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Tents are dope. They create a certain ambiance that can really focus the feel of a reception. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and there are so many things that can be done with them. I’ve got mad respect for anyone that can take the time to get creative and decorate the space a tent provides.
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But we can’t do it.
I’ve gotta say no to the tent. I just can’t imagine our backyard wedding enclosed by a tent. First of all, our backyard is big, but too small for a tent, if you get my meaning. Tents look great in wide open fields but we don’t have that. We’ve got houses. Lots and lots of houses. Surrounded by other houses. And brick walls. All that plus a tent equals no bueno. And I really love the idea of saying our vows as the colors of the sky change at sunset and dining with our friends and family under the stars. Plus, tents are expensive.
It seems like most outdoor weddings use tents. But recently, I saw a real wedding on Green Wedding Shoes that provided refreshing inspiration for our backyard wedding.
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Love this, love this, LOVE THIS! First of all, my parents’ backyard pretty much looks exactly like this. And look at the amount of DIY involved! This beautiful wedding makes me feel like my vision is not crazy. And there is not a tent to be seen. A classic backyard wedding! Hooray!
Our rain insurance is similar to Miss Earrings’ policy. It just won’t rain. It won’t. That’s all.
Wanna know how I know?
Weather.com told me so. Their wedding planner tool compiles the average type of weather that falls on your wedding day. For the past three years, it’s been partly cloudy in our area on our wedding day with an average temperature of 73 degrees. Excellent!
What’s the weather going to be like on your wedding day?
I learned that there’s always a 40% chance of rain in S.E. PA. Always. I tried to look at weather history before picking a date… But I would definitely forgo a tent in SoCal too!! 
lol, weather.com confirmed. But the last 3 years have been sunny! that’s reassuring.
I read this and literally said “Shut the f8$# up” aloud, in disbelief that such an awesome tool exists. Then I immediately went to check it out. For my date, past 3 years, no rain, cloudy, highs in the mid 60s, lows in the 30s and 40s. OK. I can live with that. Just no rain!
Thanks for the awesome tool! How did I not know this existed???
excellent link for the weather.com planning tool! i didn’t know that little gem existed!
Wow, I wish I had known about that feature on weather.com! We ended up figuring out data on the weather in the last few years on our date, but through a MUCH more roundabout way. This would have been so much easier!
Um, I have the same plan: it’s not going to rain. Since the wedding is Sunday, I just used the tool. Oops! The weather doesn’t like me. 40% chance of thunderstorms. Well, I guess I could be a wet bride. Do I care? Not right now!
I’m scared to look at that site to see what the weather will be like so I can’t bring myself to do it. However, I did want to say that the sentence “tents are dope,” is what sucked me in to this post. I love it when people use “dope” in sentences- sparingly, but appropriately. LOL.
I respect the no tent decision but just a warning: never ever in a million years did I think it would rain ALL DAY at our wedding. Maybe for an hour or two? Perhaps. A passing storm? Maybe. But no, it poured all frickin day. And that was after the weather forecast on Tuesday predicted 80 and sunny…Just saying, you might want to think of something in case it does happen to rain (which it won’t!)
Past 3 years are partly to mostly cloudy with no rain. And 74 degrees. Seems like perfect photo weather to me! Let’s hope it turns out that way.
Oh that tool is so awesome! Unfortunately it doesn’t help us Aussie brides or anyone outside of the US but who knows, maybe there’s an Australian version! Fingers crossed for our spring garden wedding, I’ll be shattered if it’s rainy and we have to bring in a tent!
Have you seen the backyard wedding that they did on Young House Love? It’s really cute! I’ve taken some of their ideas even though my wedding isn’t a backyard wedding
Great tool! I am hoping this year will be warmer than last….3 years ago it was 91 on my wedding day, last year 61 and the year before 74…hoping for a nice median and would ideally like it to be in the mid-70s…the way the summer has been though I am thinking it could be another warm one!
My wedding coordinator at the hotel where we’re getting married assures me she controls the weather and it just won’t rain on our wedding day. 
Past 3 years have been in the mid 70s, partly cloudy, except for 2009 which had a little drizzle in the AM, but that’s fine as long as it clears up before 4:30pm!
I, also, got “cloudy” with high of 68, low of 38. Which will be PERFECT since my dress is gonna be heavy and long sleeved! woot!
Of course, we got .05″ of rain last year in the evening…
Meh, we’ll have a tent after the ceremony (or it’ll take PLACE in the tent, lol) and there are chalets that we can commandeer! lol
thanks for the tip on the tool! I didn’t even know there WAS one!!!!
it says that on January 8 (my wedding day) in 2009, it was 71 degrees… I haven’t laughed that hard in awhile…
It won’t rain on your wedding, because you said so! I agree that in a backyard, it is best to go tent-less…unless that backyard is at least an acre .
This is fantastic and I just wrote a brief blog entry about it, inspired by this post. However, I wish I knew before I picked my date! It’s telling me that the past three years have had sporadic rain throughout the day :(( Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!
let me start by saying that i really appreciate you using the words “dope” and “mad respect” all in one post. you’re too funny!
your setting is so perfect! you could definitely DIY up a storm, at the least. fingers crossed for a sun-shiny day!
also, that first picture is GORGEOUS. i love cloudy days. our wedding day for this year was snowy in GA, which is a huge deal. it was lovely, though. i hope it happens again next year! our venue is a two-level enclosed rooftop space and that would give amazing pictures, i think!
The last wedding does look fab-great inspiration! I agree with Trail Mix though-have a back up so you don’t end up having to figure something out last minute!
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Mrs. Glasses, Tokyo/Los Angeles, CA Age and Occupation: 24, English teacher Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, English teacher Engagement Date: September 2008 Wedding Date: October 2010 Venue: Parents' backyard About Me: I’m an expat living in Tokyo. I’ve been in Japan for almost three years now, where I met my fantastic English fiance. It’s time to leave Japan, so we are planning a fun, intimate, backyard ceremony back home in the suburbs of L.A. in October. Our wedding will be a mix of my love for food, beer, my Japanese culture, and Mr. G’s Englishness. We are on a tiny budget and DIYing almost everything!
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