One of the many special things about Hawaii is its beautiful weather all year round. Alot of brides ask me if there's a time they should avoid getting married in Hawaii due to rain, and my answer is often "no", besides Winter months are a little riskier than Spring and Summer months. We coordinate weddings all year round, and a majority of them take place outdoors. We do get tropical passing showers, but they are usually harmless rain that will pass in 5 to 10 minutes. We are also able to tell from the forecast when there's going to be a downpour, and that's when your wedding planner will come in and introduce her rain plan :) Since Summer is in full swing, I thought these ideas about tents, and the many possibilities of how to make them your own would be appropriate. Tents have come a long way... there are so much we can do these days to make your outdoor reception fabulous, elegant and refined! Say bye-bye to backyard weddings, hello to beautiful outdoor soiree!
BELOW (Christina & Brian): Custom canopies are really making waves these past few years. We don't call them "custom" for no reason. They can be built in different sizes or shapes, any stained wood color and any fabric / color of your choice. They are a bit pricier than the other tent options mentioned in this blog, but they are worth every penny!
BELOW (Miki & Joel): To create a simple and understated beach chic ambiance, go with natural color bamboo and white sheer fabric canopies.
*General disclaimer: custom canopies provide great sun coverage, but definitely not rain :) 
BELOW (Erin & Mat): Solid top tent is probably the least expensive tent available for rent. They provide great sun and rain coverage. This photo shows a solid top tent lined with a white tent liner completed with uplighting. Tent liner is a great way to hide the metal poles that are visible from underneath the tent, and they also make your event look 110% more elegant!
BELOW (Jennifer & Michael): Gobo projection can be used in many different ways at an event, the most common we've seen is on the dance floor. Projecting a pattern on the outside of a solid top tent is another way to dress up that plain white vinyl sheet :)
BELOW (Christina & Steve): Clear top tent is another beautiful option for outdoor weddings. They do not provide very good sun coverage, but the fact that your guests can look up and see the stars at night is well worth it. We did a light swagging of white fabric under this tent. The fabric really helped to create a softer look for the reception.
BELOW: Another photo showcasing what fabric can do to soften up the look of a metal framed tent.
BELOW (Miki & Joel): Hanging dramatic light fixtures under your tent is also a great way to make a stunning statement.
BELOW (Miki & Joel): These Capiz shells chandeliers emit a nice glow at night.
BELOW (Renee & Adam): Looking for an affordable way to dress up your tent? Try hanging paper lanterns sporadically throughout your tent. These lanterns are affordable, and they come in any colors you can imagine.
BELOW (Amy & Jeff): If you want to create a more contemporary look, try grouping your lanterns and hang them over each individual guest table - sort of like hanging your lanterns in the shape of a bunch of grapes. This group of lanterns will feel like a custom chandelier piece you will see hanging over a dining table at someone's home!
BELOW: I also love the use of market umbrellas to provide coverage for an outdoor reception. The simplicity of this set up feels rustic, intimate, charming and simply lovely - everything a wedding should be all about. 
Here's a little history of how we got connected with Lorelei and Michael: FT had the honor of coordinating Tiana and Warren's wedding in 2005. Tiana referred her friend from college Simmy to us, who got married to Pono in 2007. Simmy then referred her high school friend Lorelei to us, who married Michael in April 2009; and the story doesn't here. Since then, Lorelei had referred her friends Annette and Jovan to us... who are getting married this coming July. It's pure joy and honor to work with brides who are referred to us by former brides because these new brides already know they can expect nothing less than perfection from us as they have already seen us "in action", and they are well aware of our expectation for each event; they also feel more like "friends" to us rather than clients. Not to mention, it's always fun to see our former brides at weddings with the newest pint sized members of their family.
