Category Archives: Drape

A 60 ft wide sailcloth tent is adorned with gold chandeliers and white drapes gathered identically at each tent side pole

High-Impact Tent Drape

In the world of luxury weddings, where every detail matters, tent drape becomes a pivotal element in transforming a simple structure into a breathtaking canvas of sophistication. As you plan memorable tented weddings, high-end decor, such as drape, stands as a testament to refined taste and meticulous craftsmanship. Here, we delve into three key methods used by the experienced designers at The Lighting & Sound Co to dress up tents with exquisite drapery, ensuring a setting that resonates with timeless charm and unparalleled beauty.

Side Pole Drape Gathers

Imagine the gentle billow of sumptuous fabric, artfully gathered and secured along the sides of a sailcloth tent. This technique, known as side pole drape gathers, epitomizes classical elegance. By utilizing the highest quality fabrics — from luxuriously flowing silks to intricately woven linens — skilled decorators create cascading waves of fabric that add depth and texture to the tent’s perimeter. Each fold and gather is meticulously crafted, ensuring a seamless integration with the natural contours of the tent poles. The result? A softly enveloping ambiance that envelops guests in an atmosphere of refined splendor.

Further enhancing the allure of side pole drape gathers is their impressive visual impact. From every angle, the tent exudes a sense of balance and grace, with evenly-spaced drapes encircling the structure like a symphony of elegance. This meticulous arrangement not only enhances the physical space but also ensures that photographs taken during the event capture a scene of enduring beauty. The structured symmetry created by these drapes frames each moment, casting a backdrop that elevates every detail of the celebration, from the bride’s radiant smile to the shimmering dance floor under the starlit sky.

Tent Perimeter Valance Drape

For those seeking a touch of architectural finesse, the tent perimeter valance technique offers a structured yet graceful approach to tent draping. Here, decorators meticulously install a valance along the upper perimeter of the tent, framing the space with a tailored band of fabric that exudes sophistication. Utilizing fabrics of unparalleled quality ensures that every fold and pleat maintains its pristine form, even as gentle breezes play with the edges. This method not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the tent but also provides a sophisticated backdrop for the festivities within.

Drape Swags

To elevate the ceiling of a sailcloth tent into a soaring canopy of beauty, decorators employ drape swags overhead. This method involves artfully draping luxurious fabrics across the tent’s ceiling, creating a series of graceful arcs and swoops that draw the eye upwards. Whether using sheer fabrics to diffuse natural light or rich velvets to add warmth and depth, the choice of material is pivotal. Here, the expertise of our trained decor professionals shines through, as we skillfully manipulate fabric to create fluid lines and balanced compositions that complement the overall design scheme.

The Craftsmanship Behind the Magic

Central to the success of tent draping lies not only in the choice of materials but also in the skill and dedication of the experienced designers at The Lighting & Sound Co. Our talented decorators understand the nuances of fabric manipulation, ensuring that each drape hangs just right and each fold enhances rather than detracts from the tent’s natural beauty. We will work tirelessly to transform visions into reality, employing a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence that is evident in every pleat.

As you curate unforgettable experiences for your discerning clientele, remember that the installation of elegant tent drapes is more than a rental line item — it is an art form that elevates tents into realms of timeless elegance. By partnering with The Lighting & Sound Company, where we prioritize premier drape materials and an unrelenting eye for details, you can ensure that every event unfolds amidst an atmosphere of unparalleled beauty and sophistication.

The Subtle Art of Draping

Picture this. A chic wedding with beautiful and luxurious waves of fancy Wedding Draping fabrics nicely wrapped, drooped, and puddled to the ground.

Fabric for Fairytales. That’s what some would say. 

In a nutshell, Wedding Draperies are flowy, light, and breezy – a perfect way to add grace and style to any special event, including weddings.

Wedding Drapery Fabrics Can:

  • Cover things you don’t want to see at a wedding venue meant for romanticism.
  • Highlight inviting spaces within the ceremony or reception.

Needless to say, wedding draping treatments for wedding celebrations and other fancy events are an incredibly helpful tool to structure, as well as personalize, any occasion to precisely the way you desire it.

Nowadays, Wedding Draping is a crucial element to countless wedding coordinators and brides-to-be. Wedding drapery is soft, yet refined, and its uses are many.

3 Reasons Why Numerous brides-to-be love using Wedding Draping:

  1. To hide unattractive aspects of event spaces.
  2. To turn blah entrance ways into something grand.
  3. To add sophistication and style to any kind of location to contribute to the overall ambiance.

By the way, there is no wedding drape too small. Wedding Drapery Sizes can range anywhere from 1’ to 30’ tall!

Trending Locations for Wedding Drapery Rentals

One thing is for sure:  Weddings these days are not about basic spaces. Combine wedding drapery to transform the most beautiful of areas:

  • Luxurious Wedding Tents
  • Banquet Halls or Hotel Event Spaces
  • Barns
  • Museums
  • Conservatories
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Boats and Yachts
  • Backyard Areas
  • Beaches
  • Churches
  • The list goes on…

Popular Wedding Drapery Ideas

Draping Ideas for Weddings include ceiling canopies, room liners, and backdrops as well as tent and stage draping. You’ll want to pick professionals that offer a free design consultation to explore your options.

Use it to develop a one-of-a-kind backdrop for food tables or merely split a room in half to divide the space in two. Wedding draperies can also be used as a backdrop for the musicians performing during the reception.

The design enhancements are limitless.

TOP IDEAS:  When to Use Wedding Drapery 

When Ceremony and Reception must be in the Same Space
Use wedding drapery for an elegant way to direct the guests to the ceremony on one side as if it’s in one intimate space.

Bistro Lighting or Up lighting
Attempt to incorporate draping with bistro lighting or up lighting to add flair to your once-in-a-lifetime event. Remember that wedding draping can be hung anywhere.

When Needing to Hide Ugly Ceilings and Beams
Create an intimate space by covering high ceilings, irregularly shaped rooms, or outdoor tents.

When Needing a Backdrop to Highlight or Hide Something 
Create depth and a prettier atmosphere.  Get Trendy!

  • Use wedding drapery around a unique piece of art to dress up blank wall space.
  • Mix elements such as drapery and vines to create a textured space behind the band.
  • Create Photo Backdrops with drapery and frames for Unique Photography backgrounds.
  • Drape fabric around small windows to make them appear larger and grander than what they are.

Dessert or Food Tables
Spice up your food and treat tables using wedding drapery layers, then overlay with a sequin or sheer drape of a different color.

Head Tables
Draping tulle around your head table is the absolute best way to create a focal point never forgotten. And don’t forget, there is a style for every preference.

Wedding Arches
Combining drapery with branches or flowers on a wedding arch is amazing and breathtaking.

Best Wedding Draping Fabric

Honestly, the type of wedding fabric you use to drape at your special event is up to you. They can be used to “drape” tables, walls and/or ceilings. They can be white. They can be Fuchsia. They can be sheer, solid, flat, or shiny. It is totally your preference.

However, there are types of fabrics that are commonly used when using materials of all kinds to drape a wedding.

  • Poly Premier is kind of like table linens at a fancy restaurant. This fabric is an elegant and subtle way to incorporate the colors white and ivory. 
  • Sheer Fabrics will reveal objects behind it and is see-through.
  • Sheer Custom is ultra-wide and excellent when used with arches, arbors, ceilings, backdrops or pipe. A perfect combination when used with lighting. 
lighting and decor room transformation greek wedding

Total Room Transformation With Lighting & Decor FAQ

Transforming Your Event Space with Lighting & Decor


Completely transforming spaces is a major part of what lighting & decor companies do. As lighting & decor specialists, we are often asked to transform event spaces in varying degrees. There are many tools that we use to make a space go from drab to dream. Lighting and drape are among the most popular resources we use to transform event venues, but there are so many more options. To clear up some common confusion, we asked our design experts to answer some common questions.

Backyard wedding lighting and decor tent bistro lighting

How can I use my backyard for my wedding?

Pretty easily, actually. While tents are always a good back-up plan for weather, a tent isn’t needed for your backyard wedding. Waterproof uplighting can light up your backyard and turn it into a magical event space. Portable lamp posts can be a quick and easy option to provide area lighting. Classic edison bistro lighting is a fantastic option for covering large spaces, and it can be hung several different ways. Ground supports can suspend bistro lighting over your backyard. Learn more about those services by checking out our catalog.

Suggested Lighting & Decor Services for Backyard Weddings

  • Bistro Lighting
  • Outdoor Uplighting
  • Chandeliers
  • Pendants
  • Lamp Posts
  • Mini Lights

The Bottom Line: If you have the space, having a wedding in your backyard is both very common and totally possible with portable lighting services.

Can I use lighting and drape to transform a basketball court for my wedding?

Working in gyms is very similar to working in a conference center or hotel. Unfinished ceilings mean plenty of rigging points, making it easy to hang lighting such as pin spots, texture gobos, or wash lights above your event. The walls of a gym can be totally, or partially draped to cover up ugly paint and textures. Dropping in chandeliers just above your guests will provide both a beautiful decor effect and a practical lighting one.

Suggested Lighting & Decor Services for Church Gyms

  • Chandeliers
  • Pendants
  • Pin Spotting
  • Uplighting
  • Drape
  • Lighting Wash
  • Texture Gobos

The Bottom Line: With the proper lighting design and drape look, any room can be transformed into a beautiful event space.

My event is in the middle of nowhere, can I still have lighting?

Along with a huge collection of battery-powered uplights, we also can bring in any sized generator to pretty much any location. Skilled technicians will run power for lighting, your DJ, and event your caterer, while keeping hazardous cables out of pathways and neatly out of site.
Battery-powered pin-spots are almost standard now, so there is no location where lighting is out of the question.

Suggested Lighting & Decor Services for Remote Events

  • Battery Pin Spotting
  • Battery Uplighting
  • Drape
  • LED Bistro Lighting
  • Generators
  • Power Distribution

The Bottom Line: Portable generators and battery lighting make remote events a piece of cake.


Have more questions? Reach out and speak with one of our event designers.