Has anyone had/is having a tented reception??!! What worked, what didn't??

Not a wedding but huge parties.

You will need:

Lots of extension cords.

A generator.

Nice porta potties.

Dance floor.

Heaters or coolers.

Comfy shoes.

Nonna is spot on! For my brothers it was chilly so we added sides to the tent last min and brought in some heaters. For lights we had a really pretty rustic chandelier with cafe strung lights everywhere else.

Your best bet with the tenting is to get a good company out to measure and give you an estimate for tenting,tables and chairs, linens and tableware. You also need a cook tent and lighting and possibly a generator depending on power.

Get this number before you go any further because it's going to be a big one.

We're having a tented reception! You'll definitely want to check out a few tent rental companies before you commit because it can be way more than you think. We're lucky that there's power right next to where the tent will be so we don't need generators but that's definitely something to think about. We have candles on each table that give off light and also hanging lights on poles inside the tent and around the top perimeter of the tent.

Make sure it's warm enough once the sun goes down! (if your reception is in the evening). I went to an October wedding on a farm in NY, and even with the heaters it got coooooold at night. I was so ready to get back to the hotel by the end, even though the wedding and reception itself was awesome. The weather and the tent not being warm enough was the only downfall.

Are you sure it won't be too cold for an outdoor wedding in October?

We went to a tented reception last October, in the evening. The guests who sat around the outside edge of the tent had to endure cold and dampness. It wasn't my most comfortable evening.

We are planning to have an earlier ceremony time so the reception will not be going past 9pm. We are planning to have tent sides and heaters rented if needed.

We put a deposit down on a tent, and each day that goes by, additional costs continue to creep up.

Here's what we have on our list so far:

Tent

Tables

Chairs

Linens

Dancefloor

separate tent for food

Lighting

generator or temporary circuit - lots of extension cords

porta potty/trailer potty

@Celia is right. be sure to consider everything. You are building your "venue" from scratch, so there is so much involved. I have been having massive anxiety which has even lead to nightmares about the weather. Our wedding is at the end of September and I'm just too nervous that it will be too cold, rainy, or rain the week of leaving us with a sloppy, mushy yard.

We are actually looking into reserving a venue now instead of the tent because it is becoming so stressful.

Good luck!

@MrsVoegs17 aren't you worried about losing your deposits?

I am having a tented wedding reception, but the tent (with chandeliers) includes everything (tables, chairs, catering kitchen, bridal & groom suite, etc.) except heaters for fall night weddings and the price includes use of the house. Our wedding is in MD. They have a lot of affordable venues. Have you tried looking for venues that already have tents?

I think she still will be money ahead, Lauren

We only had to put down a $100 deposit for the tent. It sucks, but honestly I am at the point of forgoing the deposit if reserving an actual venue will cause me less stress...and possibly be cheaper.

I mean, when I say I'm stressed, I'm breaking down in tears nearly every day because I can't plan this damn tent reception, and we are going over budget, no matter where we try to make cuts.

Tents can be tricky. My venue has a pavillion and we are getting a tent as well. I got a quote from a local rental place and it was over 5K (includes tent, tables, chairs, set up, take down, lighting) which is INSANE to me. We will instead be renting a tent from a local fire department. 30x60 tent with sides and they set up and take down for $500. Getting tables and chairs from a local community center for really cheap and I will be getting lights myself to put up. My advice would be to look into local places you could rent from. Some churches will rent their tables and chairs for example, but you would be responsible for transport and all that.

@MrsVoegs17 sorry to hear you're stressing! If it really causing you so much stress, I would say find a venue. It's not worth it. Good luck lady!

Your fire department tent is not going to look like a tent rental tent....just sayin'.

@Jamie, thanks. Our tent was around $1,500 with tables and chairs, but no linens or seat covers. But all of these other things that keep coming up... pushing me away from the tent. I have calls into a few venues, but I'm worried now that they will be booked as we are.... omg.... 7 months and 8 days out!!!!

It might not be a billowing gorgeous tent, but it won't be dirty or have holes in it. That's all I care about.

I'm pasting what I say on every backyard wedding...

My husband and I had a backyard wedding at our home in October 2015 It can be done! But things to keep in mind...

- It probably won't end up being much less expensive than a venue.

- You are responsible for EVERYTHING.... Tent, tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, lighting, generators, bathrooms/restroom trailers, heat (very important!!!), fans/air conditioning (also very important! Heat/AC depends on time of year), etc.

- Make sure to determine good placement of everything... You don't want the guests to have to trek really far through the field/yard to get to the restroom... Also take into account the terrain and bumps (our yard looks flat, but it really had lots of bumps to it!).

- Catering/bartending is on you, so find reputable vendors.

- Make sure you have adequate and relatively close parking.

- People will want to go in your house (if the ceremony/reception is close by)! Make sure you are prepared to deal with that beforehand (do you care? If you want them to stay out, make sure to put a sign or other means up to let guests know).

- Hire a day of coordinater! Ours was definitely one of the best expenses we had Because it's on your property, you just don't want to have to deal with guest questions the day of - and there will be plenty of little things that you know, because it's your place, but guests will ask/have to figure out.

- Have chairs. Someone else mentioned not having hay bales and I agree. I admit I wanted them, but we did not get them, and it was a good decision not to. In addition to the general need for chairs, you probably should get two sets of chairs... Ceremony location chairs and reception chairs (unless people are sitting at tables to watch the ceremony). We considered having one set of chairs and us/family/friends/guests moving the chairs to the reception location after the ceremony. Ultimately, I decided to just get two sets (a "cheaper" set for the ceremony, and nicer, sturdier, white ones for the reception). I'm glad we did that so we didn't have to bother guests with that, plus now that I'm on Wedding Wire (surprisingly I wasn't before my wedding!), I realize that would have been poor etiquette.

- The catering company may have to use your kitchen in your home. Ours did. All companies may not, but some might, so this is something to consider.

- We considered renting a sound system and just using an iPod as well, but we didn't want the hassle or to worry about it malfunctioning, so we found a DJ who gave us an excellent deal for JUST playing music (he did end up emceeing a little, but we hired him solely to play music and make sure it flowed/didn't mess up). A backyard wedding is definitely possible, and I don't know how much more stressful a backyard wedding is compared to a venue wedding, because my husband and I started planning backyard from the beginning. Just remember there are a lot of details you have to cover since you're building it from the ground up.

I'm also not a huge proponent of using anyone else's property besides your own for a backyard wedding... It puts a lot of pressure on stress on that person, and it's not even his/her event.

I'm looking at my wedding expenses spreadsheet right now (so these numbers are not an exaggeration):

Tent, Tent Sides, Heat, Lights, Extension Cords = $1973.08

White Chairs, Tan Chairs, Tables, Generators, Grill, Coffee Urn (60-cup) = $768.90

Restroom Trailer (nice restrooms, not port-a-potties) = $1121

Day-of Coordinator (and she gave me a steal of a deal!) = $360 That right there is over $4200.

That doesn't include ANY decor or any other vendors (photographer, DJ, caterer, etc.).

Catering was $4685. Alcohol is not included in that catering cost.

Like I said, backyard weddings are completely doable, but they are by no means less expensive.

Our wedding all said and done including every last detail came to $21,161.77. We had 90 guests (11 of which were kids).

** The biggest thing that comes to mind for me regarding tents, especially because your wedding is the same weekend as mine was... Have enough heaters!!! We had three sides to the tent, to leave one side open for people to come and go. We only had one heater, we thought that'd be enough with a fire going and with blankets. It wasn't.... Of course it was the coldest evening (it was warmer on Christmas that year!). So plan for more heaters than you'll need. **

@MrsVoegs17 OMG I haven't looked at the countdown in a while! Wow I am still thinking its the beginning of January and we have all this time. Just to be safe, I would keep the tent until you can find a place. Always good to have a back up!

@RachelLangerhansPhotography....thank you so much! I certainly am learning it can be more stressful and I did just hire a planner/D.O.C about 2 weeks ago - having our 1st sit down with her in 2 weeks so I know that will help. I am just happy to hear it can be done as long as you think of everything. I am just worried about overlooking something.