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Originally, we weren’t even considering having a tent. My thought process was that we are having a backyard garden wedding, so we might as well enjoy being outdoors… especially after the work everyone is putting into making the yard look nice!
But the more elements I added to our wedding in my mind, the more I envisioned a tented reception. I began to realize that even though I didn’t notice it in the beginning planning stages, the tent was always there. Even though I don’t consider myself someone who grew up with a wedding vision, I did grow up watching Father of the Bride. Over and over again. So subconsciously, as much as I like weddings that are nontraditional, when I envision a wedding, I envision the Father of the Bride wedding.
So the tent search began…
Wait! Stop! Not that tent!
I really don’t want our guests to feel like they’re inside a room. The yard is going to be beautiful, and I want to enjoy the natural atmosphere that it provides. I also want to be able to look up and see the night sky and all the shining stars once the sun goes down. This means no tent top.
No tent walls? No tent top? Then why have a tent, you ask?
What I want in a “tent”:
This picture from a backyard wedding designed by Duet Weddings provided me with my first proof that I was not crazy:
But I still hadn’t found what I was looking for. <– Awkward U2 Reference… (I’m on a roll today!) I may be slightly crazy, because it has been nearly impossible to find pictures that demonstrate the vision I have inside my head. These are the closest I’ve found:
Photo source: Braedon Photography
Photo source: A Boxed Event
Photo source: Classic Party Rentals
Photo source: Classic Party Rentals
Photo source: Green Wedding Shoes
Apparently, I am pretty naive to believe that I can just whip out these pictures and my vision will come to life. After my initial search for someone to drape our tent frame, I decided that my mom and I would do it ourselves! Then I began to look into renting and buying the fabric and started to get overwhelmed. I can just see myself up on a ladder trying to do this the day before our wedding and having a meltdown as it gradually turns into a disaster. So now I’m faced with a dilemma: how am I going to make my tent vision happen? It’s definitely not a question of whether it will happen. It will happen. Even if it means working through the hypothetical meltdown and doing it myself, it will happen! So I’m going to do some research, and hopefully there will be a sequel to this post soon, in which I introduce a god/goddess of tent draping who is thrilled to make my crazy tent dream come true, and at a reasonable price! Is that too much to ask? We shall see…
Are any of you attempting a draped tent frame like me? If so, please tell me about it! If not, what crazy idea have you become obsessed with that’s ended up being a lot more work/money than you originally expected?
But what if it rains? I love the idea, but I live in the Northeast and there is no way around having a rain plan.
Pictures look amazing though!
I to have envisioned “pipe and draping”. It is definitely expensive. After doing several events for friends and church stuff I found out about this stuff called “heat n’ bond”. what you do is you take your fabric and iron this stuff on as if you were making a curtain… this will help eliminate falling fabric. You slip the fabric on the pipes (like a curtain rod).
I suggest you measure and find out how tall your tent frame will be because this will definitely dictate how much fabric you will need becuase if you want the swags and all you will need lots and lots of fabric. I definitely suggest doing this as early as possible. It can be a long process but well worth it.
http://www.inspiredbythis.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/New-folder-2-3.jpg
The twinklie lights wouldn’t be to challenging for you and your mother to do the day before; It would be beautiful at night.
Yes I vote for Jennifer’s twinkle light idea. I love that look and much much cheaper than fabric.
I’m not much help here but please if you get any ideas let me know. I’m also having a tent wedding and my vision of fabric draping seems a little out of reach. I was quoted $4000 to have someone come and put up fabric swags and drape all the poles and for my fiance and I that’s way out of budget.
I will tell you, we we’re in Ikea and they have 9ft sheer white curtains for $4.99, 2 panels in a pack! So we figured we could atleast use those to put on each of the perimeter poles. Just an idea 
Good luck Hope all goes well!!!
This has been my dilemma EXACTLY. I have such a gorgeous backdrop for my reception, I didn’t want to block it out with a big ol’ tent. However, I’m worried about rain…so I ended up going with the more traditional white tent. =( I can’t wait to see how your drapey tent turns out though - I’m super jealous!
@KWebs: It really shouldn’t rain, because I checked and it rains one day a month in July at the least. If for some reason it does, we would just bring in a clear top for the tent and still have the draping!
@Jennifer: @Mrs. Peep Toe: Ooh, the twinkle lights look pretty too! I just love the fabric though. Maybe lights on the top, and fabric on the side poles… Hmm…
@Linds1769: Wow! $4000? That is insane! We just got quoted $1400 and I thought that was a little over the top, but maybe I should rethink that option! I really like the Ikea idea though, good one!
@kayakgirl73: This is actually closer to a rain plan than we had before! Originally, we weren’t having a tent at all, so now that we have the frame, we could always add a clear top. There’s really not much of a chance that it’ll rain in our area in July though! Thank goodness!
This is one of those things where, even though doing it yourself may seem feasible, my guess is that it is best left to the professionals. It’s not worth worrying about the day before your wedding, you will have so many other things going on. Plus, you definitely wouldn’t want anyone in the wedding (especially you!) falling when putting up all that draping. I’m going to have to say that $1400 for your safety and sanity sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
What about using a tent with a clear top?? I’ve seen it done, hung with lanterns, and it’s spectacular!
I like the look of the draped tents… but the cost factor of fabric seems like an over the top expenditure… especially if there is a possiblity that you’ll need the tent for shelter from rain or sun! Last summer, we rented a tent (top no sides) for a large back yard party with no shade. It was so nice to have shade. I love fabric and think the cost of tent draping would be very pricey… and that if you are envisioning wrapping the tent yourself… you may not be a frequent fabric shopper. Our tent was large but in the scope of tents not huge… and the thought of wrapping it just seems like a huge task… even with a very talented family and friends… (which for me includes people who decorate stores and churches on a regular basis…) In addition thinking about purchasing fabric for this task has me envisioning rolls and rolls of fabric to make it look lovely… I don’t know that the Ikea idea is the best unless you absolutely know that height is less than 9 ft… I don’t think that would have been the case even with my tent… I’d say that the 4000 cost makes sense to me… partly because I’m guessing that the cost of the fabric alone is going to be significately more than that… and that the vendor is going to need multiple people working on the project… for safety as well as to make it look appropriate.
I was originally going to go that route, but I was quoted 6 grand for the drapey-lined-open tent. We’re back on the regular tent page after that. Whatevs, it will still rock.
As soon as I saw this, I thought “She MUST be in California!” I only wish I had the option for an open tent for my outdoor wedding in Pennsylvania, but due to the potential for rain we’ll be sticking with the traditional big white tent.
Sooo pretty-espec the one w/ the oblong lanterns. We had a tent (at the Botanic Garden, it’s standard) The sides were tied up, and only brought down when it rained a little. It had a very airy feel. Guests still had access to the veranda overlooking the pond. Hors d’oeuvres were served there.
OMG, I love it. It’s so romantic and natural! A non-tent tent! I think you should totally go for it and cannot wait to see how it turns out! (Do you think I included enough exclamation marks in this comment???!!!)
Wow, I am in love with that second picture. I hope you get the tent you want!
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Mrs. Turtle, Central California Age and Occupation: 21, Art Student/Teacher Fiance's Age and Occupation: 22, English Student Engagement Date: August 16, 2008 Wedding Date: July 2010 Venue: Mr. Turtle's Grandparents' backyard, Arroyo Grande, CA About Me: I am a California girl who loves the beach and the mountains, but is quite satisfied living right in the middle where I can enjoy the best of both worlds. I am happiest when traveling to faraway places, wandering through museums, watching old movies, or baking up a storm. Mr. Turtle and I are high school sweethearts and fellow book nerds who both drive Mini Coopers and are most likely to be found browsing in antique stores. We're having so much fun planning our European garden wedding with a vintage twist and can't wait to share more of life's adventures together!
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