6 Tips for Styling the Perfect Outdoor Wedding
We know so many of our wedding clients are looking to create a unique experience. Which is why our tipis and tents are the perfect balance between style and practicality; keeping you both protected from the elements, and making a statement at your reception.
But despite what you may think, there are so many ways to style your wedding tent or tipi to create the perfect wedding vibe for you – whether that’s an intimate and relaxed garden soiree, or a fabulous outdoor reception hosting 350+ people. And while we must admit our tents do look great all by themselves, you may want to consider a few of these options to elevate the ambience, lock in the mood, and really get your guests feeling extra excited to celebrate with you.
To help you get started, we’ve put together the most common ways our clients love to style their Sperry Tents and Kata Tipis from yours truly. So if you’re planning a wedding soon, and you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve got you covered (maybe even literally).
1. Lighting
Adequately lighting your event can inspire the tone for your celebrations and can create a new atmosphere within our Sperry Tents and Kata Tipis. While the crisp white of the Sperry or the natural canvas of the Kata Tipi can provide a passive light source during the day, many of our clients envision a reception which flows into the evening (or sometimes early morning), which means lighting is essential to keep the party going.
Warm white festoon lighting or fairy lights not only provide a beautiful backdrop for evening photos, they can also create a warm atmosphere and glow against the canvas of our tents and tipis. Keep in mind that if you are having a sit down reception you will want to ensure your guests have sufficient lighting. This may include a mixture of canopy lighting and table or floor lighting using real or battery candles.
It’s also important to strike a balance between mood-setting and practicality. If possible, dimmer lighting is a fantastic way to set the tone for the time of night.
If your wedding style is more traditional or grand, centrepiece chandeliers or lighting incorporating floral arrangements are a great way to help style your outdoor tent wedding.
2. Floral arrangements
Oh boy, do we love floral arrangements and our tents! There are so many ways to include florals in your wedding to enhance the aesthetics and create the ultimate vibe. First, please speak with your stylist, planner or floral designer. But no doubt your Pinterest account has had a work-out for the past 6+ months and you already have a clearer idea about what kind of style, theme or palette you would like.
When it comes to styling your tent or tipi with florals, there are various placements and designs to choose from. We’ve seen hanging floral arrangements, flowers on tables, flowers on the floor, flowers on the tent masts, flowers as table centrepieces, flower table runners for long tables and more. We’ve also seen dried and preserved arrangements (these are often a lovely take home gift for select guests), arbor flowers, signage and table seating chart flowers, and even minimalistic vines and palms as room features in the corner.
3. Dance floor disco
Have you thought about creating the ultimate dance floor disco at your wedding? During the daytime it might not be so noticeable, but as soon as the sun sets, the dance party can begin and what better way to get everyone in the mood than a disco ball!
4. Furniture
How you choose to style your outdoor wedding should also take into account your venue and space. What’s great about our tents and tipis is that you can have the feeling of an outdoor wedding, without being affected by the elements. But once you’ve locked in a rough floor plan for your ceremony location and reception, it’s important to think about how your guests will move and interact in your event space.
Long tables can be styled to be modern and formal, or relaxed and casual. They can also give a feeling of ‘togetherness’ at your event with guests sitting side by side and conversing with one another. Cocktail furniture is also important to consider if you aren’t having a sit-down reception, or even if you plan to have canapés and drinks between your ceremony and reception. With so many options to choose from it can be overwhelming to know which furniture options are right for your wedding, but our Tp and co team are here to help. In addition to our tipis and tents, we also offer furniture hire in Perth, Western Australia. Simply get in touch with us here and we’ll be happy to chat with you about your furniture options.
5. Matting, rugs + flooring
If you’re looking to strike a balance between functionality and style, this is where you’ll find it. Matting, rugs and other flooring options are often overlooked at outdoor weddings but can dramatically elevate the style of your event.
Some of our clients have used multiple layered rugs to create a bohemian inspired look under our tents and tipis. While others have used matting to line their aisle for the ceremony. A textured or patterned rug is a great way to bring colour and warmth into your event whilst also providing a more solid ground for guests (especially those who are trying to avoid aerating the grass with their high heels). Rugs are often used to geographically centre a space so they can be a great styling tool to subconsciously show your guests where they should gather and party at your wedding.
6. Choose your tent or tipi
Our tents and tipis are designed to allow for maximum layout flexibility. Need a tent for a sit down reception for 100 people? We have a tent for that. Or maybe you want a cocktail reception with over 200 guests? We have a solution for that.
Whether it’s upgrading the size of your tent, adding a 10m round Sperry to the mix, or extending your tipis by stitching them together, there are countless ways to modify your tent set-up to suit your event. This is all part of our job to help you style your perfect wedding.
