Planning an event, whether a wedding, corporate gathering, or festival, requires ample attention to detail—that includes picking the right commercial party tent. The perfect tent does more than just provide shelter for your guests. It guarantees comfort and functionality and adds to the event’s aesthetic appeal.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key factors to consider when choosing a commercial party tent, including types, materials, and customization.
Types of Commercial Grade Tents
An excellent commercial-grade tent should be durable, flexible, customizable, and easy to use. Here are the different types of commercial-grade tents to consider for your event:
Mixed Party Tents
Mixed party tents can combine various tent designs and styles, including A-frame, multi-side, polygon tents, and so on to meet different venue requirements. For instance, you can install an elegant peak pagoda to welcome guests and utilize a polygonal tent for the main event area.
A-Frame Tents
If you prioritize nostalgia and budget-friendliness, an A-frame tent may be the best option for your commercial event. These versatile and flexible tents offer exceptional weather resistance—ideal for areas with a lot of wind and snow.
A-frame tents are typically smaller than most other party tents, so they are best for intimate weddings and small family gatherings.
Polygon Tents
Are you looking for a tent for long-term use, such as an extended showroom or outreach center? If so, a polygon tent’s quick setup and versatile applications can fulfill your needs. These tents boast a multi-curved design that is just as stable and robust as it is aesthetically pleasing.
Polygon tents are also easily weatherproofed with water-resistant roofing and sidewalls, ensuring total comfort and safety.
High-Peak Tent
As its name suggests, a high-peak tent has a distinctive peak in its center, creating a spacious and airy interior. These tents are considered among the most fashionable, perfect for elegant gatherings and high-production events. They have excellent air circulation, preventing heat buildup, and high comfort levels.
Frame Tent
Frame tents are the perfect combination of durability and functionality. They offer a clear and unobstructed interior space, ideal for dividing into multiple functional areas or accommodating a high volume of people. These tents are also easy to install, requiring only two to three people to assemble them in one day. These tents are also among the most versatile, varying in size and appearance.
10 Essential Tips for Choosing the Perfect Commercial Party Tent
Choosing the perfect commercial party tent means choosing something practical, versatile, aesthetically pleasing, and durable. Here are ten go-to tips when shopping for a commercial party tent.
Determine the Type of Event You’re Hosting
Consider your event’s purpose. Is it a wedding? Are you hosting a corporate function? Different events require different looks. For example, a formal event might need something more elegant-looking, such as a high-peak tent, whereas frame tents are ideal for something simpler with unrestricted space.
Estimate the Guest Count
Knowing how many people you anticipate will attend your event will dictate how much space you need. As a general guideline, you should allot ten square feet of space per person for a seated event and five to six square feet for a standing-only event.
Consider space for amenities and fixtures to ensure comfort, like dining tables, a dance floor, merchandise areas, or a DJ booth. Typically, mixed party tents and polygon tents are suitable for larger parties. Frame tents and high-peak tents are better for intimate gatherings.
Factor in the Event Venue
Setting up a commercial tent requires adequate space and suitable ground conditions. For instance, beaches and muddy areas require more stakes for reinforcement because the ground is soft—weights alone do not provide enough stability. Hard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete are usually fixed with weights (tent ballasting systems) because heavy stakes will damage the ground. If stakes are used on such hard surfaces, obtaining permission from the site owner in advance may be necessary.
Fortunately, Shelter Structures offers many grounding methods suitable for all surfaces, whether on rocky or soft ground. Depending on the method used, however, this may have an effect on price.
Another consideration regarding the event venue is accessibility. Before choosing your tent size and shape, consider access points for guests and service staff.
Finalize your Budget
As with any event, you must consider all costs, including how much you’ll have to chalk up for rental fees, delivery charges, setup, and the necessary permits. From there, you can determine how much you need for a particular tent.
Generally, canopy-type tents are the most affordable because of their size and simple setup, while industrial and warehouse-type tents are the most costly.
Check for Round-the-Clock Functionality
How long your event goes on can influence your choice of tent more than you might anticipate. If transitioning from a day event to an evening gathering, you’ll need a translucent or clear PVC fabric tent that lets in natural light during the day and has lighting features to work properly for night events.
Depending on the season and location, you must also review heating and cooling options. Shelter Structures tents can be equipped with HAVC to regulate temperature. All Shelter Structures’ tents are also highly weather-resistant and can withstand winds up to 120 km/h, whether you need to protect your guests from hot sun or heavy rains.
Assess Weather Resistance
Bad weather is every outdoor event’s worst enemy. Fortunately, all Shelter Structures’ tents are waterproof, but you should still consider other elements like heat and wind. Choose a tent with high-quality and weather-resistant materials like polyester, canvas, Silnylon, and Dyneema composite fabric.
Ensure User-Friendly Setup and Portability
If you have limited time or staffing, it’s essential to choose a user-friendly tent that requires minimal setup efforts. A-frame tents, frame tents, and high-peak tents are typically the easiest to set up, as they have basic designs or are pre-assembled. That being said, the the simple structure, lightweight frame, and prefabrication provided by Shelter Structures allow them to be constructed in a matter of days.
If you plan to use the tent for multiple events in different locations, you should also consider portability.
Evaluate Lighting and Ventilation
Even daytime events require appropriate lighting. To give your event flair, go beyond functionality and add decorative lighting.
Your lights should match your tent style. For example, if you’re hosting an elegant event like a wedding, you might choose a high-peak tent with chandeliers. If you’re hosting something more rustic, you might choose a frame tent with fairy lights.
Ask for Available Additional Features
List the additional features you need for your event. If you want something customizable, many tent manufacturers offer extra features like sidewalls, heating units, flooring, and branding opportunities.
Your tent should also complement accessories like furniture, decorations, and additional equipment. While all Shelter Structures’ tents are weatherproof and have good circulation, you should find a vendor that offers temperature control to maximize your space.
Ensure Compliance with Safety Regulations
So, you think you’ve found the perfect tent—does it adhere to your area’s regulations? While requirements vary depending on the size and make of the tent, you’ll typically need a fire department, building department, health department, and special event permit.
Shelter Structures’ selection of tents has high safety standards. Many of them feature flame-retardant materials, including the flat roof tent, G Series Industrial Tent, and Arcum Clear Span Tent Building.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right commercial party tent is more than a practical and functional choice. It’s an investment in your event’s success. By determining the event type, reviewing your guest list, and considering your event venue, you can make choosing a commercial party tent that much easier.
Whether hosting an intimate wedding or going all out with a loud and bold festival, Shelter Structures has a wealth of tent choices for your event. Explore our vast options to find the perfect commercial party tent for your event!
