New England tented weddings at private residences or in scenic open spaces are undeniably beautiful. They offer unmatched personalization turning your celebration into a one-of-a-kind event. But while a tented wedding might seem like an easy, affordable choice, the reality is more complex. These weddings require the expertise of a professional planner - one with tented wedding experience - to ensure everything comes together seamlessly.

The Complexity of Tented Weddings

Unlike traditional wedding venues, a tented wedding involves constructing a functional event space from scratch. You’re not just hiring a tent company and caterer; you’re managing countless moving pieces such as power, restrooms, flooring, and permits, to name a few. Without a planner, these details can quickly spiral into unanticipated costs and logistical headaches and result in a lot to manage on the day of your wedding.

As a New England wedding planner with extensive experience with tented weddings, I will share my pros and cons of tented weddings to help you make your decision and all the things you need to consider.

The Pros of Tented Weddings

Tented weddings offer many advantages, especially for couples looking to host a truly personalized celebration:

Sentimental Value: Celebrate in a place that holds personal meaning, such as a family home or special private location.
Outdoor Ambiance: Enjoy the natural beauty and charm of an open-air setting.
Customization: Every element, from the layout to the décor, reflects your vision.
Exclusivity: Create a private, intimate experience free from the restrictions of traditional venues.
Flexible Schedule: Forget the time limits that most venues enforce, you can have a wedding as long or as short as you like.
Blank Canvas: A tent allows for limitless creativity, enabling you to bring a variety of layouts to life.
Guest Experience: Tailor every detail to delight and accommodate your loved ones.

The Cons of Tented Weddings

However, tented weddings also come with challenges that can complicate the planning process:

Complex Logistics: Transforming an open space into a functional venue requires significant effort.
Higher Costs: Tents, flooring, rentals, generators, and weatherproofing add up quickly without including any other vendors.
Weather Risks: Even with a tent, unexpected weather may require additional measures like heaters or fans.
Infrastructure Needs: Power, lighting, restrooms, and other essentials must be brought in.
Permitting Requirements: Navigating permits for tents, parking, and noise can be tricky.
Accessibility Issues: Uneven terrain or limited parking can create challenges for guests and vendors.
Time-Consuming: Setup and breakdown require meticulous coordination and a significant time investment that usually takes days to set up and take down.
Hidden Costs: Rain plans or unexpected needs often lead to unanticipated expenses.

For couples who want the elegance of a tent without the hassle, consider venues with permanent or seasonal tents. They provide beauty and flexibility without the extra complexity of doing it yourself. They have more semi-permanent structures that have floors, bathrooms, and all the necessities. You can then focus on just designing the space how you prefer!

Photo by Ben Schaefer at Silver and Salt

Hiring a Wedding Planner for your Tented Wedding

Hiring a professional planner is the best way to ensure your tented wedding is as stunning as it is stress-free. Here’s what they handle:

Pre-Planning and Logistics

Coordinate experienced vendors for tenting, catering, restrooms, and rentals that align with your vision and budget.
Navigate permits and local ordinances, ensuring everything from parking to noise compliance is covered.
Develop and manage a comprehensive budget, accounting for hidden costs like backup power and flooring.
Create detailed timelines for vendor setup, event flow, and teardown.
Take care of the day of coordination of setting up decor and managing vendors the day of your wedding.
Plan for guest parking and transportation logistics.

Tent and Space Planning

Select the right tent size and style to fit your guest count and design.
Design a layout that accommodates seating, dancing, catering, and restrooms.
Ensure all-weather comfort with heating, cooling, and lighting solutions.

Design and Décor

Guide your design choices to create a cohesive and magical atmosphere.
Coordinate rentals like tables, chairs, and linens to match your style.

Week-of Management

Oversee vendor load-in and setup to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Handle unexpected challenges with professionalism and calm.
Ensure guest comfort with thoughtful touches like mosquito treatments or organized parking.
Coordinate with the homeowner to ensure the property is respected and ready for the event.
Set up your decor and details

Contingency Planning

Execute rain plans and adapt to last-minute changes seamlessly.
Provide emergency supplies and solutions for unplanned issues.

Post-Event Wrap-Up

Manage the breakdown and removal of rentals, décor, and vendor equipment.
Leave the property clean and ready for the homeowner to enjoy again.

Hiring a Wedding Planner

Planning a tented wedding is no small feat. By hiring a professional planner, you will know every detail is managed with care and expertise. My role is to turn your vision into a reality while keeping the process stress-free and enjoyable. Your tented wedding can be as luxurious or casual as you want!

Ready to bring your New England-tented wedding to life? Reach out to LeslieJames Events to learn how we can help you create a stress-free celebration!

All tents Pictured from Access Tent

Planning Your New England Tented Wedding