Backyard Wedding Terms Explained

Once you start planning a wedding for your backyard the industry terms may allude you. For example when we talk with our tax accountant they tent to babble in a different language. It's not that bad for weddings but here are a few common terms our couples and families need clarification on.

• Tent Canopy: This is the material that's way up in the air. The roof of the tent. There are white, sailcloth, clear, and colored canopies. For weddings we prefer the white and sailcloth canopy.

  
  

• High peak pole tent: This means there are center poles holding up the canopy. Typically every 20' inside the tent. This is the style tent we like best for weddings. Higher peaks look better, are tight, and best for weddings. A low peak tent would have a center pole that's 16' high, verses a high peak of 22+.

• Canopy tent: There are no center poles but the canopy is held up by a structure of poles all connected together. Most put a linen liner attached to the poles to hide them as it's a bit busy and looks more industrial. They also don't have the sweeping high peaks like a high peak pole tent.

  
  

• Side poles: Every tent has side poles holding up the canopy on the edge of the tent. These are 7-8' tall. Ours are wood, many are metal.

• Sidewalls: Plastic sides that attach to the tent. They're installed by hand and then staked into the grass if you need them.

  
  

• Full service: We set up everything verses just the tent.

  
  

• Venue staff: People in charge of the venue items only. In our case they install sidewalls when needed, set up chairs, clean the restroom trailer, buss tables and more. Venue hosts are not typical for wedding rental companies just us because we're a mobile venue.

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• Deposit: This is a 25% fee of the total invoice to save the date. The deposit goes towards the overall total. It's not an extra fee on top of the invoice total.

  
  

• Wedding planner: Helps you plan right away all the details. Then is there on the day coordinating.

  
  

• Day of coordinator: Coordinates on the wedding day taking your plans but being the go to person.

  
  

• Personal assistant: Walk with you on the wedding day making sure you're on time and solving small issues. They're with you all day by your side.

• Vendor planner: This is what we offer. We help you choose the best vendors for your wedding from catering, DJ, bands, photographers, video, and more. Then you take over once booked.

  
  

• Vendor coordinator: This is what we offer. We're in charge of your vendors on the day of the wedding. We also contact them before the day to ensure everything is set.

• Buffet catering: Most common with a food line, and sometimes staff to buss tables.

• Plated meal: Think of a restaurant because they bring the plates to you. Not common for backyard weddings.

  
  

• Food trucks: Food right from the truck, usually paper bowls, no bussing, no drinks.

  
  

• Resin chairs: Resin means a hard durable plastic. Safer for the guests and looks just as good as wood.

• Utility locate: Power lines under ground, gas lines.

• Private utility locate: The things the main utilities don't look for. Private power lines to the shed, sprinkler lines, gas lines. These are all very important.

• Rain plan: Means actually make a written plan for how everything would work if it had to be indoors under the tent. Wishing for a perfect day means your planning for future stress.

  
  

• Contracted DJ: Works for a large company as a contractor. They send jobs to this DJ so it's not their own brand you're purchasing. Tend to be less quality.

  
  

• Owner Operator DJ: They own business and market it themselves through a website or social. Better to great quality.

  
  

• DJ company: Handful of DJ's who work for the same company as a W2 employee. Great quality.

• More to come!