Decorating Your Wedding Tent

Take your tent's interior from plain to pretty with these decor tips

By Suzie Faloon

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Turn your wedding tent into an elegant outdoor room that will surprise your guests. The wedding reception can be comfortably housed within a tent that is professionally set up and then decorated by your friends and family. Create a richly decorated area or fantasy world within the canvas walls of the structure. You will have decisions to make when ordering your tent rental that will affect how you will decorate the structure. Tents come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and there are several choices of interior floor and ceiling components.

• What You Need to Know
• Figure out the colors of your wedding and your tent's dimensions before making decor decisions.
• Certain tent decorations should be handled by a professional. Talk with your rental company and determine which elements require a professional and which ones you can do on your own.

Step 1:

Ask for dimensions of the tents when you visit the tent rental company. Be sure to book and confirm your tent rental as soon as possible. Ask if the rental company has any fliers or photos of the tent that you can refer to as you plan how to decorate. Check to see if a carpet or flooring is included in the rental agreement. You will need to know the colors of the walls and carpeting when planning your decor colors.

Step 2:

Sketch a floor plan on a piece of graph paper. You will need to plan out how many tables you can fit in the tent. If you are renting tables and chairs from a rental company, they may supply a rendering of the table and chair arrangements. Be sure to account for a decorative arch; cake, food and gift tables; bar area; dance floor; DJ space and walkways for your guests. Write down the number of table and chair covers you will need for decor, or save yourself the trouble and order these elements along with your other rentals. If you plan to add colored lights for a decorative touch, determine where the electrical components should be installed.

Step 3:

Hang large balls, balloons, lanterns or bell decorations from the ceiling of the tent with cording or curling ribbon. Add strings of lights, tulle, crystals and flower garlands, using supplies that are approved by the tent rental company.

Step 4:

Choose centerpieces to match the wedding bouquets, and place them on the guest tables. Place an arch that is covered with tulle and garlands of flowers over the cake table or the bride and groom's sweetheart table. Place two topiaries on the outside of the entryway door for exterior reception tent decor.

• Tips & Warnings
• Consult with the tent rental business concerning decoration-hanging recommendations, requirements or restrictions.
• Tent rental companies often rent tent decorations as well. Renting their stock and having them set it up is a more time-effective, but more costly, alternative.
• Leave certain tasks to the professionals. If you want a chandelier for your tent, it will require professional installation.
• If it's likely to rain the day of your wedding, be sure to rent a floor. Even under a tent, the ground will be soft from the rain without one.