Fabric Yardage. Tent advice please.

You will need about 100 times what you think. Really. That is a HUGE tent and it will take a whole lot to make it look foofoo.

I am sure you are all handy and it will look beautiful but are you sure this is what you want you, your fh and your friends doing just before the wedding? Your plates will be full. And God forbid someone get hurt.

Not trying to be a downer at all. Sorry if it comes off that way. I am sure it will be gorgeous.

You would need at least 70 yards just to go around the perimeter--no draping. So figure on doubling it or tripling at the very least it if you want some bows.

Check this website out. I used their formula: the total distance corner to corner x 1.3. That will give you 30% extra yardage for the swag.

Corner to corner your tent is 72' across, but with the 2 poles you have to decide how you want the swag setup as there's no center pole.

PS- we're just doing a corner to corner swag with something in the center.

@Tina I din't take it the wrong way. I still think we are crazy for trying to do it ourselves. It took me a minute to agree with the decision to do our own tent as 18 ft is high to be hanging crap and I would prefer my guests enjoy the wedding than decorate it. This was all FH's doings so I'm somewhat going a long with it. I spoke with a lady yesterday about doing the decorations for the tent so I'm hoping she comes through today with a great price. We would have the time to do it as they are setting up the tent on Thursday and the wedding is Saturday. Everything is in the air right now. If I could save some time and money and buy my own fabric then I'm ok with paying for the labor.

@BringonMay, what website are you referring to?

Oh Gosh. Please excuse my wedding brain.

http://www.fabricdraper.com/Measure.html

Curious as to what kind of fabric you intend to use!

Thanks!!!

My planner told me that because the nice fabric tends to be expensive per yard you may actually save money if you rent it and hire someone to do it for you. But if you are just doing tulle i guess it wouldn't cost you too much.

I just did the calculations for the 40ft side of the tent, i would guess that you want at least 3x the length, i am not even sure if that would be enough depending on if you want it going to the ground along the poles in the corner. 40ft/3(ft)= 13.3yards so 13.3x 3 = 40 yards. thats just for the short side.

ETA: the Website bringonmay posted has good calculations, mine i did fast and didnt really account for the draping too well

I plan to use either gossamer or organza. Right now, organza would go with my chair sashes I already bought. Gossamer would be a little more expensive but still doable.

I am using 3 colors, royal blue, kelly green and ivory. I had originally planned on order about 80 yards in each color.

I ordered the gossamer from Shindigz...can't imagine getting anything less expensive than that. 60"x100yds for $74.99. I like the fact that it's flame retardant, also...having lights intertwined with the fabric. I also purchased the lighted hoop you can hang in the center to drape the fabric. We plan to take all the measurements and cut the fabric....just bring it in and hang. Not using a tent, though...31'x32' rustic building.

@Maria, I plan on using Shindigz as well since they have my colors. I'm military so I get a 20% discount which is always great.

The other website I had planned on going to for the organza is Gifts International; http://www.giftsintl-us.com/. They are located in California so no sure why they are called international.

My decision is down to which material to use....

Nice!! And that other site seems pretty great, too!

No advice on how much fabric. But knowing that you will want a continuous piece for the draping make sure that it is a continuous piece. Some fabric stores only carry bolts that are 8-10 yards long. If you order 40 yards you could get 4 10 yard bolts not a continuous 40 yard piece. I say this because I was in line at the fabric store cutting counter Saturday and the women in front of me had this problem.

^^^^ Yup what natalie said

I can't wait to see these pics!

Good point Natalie

I've decided to go with Shindigz. I'm buying a 60' by 100 yard bolt in each color. To buy the organza I would have had to buy 8- 60' by 10 yards in each color!

Hello!! Im wondering if yoy know how much fabric you ended up using? I'm having the EXACT same dilemma. Thanks so much!!

View Quoted Comment Hi Maria
I just found your post and it's giving me a lot to think about I'm planning on draping Fabric in a 40 by 60 tent for a wedding and I was wondering how the gossamer fabric worked out for you
Was it heavy enough
did it hold up well?
I was thinking about using voile
I'd appreciate appreciate any advice you could give me
Mary Anne