Tents 101: Everything You Need to Know About Tenting Your Next Event
Tents have been the backbone of outdoor weddings and events for decades. Admired for their functionality and customizability, it’s no wonder that tent weddings continue to be a favorite for couples planning their outdoor nuptials. As the wedding industry is still bending and flexing to this new normal the tent wedding was the clear front runner this past wedding season because it combines space, fresh air, style and customization. Everything to abide by COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines all while still making your special day the one you had planned in the first place. Total Events is gearing up to provide clients with a top tier experience and a day of their dreams.
Credit: Empire State Plaza
Why?
The tent wedding has always been incredibly popular. From being able to hand-select your location and tailor every detail to the practicality of all the fresh air anyone could ever want - the tent wedding checks off all of the major boxes. Tent weddings can be as simple or as extravagant as your tastes allow, we offer every creature comfort that an existing venue does!
Size.
The regulations regarding dining and social distancing have increased the space requirements for weddings. Many elements of weddings have changed or been modified to help curb the transmission of the virus; which is also the beauty of the tent wedding. Our tent sizes start with our petite 20' wides all the way up to our massive 60' wide twin pole tents. We have the ability to meet health department regulations for safety without sacrificing aesthetics. We are able to accommodate proper spacing to make it stylish and a part of the overall design schematic. We also have an amazing software suite that allows you to see a bird's eye view of your space in the planning process to make sure it's on point. You can even modify it with your caterer or planner!
Credits: Elario Photography, The American Hotel
Options.
We like options, and we have invested in growing our inventory of them for over two decades. As styles grow and evolve, so have our offerings. Consequently, we are always purchasing custom options for special clients (remember our Marissa loveseat and drapery?) We know that your wedding has a story to tell and supporting that narrative from start to finish is so important. Tables, linens, lighting, chairs, charger plates, china, glassware, flatware, flooring, bars, lounges, ceiling treatments, drapery - they are all on our menu of services for you to select from.
Cost.
Building a custom venue in your backyard is not always an inexpensive option. Depending on the upgrades, guest count, and selections - tent weddings can get pricey - but that doesn't mean that they have to be. If you are putting your tent on private property you can avoid site fees and costly, time-sensitive set up and breakdowns that go along with renting space. Having on-site sources for bathrooms, power and water will help to keep costs down, as well as space for your catering team to cook out of. Choose simple options over extravagant ones and keeping your guest count down will make building your tent wedding easier on the budget as well.
When.
In the great Northeast, we have a couple month-long window for ideal weather. Typically, our tent wedding season starts in May and ends by November. For ideal weather, June to the beginning of October is considered our peak time. With a substantial number of rescheduled 2020 weddings having been moved to 2021 dates, as well as the normal volume of inquiries for 2021 weddings, dates are slowly beginning to reach capacity. We recommend reserving a date as soon as you can. Holding off and making last-minute reservations create unneeded stress on all parties. The opportunity for mid-week weddings are slated to become very popular in the coming years, and with good reason. A limited supply of weekends exists and in order to accommodate travel and lodging so to keep your budget in check, a midweek wedding could be ideal for many couples.
While we are hoping for a return to 2019 gathering policies, we need to prepare for the possibility that we will be looking at another unusual season. Distancing and sanitization protocols also impact the staffing for businesses so we are trying to pack our schedule while keeping the health and safety of employees and clients at the forefront of our minds.
Where.
The beauty of a tented event is that it can be almost anywhere. If you are booking space at an existing venue please ask first about set up and breakdown requirements. Venue's will be working diligently to fill their calendars with events and having conversations about timing will allow you to understand what is possible for your day. Limited set up and breakdown windows will create more expensive delivery costs as well as higher labor fees to execute your vision. If you are creating your event at your home or family property you will have greater flexibility but possibly a little more building to do – we recommend a site inspection to confirm we can safely set up and have the space necessary. Site inspections can be conducted as soon as the snow is gone to check the ground level and firmness/composition, load in and accessibility obstacles and overhead interferences, like tree limbs and power lines.
Next Steps.
Number one, don't be overwhelmed! It's a lot of information, but we promise - we cover all the basics and the bases first so that you don't run into a logistical mess later on. We're going to ask you A LOT of questions and we are going to talk with your other event professionals to make sure that in the days, weeks, and months leading up to your wedding - we are all on the same page. Having worked in this business for so long, we understand that the vendor relationship is just as important and that a team of professionals need to communicate their needs and personal timelines to avoid execution and breakdown problems. Your Total Events specialists will walk you through the entire process!
Fill out our pre-consult form to get you started or check out all of our tenting options here!