To Tent or not to Tent

I'd recommend a tent. Even if it doesn't rain, a daytime wedding is SO much more pleasant with a tent! Especially for older folks and people who can't be in the sun for too long.

I'm sensitive to sun (I get a headache very quickly, wear hats religiously, and sunburn year-round). So if I was a guest, I'd probably stay the minimum of time and then find somewhere shady.

I'm having an outdoor ceremony and I have decided not to tent. I like the open air effect. Everyone keeps saying what if it rains, but I just have faith that it won't.

So if you got a tent it would be the location regardless of the rain, right? I agree with Shannon, especially if your backup plan isn't that good, as you say. What is the location of your wedding?

We debated and outdoor wedding...but if we did we HAD to have a tent...it get so warm...and if it rains..oh heck! So, we opted for the KC Hall down the street....not luxurious, but it has ac and a roof! If you want to do an outdoor reception, I highly recommend a tent! Depending on what the 'legs' look like, i don't think you need to cover them..

This is exactly why we are no longer doing an outside wedding. I wanted an outside wedding soooo bad, but once I got quoted for chairs tables and a tent, it was well over $1k and we even had a free place to have it at too (FSIL's land below their house) we simply couldn't afford that, so that's why are doing a church wedding and now we are basically nixing the reception, we are only doing food cake and first dance and the father/daugther, son/mother dance

We have to do it outdoor. The indoor is not sufficient enough to hold 100 ppl. We are having a 5:00 wedding. But the outdoors are so beautiful, its breath taking. There should be some breeze off the river. The venue is called White Orchid at Oasis. www.whiteocridatoasis.com

Future Mrs Cooper, the top pictures are great, but they show the extra draping I was talking about. W/O I'm not sure I'll it.

My wedding will be outside as well and I am thinking about doing something like this

Mona, Oct. is still rainy season in Fla. Get the tent and make sure it has sidewalls (some have clear vinyl 'windows'). Usually later afternoon/early evening there is not as much chance of rain, but you never know.

I always require my couples to have a back-up plan in case of rain.

Sidewalls were extra. Do I really need them? I thought when I looked up weather.com, it said October is the least amount of rain in Florida (October and March).

I personally do not like how tents look without drapery. I was going to have to do the same thing. The tent itself was expensive plus if you want to put a floor down that is outrageous too. I would go for not tent and if it does rain make the best of your other back up plan. Or if you just have to have the tent, maybe think of things to use other than drapery that is less expensive like lanterns , etc.

Mona, October typically has 22 sunny days.

I got married in October at Sarasota Garden Club (north of Fort Myers). On our wedding day it was overcast which made it a little cooler. Didn't actually rain. Our ceremony was outside and the reception inside (nice air-conditioning).

We rejected another venue that didn't have an inside back-up plan because we didn't know what we'd do with 125 wet guests.

If you don't get the tent, keep your back-up location. If you do get the tent, can you get 1 wall for the side the wind is blowing from?

Yeah I can do that. I'm seriously thinking no tent, more and more I'm thinking about it, the tent is going to cost me dearly. Or I'll just wait a little longer and see as we are closer

We are having an outdoor ceremony and reception and definitely having a tent. I hadn't thought about decorating the inside, but we're going to be at such a beautiful site, that I'm sure the scenery will make up for any ugly tent poles. I'm also not someone who typically notices these details so I don't think it will bother me as much as it might bother someone else.

I vote Yes tent.... for shade from weather - rain or sun - it would be nice.

No, side walls are not needed (IMO)

Decorating the ceiling of the tent... also an expense I rather put towards the honeymoon.

People will be looking at you, the food, the drinks, the dance floor....

The tables, the centerpieces, and drunk Uncle Mike and Wino Aunt Martha kicking up their heels on the dance floor.

Maybe use the paper lanterns if you want something on the ceiling, but I think you will be fine with nothing.

This is a dumb question, I'm sorry, but is this what the inside of a tent looks like? I've never really been to many weddings with tents. Just one, and that was a long time ago. This pic doesn't bother me too much. Especially since the legs will be draped. And the centerpieces will be the romantic ones I posted in another thread.

I'll check on the paper lanterns. Thanks Ladies

Come to think of it, I don't even remember what the tent looked like form that wedding. I was too busy dancing/talking, etc. to care

Yep... that is the inside of a tent.... and Yep... no one will remember the ceiling either.

Mona people are going to be looking at you... not up at the inside of a tent. (And if they do they are a weirdo.) Get a tent for rain/ sun protection but you don't need all the extras IMO.

I have been debating the same thing too! We are doing an outside reception in TX because our ceremony site (family church) can not accommadate many people or a reception. We talked about a tent but reception would be around 5 in the evening (so sun and heat of the day shouldnt be a major issue) my biggest concern is the rain.

I know this is an old thread, but I am debating this too! The outside is just so beautiful I don’t know if I want to wear it down with a tent. The ceremony is so short I am not worried about the sun and I just have a feeling it won’t be rainy. But I guess you can never know. Tents are so expensive too. I would rather spend the money on the better looking chairs.