How do you like my play on words in the title? The truth is, every wedding—no matter where it takes place—is a little intense, especially for the bride who wants everything to go smoothly, which is virtually every bride. Outdoor weddings are as lovely, if not more, than their indoor counterparts, but there’s an added level of concern when you get married al fresco—you never know what kind of wedding gift Mother Nature will bring to your once-in-a-lifetime moment. There’s no good way to gift-wrap rain, wind, oppressive heat and humidity or one of her other atmospheric eccentricities, so you may want to take the wind out of Mother Nature’s sails with a tent.

The Best Big Top for Your Big Day

There are three basic tent styles for large, outdoor affairs like weddings: traditional pole tents, frame tents and high-peak tents. Sometimes the location will dictate what type of tent you require, and sometimes it’s simply your personal preference. Why don’t we take a look at all three to see which one will work best for you?

Traditional Pole Tent

The most popular tent is the traditional pole-type tent. This tent has center poles (or more, depending on the tent’s size) and requires tension to hold the in the air. Pole tents are staked for additional stability. Most types of tents come in several materials that include canvas, nylon, polyester or transparent vinyl.

Frame Tent

A frame tent is a free-standing, galvanized-steel or aluminum-pipe structure with no center pole, but frame tents still require the same rope- or cable-anchoring system as a pole-supported tent to hold it in place. If your reception will last through the night, consider getting a frame tent made of transparent vinyl, so you and your guests can see the the magic of a moonlit night, stars and any outdoor-landscape illumination. Check out the video below to see a clear, frame tent:

High-Peak Pole or Frame Tent

You already know tents come in lots of different styles and shapes. Tents also come in a variety of colors, though white is the most popular for weddings. If you want something with a little more pizazz for your wedding tent, ask about high-peak tents. As you can see from the photo at the right, high-peak tents are reminiscent of medieval tents that had tall, pointed tops. There’s a photo of a high-peak-tent interior at the right. You can obtain high-peak tents that require poles or are built with a steel or aluminum framework so poles aren’t necessary.

Do your homework when you go tent shopping. Find out which type of tent can best withstand the weather patterns in your region during the month or season you’ve chosen to get married. Pick the right tent, and you’ll have one less reason to be tense about your wedding day!