Celebrating Under The Big Top: Beautiful Ideas For An Outdoor Tent Wedding

 

As we gear up for the wedding season ahead, it looks like COVID-19 will continue to have a major impact on how social gatherings are planned. Couples with their hearts set on marrying in the upcoming months have serious decisions to make on how to safely bring together family and friends. In doing so, many are heading outdoors and holding their celebration under a tent. Not just a shelter from inclement weather, a tent can be dressed up with beautiful decor just like any other luxury venue. From the ceremony backdrop to the tablescape to the dance floor, here are 15 beautiful ideas for an outdoor tent wedding.

 

A Sparkling Chiffon Canopy
As you will see, lighting is key to creating an unforgettable ambiance within a tented space. This open air reception pairs white chiffon draping with twinkling fairy lights to conjure a scene of enchanted romance.

 

Draw Attention To The Dance Floor
If you are planning to have every part of your wedding take place under the tent, it’s a good idea to allocate areas for specific uses. Eye-catching decor creates a point of interest, and no guest will be able to resist the temptation of taking a twirl on the dance floor with a jaw-dropping floral installation suspended overhead.

 

Ceremony Decor That Takes Your Breath Away
A tent of floor-to-ceiling white chiffon draping doubles as a canvas just begging to be trimmed with gorgeous decor. This ceremony featured an aisle way accented with rose petals and candles that opened up to a chuppah, also made of white chiffon. Together, the glistening crystal chandeliers, candles, and delicate fabric create a breathtaking atmosphere that is as much timeless as it is sophisticated.

 

A Clear Top Reception
Just because you are having an outdoor wedding doesn’t mean you can’t highlight your venue’s distinct charm and character. For this reception at The Foundry, a clear top structure allowed for full appreciation of the courtyard’s sprawling ivy and century old brickwork while giving the illusion of being under the open sky.

 

A Natural Color Scheme
This summer beach wedding at Gurney’s Montauk looked to the natural surroundings for color inspiration. Fresh florals of various shade of white, verdant greenery, and natural wood accents combined to create a scene that captured the organic beauty of the season.

 

A Garden Tea Party Inspired Reception
Who doesn’t love getting an invitation to a garden tea party? Setting a romantic mood for this tented reception at the Sephardic Temple, cocktail tables were topped with soft colored florals accented with delicate pink, white, and gold decor elements.

 

Arbor Decor
Dining under a shady grove of trees may not be an option, but creating an arbor themed canopy is. Seek the natural environment for inspiration by incorporating foliage and greenery that grow nearby into the decor scheme.

 

A Warm, Intimate Tablescape
Nothing sets the mood for love like a warmly lit tablescape. To create an intimate dining atmosphere for guests to enjoy, consider long tables adorned with low, lush floral centerpieces, glowing candles of various styles, and soft, flowing linens.

 

Surprising Uses For Greenery Garland 
A downside to having a large tent wedding are the unsightly poles needed to hold up the structure. Make the eye soars disappear by wrapping the poles in a voluminous garland of verdant greenery.

 

Colorful, Mix & Match Decor
One of the many benefits of a tent wedding reception is that there are no rules when it comes to decor. Styling and design possibilities are endless and we absolutely adore this mix & match theme that incorporates vibrant flowers with hanging lampshades and ribbons.

 

A Celestial Canopy
This heavenly woodland reception is making us fall in love with fairy lights all over again. Just imagine celebrating saying “I Do” to your soulmate with a starry-eyed canopy hanging above.

 

Make A Grand Entrance
As guests arrive to your tent wedding, the first thing they will see is the structure’s outside. Make an unforgettable first impression by designing a show-stopping entrance with floral decor that harmonizes the outside with the interior atmosphere.

 

Draw The Eye Up With Hanging Florals
A gorgeous hanging floral installation draws the eye up while allowing guests to appreciate the full beauty of a naturally lit, airy reception. Pro Tip: Use the installation to underscore the beautiful floral table decor below by incorporating the same flowers and/or color palette.

 

Luxury Is In The Details
More is more… glittering details, dramatic lighting, and luscious blooms combine to create an ambiance that is as beguiling to the senses as the grandest of ballrooms.

 

Hanging Greenery Garland
Another unexpected way to display greenery garland is to fashion it in hanging rows from the ceiling. Here, the pairing of elegant chiffon draping and lush greenery and florals creates a juxtaposition of striking grace overheard.

No longer just a trend, tents provide a large, open space that can be decorated to suit any wedding style while offering views of the outside scenery all around. In the time of COVID-19, they are a solution to the challenge of holding social gatherings safely and responsibly (after complying with state and local laws and guidelines). Event venues have been quick to pick up on this, converting outdoor areas such as rooftops, courtyards, patios, and gardens in order to accommodate once in a lifetime celebrations under the big top.