How to Choose a Tent for a 200 Person Wedding Reception

You might need windows in your tent.

Choosing the appropriate tent to accommodate guests at a wedding requires a knowledge of both what the tent will be used for and what the couple desires their wedding to be like. Accommodating 200 people in a tent is possible whether it be for rain protection, sun protection or privacy.

Instructions

Knowing What You Need

1. 

   Time to make some choices.

   Make choices about what the tent will be used for during the reception. A tent used only for holding food while guests meander around the grass will need to be significantly different than a tent used for formal dining followed by a dance.

2. 

   How fancy are we going to get?

   Determine what type of seating you'd like at your reception if any. Tents can be arranged for theater-style seating, formal dinner seating, casual dinner seating and cocktail seating. Theater-style seating is where chairs are in a row. Formal dinner seating means round tables with room for waiters to pass through. Casual dinner is where people serve themselves, and cocktail is a standing-room-only set-up.

3. 

   Music sets the mood.

   Determine if music will be played by a DJ or a live band and if dancing and dining will be part of the agenda. Decide if any bars, buffet tables, dance floors or band areas are needed.

4. 

   Let some sun in?

   Determine if windows are needed for the tent for sunlight or to move air through during summer heat.

Calculations

1. 

   What a large tent you have!

   Calculate the square footage needed based on your choices. A basic tent meant to accommodate 200 people in theater-style seating will need to be 1,400 square feet, and 1,600 square feet for a cocktail-style atmosphere. A formal dining tent requires 2,400 square feet for seating. Plan for only 2,000 square feet if casual dining is your preference.

2. 

   The 1s and 2s.

   Add 100 square feet to your calculations for every bar and buffet table. Waiter stations require only 25 square feet each. Dance floors should be allotted 400 square feet and a band stage or DJ area needs an additional 200 square feet.

3. 

   It's your day. Have it your way!

   Take your square footage calculation to different businesses that both rent and sell tents to get bids. Remember to mention if you need windows or any additional add-ons.

References

• Wedding Tents

Resources

• Wedding Tent Calculator