Hi All! We had a wonderful weekend celebrating our friends’ wedding, for which I had the pleasure of assisting with the design and decor for the tented reception. It was a 40 x 80 tent, so with such a blank slate we turned to Pinterest and made.it.happen! This was a DIY adventure, so when the tent was delivered on Wednesday we jumped in immediately to pull it all together in time for the Saturday afternoon wedding celebration. There were a few hiccups along the way, but everything got done and it went off without a hitch. Below is a pic via Pinterest of what a 40 x 80 tent looks like. I was so busy getting things checked off the list, I didn’t snap our own “before”:
If you are planning your own tented event, wedding or otherwise, I cannot stress enough the importance of creating a traffic flow for guests. We chose to place the bar outside and to the side of the tent in order to create a cocktail and appetizer area. This moved guests away from the tent when they arrived, providing the wait staff a clear path to setup the buffet tables and prepare for dinner service. Additionally, be sure to have a clearly marked area for cards and gifts so guests aren’t having to carry them around while balancing their cocktails and appetizers.
Another important consideration for a tented venue is lighting. The Bride rented globe chandeliers from the tent company, and strung up tons of twinkle lights around the inside perimeter. There were brief periods of overcast weather right as people were arriving, so I was happy we added the globe lights to create a lovely glow.
For the table decor, the Bride purchased mixed vintage plates and flatware and rented goblets and glasses for water. I made 16 table runners from a bolt of light pink chiffon fabric I found on Amazon. I was able to cut it without worrying about frayed edges because I pooled it at the bottom and then tied a satin ivory ribbon on either end of the table (the ivory wired ribbon was purchased from PaperMart). Here is the inspo pic (so glam!):
In addition to vases of hydrangeas on each of the tables, we rented potted plants and trees from a local florist, which made the space feel more intimate and polished. The trees are European Hornbeams and served double duty to provide lighting as well as hide the center poles of the tent. We added white petunias around the tree bases to define the spaces and add even more color.
The Groom’s father made the cool wooden circle slabs for each table (you can find some here and here), which ended up being the perfect bases for the hydrangeas. Due to the humidity, the cold water in the vases caused them to really sweat and thankfully the wooden bases absorbed all the moisture keeping the chiffon runners dry. Flameless candles in various sizes, along with table numbers purchased from Etsy, completed each tablescape.
Lastly, I created this arbor using a rebar base that the Groom’s father built. I purchased floral cages here and affixed duct taped them into place on the rebar. I soaked the foam overnight because it was over 80 degrees with full sun on the day I assembled it. I was so nervous I kept watering it and thankfully it all held up and stayed fresh! We wrapped it all in an ivory muslin fabric that also held up to the passing showers and humidity of the day.
Here are some additional inspiration photos you may find helpful if you are planning your own tented boho chic wedding celebration:
We all had an amazing time, including my kiddos who had the honor of being a part of the flower girl party. The evening was capped off by a visit from the ice cream truck which was thoroughly enjoyed by adults and kids alike. Congrats to B and Z and thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!
XO,
Kelly
Leave a Reply