Post # 1

Member
176 posts
Blushing bee
Hey All-
Anyone else out there having a tented reception? We are renting a 38×62 tent. Basically it’s an oval made up of a square tent in the middle and a half circle on each end. When we signed the contract, we thought this tent would be big enough. Then our guest list ballooned. I have no idea what our total will be, since I don’t know how a lot of people will RSVP. I’m estimating around 200, and hoping less.
When I was trying to lay out tables in the Martha Stewart seating tool, I could only fit 18 tables. (rectangular) In the tent I also have to fit a 16×16 dance floor, and a few round tables for things like the DJ, gift table, drinks, cake, etc.
So, my question is, should I call it good at 180, and either sit extra people right outside the tent if the weather is nice, or cram them in if it’s not? If you had or are having a tented reception, what was your tent size and guest number?
Post # 3

Member
2027 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m pretty sure that my tent was 40X60. I had 160 guests, 21 round tables, a sweetheart table and the buffet & cake table under the tent. The band had a 10×10 space under the tent, too, but no dance floor. This was the smallest tent the rental co. recommended to me, and it was a comfortable amount of space. Your rental company should be able to tell you exactly what size tent you need for what you will have under it, as well as your guest count, or they are not doing their job!
Post # 4

Member
275 posts
Helper bee
We are having a 40×60 tent for 120 people, we have a 12×15 dance floor, space for a bar, a dj and an area for the buffet as well. Sounds like you might be pushing it with your tent size – could you get a larger tent?
Post # 5

Member
2889 posts
Sugar bee
This is great information. My venue only contracts with one tent company and the biggest we can get is 30×50, we are anticipating 100 people so I was a bit worried but it sounds like we should be fine if bree had 160 under a 40×60 with a band and buffet. Has anyone used a 30×50 tent? I’d love to hear how many tables you had. We will be using the 60 inch round 8 tops supplied by the venue and I am hoping to fit about 14 (one as sweetheart).
Post # 6

Member
76 posts
Worker bee
This is interesting… it has been suggested by our caterer and tent rental company that we need a 40×80 tent for 130 people.. and we are not having a dance floor set up in the tent. I have been trying to figure out if we can get by with a 40×60 as it is significantly cheaper.
Bree – what size tables did you have? and how many people did you seat at each table? I think we’re going to do 60" rounds with 8 ppl at each