The following are the standard industry formulas used to calculate what size tent and dance floor will be needed while insuring adequate space for any special event.

1st – Determine how many guests will be attending your wedding.

2nd – Determine the type of wedding your are planning:
Type:                                                         Calculate:
Stand up Cocktail                                     6 square feet per person
Cocktail some seating                              8 square feet per person
Sit-down dinner at 8’ banquet tables       10 square feet per person
Sit-down dinner at 5’ round tables           12 square feet per person

3rd -  Additional uses of space to consider and add to the above calculated number are:
If you are having:                       Add:
Dance floor                                    5 square feet per person
3 piece band                              100 square feet
5 piece band                              250 square feet
7 piece band                              300 square feet
12 piece band                            450 square feet
DJ area                                        200 square feet
Buffet area /lines                      100 square feet per 50 guests
Beverage service area                50 square feet each

Keep in mind that generally no more than half of your guests will be dancing at one time.
That’s 50% of your guests and each couple requires 10 square feet.   So if you’ve got 100 guests,
You’ve got 50 couples.   Next you split this number in half because no more than half will be dancing
at one time.  This gives you 25 couples.  Next multiply 25 x 10 square feet per couple equals  a 250
square foot dance floor.

4th – You will then add all your calculations to determine the total square footage for the required tent size needed for a comfortable affair.  Always lean toward larger for a comfortable affair.

A reputable tent company will always send a representative to do a survey of the area to be tented at no
extra cost. The representative will measure the proposed area to be tented, check the slope of the land and
surrounding area so that proper tent recommendations can be made.   These calculations are not
meant to substitute the actual tent company’s survey and recommendations.  These calculations are
meant to help you understand some logistics that go into having a tented wedding.

Submitted By: Stella Inserra
Stella Inserra is the principal event consultant of Simply Dazzling Events, a New York based wedding & event planning company. She is a featured planner on E! Style Network’s hit show, ‘Who’s Wedding is It Anyway?’