How to Pick the Perfect Tent for Your Tented Event

Written by Dianna Candido

If you’re considering a tented event, congratulations — you’ve landed on the sweet spot between trendy and practical. These days, tented events are holding strong on the popularity scale. And for good reason! The right tent allows you to…

Dress your event up or down. You can make your tent feel fancier or more casual as the event dictates. Talk about versatility!
Accommodate for the weather. Don’t be concerned your guests will melt under the sun, or that your table settings might get soaked from unexpected rain. Tents give you the best of the indoors AND the out.
Control the guest experience. From versatile setups to creating defined spaces, with a tent as your event setting, you get to create the experience you’re looking for.

All this sounds pretty great. But if your event tent is the wrong size (or style) nothing else will matter. (Spectacular views and incredible food can only take your event so far!)

Guest comfort should always be a top priority. And guests are only going to be comfortable when they have enough space (but not too much) and the flow of the event feels natural and harmonious.

So how do you pick the right tent? Read on to find out.

Tent size matters — a lot.

Imagine going to an event where the line for the buffet crowds around everyone seated, either waiting for their turn or trying to enjoy their meal. Or imagine a cocktail party so crowded that simply moving around the space means risking your drink spilling all over your brand new cocktail dress.

On the other hand, an area that’s too large might mean feeling like you’re walking a mile before you can call out to friends you saw from the other side of the event space. Too much space between attendees can be just as awkward as not enough.

All of those scenarios indicate how important it is to plan your event with the right tent. The good news is that if you’ve decided to go with a tented event, you’ve got options. Tents come in a variety of sizes (and even styles) so you’re highly likely to find one that will work for your event.

It’s just about finding the right one.

Pop Up Tents vs Peak Tents

Don’t worry — this is one of those decisions that should be pretty clear once you understand some of the details.

Pop up tents are easy.

Casual and functional, they’re fast and easy for setting up and taking down, simpler in shape, and cost-effective. Because of their limited sizes, these are best for casual events and small gatherings.

Peak tents are a bigger deal. Heavy-duty and solid, these tents are a bit more complex for setups and breakdowns and are a bigger investment. That being said, they’re excellent for almost any size of group from small to large, can be dressed up or kept simple, and you’ve got more options for sizing. These are best for larger or more formal events.

At this point you’re probably leaning one way or the other. An elegant wedding in a garden setting? Go with the peak tent. Tailgating party for 25 of your closest buddies? A couple of peak tents or pop-ups might be perfect.

And if you’re still unsure exactly which tent to choose, we’ve got you covered…

Consider These 3 Things Before Choosing a Tent for Your Event

While the benefits certainly speak for themselves, you still have to choose. Which means weighing all the details and considering multiple options before you know exactly what you need.

Here are the top three things you should take into account when choosing your event tent.

Number of guests

Like we’ve already mentioned, your tent should easily accommodate the number of guests you anticipate… but not overly so. A too small tent can inhibit natural flow and increase discomfort, while a tent that’s much too big may feel awkward and negatively impact the flow.

Flow

Speaking of flow, you’ll want a tent that complements your plans and layout for the evening. Want cocktail hour to easily transition to dinner? Want dancing to start right after dinner? No matter how your event unfolds, you need a tent to accommodate the physical flow and the timing of the event schedule.

Event components

“Event components” means all the physical things you must include to make your event successful. Think things like buffet tables, display areas, screens, dance floors, platforms, bars, DJ booths, etc. All these elements need to be accounted for when determining the size and style of your event tent. This isn’t rocket science, but it IS very important: The more components, the bigger the tent, so make sure you know how much space you need for those components.

Tent Details That Add (Or Create) The Guest Experience

Tents aren’t simply one type or the other. Some details will impact ambience, visual aesthetics, and practicalities. Primarily, you need to consider swagging and lighting.

When we talk about swagging, we mean how the fabric drapes over the tents interior frame. The height of the fabric drop on peak tents can be varied. So if you wanted a more luxurious feel to amp up the aesthetics, a higher drop can be created. On the other hand, if you wanted less drama, a shorter height can keep things simple.

It’s all about matching the vision you have for your event. So consider other details as well, like the color of your tent and the other practicalities that come with tented events. For example, do you need light fixtures in the tent? PAR lights, string lights, chandeliers, and up lights are options that you can choose but also need to complement the swagging of your tent.

This tent size guide is a great place to start. Even if you have a good idea about which size you need, make sure you discuss the above elements with us or your event planner. Whether you’re renting from us directly or working with a planner, you’ll be pointed the right direction and get clarity on details so you can make an informed decision.

Looking For The Perfect Tent?

As an event rental company, tents are one of our specialties. Our team knows how to set you up with a tent that will create the perfect event space for your next event, and can even connect you to other vendors to help make your event smooth and successful.

Reach out, and let us help you choose the perfect event tent today.