Event Planning Advice

Follow Our Tips to Ensure Your Event Goes Smoothly

In over 25 years of experience, AA Tent Company has seen it all, and we know where event planning can break down. Failing to provide enough shelter for your guests results in crowding, spilled food and drinks, and short tempers.

We've provided some tips to help you ensure that your event is fully prepared for your guests and the type of service you provide. If you have any questions, please email us for a FREE on-site consultation.

Our experienced staff will go over these basic questions with you during the consultation. We will make helpful suggestions to guide you through the process of determining what is needed to make your next event a success.

Important Event Planning Considerations

What size tent do you need to accommodate your guests?

• How many people will be attending the event? This will determine the size of tent you need.

What else will be inside the tent?

• Will you have serving tables, drink bars, dance floors, or reception areas? All of these options will increase the square footage you need in your tent.
• Will guests be seated in rows of chairs (cathedral seating), or will they be at tables and chairs?
• Will the tables be round or rectangular?

What's the location like?

• How large is the area? In smaller areas, multiple tents can be connected and arranged in multiple shapes. Individual tents can be dedicated to different usages, like serving areas, seating, and dancing.
• What surface is the tent being set up on?
• Is the ground level?
• Are there any tree branches that will interfere?

Calculating the Necessary Square Footage

• Cathedral seating (rows of chairs) — Please allow at least 10 square feet per person. This will help your guests walk around the area easily.
• Table seating — Please allow at least 15 square feet per person. This gives adequate room to arrange tables, round or rectangular, in a casual arrangement. More tables can be squeezed in with a more structured table placement (long, straight rows with minimal aisles for movement).
• Dance floors — The typical dance floor comes in 4' x 4' sections that are usually set up in 12' x 16', 16' x 16', 20' x 16', or 20' x 20' arrangements.
• Stages — Stages generally come in a wide variety of sizes and heights in 5" intervals of both length and width. There are 6" increments in height, as well.
• Drink bars — Bars vary, but generally allow for approximately 200 square feet. Please allow room for guests standing at the bar to receive their drinks.
• Rectangular serving tables — Rectangular serving tables are normally 2' wide by 8' long. Usually, an extra 3 feet of clearance around the table is necessary for guests to be able to serve themselves or for caterers to serve your guests.

We've created some handy layouts to show you how our tents can be arranged. Please visit our Layouts & Schematics page to see them and our standard tent sizes.