I received a phone call recently from a bride who had an excellent question, and one I think a lot of other brides could probably use the answer to as well. She was considering hosting her wedding on a piece of family property, and wanted to know what things she should consider when deciding between her property, and an actual reception venue/building.
The key to creating a tented wedding on your own property (or even a rented space), is keeping in mind all of the rental costs you are going to incur. While a tented wedding may seem like the budget-friendly option, let’s take a look at how the numbers break down in comparison to a local venue that has a flat $2800 rental fee:
| TENTED | RECEPTION VENUE | |||
| Tent Rental (main tent & catering) | $1,600 | Room Rental | $2,800 | |
| Tent sides, in case of rain (10) | $350 | |||
| Lighting | $200 | Lighting | included | |
| 12×12 Dance Floor | $60 | Dance floor | included | |
| Guest tables (19) | $165 | Guest tables | included | |
| Tables: Cake, gift, food, bar (8) | $68 | Tables | included | |
| Basic white linens for all tables | $216 | Basic white linens | included | |
| Chairs for reception (150) | $565 | Chairs for reception | included | |
| Restrooms | $500 | Restrooms | included | |
| Total | $3,724 | Total | $2,800 |
I am not by any means saying you shouldn’t get married in a backyard or on a beautiful piece of family property—that can be a very meaningful and beautiful option for your wedding location—the thing you have to consider is if you are choosing that option only because it seems like the cheaper way to go. Because in most cases, bringing in all of those rental items will cost you much more than renting a venue (not to mention all of the extra work for you and your family), and that’s something you should realistically consider when choosing between a tented wedding on private property, versus a reception venue.
Besides the actual cost, you also need to consider logistical issues like where everyone will park, if your music will effect neighbors or cause the police to be called, and what you will do in the case of inclement weather (ie. renting heaters), etc.! If a tented wedding on private property is something that is definitely the right choice for you, you can take a lot of stress off of yourself and your family, by hiring a wedding planner. A professional and experienced wedding planner will be able to ensure you aren’t forgetting or overlooking any of the key elements needed to make your tented wedding a success, and will help you and your family to actually enjoy your beautiful wedding day!
