Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Planning & Advice Wedding Venue Ideas 28 Tent Decorating Ideas That Will Upgrade Your Wedding Reception By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 20, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Deck out your party tent with these inspired ideas. 01 of 29 Samm Blake If you're getting married on an expansive outdoor property, you've likely already considered setting up a tent. Couples often opt for these lofty canopies to preemptively prepare for uncontrollable weather—but they can be a lot more than a weather-related afterthought. Take the following tents from real weddings, for example. With the help of their planners, these brides decked out these blank canvases with unexpected accents, like lanterns, chandeliers, and cascading floral installations. The result? These tents actually became a central part of the reception décor. What's more, these tents helped newlyweds and their guests take cover in style, regardless of the wedding's overall look. Perfect for rustic, bohemian, classic, and contemporary weddings alike, tents create cozy, protected spaces for attendees to mingle, drink, and eat. Of course, not every tented wedding involved a traditional white covering. From gauzy, draped linen, to clear-plastic rooves that allowed guests to enjoy the sunset, there are many creative and beautiful ways to make a classic tent all your own. And with the help of picture-perfect décor, brides and grooms are able to build a custom reception space from the ground up—literally. As you'll see here, some duos hung quirky objects from the rafters, or constructed an overhead floral installation. At a beach wedding, twinkly lights were suspened above the bride and groom's seats for a warm, romantic glow. Ready to see all of these creative tent upgrades yourself? Click through for endless inspiration from these stunning real weddings. Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Wedding Tent 02 of 29 Birch and Lanterns Christian Oth Studio Bring the outdoors in by using birch trees as support beams. Add hanging paper lanterns for a rustic touch. 03 of 29 Greenery Chandeliers Ryan Ray Photography Crystal chandeliers get a natural upgrade when wrapped with trailing leaves. 04 of 29 Color-Blocked Dance Floor Theo Milo Photography A black-and-white square dance floor brings a bit of retro glamour to an otherwise all-white tent. Plus, the creative pattern certainly beats generic linoleum. Do These Things to Get Everyone Dancing at Your Wedding 05 of 29 Floral Installation Sarah Kate Photography This romantic, lavish overhead floral halo—made from pink paper flowers and a crystal chandelier—perfectly complements the centerpieces directly below. Unique Ways to Use Flowers in Every Element of Your Wedding 06 of 29 Macramé Entry We Photographie Throwing a desert-themed or bohemian party? Add an entryway to your wedding tent by setting up a macramé arch flanked with cacti. 07 of 29 Green Scene Lara Hotz Photography If you're a fan of wild, jungle-inspired flora, consider going big on the greenery. Tall, leafy centerpieces and willow tree-inspired overhead installations make it feel as if you're sitting in the center of the woods. 08 of 29 Swinging Away Gideon Photo Two adjacent swings, hung with vine-wrapped ropes, are a fun addition to sheltered lounge. They also serve as a pretty cool spot for photos. 09 of 29 Bulbs and Greens Shane Shepherd Bare light bulbs and floating greens combine the best of the natural and industrial aesthetics. 10 of 29 Royal Pink Art Is for Lovers Pink sateen runners, billowing drapes, chandeliers, and classic centerpieces make this tent fit for royalty. 11 of 29 Hanging Shelves and Tassels We Photographie We're loving how safari vibes merge with bohemian notes inside this canvas tent. Everything—from the desert-hued rug, to the hanging shelf flower and candle shelves, and brass accents—blends together seamlessly. Discover More Tasseled Wedding Touches 12 of 29 Garland Wrap Bella Wang Dress up your tent's bones by wrapping them with fern garlands from top to bottom. These Wedding Garlands Will Majorly Elevate Your Reception 13 of 29 Cozy Rug Scott Andrew Studio Who needs a dance floor when you can just as easily throw down a rug? Add a vintage Moroccan or Turkish beauty to your rental wish list to recreate this idea. A Trend We're Loving: Ceremony Aisles with Rugs 14 of 29 Rusted Brass Candle Holders Connie Whitlock Candelabras, wrapped in greens that match the hanging vines, look lovely at night, after the (protected!) votives are lit. Even More Candle Centerpieces That'll Light Up the Night 15 of 29 Mixed Metal Lanterns Shea Christine We're obsessed with these alternating gold and pewter lanterns, which were hung above a simple tablescape. 16 of 29 Trees and Orb Candles Lacie Hansen Photography A lush tree (another rental score!) is one way to mark the head table. Hanging orb candles add a bit of contemporary romance, a pretty contrast to the vintage-inspired chandeliers. Surprising Things You Can Rent for Your Wedding 17 of 29 Woven Lamps Melissa Gidney Basket-style overhead lamps shed light on dinner and also give your space a distinctly beachy vibe. 18 of 29 Garden Party Sarah Kate Photography Transform a transparent tent into a picturesque garden by lining family-style tables with lush arrangements of peonies and hydrangea, and punctuating smaller round tables with corresponding tall centerpieces. 19 of 29 Cake Cutting Tent Orange Photographie Whether you're tenting your reception or simply getting married under the stars, a separate glamping-inspired structure is perfect for a private cake cutting session. 20 of 29 Tent of Mirrors Jasmine Star Photography Mirrors take on a floating quality (and add living room vibes!), especially if they're hung on a see-through tent. 21 of 29 Lounging Around Koby Brown You may be getting married outdoors, but the comforts of home don't have to feel far away. Decorate your space with a polished lounge, complete with end tables, contemporary chairs, and chaises, for an extra touch of luxury. Wedding Lounge Ideas Your Guests Will Love 22 of 29 Bohemian Dinner Tent Jasmine Star Photography For an intimate reception, a tented dinner area in the backyard—with a linen canopy, monstera leaves, and hanging candles—exudes bohemian vibes. 23 of 29 Skylight Tent Emily Steffen Avoid competing with the surrounding scenery, and choose a clear tent to cover your reception space. After sunset, the cover will reflect the candlelight and bistro lighting, giving the enclosure a warm glow. 24 of 29 Airy Tent Landon Jacob Make like this couple, and hold your reception under a tent frame swathed with sheer fabric and illuminated with string lights and chandeliers. More Overhead Wedding Decorations We Love 25 of 29 1920s-Inspired Décor Delbarr Moradi Do you love the Roaring Twenties? Let the period influence your wedding décor, and embelish the space with dazzling floral arrangements and gold-dipped stemware. Petite chandeliers encased within a sculptural orb offer an old-world-meets-new touch. 26 of 29 Greenery-Covered Chandeliers Harwell Photography Cover oversized chandeliers with seasonal birch branches, moss, and smilax vine for a natural touch. More Wedding Flower Installations with Greenery 27 of 29 Garlands of Greenery Corbin Gurkin String ropes of leaves overhead to lend a garden feel to any celebration. 28 of 29 Free Form Chandelier Jenelle Kappe Create a "free form" chandelier with different-length string Edison bulbs, and display it over the head table. 29 of 29 String Lights Gary Ashley for Les Loups In this tent, dimmed string lights hang at random heights so they sway softly throughout the space. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit