Reception Tent Problem

Cut the guest list or use a different venue.

You need either another rental place with a bigger tent or a second tent.

Can you rent a 2nd tent? Maybe have the buffet setup in the 2nd tent, so everyone can still be seated together?

Otherwise, call other rental places in your area to find one with a larger tent.

Cutting the guest list is going to be hard but it may come to that. We have already cut it once. How do two tents work? Rent a smaller one and connect? I have never done any type of thing like this before.

I like the idea of the buffet being set up in another tent. That is a great idea. I honestly never thought of a second tent before.

Two of the same size length wise

Tent size calculator http://americanpartyrentals.com/resources/tent-size-calculator/

I am dealing with tents and have spent a lot of time on allseated.com figuring out layouts. I suggest you go there and play around with your potential floor plans. You can draw whatever shape venue floorplan and then place tables, bars, chairs, buffet tables, dance floors, etc. The side yard off the Victorian house for my reception has a flat area of 80' x 100,' but there are 2 large trees. I worked out a plan using allseated.com and oldfashioned stakes and string, to connect 4 20' x 40' tents in a j shape around the 2 trees. I am putting the bar around this huge maple, and it should look very cool. Fingers crossed no rain for that to work as it would only be under tree shade coverage.

Connecting tents should work for you. You will need to spend time working out how best to attach them and still have it feel like a purposeful cohesive space. My rental company did warn me that a hard rain would likely seep through the connecting sides. They have gutters to help prevent this as much as possible, though. You need to make sure you clarify how the tents are staked to the ground. If they require too much of an angle, the guy lines could prevent the 2 tents from fully abutting.

If I get more RSVPs then expected, I also have space to run another 20' x 40.' The only thing that sucks about connecting the tents is that it means there are a couple poles on the sides where they connect obstructing the visual line. It does not matter so much for my tents because the large trees would block clear sites anyway.

I've seen seating plans on Pinterest!

I think you'll definitely need a 2nd tent, especially if you want a dance floor. This pic is a 30 X 60 and not even close to 200. Pinterest has sample tent layouts for more reference.

Thank you, ladies!!!

The tent rental company should know better. They should be able to do this for you, if they're worth a darn. I used to work for a company in Louisiana that did it and they took care of all of that for the customer, including the dance floor, tables, chairs, fans, etc. See if you can find someone who will do everything.

I talked to my rental company today and he added a second tent. I have been all over allseated.com

That site is heaven sent!