Simple Question: How do You Keep a Wedding Tent Cool?
Outdoor weddings are beautiful, but there’s definitely an element of danger. Either the weather is gorgeous and exactly what everyone was hoping for, or … well … the exact opposite of that. And temperature plays an important role in that success, too. Knowing how to keep a wedding tent cool when the heat is oppressively warm is vital.
As someone who had an outdoor wedding myself, I can confirm that weather concerns are nearly as nerve racking as writing your vows. Will it be sunny or cloudy? Is it going to rain? Will the wind blow everything (and everyone) around the field? You just aren’t going to know until the day of your wedding.
That’s why wedding tents are so important. They mitigate most, if not all, of those weather concerns and provide some insurance that your guests will stay cool, dry, and comfortable during the nuptials.
Statistically speaking, fall weddings have traditionally been the most popular, with September and October being two of the top three most popular months to host them. (June weighs in at number two, in case you were wondering). But just because it’s fall on the calendar doesn’t mean conditions will be fall-like outdoors.
Here in New York, it’s nearly impossible to guess what the temperature might be on any given day in that window. It can be 75 and sunny in October, or 55 and cloudy in September. We even saw it reach into the upper 60’s on Christmas Day in New York State back in 2015.
How do you keep a wedding tent cool in the heat? What are the best methods for controlling temperature outdoors in a party tent? Let’s find out!
It’s All About Ventilation
Party tents provide shade and UV protection, especially when they’re equipped with tent sidewalls. But shade can only provide so much cooling, especially when it’s hot and muggy outside. To really cool down the tent’s interior, you’re going to want to consider ventilation.
Heavy duty commercial ventilation fans move a lot of air. Some of the fans we sell can move more than 4,300 CFM (cubic feet per minute). A traditional box fan you might have at home will move half of that at best. Setting up one fan for intake and another as exhaust will create a comfortable cooling breeze inside your party tent with sidewalls.
If ventilation fans are a bit too noisy for your wedding tent, there are other steps you can take in an attempt to limit the heat:
- For starters, set up your tent somewhere in shade if possible. Just be sure you have enough overhead clearance to avoid tent top damage from swinging tree branches.
- Leave at least two sidewalls off, preferably on shaded sides of the tent, to offer some degree of airflow (even if not aided by fans).
- Opt to use natural sunlight if possible, or LED lighting if it’s necessary.
- Set up an area where you can offer guests ice cold water.
- Avoid setting up your tent on asphalt, if possible.
We Hope This Advice Helps You Keep Your Wedding Tent Cool!
Weddings are always memorable. The real question is whether or not a wedding is memorable for the right reasons. You want wedding guests to fondly remember how beautiful the happy couple is … not how miserably sweaty and gross the guests felt during the event.
Tent sidewalls and ventilation fans will go a long way toward keeping temperatures inside the wedding tent managed. With a little planning, and if you plot out where the tents are getting set up strategically, you should be able to keep the atmosphere inside the wedding tent comfortable.
Related: How to Keep a Party Tent Warm in Fall (and Winter, Too!
If you need some help picking out the right tent sidewalls and ventilation fans for your wedding tent, give Party Tents Direct a call at 1-716-566-5804. We’ll gladly help you find the perfect equipment to outfit your gorgeous wedding tent with!