Sailcloth Tent Weddings

If you love the look of an organic and natural outdoor wedding in a beautiful field, a sailcloth tent wedding is for you. As a full-service wedding planning company serving North Carolina and the Southeast, we love sailcloth tent weddings because they create a beautiful, organic look that fits seamlessly into the natural landscapes of the region. Here’s our guide to planning a sailcloth tent wedding, filled with important tips from years of experience.

Note that all photos below from a variety of talented planners and are not explicitly our designs.

What is a Sailcloth Tent?

A sailcloth tent wedding features a tent made of semi-transparent fabric that creates a soft, organic feeling inside. Unlike traditional gable-frame tents, sailcloth tents create a natural curvature and filter light in such a way that they nestle perfectly into their surroundings. Whether your wedding is on your family’s estate, a coastal country club, or a charming backyard, the sailcloth tent provides a light, open feel.

Why Choose a Sailcloth Tent?

Couples love sailcloth tents because they strike the perfect balance between a laid-back and natural feel while still offering opportunities for customization. Key benefits include:

• Natural Light: The translucent fabric lets in sunlight during the day and creates a soft glow by evening. Unlike clear-top tents, these provide just enough shade to keep your guests comfortable while also making for beautiful photos.
• Open-Air Feel: Unlike fully enclosed tents, sailcloth tents offer a breezy, open atmosphere that keeps your guests comfortable in the summer heat of North Carolina. The curved design feels more aerodynamic and fits naturally into outdoor landscapes.
• Customizable Design: Lighting, florals, greenery, and string lights can transform the tent into a completely custom celebration. Make sure you work with a team that understands rigging and the limitations of this tension-based structure.

Planning Your Sailcloth Tent Wedding

1. Start with the Right Space

A sailcloth tent works best in spaces that allow for easy setup and accessibility for vendors. Consider venues with plenty of acreage. Private estates, vineyards, and even large backyards can be ideal. When choosing your venue, consider the ground conditions for tent installation. These tents must be staked in, so make sure you account not only for the covered area but also for the stakes extending around the structure.

2. Determine Your Layout Early

Because a sailcloth tent is a blank canvas, planning the layout is key. Decide on your dance floor location, guest flow and entry points, restroom locations, catering and bar placement, lounge areas, and more. Keep in mind that sailcloth tents have a rounded coverage area and poles that go through the center to create the curved, peaked look.

As you plan the space, account for the location of your poles and the curvature of the covered area. This can make planning a bit more complex, so ensure you are aware of where poles will be placed and where the tent’s entry points will be. Working with a full-service wedding planner who understands the complexities of sailcloth tent weddings is important to ensure everything works well without compromising your guests’ experience.

3. Lighting and Floral Installations

When designing a sailcloth tent wedding, remember that you are not working in a traditional venue. Lighting is essential. You’ll need ambient lighting as well as design “pops” to highlight your décor. Keep in mind that weight is a concern. Light fixtures, chandeliers, and floral installations must not compromise the tension-based structure of the tent. Your wedding planner will coordinate with the tenting company to ensure all installations are properly supported.

4. Plan for Comfort

While sailcloth tents are beautiful, they can get warm in the summer as they filter light through, especially in North Carolina. Work with your wedding planner and tenting company to determine if sidewalls or other climate control options are needed. Additionally, make sure the ground properly drains. Even on a sunny wedding day, muddy grounds from prior rain can be a problem. If your space has drainage issues, consider adding flooring.

5. Hire a Wedding Planner with Sailcloth Tent Wedding Experience

Planning a sailcloth tent wedding involves more than just renting the tent—it’s like building a venue from the ground up. From coordinating vendor deliveries to ensuring safety standards, a full-service wedding planning company can handle all the logistics while you focus on enjoying your day. Don’t hire just any wedding planner. Experience with outdoor events and sailcloth tents is key to ensuring your day is seamless and stress-free. Read about some important points in planning your outdoor event here!

At Significant Events, we specially in full service wedding planning with a specialty in estates. As wedding planners in Raleigh, we are happy to support clients with tented weddings across the Southeast.