As lovers of the art of the party, we are always thinking about what makes a good party. Understanding the event industry is part of the job, but it got us thinking… How do professional event planners go about selecting party rentals for an event? What does that process look like?
Enter Alchemy Events. These ladies provide a host of services, including event production, day-of coordination, venue location and consulting. They have it down to a time-tested formula and naturally, we need to know how they’d go about choosing their top 5 essential party rentals. So, we reached out to Richelle of Alchemy Events and requested she step out from behind the curtain and break it down for us.
What say you, Richelle?
Next to selecting a venue, the furniture and decor are key in setting the tone for your event. If you’ve chosen a theme for your event, you’ll want to make sure your pieces feel cohesive and fit within the space aesthetically (and physically!)
Here’s a list of the items we think are a top priority when choosing event rentals:
1. Cocktail tables
For almost any event, it’s nice to have cocktail tables to decorate the space. They act as a natural gathering area for guests and provide a place to place food and/or drink. (I know I’m not the only one who has had an awkward time balancing a cocktail glass while trying to hold a plate of food and take a bite!)
2. Dining tables & chairs
Next up, tables and chairs. Spatially, they take up most of the room on the floor and therefore set the tone of the design. Standard 6 foot tables and linens get the job done but can be a bit tired, so I love harvest tables and/or something fun like Moontower’s Palm Leaf cafe tables as a statement item!
3. Lounge
Our clients don’t always have a budget for it, but I almost always push for a lounge, if only a small one. Besides providing additional seating for guests, it’s an interesting and easy way to build out a strong decor theme. Party at the Moontower has already done a lot of the work for you by curating gorgeous groupings of furniture with a variety of themes. I love that we can choose items a-la-carte as needed, or rely on their design expertise when putting together a lounge area. (Protip: Lounges are easy to brand as a VIP experience and/or provide additional value for event sponsors.)
4. Lighting
This should maybe be higher on the list, though it’s definitely a “nice to have” when the budget allows. I’ve always believed the number one way to impact a space is with lighting. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to bring a lot of color and texture to a room, and can completely transform the mood of a space. It’s like magic!
5. Bar
What’s a party without a bar?! One of my favorite items for really elevating an event is a bar that matches the rest of the decor. We’ve used this Americano Wood Bar several times and our clients and guests love seeing a custom design, logo, or menu on the furniture!
We could keep going (and often get to when designing events for our clients!) with items such as plants, tents, tableware, etc. The most important point is making sure that as you add party rentals to your list, make sure they fit the overall look and feel in order to really make an impression on your guests.
Happy Planning!
~ Richelle // @AlchemyEvents.Co.
