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To floor or not to floor? (Tent question)

LindsLoLindsLo
in Outdoor Weddings
My fiance and I have a great outdoor venue on a river and we want a casual and relaxed BBQ. The reception will be on grass, round or rectangle tables, nice catered BBQ buffet, fairy lights in the trees surrounding the area, some picnic tables overlooking the water...and I know we need a tent in case of rain (we're in NJ and looking at a late September wedding)...but what about flooring?

We both think a tent with a floor will take away from the whole BBQ "theme." Guests will know that it's casual and heels are a no-no (unless they want to sink into the ground - rain or not) but my sister and mother say a floor is a must if we have a tent - rain or shine. Does anyone have experience with anything like this? Advice?

Thanks!
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Re: To floor or not to floor? (Tent question)

  • celina0057celina0057
    First Comment
    I ask myself this everyday. I am also having an outdoor wedding and I know we are having a tent but I really, really want to dance, so we are looking at our flooring options. If you can get a floor with your tent I would do it because if it is mucky out at least everyone will have a solid ground to stand on. I dont think it would take away from your casual feel at all.
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  • LauraT25LauraT25
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    If you plan on having dancing, I think you should have a floor.  I wouldn't say it takes away from the relaxed feel, it's just practical.  It's difficult to dance on grass, especially if it's rained recently.  And I wouldn't assume that people won't be wearing heels, unless you make it clear that they will be on grass for the entire event (rather than just the ceremony).  Otherwise, they probably expect that there will be a dance floor.

    My junior prom was outdoors under a tent, and it rained two days before prom (before the tent was up).  There was a dance floor, which was absolutely necessary - the parts of the tent without a dance floor were nearly impossible to walk on, and our shoes/dresses got filthy in the mud.  I can't imagine trying to dance on it.  At least have a contingency plan, where you get a floor if the ground is muddy.
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  • 3cutebugs133cutebugs13 member
    10 Comments
    We are also having an outdoor wedding with a tent. What my FI and dad are planning to do is making a platform for the whole tent. We have looked into renting from the same place we're getting the tent but it's way to much. Like 1500 or so...with $600 my FI and dad are planning to build the whole platform then using the plywood to build a storage after the wedding. HTH :) Happy Planning!
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  • medusia00medusia00 member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary

    You could do a dance floor, and then leave the rest of the area without a floor. As long as your okay with party being covered and part not. I understand that you don't want to have it take away from the laidback theme of the wedding, but if dancing is going to happen, a floor is a must, for that part of the tent!

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  • Alessandra8705Alessandra8705 member
    First Comment
    I attending a wedding last summer it was a large tent with a small dance floor area. It would have been nice to make a 'walk way' near the places that got alot of traffic. Like where the bar and food wold be or many even the center isle leading to all the tables. These were the areas that got a bit mucky. Myabe an alternative would be a different floor covering for the other areas of the tent (food, isle, bar) with a carpet runner maybe. For the fact it wouldn't be slick even with a bit of grass and dirt on it and alot cheaper than you quoted the full floor at. Best of luck to you!
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  • mkvandrielmkvandriel member
    10 Comments
    We are also having an outdoor wedding, but in Portland, Oregon (notorious for rain) however we are having it Labor Day weekend which is historically dry.

    I really don't want a tent/canopy not only is it expensive, we would need a 30x 60 to cover the tables and the dancelfoor/ or lack of.  But I want the open air, we have a fabulous view of a historic gothic bridge and I don't want to take away from it.




    Plus I want to just string lights up overhead.

    But the dancefloor will be expensive, because all of the rental places I have talked with require a Subflooring as well as the dancefloor tiling.

    But I don't want anyone twisting their ankles dancing in the grass.  A cheaper alternative is to maybe keep the grass floor but provide buckets of flipflops (*would be alot cheaper!  even at $2 or $3 a pair for 100 guests)
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  • brit22farrisbrit22farris member
    First Comment
    If you don't want to do a floor and you are worried about people in heals you can have flip flops ready for people to wear. just a cheep pair will work but it could add to the laid back wedding you want. I got the idea from a beach themed wedding.
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