Staple of an outdoor reception

TENT

A temporary shelter often set up for guests to gather under at weddings or parties.

An outdoor reception often needs shelter from sun or rain, and the most common solution is a tent. The clue plays it straight—no wordplay or tricks—just a direct reference to something you’d expect at a wedding, party, or event held outside. "Staple" hints it’s a basic, essential item, and "tent" fits perfectly as the go-to structure for such occasions. Think of backyard weddings or festivals, and the answer becomes obvious.