Universally admired for their durability, functionality, and overall uniqueness, tents can offer a plethora of playful design options to any outdoor wedding space. Whether white, clear, or colorful, these resilient structures make for a stylish addition to your cocktail hour, outdoor ceremony, or alfresco reception.
You can craft an inviting tented entry fit for a grand entrance, create softness with cascading drapery, bring the outdoors in with live plants and trees, or set the tone for your post-ceremony design with a collection of ceiling installations. A whimsical décor, creative lighting, and custom flooring will distinguish your wedding canopy.
Our experts recommend turning unsightly metal poles into stunning displays of lush greenery and lofty vines.
Read on for 2023 Weddings Breathtaking Tent Ideas.
01 of 28
Bring Focus to Your Head Table
Conceptualizing a floral display that hangs horizontally above your head table (typically where the newly married couple is seated) is a unique way to create a focal point inside your tent. This striking installation using soft florals, chandeliers, and romantic drapery.
02 of 28
Elect for a Canopy
Select a canopy to allow for plenty of sunlight to permeate throughout your space. The open sides are great for integrating your surroundings into the design of your day while still creating shade with the overhead cover.
03 of 28
Consider Draping
One way to add glamour to the construction of your tent—while eliminating the use of additional rentals—is to integrate soft draping. Instead of chandeliers, use draping to add a special touch to an outdoor tent. The depth created by the design generates the perfect ambiance for an elegant outdoor event.
04 of 28
Assemble a Level Foundation
When constructing a tent outside, the ground you are building on can be unpredictable. We recommend creating a solid surface that you can rely on for your tent’s foundation. A solid surface is always a good idea to ensure a level dance floor, to avoid heels from sinking into the ground, and to create an environment that feels comfortable and inviting as if you were indoors.
05 of 28
Anticipate Unforeseen Weather
A beautifully draped tent creates an intimate space while sheltering guests from the elements. For this wedding, the sides of the tent were left open to allow for a scenic view of the property.
06 of 28
Draw the Eye Up
Not only are hanging floral installations a major trend, but they are ideal for bringing the focus to the height of your tent. A floral installation will draw your guests’ eyes upwards, allowing them to enjoy the full beauty of your tent. Elevated floral designs can also free up space on your table, enabling the elimination of a centerpiece altogether.
07 of 28
Distinguish a Seating Area
Create a living room in the middle of the tent to give purpose and focus near the dance floor. Stage oversized comfy chairs, coffee tables, and pews as you would in your own home, and accent with chandeliers overhead to bring the indoors out. A cozy space will encourage guests to sit and chat all night, all while admiring the tent’s ambiance and décor.
08 of 28
Curate a Striking Entrance
Set the tone for your tent by crafting an entry worthy of a one-of-a-kind event. Grab your guests’ attention with an entrance adorned with eye-catching décor. We love when a couple wants to go bold with flowers or other décor options to get everyone’s attention.
09 of 28
Create Height With Centerpieces
When utilizing a sailcloth tent, you should be reminded to create height with the components of the tablescape. Sailcloth tents have such beautiful high peaks that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
10 of 28
Consider a Clear Top
Clear top tents for the outdoors. When you have a beautiful setting, there is no better way to feel connected to the landscape while still protecting your guests from the elements.
11 of 28
Strategize Cohesive Décor Elements
For an alfresco wedding, this couple tied in magnolia trees throughout features of the reception and the tent’s overall design. To complement the trees, we created a grand tent entryway with woven vines, magnolia leaves, and overflowing greenery. We then covered the interior tent poles in ivy. Finally, we hung large magnolia-leaf wreathes from the ceiling.
12 of 28
Amplify Your Color Scheme
For this reception, hints of purple were integrated throughout facets of the event’s décor. As well, the color purple was used within details of the structure itself. We suggest incorporating subtle hints of color toward the top of your tent to help create a cohesive theme overall. Depending on your day-of color palette, you can elevate your space with varying tones, shades…
13 of 28
Bring the Outdoors In
With your surroundings proving to be a significant influence on your overall theme and tented design, why not bring elements of nature into the interior of your day-of space? We love to add natural components to our tented weddings by cutting saplings from the land and bringing the outside in.
14 of 28
Integrate Unexpected Sparkle
For a chic and playful way to incorporate shine to the inside of your tent, we recommend strands of assorted twinkle lights. Let your guests feel as if they are dancing among the stars with twinkle lights overhead. The added feature will evoke romanticism and make for a soft ambiance.
15 of 28
Make a Statement
For couples that want to set the tone for their wedding in a bold way, we recommend renting a structure with an impressive presence. This Sperry Tent made a serious statement. It was placed in the middle of a field and surrounded by mountain. A stunning tent supported by a stunning backdrop.”
16 of 28
Adorn With Pendants
One of our favorite elements of a tent is that it allows us to do really beautiful overhead installations. Various points of interest like pendants, chandeliers, and other decorative elements create thoughtful details throughout a reception space. At this particular fête, white fabric wrapped the tops of each pendant to correlate with the sophisticated design aesthetic.
17 of 28
Play Up the Exterior
To enhance the exterior of your structure we suggest adding a pop of color to the tent’s outer trim. It’s important to pay attention to the exterior as much as you do the interior. Adding a pop of color to this all-white structure, the exterior was lined with draping that had a thick navy border to create a completed look.
18 of 28
Customize a Dance Floor
In order for guests to properly groove to the sounds of an awesome band, a dance floor was a necessity. The classic color combination of this dance floor was a custom element requested by the bride and groom.
19 of 28
Hide Unflattering Details
Guests notice everything, so make sure the exterior of your tent is as breathtaking as the interior. Don’t forget to consider the structure of your tent and the materials needed to camouflage things you might not want your guests to see.
20 of 28
Work With Natural Tones
We advise couples to look to their surroundings for design inspiration. Incorporate natural tones into your color palette that mimic the landscape of your setting. Wooden details aided in outlining the rustic design scheme of this airy tented reception.
21 of 28
Embellish Tables With Candlelight
A flattering component that ornaments your tablescape as well as creates softness throughout the ambiance of your space. We recommend adding candles—varying in height—throughout the layout of your table. The amber glow from the candlelight will add charm to the atmosphere of your tent’s interior.
22 of 28
Allocate Space for Entertainment
While tables, dance floors, and various décor features will take up most of the space in your tent, it’s important to leave room for other day-of elements like your live band or other entertainment essentials. With an intimate setting as a unique benefit to a tented space, sometimes leaving too little room for a large orchestra can result in cramped spaces and limited dance room.
23 of 28
Understand the Mechanics
Wedding tents should include everything that a regular venue has, such as flooring, power, air conditioning/heating units, generators, lighting, and portable bathrooms. It’s also important to consider the functionality of your tent for vendors. For example, ensure there are proper access points for vendors to load in.
24 of 28
Play With Scale, Size, and Design
If hosting an intimate affair or an event suited for a larger guest list, choosing the right size for your tent is crucial to finalizing the layout for your reception or ceremony. Also, consider your surroundings when choosing décor pieces so that every aspect of your design relates to the overall vision.
25 of 28
Light It Up
With weddings that stretch far into the night, it’s important to illuminate your tent enough for your guests comfort. Whether string lights, large bulbs, or lit installations, the integration of light in your tented design is crucial for events that will continue after the sun sets.
26 of 28
Embellish With Florals
Why save all your décor for your tent’s interior? Take a plain white canopy up a notch by embellishing the exterior in an over-the-top cascade of florals and greenery. This couple did not skimp on the floral design at their New England backyard garden-inspired wedding. The theme was complete with hanging tea lights inside, complemented by taper candles in glass holders on each floral-adorned tablescape.
27 of 28
Provide Multiple Structures
Why have one tent when you can have two (or more)? This couple opted for a smaller tent to enclose their cocktail bar. This way, they were able to leave more room for dining and dancing in their main reception tent. Guests could mix and mingle at the bar before heading to the larger tent for the rest of the reception. This idea is perfect for a wedding with a larger guest list.
28 of 28
Hang Greenery Throughout
Hanging floral and greenery installations are super on-trend right now. But this couple opted for a sprawling effect rather than one singular focal point. Hang greenery and cascading florals all along the edges of your tent and down the center. For extra drama, leave the rest of the ceiling empty. This works especially well with clear-topped tents. You can also hang twinkling string lights to create a truly magical vibe.
We hope you enjoyed this 2023 Weddings Breathtaking Tent Ideas blog post!
Leave a comment