Decorating Wedding Tents: Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Tent Decoration
Ranked #41 in DIY, #604 overall
Easy wedding tent decorating
Looking for practical advice on how to decorate a wedding tent? Got wedding information overload? Here are some simple tips about party tent decor that may just help.
Deciding a general decorative scheme for events under canvas isn't actually very different to designing a look for any party: choose a style or theme that fits your venue and budget, pick flowers, centerpieces, lighting, tablecloths and chairs and so on and hey presto, you have implemented your chosen style.
If general wedding decor is what you want, sorry, you won't find much help here. The web is already loaded with that sort of stuff - maybe overloaded. Search Google for "wedding decor" for example, or try "wedding table decor" and you will see what I mean.
This lens is only about wedding tents and the special considerations you need to bring to bear when thinking about decorating them. There are a few differences in the details between ordinary receptions and receptions under canvas and this lens aims to cover them as simply and in as jargon-free a manner as possible.
First, some pictures of wedding tents
So how to turn some canvas and a few aluminium poles into the wedding reception of your dreams?
One of the best way to get ideas is to look how others do it. Here are some pictures of stylish yet very different tented weddings with details of how the decor was acheived. Click on any photo to see a larger view on flickr.
Traditional white wedding tent: simple and elegant with tan carpet, gilt chairs and traditional style flowers around the sides. What stops this decor from being boring is the green accent color from, unusually, the wine glasses, and a splash of gold on the roof.
Traditional white tent with contemporary accent: silver chairs and a steely grey carpet give this tent a strong contemporary feel despite the classic white. Single pink roses for a table centrepiece provide color.
Simple and effective: nothing too fancy yet the lanterns and large bare branches strung across the roof and around the poles create a satisfyingly natural and modern look.
Big and fun: the roof is draped with loads of white swags interspersed by hanging white lanterns and the occassional red swag hanging down for effect. The tables pick up the red. There is also a large black and white dance floor in the centre. You would need a large tent to carry off a similar effect.
Something really special: Lit all in red with light stencilling and raised table centrepieces with white ball lights, this tent really stands out.
Modern and minimalist: this huge tent has little decoration apart from unusual white draped columns around the poles. A smart wood floor completes the effect. Maybe the decor is a little cold for a wedding?
Stripey: Stripey tents are good for a fun event. The bold green and white canvas works well here for this crowded beach wedding with open sides. With the stripes and the beach, little decoration is needed.
Down to details: the tent
For standard tents, the key difference is with poles or without.
Clearspan frame tents without poles are good if you want a nice clear space uninterrupted by poles - essential for tents that double up as reception and ceremony location when an uninterrupted view is required.
They have a number of practical advantages:
- they don't absolutely have to be pegged to the ground so they can sit on hard surfaces like patios
- they can be configured into L-shapes or other shapes to fit into awkward areas
Pole tents are more traditional. There are two sorts:
- Tension tents have high center poles and striking sculpted roofs both outside and in. They feel very roomy inside and are good for grand wedding receptions. Not a budget option.
- Simple pole tents are less expansive and more affordable, with poles around the edge and in the middle.
Both sorts work well for classic weddings, or those with a romantic or fairtytale theme.
Then, there are other sorts of tents.Indian wedding tents: mandaps are the canopy under which an Indian wedding ceremony takes place. They are typically elaborate and colourful and have spawned an Indian style of tent decoration with printed linings, floating drapery, metal lanterns and so on.
Bedouin or Moroccan style tents are similar, with a more Arabian flavor.
Moroccan or Indian wedding tents with associated decoration, as in the photo, are well worth a look if you are after unusual decor.
Canopies, pop-up or not, are smaller and cheaper. They serve well for weather protection, or for a chill out area away from the main tent.
Other ethnic tents: suppliers of yurts, tipis and the like have started popping up recently. Definitely not for everyone, yurts are good if you would like an unconventional wedding.Typically, they are informally laid out with brightly colored and/or ethnically appropriate decorations. The photo shows a yurt with modern-style decoration.
If you want more information on different types of tents, see Marquee Hire - How To Choose A Party Tent. Or simply look at local tent vendors sites to see what they have on offer.
So what's different about decorating wedding tents?
1. Lining and flooring
Lining works well if you want classic tent decor. It can go well with romantic or traditional themes (princess, victorian for example) as well.Lining is not essential though. Unlined tents are cheaper, and look plainer and more functional, which can work well with a modern or informal style of decoration. The photo shows a simple unlined tent, white lanterns and dangling mobiles combining to create a light, informal atmosphere. This is an affordable way to decorate.
Flooring: you get to choose the floor too. There are a number of options:
- Carpet: can warm things up or make an event more formal depending on the overal decor
- Sisal or matting: the mid-range option. Works well with contemporary style wedding receptions
- Astro-turf: cheap and fun
- Hardwood floor: expensive and smart. A wise move if the weather might be poor and the ground wet
- Nothing at all: can be nice for informal wedding receptions. But only really practical if the ground beneath is nice and smooth
What else is different about decorating party tents?
2. Poles
But for canvas with poles, the poles need to be considered as they can look too functional alongside classic or themed decor.Winding leaves or leaves with flowers around the poles is a common tactic. So is draped fabric.
But how about colored gauze? or stripes of material? beads? tinsel? In the photo alongside, floaty fabric and brightly-coloured flowers do the job with flair for this canopy on the beach.
There are no rules so experiment and see what works.
Let the outside in
Weather allowing, you can leave the walls open. If it's cold, you can have lots of windows, though they can push up the cost of a tent.By letting the outside in, you are immediately stamping your event with a natural outdoors style. And even better, you don't really need much additional decor to do it!
You can see how this works in the first photo alongside. With the garden outside showing through open walls and partly veiled by gauzy fabric, simple table centerpieces and a couple of large decorative items (the floral arch in the background) suffice as a decorative statement.
Another option is a transparent roof. Not all suppliers will have these, and they can be expensive. But the effect can be dramatic.The tent in the photo feels right outdoors, and yet the tent structure and fantastic festooned twinkle lights make the space feel very special too.
So if the season and your location allow, opening the walls and/or showing the sky through a clear roof of a tent are good ways to make a statement. Depending on your approach, taking either of these options can also keep down the costs of tent decoration.
Layout
Put a dancefloor in the middle of things and the dining experience can feel a bit cold with tables a long way from each other. See the first video below for an idea of what this can feel like.
When a dancefloor is placed at one end of the wedding tent, guests eat close together which can help to unify an event.
Later on though, when guests are shaking their booty, a central dancefloor comes into its own. Everybody is part of the rave up, even if they are sitting down.
Choosing table shape is another consideration. Round or rectangular are the common options.
Round are best for more formal events; rectangular tables in lines can feel fun and informal and also make most efficient use of space. Some feel (me included) that it can be harder for guests to socialize when tables are laid out like this.
Online tent planners can help with this and other layout issues.The best we found comes from the UK where vendors purvey marquee hire instead of tent rental. See County Marquees' party marquee planning tool for help deciding where to put your tables and dancefloors. This vendor also has a useful page on marquee decoration and a nice example of a traditional wedding marquee.
Are wedding tents a good idea?
Find out more about party tent decoration
Decorating a wedding tent - websites
- Ideas for Decorating a Tent Wedding - Summary covering lighting, pole decor, flooring and flowers. This website also has ideas for all sorts of party themes - garden, fairy, backyard, rose. There are loads of sites offering ideas for wedding themes. Search on Google for an information overload.
- Tent decorating tips for weddings - some useful ideas.
- Outdoor wedding decoration tips - not about tents but some practical help on preparing a garden for tents that will be open to the elements
- 15 unique reception ideas - also not about tents but a list of useful reception tips from The Knot, the grandaddy of wedding planning websites. Also includes some eco-friendly ideas.
- Decorating Ideas For An Outdoor June Wedding Reception - not canvas again but practical and economical. A list of budget ideas submitted by users of Thrify Fun covering tablerunners, vases, painted pots, balloons and more.
Decorating a wedding tent - books
The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner: From Rustic Settings to Elegant Garden Parties, Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Day Special
Pretty pictures but a bit vague
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 11/27/2009) 
Simple Stunning Weddings: Designing and Creating Your Perfect Celebration
Beautiful, practical and budget minded. Not about tents or even outdoor wedding receptions, but a useful guide
Amazon Price: $21.45 (as of 11/27/2009)
Outdoor Weddings: Unforgettable Celebrations in Storybook Settings
Again, nice pictures but not much practical detail. This book concentrates on 12 weddings.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)
Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style
Very helpful if you don't want to spend the earth. Has a section on outdoor receptions.
Amazon Price: $11.24 (as of 11/27/2009)
Everything Outdoor Wedding Book: Choose the Perfect Location, Expect the Unexpected, And Have a Beautiful Wedding Your Guests Will Remember! (Everything: Weddings)
Another outdoors book. It is new and I havn't seen it yet. Nor are there any reviews on Amazon so far. If you have read it, please let me know what you think.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)
More details: lighting
For receptions that spill over into the night, lighting is key. It sets the tone for the whole event. And it can be a more affordable way to create the right environment than elaborate decoration.There are loads of options. Here are a few to get you started:
- Chandeliers are traditional. You can see them strung along the middle of the tent in the photo above. Use chandeliers for a completely classic look
- Colored lighting can set the mood. Good party tent vendors have lights that shine soft washes of color across the walls or wherever you would like them. Pinks and yellows are gentle and flattering; blue can be striking and contemporary. The photo above shows coloured lighting in use
- Candles are romantic and pretty. Popular ideas include alter candles raised high as table centerpieces, surrounded by flowers; or little tea-lights floating in bowls of water. You will need other lighting as well. And don't forget about safety. Illuminations is one of many suppliers you can look at for ideas.
- Twinkle lights, though very popular, do create a magical atmosphere. Rent from your party tent supplier - some will supply dramatic black starcloth embedded with tiny lights to cover all or some of the tent roof. Or buy strings and put them up yourself. The structure usually provides good hooks for hanging the lights. See above for a dramatic example with twinkle lights radiating across the tent roof.
- Tent lighting technology has come on and sophisticated effects are affordable. Some vendors will have the latest LED control panels for multicolored zones of light. You will need a big tent to carry this look off. Projecting light shapes on the walls is another option.
- Hanging lanterns are popular. White or coloured, they are pretty, affordable and still unusual enough to create a decorative statement. You can hang flowers or swathes of fabric alongside. As with twinkle lights, the structure usually provides good hooks for hanging whatever you want to hang.
Do it yourself wedding tent decoration
We have selected a few ideas here. But search for yourself and you will find lots more.
Just remember, the tent will likely go up just a few days before the wedding and you will be busy enough. So be organised if you want to take the diy route.
- Build your own twinkle tent
- Not a full blown tent but a small fairytale style canopy. Full instructions.
- Twiggy trellis
- This isn't really a wedding decoration but a trellis for the garden. But you could use the method to create a natural-looking arch decoration.
- Garland Lights Centerpiece
- Small and twinkly centerpiece for tents where the lights are low.
- Candalabra garden centerpeice
- A large and dramatic focus for a table, twining red roses around a candlelabra with candles set around. We chose these two centerpiece ideas, but there are loads on the the web. Google diy wedding centerpieces and you are sure to find something to suit.
- Offbeat ideas
- Looking for something different? Offbeat Bride has some suggestions, including stones, sticks and - yes really - medical glassware. This site is also a refreshing alternative to to the flowers and lace style.
Videos
All three use simple and white decor. The first video shows a huge tent with leaves twirled around the poles and smart hard flooring. There is a large dance floor in the middle, with tables spread far apart round the edges.
The second two are night scenes with open sides. One has ball lights all around the edge of the roof. The other has moving colored light effects.
So have a look at see what you think.
Last thing that's different about decorating wedding tents
3. Drapery
Chiffon, tulle, cheesecloth or whatever fabric takes your fancy can all be strung across or hung from the roof or wound around the the top of the walls.The photo shows swags hanging from the roof at a colorful tent wedding. Pretty chinese lanterns in matching pastel colors are also dotted across the roof.
For practical ideas, you could try this forum. It has answers to lots of questions about using tulle in wedding decorations.
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Let me know what you think
Was this lens helpful? Anything else you would like to know? Or helpful tent tips to share? Please share your thoughts here.
As a way of saying thankyou for your trouble, we are happy to rate and comment on lens' of any lensmasters who bother to rate and comment on this lens. - as long as you don't overdo the spam of course.
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- cathyswraps cathyswraps Sep 16, 2009 @ 12:30 am
- Great ideas, thank you. Here's another affordable idea that can repurpose wedding aisle flowers as reception table centerpieces.
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Reply
- Yve_13 Yve_13 Aug 18, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
- A great wedding lens with great DIY information! Favored, rates 5* and lensrolled!
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- Laniann Laniann Jul 22, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
- This is a wonderful collection of ideas and information. I like that you explain how to do things and give options and where to start. 5*s
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Reply
- jura jura Jul 13, 2009 @ 6:50 pm
- Nice lens great ideas for wedding decoration
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- Tiddledeewinks Tiddledeewinks Jun 30, 2009 @ 12:03 am
- Great wedding ideas!
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by frances
Part time author, full time mother and sundials fanatic when I get the time - which is not often.
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