Achieving a radiant and healthy look on the day of the wedding may take weeks of preparation. While some brides may naturally exude an effulgent quality, others will need to work a little harder. Don’t be discouraged about where you factor in on the scale – with a little effort you’ll get there in no time!

First things first: If you can’t afford to meet with a professional aesthetician for a couple facial treatments, make sure that you’re exfoliating at home at least twice a week. This will help to remove all of the dead skin cells on the surface and give your skin a smooth look and allow the make-up to glide on smoother.

Before applying your make-up on the big day, remove all traces of oil and dirt. The more pristine your face is, the better it will be to work with. When washing, use a mild cleanser so that your skin looks healthy and moisturized. For ultimate hydration try to find a face lotion that is water-based. Check out Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extra Thirsty Skin Relief (found at most department stores and Sephora).

Natural Bride
For the outdoor bride who rarely wears make-up, you’ll probably be more comfortable with a more natural look. You can easily amplify your best features with subtle and simple products. Rather than cake on liquid or powder foundation, apply a light film of tinted moisturizer. On your lips, avoid bold shades of lipstick and go with something sheer – a lip-gloss with a pink or rosy hue would do nicely. Line the inside corners of your eyes with a white, gold or coral (whatever looks best with your eye color and skin tone). Put a few light coats of mascara on your eyelashes. This will look striking against your otherwise ethereal glow.

Sophisticated Bride
Modern and sophisticated women are interested in ways in which they can amp up the volume on their wedding make-up without going overboard. These girls typically know what compliments their features best – which is a good start! To begin, apply a layer of foundation, followed by a light veil of powder concealer. The powder will help to soften your look. Charge up your eye area with a dusky color; green is a good choice as it works wells with most skin tones and eye color. Highlight your cheeks and lips with tones of rose. A good lipstick used by many celebrities: DuWop Lip Venom – a pink-tinted lip-plumper which enhances your lip’s natural hue.

Glamorous Bride
If you’re a true glamor goddess who loves fake eyelashes and flashy colors, something a little more brilliantly dramatic would be right up your alley. The best place to add drama is to your eyes. Frame your eyelashes with bold shades of gray, black, and silver. Add on some of M.A.C.’s fake lashes and brush them with DiorShow Waterproof Mascara in black. For lipstick you would look fabulous in a metallic red. At the end you’ll look both contemporary and elegant.

Other Beauty Tips:

• If you’re doing your own wedding make-up, ask the lady at the cosmetic counter to make a note of everything she recommends. Have them give you a free make-up lesson and write down the steps in which they applied everything. This way you’ll know exactly what to do the day of!
• Just because it’s your wedding day, don’t reject drugstore make-up. These could be just as good as the more expensive products!
• If you don’t like wearing foundation but don’t want to look shiny, opt for a mineral-based concealer. There are many brands which carry light-weight foundations which even out skin discoloration while still looking natural.
• For the perfect glow, apply a creamy pink on the top of your cheeks. Take a sheer foundation and dust this over in order to lock in the color.
• Schedule a make-up consultation prior to the wedding day so that you can make any adjustments needed.

There’s no better place in the whole wide world that would be more ideal for a romantic honeymoon getaway. Picture this: endless miles of pristine white coral-sand beaches, lush foliage climbing up posh resort walls, and green mountaintops which reach high into the blue sky. After just one hour of soaking up the sights and smells of a Tahitian paradise, all of your troubles and worries will seem far away.

In French Polynesia, it’s all about beauty. At any random point on one of the many exquisite islands – there are 118 total – you’re completely surrounded by the rich luxuries of nature in it’s prime. The smell of the tropical blooms combined with a soft spray from the bath-temperature surf is enough to make any traveler feel at peace. And at sunset and sunrise, it’s heaven on earth. The sky is awash in dusty hues of rose pink, lavender, and majestic blues.

Tahiti
The most well-known islands are Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. These islands attained their popularity for having some of the most brilliant sights of all of the other islands combined. Tahiti is the largest of them all; which is why French Polynesia is commonly referred to by this name. Affluent in both natural and recreational amenities, it is easily the most scenic and entertaining place to spend a Tahiti honeymoon. And all along the coast, thatched-roof bungalows stand erect over the clear blue water atop wooden poles. Stay in one of these deluxe suites or go ashore to one of the many fabulous Tahitian resorts.

Moorea
There are so many ways in which you can experience French Polynesia! If Tahiti doesn’t strike your fancy, head over to the beautiful island of Moorea. A shallow lagoon surrounds this tropical Nirvana; while rivulets of water pour down fern-covered mountain-tops. The houses are painted in pastel colors and everywhere you look are gardens overflowing with birds of paradise, hibiscus and orchids.

Bora Bora
Bora Bora rivals with Tahiti for most beautiful island in the world. In the very center of the island is Mount Otemanu, an extinct volcano whose shape reminds one of a fairytale castle. Surrounding the mountain castle’s lush tropical slopes are valleys filled with groves of palm trees and wildflowers. The entire island is surrounded by a lagoon in which hundreds of over-water bungalows have been built. The island offers supreme privacy and ultimate romance. The shallow water surrounding the island is flush with colorful schools of fish and even an occasional shark. Go parasailing in the morning and swim with the sharks and dolphins in the afternoon. At night you can eat mahi-mahi in one of Bora Bora’s many chic restaurants while enjoying the sunset.

There are so many things to do and see when it comes to a Tahiti honeymoon.  So what are you waiting for? Get your passport today and start making reservations! The island hotels book pretty quick so it’s important that you get a move on the honeymoon plans if you hope to spend it in a sunny Tahitian paradise!

Flowers and plants can make a big difference when it comes to a wedding. In fact, the right balance and placement of lush arrangements can turn your small event into an elegant affair. While there are many beautiful ceremony and reception venues, chances are, it can still use a little sprucing up. Make sure that you salvage some of your wedding funds so that you properly splurge on the flowers in a surprising and creative way.

Some Aisle Ideas for the Wedding Ceremony:

• Flower-filled baskets/cones: Embellish the aisle by putting a few roses in a cone or basket and then tying these to the chairs which line the walkway. You could even twine them together with gauzy ribbons.
• Petal walkway: Rather than opt for a plain aisle runner, create a more dramatic look by having the aisle strewn with rose petals. This will look more natural and will take your guest’s breath away. On each end of the aisle, place a towering floral arrangement.
• Topiaries: A tall, perfectly manicured topiary could really give your wedding a sleek contemporary look. You could drape each topiary in a sheer satin to give the wedding a softer feel, or keep them simple. Other options: cover them in string lights or connect them with ribbons.
• Candles: The soft hue of candlelight is a perfect touch for the bride who is going for something magically ethereal. Utilize tall hanging lanterns or ground hurricane globes. Make sure that there is plenty of foot room for candles to avoid any potential fire hazard.

Entrance Décor
One of the most important areas of the entire wedding is the entrance-ways. This is the first thing that your guests will see upon arrival, so make sure that it’s simplistically classy in every way. If you’re keeping the doors to the reception and/or ceremony venue shut, hang up a lavish floral wreath. Alternatively, you could adorn the door jamb with a beautiful garland and flower-filled urns on either side.

The Wedding Arch
During the ceremony everyone’s focus will be directed on the bride and groom towards the front of the room. You want the guests in the back row to be able to appreciate the floral and ceremony décor surrounding the officiant and bridal party. An effective method: craft an arch or canopy and cover it with flowers and foliage. Make sure that you get any and all wedding décor approved through the church where you’re getting married. Some religions are extremely particular about bringing certain accents into a house of worship.

Measure Everything
Prepare yourself by taking all of the proper measurements. Start off with the aisleway. Make sure that after adding in all of the desired floral accents there is still enough room for two people to walk down, side by side. If the aisle is narrow, stick with hanging small cones on the chairs which don’t take up too much space. Measure the height and width of all of the essential doorways, the space where the officiant will stand, and any other place you think important.

Save Yourself Money
It’s not necessary that you decorate everything in the same exact way. Rather then deck out every single chair on the aisle, only do every other one. Another option is to only adorn the front 3 aisles where the immediate family sits. Execute contrary floral centerpieces on the reception tables. Instead of using overly extravagant arrangements, use individual blooms with simple ribbons.

The only way to get great photographs is to hire a talented and professional wedding photographer. This may cost you an arm and leg, however, you’ll be glad you paid the higher fee. In the end you’ll be left with beautiful shots and montages which aesthetically represent everything you felt on that momentous day. In the long run, this will be worth much more than your bridal gown or the reception food.

When searching for the perfect wedding photographer, there are a few very important characteristics that you should keep in mind. First, they should be in tune with your style. Naturally they should have their own inventive flair; nevertheless, if they don’t know how to express their creativity through your specific tastes, the work will be lost on you. It’s imminent that they are able to give you exactly what you want, and then some. This is what sets apart a successful professional from the rest.

Recommendations
Before you start calling up random photography companies, ask your friends and relatives for recommendations. There must be 1 or 2 people you know who tied the knot or used a photographer in the last year for an event or special occasion. See if they know of anyone worth suggesting. Ask to see the work they did for them and discern whether or not it suits your predilection.

Photojournalism vs. Traditional
After gathering together a few potential candidates, discuss with your significant other whether or not you want a photographer who takes a more photojournalistic approach, or goes the more traditional route. The difference between the two is very simple: photojournalism is comprised of more candid and natural shots. The subject in the picture is seldom aware that they are actually being photographed. The effect is an album which is both animated and emotional. Traditional photography, on the other hand, is more straightforward and self-explanatory. The shots are calculated and point blank; the subjects are positioned methodically by the photographer, resulting in imagery which is less fluid. Here’s an idea: combine the two and diversify your wedding photo album.

The Importance of Chemistry
It’s important that you choose a photographer who’s personality meshes well with your own. Even the most talented professional will start to get on your nerves if he/she has a poor disposition. Since this person is going to be practically glued to your side throughout the course of the day, make sure you hire someone that you connect with. At the slightest intimation that this photographer may not be right or rubs you the wrong way, play it safe and go with someone else. If you’re hiring a photographer through a company, make sure that the one you speak with is the one you get on your wedding day. It’s crucial that you always meet all of your vendors prior to the wedding so that you know exactly with whom you are working.

Hire More Than One
If you’re having a large wedding with more than 150 guests, you should definitely hire more than 1 photographer. You want to make sure that every single angle, table, and moment is sufficiently covered at all times. The more photographers there are, the less chance that something priceless goes missed. Make sure that there’s always someone with their lens on you – the rest are free to take pictures of whatever they consider a perfect shot!z

When it comes to knowing what’s “hip” in the wedding industry, there’s only one person to turn to: celebrity wedding planner, Marcy Blum. Since 1986 she’s been helping brides express their innermost fantasies in the most elegant way possible. Her attention to detail is impeccable; in addition, she has an amazing ability to utilize and envision space and come up with ideas that exceed the already-imagined.

When asked about the wedding planning process, she says: “there’s no such thing as a Marcy Blum event. I try to get a real sense of my clients and use my knowledge and know-how to bring their event to life.” While it’s her job to create something that’s both exquisite and inventive, she wants each party to be a collaboration of her ideas inspired by the couple’s insight. This, she believes, is the only way to truly awe her clients and achieve party planning success.

Marcy Blum’s Thoughts On:

1. Color: Blum says that for many years, bright colorful patterns were the hot new thing. Now the paler shades are becoming much more relevant. Instead of a vivid pink, brides are requesting champagne and cream colors. Some other similar pastel tones which would be perfect: ecru, eggshell, blush, light sage, and baby blue.
2. Trends to Avoid: Blum advises against the use of disposable cameras on the guest’s tables. Why use them when they only take good pictures every once and a while? She also says “no” to overly choreographed dances – it takes the romance out of the moment, especially when the groom is visibly apprehensive about getting the moves down just right.
3. Keeping the Party Interesting: Blum believes that you can achieve a sense of vitality and whimsy when you accent the room with eye-catchy centerpieces and backdrops. Also effective: live entertainment for certain aspects of the evening, such as featuring an a cappella group during cocktails.
4. New Reception Trends: Some current styles are putting off dancing after the first course has been served. This way, everyone can sit down and enjoy their meal – which gives the party structure and a better overall flow. The cake and other desserts can be served alongside the dancing segment.
5. Ways to Save: Blum says to use larger tables so that you don’t have to buy as many centerpieces. Another good tip is to have an open bar only up until dinner; after that point, everyone has to buy their own. Instead of serving lamb or beef, go for a cheaper chicken dish or wild mushroom risotto.
6. Keeping the Guests Happy: Pace the cocktail hour so that there is food constantly coming out every twenty minutes. If you serve everything at once, there will be a stampede to the food and everything will be gone before you know it!
7. The Wedding Toasts: Make sure that you discuss a time limit with all of the speakers at the wedding beforehand. Try to keep each speech down to 3-4 minutes. You don’t want the toasts dramatically cutting into the other reception activities.

According to the Chinese, there is a reason why the wedding band is designated for the fourth finger. They think that each digit constitutes an important person in your life; similar to how a palm reader views each hand crease as a representation of life, heart, and head. Below is each finger and who they stand for according to Chinese belief.

• Thumb – Parents
• Index Finger – Siblings
• Middle Finger – Self
• Ring Finger – Life partner
• Pinkie Finger – Children

They further explain their reasoning with a hand demonstration which metaphorically conveys each finger’s significance, as shown in the picture.

1. Place your open palms face to face.
2. Bend the middle fingers until they knuckles are touching – hold them back together.
3. Make sure that the remaining fingers are open and spread out.
4. Touch the tips of your thumbs together.
5. Join the tips of the remaining fingers.
6. Press your hands together.

Now to try to separate the thumbs – you’ll find that you can do so easily. The Chinese believe that this is because your parents were not to meant to live with your forever. Eventually, they must leave and allow you to grow up and become your own person. You can also easily separate the index fingers; the digits which represent your siblings. These open up because your brothers and sisters will also branch out and start families of their own. Although they will always remain an integral part of your life, they will come and go.

After joining your index fingers together, try to divide your little fingers. You’ll find that this is also easy enough to do. These fingers represent your children – who, just like your siblings and parents, will also leave the family unit and begin a life apart from the family you’ve created with them.

Next, try to disconnect your ring fingers. You’ll find that this is impossible to accomplish without separating the middle fingers which represent the “self.” According to Chinese notion, this is because husband and wife were never meant to be isolated; marriage binds them together for the rest of their lives. By disjointing the ring fingers, you essentially break away the “self.”

This is a beautiful metaphor which symbolizes the solemnity and permanence of marriage. Before walking down the aisle, consider what marriage means to to you. “Forever” and “eternity” are difficult words for the human mind to wrap around, but it’s exactly what you’re committing. Be prepared to take the good with the bad. Sometimes the best thing to do is not to find a person who you can live with, but someone that you can’t live without.

As much as we would all like to celebrate our wedding reception in the best resort in town, it’s time to face the financial facts. If you pull enough strings and borrow money from parents and the bank, sure – you may be able to afford it. Question is: do you want to come out of the wedding with debt hanging over your head? Or would you rather have an intimate cost-effective wedding that costs a fourth less and that’s 100% regret-free?

Ask for Help
You can easily achieve this with a backyard wedding. And it doesn’t have to be your backyard; you could ask a friend or relative for use of their residence for your wedding event. Use your imagination and think of places that you used to visit as a child. Although it may be a little awkward proposing the question, the worst they could say is “no.” What do you have to lose? Most of your relatives will be more than happy to accommodate to a cause as selfless and romantic as you tying the knot with your soul-mate. Don’t feel like you’re putting anyone out; if they’re willing, why not?

Table and Chair Set-up
The first challenge in planning a backyard wedding is figuring out the layout. You want to make sure that there is enough room for all of the tables and chairs, as well as an area for the dance floor and entertainment. After achieving a realistic visual as to where everything should go, next is deciding where you’re going to acquire all of the necessary items. Since you’re working basically from scratch, this can be problematic. Table rentals come in all shapes and sizes. It will be up to you to determine whether you want long rectangular, small square, small round, or large round tables. A table which seats 6 people is an ideal size – it’s large enough where it doesn’t feel like a casual dinner party, but small enough so that everyone can easily converse.

Table Decor
When it comes to the décor, nothing could be more perfect for a backyard wedding than patterned linens. You could go for a pastel tablecloth with eyelets, or for a summer and spring reception, a colorful criss-crossing material. Try to stay away from anything too reminiscent of a picnic in the park – such as a red and white checkered pattern. This will look tacky and cheap. Colors which would be lovely for an outdoor backyard party: pinks, greens, blues, creams, and yellows.

Finish the Look
Also keep in mind the less tables there are, the less arrangements you’ll need to have. Rather than having the standard glass vases with roses, consider substituting watering cans or pots of assorted daisies and tulips. These would play very well against the alfresco theme. Complete the look with patterned plates and napkins, colorful chair covers, and shabby-chic candle holders.

Planning the Menu
A backyard wedding demands a menu which is both fresh, light, and summery. Appoint a signature drink such as herbal iced tea or a freshly squeezed lemonade with cherry juice. Some other appropriate beverages are: sangria, watermelon margaritas, or blueberry mojitos. Save yourself money on alcohol and have the bar serve only 2 or 3 of these specialty drinks.

Rather than have the wedding catered (this could be difficult to accomplish if you’re working with a small space), set up a buffet with family-style favorites. Next to it you could have a dessert table with glass vases filled with candy that aligns well with the wedding color scheme. Utilize baskets, contrary-patterned bowls, and unique containers. While it’s important that everything looks good together, over-coordination will cheapen your party by making it appear too ordinary.

If you or your partner have a pet that is just as much a part of the family as your own siblings, you probably want to include them in the ceremony. This should be pretty simple to accomplish, especially if he/she is easy to train and well-behaved. In no time at all, your dog or cat will be trotting down the aisle in their Sunday best, eliciting “oohs” and “ahs” from the wedding guests.

There are a few different ways in which you can integrate your special pup in the nuptials. If your dog or cat is a bit younger, you may want to consider having the ring-bearer and or flower girl walk him/her. Even if you trust that your pooch is disciplined enough to cross the aisle without a leash, keep it on one just in case. You can’t chance your canine running loose at the ceremony venue. There are very few dogs who wouldn’t get excited over the sight of a bird or squirrel; and if you’re having the wedding outdoors this situation could be difficult to prevent.

Think about the ceremony. Will the dog sit patiently during the exchanging of the vows, or should you keep him on a leash? Appoint an older child or family member to sit with the dog during the observance so that you can be ensured that nothing will go amiss. The worst thing you can do: put the responsibility of the dog or cat in the hands of the 4-year-old flower girl.

Dressing up the pets is a must. A tuxedo with matching bow looks especially cute on smaller animals. When looking for ideal pet attire, make sure that your dog or cat can move inside it easily. You don’t want your dog to be jumping around at the party, but you also don’t want him so stiff that he can barely lay down. A great solution is buying a jeweled harness or collar with an attached bag for the rings. This will still look beautiful and give your pet room to move around.

Make sure that the dog is given enough time between eating and the wedding to relieve him/herself prior to the ceremony. While your pet popping a squat in the middle of the walkway will induce some hearty chuckles from the guests, it will be awful for the bride and bridal party to have to step over and around it. Most dogs digest their food within 2-3 hours; be especially cautious and feed them 5 hours before the ceremony.

While it’s cute to bring your pet to the ceremony, it’s quite another to have it running around the reception hall. Make sure that there is someone standing by who can take the dog back to a house so as not to become a burden on you during the post-wedding festivities. You may be able to bring your precious pooch to an outdoor reception venue, but if your dog is a: barker, begger, or jumper – you may be taking on more than you can handle. Your guests will be in dressed up in gowns and suits, and nobody wants to have to deal with dog slobber or animal hair!

These are a few things to think about when it comes to pets and weddings. For more information on fancy bridal wear for animals, check out Lola Parker Couture, www.myuptownpooch.com, or www.pamperedpuppy.com.

In today’s world, every single person in the world between the ages of 10 and 40 visit the Internet on a daily basis. It only makes sense that you would want to create your very own personal wedding website. It’s affordable, convenient, and will make your life much easier! Rather than call you for all of the party details, your site will be readily available to all guests who need directions, registry information, or just want to drop you a message. Plus, it can be updated on a daily basis to reflect any and all changes in the nuptial plans. Post monthly photographs documenting all of your travail on the bridal preparations.

When it comes down to it, a wedding is more than just a few hours; for many couples, the wedding events surround an entire weekend. Instead of jam-packing your wedding invitations with maps, hotel information, and a list of daily activities, why not post this in a clean and simple online format?

Great for RSVP
There is no limit to what a wedding website can do for you. For something less complicated: set it up to function as a simple RSVP tool. This will save you money on postage, and make keeping track of those who are attending a much simpler task.

Highly Convenient and Affordable
Let’s face it, while some guests will be responsible enough to hang all of the wedding content on the refrigerator, most will misplace the envelope and forget about it until a month before the date. On top of that, the more paper you print on, the more money it will end up costing you. The highest fee for a beautiful and manageable site ranges between $5-10 per month for maintenance. If you’re only planning on having your site up for 6 months, this could end up costing you only $60 or less!

Things that you can integrate into your site:

• Mailing list
• Contact information
• Guestbook
• Polls and Quizzes
• Honeymoon information
• Gift Registries
• Background music
• Weekend events/activities
• Online RSVP
• Maps & Directions
• Photo Albums (engagement, etc)
• Flash Intro
• Stories (proposal, wedding planning, etc)
• Video clips
• List of the bridal party attendants and parents
• Wedding countdown

Cool Features
The list goes on and on. You could even have a forum where guests can make special requests; such as music they may want to hear played at the reception, or certain food allergies they may have. Although you don’t have to permit everything that is brought to your attention, it’s nice to have some feedback on the festivities. In addition, it’s a great place to post information you otherwise wouldn’t want to disclose in the wedding invitation, most importantly of which: gift registry. Although it’s common for couples to register at various stores for the wedding, it’s tacky to attach it to the back of a formal invite. A wedding website is a perfect solution. You could even post the direct links to your registries right on the site for optimum convenience.

Perfect for Destination Weddings
A website is also ideal for a destination wedding. Where a typical hometown wedding may have ten or so out-of-town relatives, destination nuptials will necessitate that every single guest make flight and hotel reservations. Without one source to streamline all of the information, this could end being a complicated mess. A personal website will give you complete control over the situation; you’ll be able to manage everyone’s flight plans and status, as well as direct those who are uncertain about the next step. Think as if you’re a travel agent helping clients plan a vacation. What are the best times to go? When should they start booking? Are there any group rates or hotel rooms blocked off that they can take advantage of? Clue them in to all of the details so that they can make the best possible decision. If anything changes, make sure that you divulge this on the website.

If your biggest concern is that you’re not computer savvy – don’t worry! Wedding websites are extremely simple to use and can be learned in less than a couple hours. So take advantage! Cut yourself a slice of the World Wide Web pie and get started.

Why spend months trying to find a reception venue that suits your theme and location when you can create your own for the same cost? If you’ve never been to an event under the billowy ceiling of an outdoor tent, you’re missing out. A tent wedding can be much more elegant and romantic than most banquet halls; plus, you have the ability to construct it anywhere you please. All you need is the right permit and enough space for your wedding party!

Tent Costs
If you’re fairly unorganized by nature, planning a tent wedding could be a little stressful. Although renting a tent is very cost-effective, it will need to constructed and broken down – which requires labor that you, of course, must pay for. You will also be responsible for managing all of the vendors on your own; a task which most reception and banquet halls typically take care of for you. It will be your job to hire and schedule a catering service, entertainment, rent chairs and tables, and pay for set-up. And don’t forget about the wedding decorations! You may need to make your own and/or coordinate the arrangements with the florists.

Account for Weather
If this sounds simple enough, the rest if smooth-sailing. Of course, you still need to take weather into account. Think about the month you’re having the wedding: is it normally cold or hot at night during this time period? Is there a strong chance it could rain? Remember, all of your guests will be dressed up, many of which will probably be wearing off-the-shoulder gowns and heeled shoes. One sudden downpour could wipe out your entire party. Combat incoming chills with outdoor heaters. You could place these in and around the tent area. If you’re not sure what the weather is going to be like, visit the designated area a week before the wedding at the time the reception is supposed to take place. You can make any and all last-minute decisions based on your findings.

Vendor Consultations
Make sure that you schedule on-site consultations with each of your vendors. You want to make sure that everyone knows where their stations are going to be and that they’re as prepared as possible. It’s also a good opportunity for your vendors to make requests; for example, the caterer may need his/her own tent in order to store the food and cake. You may need to rent separate tableware if the caterer doesn’t supply it. These small details are very important to know.

Tent Types
When it comes to types of tents, there is many variations to choose from. You can find high tents with open sidings, tents with walls, and even tents with transparent ceilings. The latter is ideal for star-gazing, however, could be disastrous for a day-time event as the plastic tends to attract heat. Tents come in assorted materials, each suitable for a casual or elegant affair. If you want something extremely exquisite, hang chandeliers from the ceiling; this touch makes a substantial difference.