A tented wedding has become a very popular type of event for brides and grooms. There is something very elegant and romantic about a towering tent spread over green pastures with the sound of the Atlantic Ocean and the twinkling stars overhead. The spaciousness of the tent with the wide open expanse of nature come together as one to present a very appealing location. However, for some brides and grooms there is much discussion and debate about the prospect of doing an event outside. To mediate your dispute and hopefully get you pointed in the right direction we have created 6 Tips for Tented Weddings
1. Be Decisive
One of the first decisions made before searching for your venue is if your event will be inside or outside. This decision will dictate the time of year, location and venue. So before you begin your search, sit down and discuss the pro's and con's of both, make your final decision and then move forward in confidence. If you change your mind, you may have to start your search all over again and you will lose time which may cause you to lose out on those great dates.
2. Inclement Weather - Plan B
The Act of God Clause is no doubt the scariest part of your event contract! If only we had a crystal ball, then that would make planning an event so much easier. Unfortunately the closest thing we have to that is the Farmer's Almanac, but I am not willing to rest the success of your event on that book. If you are considering an outdoor event you will no doubt be thinking about the weather. IF you are not thinking about the weather, then you should be. When planning an outdoor event I highly recommend a Plan B.
At Newagen Seaside Inn, we always have a Plan B. In July of 2006 we had a tented event planned on our event lawn which is located right at the water's edge. Everything was set up when a major thunderstorm with torrential downpours suddenly descended on Southport Island. In 2 hours we moved all tables, chairs, linen, table settings, the wedding cake and the ceremony into our Main Inn. In the end (after a few tears) the bride and her parents thanked us and were very pleased with their day. If she did not have a plan B, the wedding would have been a complete disaster. Be sure to have a Plan B.
3. Temperature
Do your homework by reviewing the high and low temperatures for the last 5 years to get an average. This will help you determine what you will wear, what advice you will give to your guests and what heating or cooling units you will need to rent.
4. Rentals
There is no limit when it comes to rentals for your tented event; from port-a-lets, to trees, to decorative lighting to more sophisticated installations. The very first step is to determine what you will need, such as heating, dance floor, lighting and port-a-potties. If your event is at your home you will no doubt need more than if you were having your tented event at Newagen Seaside Inn where everything you need is provided. On average you will spend $3,500 to $6,000 on rentals if you are building from scratch at home or in a remote destination, at Newagen, you would spend less than half as much.
5. Tent Size and Style
There are an abundance of tent companies offering endless options of size, color and style. When selecting the size of your tent be sure to have enough space just in case you experience inclement weather. You may have to have both your cocktail party and reception under the same tent. Other things to consider are sides or no sides, window or no windows, free standing or pole tent, clear paneled ceiling or white and design. For expert advice on event design and rentals contact True North Events and Catering for the most elegant and complete line of wedding rentals in Maine. True North is truly a turn key event planning company.
6. Design
Be sure to work with your rental company and/or caterer in selecting the best design set up. Newagen utilizes True North's Tentnology Tent System which offers elegant design and style as well as flexible set up options. With tentnology you have the option of selecting hexagon, triangle and square to create a unique look and feel for your tented event.
This blog was written by Jason Schlosser, Innkeeper at Newagen Seaside Inn. If you are considering a tented wedding, contact us today at 800-654-5242. We would be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Or visit us on the web at www.newagenseasideinn.com.
I love it,Excellent article.I am decide to put this into use one of these days.Thank you for sharing this.To Your Success!
Posted by: Outdoor Wedding Tent | September 01, 2010 at 06:51 AM
As the photographer for the 2006 outdoor wedding that Jason blogged about, I have to commend the Newagen on and especially Jason on how the staff very quickly adapted and brought that lovely wedding indoors. And, I will also state that obvious: That even when it rains, you can have a fantastic wedding.
The bride gave herself five minutes to cry about how her outdoor dream wedding had been dashed, then she fixed her makeup and pushed ahead with one of the most fun weddings I've ever photographed. The rain did not dampen the couple's enthusiasm one bit!
The Newagen has wonderful indoor facilities, making the choice of in or out probably a tough one. I love how there are so many seating areas on the Inn's main floor, and at wedding I often see how guests like to spread out--some guys invariably go and sit in the bar and talk, a handful of other guests might drift into the living room for a quieter chat, some guests might walk out on the back steps. There is plenty of room on the back porch for a photo booth if the couple is planing one. I love that if folks want to spread out, there is plenty of room to do so at the Newagen.
Posted by: Michele Stapleton | September 27, 2010 at 01:53 PM