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A wedding by Starr Tent brings the flavor of an Italian night to a New York residence.
The romance and beauty of a star-filled spring evening in an Italian garden was the inspiration for this 300-guest private wedding reception in Bedford, N.Y., by New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Starr Tent. To provide the backdrop for such an illusion, the client requested an all-black tent for the main reception venue.
Under the all-black vinyl 60-by-80-foot twin pole tension tent, Starr installed an elevated plywood floor, black carpeting, seamless white dance floor and wood railing painted black. David Beahm Experiences, New York, N.Y., handled the decor elements, which included rich greenery and hanging lights to simulate an evening outdoor courtyard. Starr also provided a high-end restroom trailer featuring hardwood floor and marble countertops and all back-of-house tents. “This style of job is exactly in our wheelhouse,” says Starr Tent president Christopher Starr. “Our staff is trained for all the details incorporated in this type of project.”
Hot, hot, hot
The client anticipated temperate weather for the May 2015 celebration, but the week preceding brought unseasonable heat, creating a last-minute need for air conditioning, which Starr installed the day before the event. Despite the heat and the need for air conditioning, the client was determined to maintain the garden courtyard theme and have the tent be open to the outside. For the cocktail hour, Starr’s crew took down the sidewalls but continued to blow air conditioning into the space to allow guests to experience the outdoor ambience but still be comfortable.
an Italian garden at night. Photos courtesy
of Starr Tent.
Timed to perfection
Because the installation spanned Memorial Day weekend, Starr’s crew began installation two weeks out to avoid building during the holiday and to keep to the production schedule. They first built the elevated floor, tent, carpet, railing and back-of-house tents, and after the other vendors moved into the space, they built the ceremony floors and walkway ramps and installed turf and remaining carpet. “The project took place on private property so we were able to access the space when we needed,” Starr says. “That isn’t always the case.”
Load-in provided some challenges because the house sits on a large hill and the driveway is on a steep incline. This meant the crew wasn’t able to bring tractor trailers directly to the site, but instead unloaded everything at the bottom of the driveway and shuttled items up on 26-foot straight truck flatbeds. “The last-minute
an Italian garden at night. Photos courtesy
of Starr Tent.
decision to add air conditioning meant we had to quickly find the equipment and have it arrive in time to conduct a seamless installation,” Starr says.
A night to remember
The family and other vendors worked together without a hitch and the result was an evening that matched the clients’ vision. “The day after they told us it was the most amazing night of their lives, and feedback from their guests was of pure happiness for having been invited to such a beautiful wedding,” Starr says. “The client joked that the reason they had more kids was so that they could host more weddings.”