J & M's
Party Rentals

WE  DELIVER!

1548 Orange Street, Redlands, CA
(909) 793-0515   (909) 435-5585

What You Need to Know About a Tented Reception

photos of some of our rentals in use.

If the thought of a tent reception brings images of roughing it in the woods with weighty backpacks, old boots, and canteens, think again. Tent receptions can be as casual or as elegant as you wish. With the right tent-wedding decorations, you can create a stunning and memorable atmosphere in which to celebrate.

Couples across the country are discovering the many benefits of having their wedding and/or reception in a tent. These tents are not the type you would use for camping in the wilderness, but large, beautiful white tents that are very romantic and elegant. The nice thing about using tents is that they are roomy, keep guests warm or cool, are inexpensive to rent, and can be enhanced with all types of decorations, as you will see from the tips listed below:

Start with lighting. Strings of lights are a great way of creating a fantasy wedding. For example, you can enhance an informal wedding or white, twinkling lights for a formal wedding.

You can also place special lights around the tent to keep mosquitoes away from the guests while providing a nice, soft glow.

Flowers are always an excellent way to decorate a wedding/reception tent regardless of the theme. If you want to hide the plain poles, you can wrap garland with lights or silk flowers around them. Then for the corners of the tent, you can create a beautiful ground display and hanging baskets.

Fabric can also be very beneficial. Instead of using flowers, you can wrap the poles in coordinating fabric, drape fabric from the doorways, or create sways that hang gently from the ceiling, going from one side of the tent to the next.

Candles are also excellent options for decoration. If you prefer a more natural ambience, candles produce a warm and romantic glow. With myriad candleholders to choose from, you can create the perfect mood. Table centerpieces can also have candles as their main focus.

Consider the tent floor in your decorating plans. Is the ground covered with grass or sand? Will you need to rent a floor due to rocky or uneven terrain? Sparkles and confetti sprinkled over grass make a lovely presentation for a tent floor. Be creative!

If a dance floor is set up in the reception tent, rent a bubble machine to add to the fantasy. This creates a very elegant ambience and thrills the children.

Balloons are also great in that helium can be released to rest against the ceiling or you can anchor them onto the dance floor on the corners so they sway as people glide by.

Don’t be afraid of tents, embrace them! You will love designing your tented wedding. The theme possibilities are endless!

Tent Tips

Big surprises can sneak up on a bride when planning a tented wedding or reception. To avoid being thrown for a loop, you might consider following this advice.

Check your town's sound ordinances and be sure to follow them.

Have a contingency plan in case of inclement weather. This could be as simple as having umbrellas on hand for escorting guests, or it could mean securing an indoor location as a backup space.

Forgetting small details can lead to big disasters. Be sure the space you are using has enough restrooms to handle your guest count. Find out in advance if you need a generator to handle power for the band, caterer, and lighting. Be sure there is enough parking, and that it is well lit (if not, consider giving flashlights as favors). Turn off sprinkler systems. Don't stake the tent over the septic system.

Don't go it alone. Someone needs to give you advice so you're not stressing.