If your company event is in three weeks and nobody has picked shirts yet, the clock is already moving. That is usually when people start searching for how to order event shirts and realize there are more decisions involved than expected - sizes, artwork, print method, budget, approval, and delivery all have to line up.

For business buyers in Salt Lake City and across the Wasatch Front, the fastest way to keep an apparel order on track is to make a few key decisions early. You do not need to be an apparel expert. You do need a clear headcount, a realistic timeline, and a basic sense of what the shirts need to do for your team.

How to order event shirts for your company

Start with the purpose of the event, not the shirt color. A 5K staff volunteer shirt, a trade show giveaway tee, and a polished employee polo for a corporate event are all different orders. The right garment depends on how the shirts will be used, who will wear them, and whether the goal is visibility, professionalism, comfort, or all three.

That first decision affects everything else. If your team will be outdoors all day, lightweight moisture-wicking options may make more sense than basic cotton. If the event is customer-facing, embroidery on polos or quarter-zips might fit the setting better than a printed T-shirt. If you are ordering for a nonprofit fundraiser or school event, budget may drive the choice toward a reliable cotton tee with a clean screen print.

The mistake we see most often is ordering based on what sounds good in a meeting rather than what works in the field. A shirt can look great on a mockup and still be the wrong fit for your event.

Get your quantities and sizes right before artwork

Before anyone debates fonts or ink colors, get a working count. For business orders, that means knowing how many employees, volunteers, staff members, or participants need shirts and whether you need extras for late additions. Since our minimum for decorated apparel is 12 pieces, that part is usually straightforward for company and event orders.

Sizes matter more than most buyers expect. If your company has ordered apparel before, use that history. If not, ask department leads or team managers to collect sizes directly instead of guessing. Guessing leads to leftovers in the wrong sizes and not enough of the sizes people actually wear.

It also helps to separate required wearers from optional wearers. Your event staff may need a guaranteed shirt count, while giveaway or backup shirts can be estimated. That keeps your budget focused on the people who must be outfitted.

Choose the garment with the print method in mind

Not every decoration method fits every garment or event goal. This is where a good apparel partner should guide the order instead of just taking it.

Screen printing is usually the best fit for larger runs when you want strong color, good durability, and cost efficiency. If your event shirts need a bold front design for a company picnic, race crew, or promotional giveaway, screen printing is often the cleanest option. We also offer Pantone color matching for screen printing, which matters when your brand colors need to stay consistent.

Embroidery works well for polos, jackets, hats, and other pieces where a more finished branded look makes sense. For employee apparel at a conference, client event, or golf tournament, embroidery often feels more professional than a large printed graphic. We can match thread colors closely to your brand, which helps when consistency matters across your team.

DTF and DTG are useful when the artwork is more detailed or full-color, or when the garment and design call for a different approach than screen printing. The right choice depends on fabric type, quantity, and art complexity. That is one of those areas where it depends. A detailed logo with gradients may point you in one direction, while a simple two-color event print may point in another.

If you are not sure which method fits, that is normal. Most business buyers are not expected to know the production side. What helps is sharing the event type, quantity, garment preference, and artwork goals up front.

Artwork can speed up or slow down the whole job

A lot of event shirt delays start with the art file, not the printing schedule. If your company has a clean logo file, approved brand colors, and a clear idea of placement, the process moves faster. If the logo is pulled from a website screenshot or pasted into a Word document, there is usually more cleanup involved.

For event shirts, keep the design practical. Ask what the shirt needs to communicate at a glance. Company name, event name, sponsor recognition, staff identification, or department distinction are all common priorities. Trying to fit all of them at equal size usually creates a cluttered shirt.

Simple usually wins. A left chest logo and one strong back print often work better than covering every available print location. More decoration areas can increase cost and complexity, and they are not always adding value.

Approval matters too. One person on your team should own the final signoff. When feedback comes from five different departments, shirt orders tend to stall.

Build your timeline backward from the event date

If you want to know how to order event shirts without stress, start with the date the shirts need to be in hand, not the date you want to place the order. There is a difference.

Our standard turnaround is 12 business days from artwork approval, and we often finish sooner, but approval time is still part of the schedule. So are garment availability, size confirmation, and internal decision-making on your side. If your event is on a Friday, you do not want the shirts arriving that same morning.

A safer plan is to build in buffer time for sorting, distribution, and any last-minute headcount changes. Rush orders are available, but rush should be the backup plan, not the standard process. The earlier you finalize artwork and quantities, the more options you usually have on garments and decoration.

This is especially true during busy seasons when schools, sports teams, nonprofits, and companies across the Wasatch Front are all ordering event apparel at the same time.

Budget for the whole order, not just the shirt

When buyers compare options, they often focus only on the base garment price. That is understandable, but it is not the full picture. Quantity, number of print locations, ink count, garment style, and decoration method all affect the final cost.

Sometimes a slightly better shirt is the smarter business decision. If your employees will wear it again after the event, that extends the value of the order. If the shirt is only meant for one-day use, then keeping the garment practical may make more sense.

It also helps to decide early whether your company is providing all shirts for staff, offering optional extras, or using some pieces for giveaways. That keeps the order aligned with the event budget instead of drifting upward through small add-ons.

Most clients also find it more cost effective to have us provide the garments rather than sourcing blanks themselves. We are happy to work with supplied garments if preferred, but when we provide the apparel, it usually simplifies ordering and helps avoid surprises with fabric compatibility or inconsistent styles.

Ask the questions that prevent rework

A solid quote process should answer the practical issues before production starts. You should know what garment is being ordered, what sizes are included, how the design will be decorated, where the artwork will be placed, and when the order is expected to be ready.

If your event includes different groups, say so early. Staff shirts, volunteer shirts, sponsor apparel, and executive polos may all need separate treatments. It is easier to organize that on the front end than to revise the order halfway through.

For companies in South Jordan, Salt Lake City, and nearby areas, this is where working with a local team helps. You can talk through options with people who handle these orders every day and know where event apparel orders usually get stuck.

A smoother order starts with better information

The easiest event shirt orders are not always the simplest. They are the ones where the buyer has the key details ready: event date, estimated quantity, garment type, logo files, decoration goals, and approval contact. Once that is clear, the rest gets much easier.

Our team has been helping businesses, schools, nonprofits, and event organizers with custom apparel since 2003. We handle screen printing, embroidery, DTF, and DTG, and we can help your company choose the right option based on budget, timeline, and how the shirts will actually be used.

If you are planning event shirts for your team and want a clear quote without guesswork, call (801) 260-0606 or visit affordable-printing.com/request-a-quote/ to get a free quote.

How to Order Event Shirts Without Mistakes