as design elements such as chandeliers or string lights, however we cannot forget the safety factor. Use lighting to emphasize outdoor restrooms, walkways and transportation pick ups. Lanterns and string lights work perfectly for this.  

Get Creative With Your Design

Design and decor, (the absolute best part of weddings…besides the love story, of course) is a huge factor to consider with a tented wedding. It allows for the most custom guest experience because sizes and layouts can be changed to accommodate guest count and design visions. Just because you are working with a tent doesn’t mean you have to approach it differently when it comes to decor, you have a completely blank canvas to work with, the only competing factor…nature itself.   Here are some design elements we think you should consider:

Create a design focal point to help draw your guests’ eye to the design elements you want to focus on.  Think about round lanterns, a chandelier or a hanging floral installation. 

Incorporate the tent poles into your design. Add floral to the bases and use greenery to draw the eyes upward. 

Play with the height of your tent, add a lightening component to help make the space more intimate while also adding a decorative touch. 

Tent weddings do not have to succumb to a downplayed decor aesthetic.  Draping and lighting will help add a layer of refinement to the design.  Greenery installations are also a beautiful accent to help enhance the design element. Believe it or not if you design it correctly a black tie affair can find its home under a wedding tent.

Embracing Mother Nature one structure at a time…a wedding tent is the perfect canvas for your dream wedding vision. There are few venues as versatile as a tent, sometimes a venue is not the right backdrop for your wedding aesthetic…we get it.  An outdoor wedding under a tent leaves only the beauty of nature to compete with.  

If you are considering an outdoor wedding and need a bit of inspiration for your location, read our blog, Falling in Love With the View, for a guide on some of the most breathtaking locations in the Charlottesville area.