If you’re not careful, your fairytale tent wedding just might turn into a nightmare. That may sound dramatic, but nobody said planning an outdoor wedding was easy. In some cases, it’s even more challenging than planning an indoor wedding. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth it—there are just some additional things you have to consider. To help you avoid a potential wedding day disaster, here are seven mistakes to avoid when planning a tent wedding.
1. Choosing Uneven Land
This may sound obvious, but it’s important to remember when planning a tent wedding. A tent needs to withstand guests walking and dancing all night, as well as potentially bad weather. Overgrown grass, deep holes, and rocky surfaces make it difficult for a temporary structure to be placed. No matter how well decorated the tent is, no guest wants their food sliding off the table. To avoid any disastrous situations, make sure your tent supplier can work with the land you choose.
2. Not Having a Back-Up Plan
Depending on whether you’re a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty type of person, the beauty or the danger of an outdoor wedding is the weather. It’s critical to have back-up plans in place in case of rain, snow, or excessive heat. Weather is unpredictable, especially in New Jersey. One day, it can be 85 degrees and sunny, and a few days later, it could be 40 degrees and raining.
3. Inadequate Parking
You have your dream location, but what about parking? Imagine, dozens of cars are trying to park in a field with mud and dirt flying everywhere just hours before the ceremony. Make sure your outdoor venue has adequate parking for every guest. If the parking lot is a field, you may want to consider an alternative location. It may not be raining on the big day, but it may still rain leading up to it, leaving the field a soggy mess not ideal for wedding attire.
4. Forgetting About Your Guests
Even though it’s your special day, you cannot forget about your guests and their comfort. One of the best aspects of a successful tent wedding is comfort essentials. If it’s a hot and sunny day, you can offer water, sunhats, or sunscreen to arriving guests. If guests have to travel across rocky or grassy terrain, consider providing inexpensive flip flops for those in heels to use as they navigate their way from their car to the tent.
5. Neglecting Signage
Planning a wedding is exciting. After all, you’re planning a future with your spouse, so it can be easy to get swept up in everything. But you can’t forget about the practicalities of your day. Signs are a good example. It may be hard for guests to find your outdoor tent wedding. Google Maps may not even know where to take them or say they arrived miles before the venue. Posting big and easy-to-read signs will make it much easier for your guests to find the venue.
6. Melting Cakes
This may sound far-fetched, but if your wedding is in the summer or you live in an area that’s hot year-round, a melted cake is a serious issue. All the time and money you invested on a centerpiece can quickly melt away in the dreaded heat of summer. Not all cakes are susceptible to this—mostly ones made with a lot of buttercream. Make sure you tell the cake maker your wedding is outdoors. They may be able to make a cake that won’t melt. If not, they can certainly tell you how to keep it from melting.
7. Not Setting Guest Expectations
Experts say communication is vital, and that applies even more with an outdoor tent wedding. Be upfront with your guests and be very specific about your wedding venue. For example, state something like, “The wedding will take place outdoors, so please plan accordingly.” Or suggest they bring sunglasses, hats, or a light jacket for the evening.
Plan Your Outdoor Tent Wedding at Windows on the Water
If you’re planning an outdoor or tent wedding, consider Windows on the Water. Our expert wedding planners will take the stress off your shoulders, and we won’t make any of these seven common mistakes.
Located in Central New Jersey, our venue has 86 acres of forestry and offers the ideal setting for your dream wedding. Whether you are looking to plan a large or small tent wedding, we can help you create a romantic backdrop for your special day.
Call (609) 208-9475 or complete our contact form to talk with a wedding planner today.