The Truth About Tented Weddings: The Costs, The Complexity, and Why They’re Worth It
Photography: Andy Madea Photo
Tented weddings are some of the most breathtaking events you’ll ever attend. They are also some of the most misunderstood. Many couples assume a tent is inexpensive and just a nice backup for rain. In truth, a tented wedding means building your own venue from the ground up. You’re not just renting a space—you’re making one, which is why these weddings feel so special when done right. Let’s look at what tented weddings really cost, how complex they can be, and why I still love them so much.
First, the big truth: a tented wedding is a venue build-out
With a tented wedding, you take on everything a venue usually handles behind the scenes. This means arranging power, lighting, restrooms, flooring, permits, waste removal, staff access, vendor schedules, and weather safety plans.
Venues come with built-in infrastructure, but private properties or empty spaces do not. That’s why it’s called a full build-out. This is what separates just putting up a tent in a field from creating a tented wedding that feels truly luxurious and thoughtfully designed.
Why tented weddings cost more than couples expect
Most couples plan for the tent and maybe some tables and chairs. The surprise comes from all the extras needed to make the tent work well and look great. This is where most of the budget goes, and it’s why hosting a wedding at home often costs twice as much.
1) Power is not optional
On private property, you typically need generators and a full power plan to run:
Catering equipment
Lighting
Band or DJ sound systems
Restroom trailers
Heating or cooling (if needed)
You can’t just rent a single generator and hope for the best. Power needs to be carefully planned and safely distributed with your rental company.
2) Flooring is often what makes it feel finished
If you want your guests to feel comfortable and your event to look polished, flooring is important. Even flat ground can get soft or muddy with weather changes, making it hard to walk. Flooring creates a finished product and it’s a big part of the guest experience and can be one of the pricier items since each floor is custom-made to each tent. In New England, flooring is always recommended because of the unpredictable weather.
3) Restrooms are part of the experience, not an afterthought
For a tented wedding on private property, you’ll almost always need restroom trailers—and not just the basic kind. Guests remember the restroom experience, especially if it’s not good. A clean, well-lit, and well-placed restroom setup makes everyone feel comfortable and cared for.
4) Lighting is what turns a tent into a room
Lighting is what transforms a tent from a temporary structure into a welcoming space. It sets the mood, evokes emotion, creates at atmosphere, and makes photos look great! It also keeps the night feeling warm and intentional. Lighting is often overlooked in early budgets, but it can make or break your wedding design. For me, it’s the most important element.
5) Catering logistics get more complex
Venues usually have a kitchen, storage, water access, and a plan for trash and cleanup. On private property, you have to set up or bring in all of these systems yourself.
Often this means:
A catering tent or prep space
Additional rentals
More staff hours
More coordination
Prep tables, Kitchen equipment, and much more!
6) Weather planning costs money
You need plans for rain, wind, heat, and mud because weather impacts every part of a tented wedding, including safety. Sidewalls, anchoring, flooring, tent placement, entry mats, and backup plans all add to the cost, but they protect your event. Talking about these details before you commit to a tented wedding is key. When you’re prepared, your wedding can truly be magical.
The complexity couples don’t see (but feel)
Tented weddings involve more moving parts than most other events—not because they’re automatically fancier, but because they’re custom builds.
A few examples of what goes into the planning when you work with us here at Jaclyn Watson Events:
Load-in and load-out schedules (often over multiple days)
Property rules, neighbor considerations, sound ordinances
Permits and approvals, depending on town requirements
Vendor access routes, parking plans, and delivery timing
Safety planning for weather, power, and guest flow
Full timeline design that accounts for distance across the property
That’s why tented weddings need careful planning and a skilled vendor team. You want people who know how to build a venue, not just decorate it.
So why are tented weddings worth every moment and every penny
With all these challenges, why do people still choose tented weddings? When done well, they’re truly one-of-a-kind. A tented wedding is a blank canvas you can turn into a magical, unforgettable weekend. It’s worth every penny because each event is unique and tells your story. Here are a few more reasons why tented weddings are worth it if you plan accordingly and why this planner will always choose a tent over a ballroom.
1) The experience is fully personal
You can have a tented wedding on family land, with a mountain view, by the water, on a farm, in a field, or anywhere that’s meaningful to you. It doesn’t feel like just another venue—it feels personal.
2) You control the layout and flow
If you want a long-table dinner under glowing lights, a bar in the center of the room, a cocktail hour that moves through different spaces, or a dance floor that feels like a nightclub, a tented wedding lets you design the guest experience your way, without being limited by a building and timelines.
3) It photographs like a dream
With soft draping, layered lighting, custom flooring, and amazing floral designs, tented weddings offer design moments you can’t easily get in a traditional venue. They can feel romantic, modern, editorial, or timeless—it all depends on the experience you want.
4) You can create true luxury
Luxury means comfort, good flow, thoughtful details, and the sense that everything was planned with care. A tented wedding lets you create that from the ground up.
Tented weddings are my favorite because they’re a full build, and every decision matters. With the right plan and the right team, they feel effortless for the couple and guests, even though we’re working hard behind the scenes. This is the kind of work we love because it’s a full transformation and allows for high-impact guest experience moments that lead to amazing rewards. Tented weddings aren’t easy, but that’s what makes them special. Over time, they come to life and create an amazing atmosphere and experience.
Final advice: budget for the build, then enjoy the magic
If you’re thinking about a tented wedding, my best advice is to plan it as if you’re building a venue from the very start. Couples who enjoy their tented wedding the most are those who know what they’re investing in: comfort, design freedom, guest experience, and a celebration that feels unique to that place and moment. When you budget for what’s really needed, you can fully enjoy the results.
Jaclyn “Jackie” Watson is the Owner & Principal Planner of Jaclyn Watson Events, a luxury wedding and event planning company known for elevated design, strong vendor teams, and a guest experience that feels intentional from start to finish. With 16+ years in the industry, Jackie has built a reputation for creating high-touch events that are personal, polished, and well-run.
Jackie’s work lives at the intersection of hospitality and strategy: how an event looks, how it flows, and how guests experience every moment. As an industry speaker, she brings real-world insight, practical tools, and a refreshingly direct style that helps event pros raise their standards, protect their time, and deliver better experiences without burnout.
Based in Vermont and serving clients across New England and worldwide, Jackie is also the President of the Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals (VAWP) and a big believer in raising industry standards while keeping the work human.
