When two event industry professionals plan their own wedding, expectations are naturally high.
Dakotah Terrace, owner of Jardiniere Events, and Devin Van Bortel, owner of Amazing Event Rentals, wanted their wedding reception to showcase creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship at a level rarely seen in the Southeast. Rather than selecting an existing tent design, they envisioned something entirely new.
That vision led to a collaboration with Fred’s Tents to develop a custom structure that would eventually become the Horizon Garden Tent.
Designing Something the Industry Hadn’t Seen Before
From the beginning, the goal wasn’t simply to host a beautiful wedding. The couple wanted to create a structure that would surprise guests, planners, venues, and rental companies alike.
Devin approached the Fred’s Tents team with concept sketches and a simple question:
“Can you build this for my wedding?”
Working together, Fred’s modified its Signature Garden Tent platform to create an entirely new profile featuring:
- A 20-meter-wide by 35-meter-long structure
- 4-meter leg height
- A dramatic 10-meter (approximately 32-foot) curved center cupola
- Five-meter bays throughout the structure
- A grand architectural entrance beneath the expanded cupola
The result delivered the traditional elegance of a garden tent while introducing a modern architectural profile that immediately distinguished the installation.
Engineering the Structure Before Event Day
Because the tent represented an entirely new design, preparation was critical.
Approximately one month before the wedding, the Fred’s Tents and Amazing Event Rentals teams completed a full test installation to verify every component before arriving on site.
The trial build allowed both teams to:
- Confirm fitment
- Refine installation procedures
- Identify potential adjustments
- Ensure the final installation proceeds efficiently during the event build
This collaborative engineering process reduced uncertainty and allowed the wedding installation to move smoothly.
Supporting the Installation On Site
Fred’s Tents remained involved throughout the project, providing engineering expertise and on-site support during installation.
Working closely with Amazing Event Rentals, the teams coordinated the assembly of a highly customized structure while maintaining the quality standards expected for a luxury event.
For complex custom projects, this level of collaboration helps rental companies execute ambitious designs with confidence.
More Than a Wedding Tent
The finished reception space accommodated dinner, dancing, live entertainment, and a full hospitality experience beneath one unified structure.
Combined with Jardiniere Events’ dramatic Dutch Masters-inspired floral design, the custom tent became one of the defining elements of the celebration and quickly attracted attention throughout the event industry.
Following the wedding, Fred’s Tents officially introduced the design as the Horizon Series, allowing rental companies across North America to offer the same distinctive architectural profile for their own events.
What began as a one-of-a-kind custom project became a production tent available to Fred’s customers.
From Custom Concept to Production Innovation
This project demonstrates how collaboration between manufacturers and rental companies can lead to innovations that benefit the entire industry.
By combining custom engineering, thoughtful planning, and close coordination throughout design and installation, Fred’s Tents transformed one customer’s vision into a product that continues to serve event professionals nationwide.
Ready to Build Something Unique?
Whether you’re looking for a custom-engineered structure or exploring ways to differentiate your rental inventory, Fred’s Tents partners with rental companies to bring ambitious ideas to life. Contact our team to discuss your next custom tent project.
“Working with Fred’s doesn’t feel transactional. We genuinely consider the team family. They take the time to understand you on a personal level, and that kind of care is rare in this industry. It’s easy to find people who say the right things, but much harder to find a team that consistently follows through. Fred’s is always pushing things forward with a team of professionals to back it up.” — Devin Van Bortel, Amazing Event Rentals
