Photo by Robert and Kathleen Photographers

For the second installment in our Guest Blogger series, we’ve enlisted the help of A Thyme to Cook. Based in Stonington, CT, this catering company is full service and award winning, with 30 years of experience masterminding weddings and events. They specialize in the best available regional and sustainable ingredients – plus they grow their own herbs and edible flowers!

There are so many details involved in serving guests cocktails, appetizers, a meal, and dessert, and the great outdoors doesn’t make the process any easier. But the good news is that a pro caterer like A Thyme to Cook will do all of the thinking for you…

Hi Sperry nation,
A Thyme to Cook loves catering Sperry tented events! There are some unique challenges to working with an outdoor space, but the end result can be spectacular! Here are some tricks and tips we’ve learned along the way.

Catering Tent

Work with your caterer to coordinate the size and location of the cook tent. Chefs and servers need a large enough space for prepping and clearing, and it should be close enough to the guest tent for efficient serving but out of direct sight. Solid sides on a catering tent help shield the work area from guests. (Following pics by Cappy Hotchkiss Photography.)

Water & Power

It is also important to identify the access to power and water. If power is not close enough, it might be necessary to arrange for a generator to power catering needs and band/DJ equipment as well as heaters (if used) and tent lighting. Water is required for catering services and portable restrooms – keep in mind that a caterer needs potable water (suitable for drinking) and portable restrooms do not.

Photo courtesy A Thyme To Cook

Décor

When planning your color scheme and choosing decorations, take into account the colors of your surroundings when looking out from under the tent. For their wedding at Jonathan Edwards Winery, Sandy and Mike, working alongside the event designers of Jubilee Events, chose oranges and yellows with a touch of blue that really pop against the property’s green grass and trees. The rustic farm tables also match the wooden poles of the Sperry Tent. Work with the natural background to compliment your décor and enhance the overall experience. (Following pics by Robert and Kathleen Photographers.)

We are so pleased to welcome a new office to our growing family of locations. Sperry Tents Finger Lakes is now the exclusive provider of Sperry Tents in New York’s Finger Lakes region, including Rochester and Syracuse.

This new branch is owned and operated by Hank Parker’s Party & Tent Rental, a family-run company with deep roots in New York state and 40 years of experience in the rental industry. Customers working with Sperry Tents Finger Lakes will be able to draw upon Hank Parker’s extensive rental inventory of furniture, lighting, flooring, china, tabletop accessories, glassware, and more to realize any desired event style in any setting.

“We are so excited to carry the Sperry brand in the Finger Lakes region and beyond,” said Lauren Berardi of Hank Parker’s. “Sperry Tents are known for their handcrafted components, hand-milled wooden poles, genuine sailcloth canopies, and nautical essence. There is nothing quite like a Sperry, and it’s no wonder they’ve gained national exposure and been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde, The Knot, and more. Even NY event planner Kate Hare recently commented on how ’stunning’ Sperry Tents are in her March blog post.”

Sperry Tents Finger Lakes encourages those looking to learn more about Sperry Tents’ rustic yet stylishly elegant features to visit one of their New York showrooms (consultations available by appointment). Or call 585-586-0901 for a complimentary estimate or site visit.

Special thanks to Kracke Photography for sharing these photos with us!

Get comfortable, because there’s a lot of detail to see in this outdoor wedding, held at the historic Eisenhower House in Newport, Rhode Island. We love how the soft color palette carries throughout the event decor – from the freshly-cut-from-the-garden arrangements by Stoneblossom Floral and Event Design to the china from Fancy That.

We especially love how Elizabeth Dunderdale and her team at Gracie Lou Events planned, styled, and coordinated all of the day’s special touches. There was such an inspired collection of event rentals, including our handcrafted Sperry Farm tables, whose solid fir tops lent a warm feeling to the tent interior.

What an impressive cheese display by Russell Morin Fine Catering!

Gracie Lou Events decided to use old windows as a creative medium for the couple’s escort cards, while jars filled with flowers and an extra hanging chandelier added to the charming display.

Chandeliers by Revelation Productions hung between the quarter poles of this 64′ x 124′ Sperry Tent.

Simple linen runners were the perfect accent to the Sperry farm tables.

The glowing chandeliers and a live band got the party started after dinner. It was a magical day, captured every step of the way by the talented Studio Atticus photography team. Thanks Connie!

For starters, each one is handcrafted at a post-and-beam barn in Mass., which is powered by rooftop solar panels that provide all of the building’s electrical needs during the summer months.

Our sailcloth canopies boast geometric support patches and sweeping seams. Photos by SNAP! Photography (left and bottom right), Eric Barry Photography (top right), and IRIS Photography (center right).

Our support poles are solid wood and milled by hand at a historic 1930s sawmill in Mass. (Photos by Stacey Hedman Photography (left) and SNAP! Photography (right).

Here’s the Sperry sawmill in action…

Our peaks are topped by 10-ft.-long pennant flags – all pole tent rentals come with standard white pennants but different colors as well as custom logos are available upon request. Photos by Orchard Cove Photography (top right) and Justin Marantz Photography (center).

An ivory tent acts as a serene backdrop for a variety of decor and lighting schemes. When twilight descends, a Sperry Tent starts to glow. Photos by Justin Marantz Photography (top and bottom) and Kristin Spencer Photography (center).

Sunshine! And views for days. All of the prep and planning came together to make this Maine wedding a day to remember. The grounds of Greystone Manor, located on Cape Neddick, was the perfect setting for a 46 x 125 ft. tent installation by Sperry Tents Seacoast.

The couple brought in Kate Parker Designs to bring their vision of a fun and funky wedding to life. Kate’s attention to detail and creative eye can be seen everywhere, from the colorful table linens and bridal party’s bouquets to the many subtle and not-so-subtle touches of “Maine.”

Special thanks to Hitched Studios for allowing us access to these wonderful images.

A highlight of the outdoor ceremony: whimsical paper flowers by Liz Lapan of Paper Posey Designs. Handcrafted in the couple’s color palette of coral, aqua, and grey, these intricate creations together formed a ceremony arbor as well as aisle liners.

Check out the place settings – if you look closely, you’ll notice that each guest received a custom wedding lobster bib printed by Gus & Ruby Letterpress.

The cakes by Erin Gardner of Wild Orchid Baking Company were absolutely fantastic. Love the lobster theme! It went perfectly with the lobster bake dinner by Fosters Downeast Clambake. Fosters even pulled off a lemonade bar where guests could choose between fresh lemonade and iced tea mixed with vodka and muddled mint, raspberries, or blueberries. We really can’t talk about this any more – it’s making us hungry and thirsty.

And did we mention the tent? With custom lighting, it accommodated dinner and dancing well into the night.

And then there were s’mores on the beach. A perfect end to a perfect day.

The Clifton Inn, with its lush and well-groomed grounds, was the perfect setting for this June 2011 wedding in Charlottesville, coordinated by Crystal Whitaker of The Event Company and Sperry Tents Virginia.

The entire day was a real treat for the senses. If you look closely, you’ll notice layer upon layer of detail, from the vintage-inspired lounge furniture and lanterns to what we consider the show-stopper – a vine-entwined pergola underneath the 66 x 66 ft. Sperry Tent!

Some dining tables are bare; some covered in linens. Floral arrangements by Pat’s Floral Design differ in shape, height, and container throughout the tent. Even the bridesmaids sported a unique bouquet each.

Escort cards by Meant To Be Calligraphy were paired with a key each and hung on old doors. Great idea!

After guests finished their dinner, they moved over to the dance floor thanks to the couple’s live band Another Level.

And most of all, we can’t forget these photos by Kristen Gardner Photography, which perfectly captured the light, the people, and the day. Thanks Kristen! Even more photos are posted on her blog – check it out!

Our Guest Blogger for February is Desiree Spinner, owner of Desiree Spinner Events. With offices in New York, Cape Cod, and Nantucket, DSE is responsible for some of New England’s most creative and memorable occasions. Desiree’s own blog is filled with great tips and ideas, but for now, we’ve asked her to share her experience with outdoor wedding planning. (And we couldn’t forget to credit Rebecca Hansen Weddings for these awesome photos of a Martha’s Vineyard wedding orchestrated by DSE.)

Hi Sperry Nation! There are so many advantages to having an outdoor vs. venue wedding. Outdoor weddings are my most favorite, because you can create any type of look and feel that you want.

With a beautiful tent and the right décor, you can create an extravagant or very intimate setting. Here are a few tips I give clients for when we decide that a tented wedding suits them best.

Tent Size

When you select your tent, keep in mind that long farm tables take up much more room than rounds. Let your tent vendor know what you are thinking for a layout so they can help you plan accordingly.

Tent Sides

The weather, especially in the Northeast, can be so unpredictable. Make sure you spend the extra money to have an onsite tent coordinator who can put up/down/up/down (yes, sometimes it happens that much) those tent sides for you! Which leads me to my next tip…

Heaters

If you are getting married before July or after August, you need at least one heater. It may seem like an added amount of money that you might want to cut out, but earlier in the day it could be warm and then, by 6:00 p.m., you and your guests are freezing (even with the tent sides down). There is nothing worse than shivering while you eat your dinner. (*Heaters go fast! Make sure to keep one on your quote because, once you take it off, it may be impossible to put back on!)

Lighting

Although Sperry Tents are simply gorgeous on their own, they can also be made into a very intimate space with some bistro lights. When clients tell me that the tent seems large and they want to make it intimate, I ask Sperry for a bistro light estimate. It makes a very large tent seem like a cozy backyard space.

Creative event professionals should be able to throw a great party, and this event definitely did not disappoint! Earlier this month, a variety of vendors pooled their talents to help launch inWHITE, a collective of wedding businesses in Clinton, CT. Their goal is to help brides plan all aspects of their wedding in one place. (Learn more: visit their website or Facebook page.)

We were happy to help make the party happen, providing a 32 x 50 ivory tent for drinking, lounging, and dancing to a fantastic live band.

Masterminded by event planner Candice Coppola of Jubilee Events, the evening was  filled with unexpected, delightful details at every turn. It was a chilly January night but our heaters (plus the dancing) kept everyone toasty warm. Not surprisingly, white ruled the night, from the tent to the floral arrangements to everyone’s party wear.

Lounge furniture and custom lighting and drapery by Ryan Designs created comfy seating areas for guests and added to the glamour of the night. Positioning lights, such as these tufted sconces, directly over chairs and sofas was a great design idea.

The event wasn’t just about decor. Wonderful nibbles and fun signature cocktails by caterer A Thyme to Cook kept the party going. We particularly loved the upside-down calla lilies,  arranged by florist Datura, A Modern Garden, which formed an intriguing, modern backdrop to the bar. And we couldn’t help but include some of the night’s featured cake designs by A Little Imagination Cakes, because who doesn’t like cake?

And this blog post wouldn’t have been possible without the talented team at Carla Ten Eyck Photography. Carla’s firm (now a member of in WHITE) covered the party from start to finish. Her team is always great fun and never misses a shot – thanks Julie!

Everyone especially enjoyed the photobooth provided by Jim Altieri of Vintage Cinema (Sperry Tents attendees included).

One especially appropriate touch for such a social media-savvy crowd – the in WHITE Twitter feed projected onto the Sperry Tent. (BTW, if you want to keep up with Sperry news such as this party and more, follow us on Twitter @SperryTents).

It was a beautiful September day, perfect for a wedding at the Wauwinet on Nantucket. Melissa and Eric were married outdoors, overlooking the ocean, right next to their 46 x 85 reception tent from the island’s Sperry Tents provider, Nantucket Tents.

Guests looked on while the newlyweds danced on the resort’s zen deck, with a setting sun (and a sweet 24 round Blue Star tent) in the background.

Thanks to Brea McDonald Photography for sharing these photos.

Sperry Tents Mystic had a great time working with Caity and Matt on their recent wedding at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT. After cocktails in the museum’s historic sunken garden, everyone headed over to the 46 x 125 Sperry Tent for dinner and dancing.

Managed by Sixpence for Your Shoes event planners, the day was perfect – except for one quick rain shower as guests headed inside the tent. Vibrant floral arrangements by Dragonfly Events were perfectly accented by china in a variety of colorful patterns. Strings of Asian lanterns provided interest overhead and plenty of nighttime glow.

Special thanks to IRIS Photography for allowing us access to their wonderful imagery. For even more pictures of this stylish wedding, check out their blog.