Tent question

Allow vendors to comment. They can't sell anything and often have the best advice!

I recommend allowing vendors to comment as they would most likely have the most experience

You should ask if the rental company will draw you a picture of how everything fits under the tent. I was originally quoted a 30x60 tent for 125 people (15 5' tables). I also was trying to arrange everything in that space, and I couldn't do it. So I finally asked them to draw me a picture (my rental company has some program they use to do this). The tables fit, but that was about it. There was no room for anything else (i.e. DJ, dance floor, buffet, bar, etc). They quoted you a smaller tent and more tables than that...

ETA: I ended up with a 40x90 that will fit everything.

I have no idea how they quoted you that. I had 50 people, a buffet, dance floor, bar, cake table, gift table, sweetheart tables and guest tables and didn't have extra room with a 40 by 60 tent.

Find another tent company. That isn't big enough. You need 10 square feet for every round table of ten, 100 sq ft for every bar and buffet and you need a dance floor.

I am also doing a backyard wedding. My tent company made floor plans for me and they were awesome! We are looking at around 250 guests. To fit them all, plus DJ, dance floor, buffet, bar, and a couple cocktail tables we have a 30x75 tent, a 30x45 tent, plus an extra 20x20 to house the buffet. Due to the layout of my backyard we couldn't use one big tent

We are using long tables rather than round- it lets you fit more people in a small space.

@Cecilia, my tables are 60 inches in diameter, (5 foot) and seat 8 at each table. Dance floor will be moved in later after some of the tables are removed after dinner.

I contacted my tent vendor and expressed my concerns. He is going to send me a diagram of the layout, and also some additional options for larger tents or additional tents for food/drinks/dessert, etc.

Why are you planning on removing some of the tables? Seems a bad plan to me because people will still need a place to sit, a table to place a drink and cake or dessert.

@Going to the chapel, this is what the tent vendor said is usually done with tent rentals. As long as the weather is nice, we'd just be moving them outside of the tent. Sounds like I may end up just needing a bigger tent that can fit everything without having to move things out to make room.

Your tent vendor is giving you really bad advice. How are you going to tell the guests, "Sorry, but you're not important enough to sit in the tent. We're moving your tables and chairs and you'll have to sit outside where you can't see anything." Hey. That would be a big nope from me.

That's definitely not big enough! My husband and I got married in our backyard and rented a tent. We had a 40' x 60' tent for 90 guests (11 of which were kids, not that that matters much). We didn't have a dance floor, but we had tables for a buffet, bar, gift table, DJ, and cake... and then 13 (60-inch round) guest tables and 1 small sweetheart table. Attached is what I drafted up for our tent layout.

ETA: In the end after we set up tables, it didn't look quite as in the picture. We had some extra room, but we preferred that over cramming people in.

I'd find a different tent vendor... removing tables to fit a dance floor in is not a good idea. Some people will want to sit the entire time, some will want to sit after dancing a while. You should have seats for everyone during the entire reception. The vendor should make a recommendation that takes into account guest tables AND other tables and items (food, cake, DJ, dance floor, etc.).

We decided that we are increasing the size of our tent and chopping our guest list a bit. Still no room in the tent for a dance floor. Thoughts on outdoor dance floors similar to the ones in these pictures?