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Renting Dishware and China
No matter what type of event you are planning, from a casual garden brunch to a business luncheon to an elegant evening dinner, the right dishware and china is essential to serve refreshments. Whether you are offering simple nibbles, an easy buffet, or a full multi-course meal, renting dishes and china is a convenient option to serve your guests in style.
Why Rent Dishes and China?
There are many ways to gather dishes to serve all your guests at any type of event. For smaller gatherings, you might have enough china, silverware, and serving dishes in your own kitchen cabinets, or you could gather potluck offerings from friends, neighbors, and relatives. Disposable dishes such as paper or foam plates, bowls, and cups are another option, and there’s no denying they can be affordable and cleanup is a snap. But renting dishware and china can really make your event even easier and more elegant, and there are many reasons why you ought to consider renting rather than buying, borrowing, or tossing your event’s dishes.
- Sustainability – With environmental stewardship and plastic waste of ever more growing concern, renting dishes is a more responsible and sustainable option, as they can be reused many times before needing disposal.
- Elegance – Even simple, plain china is more elegant and professional than the highest quality disposable items. When renting dishware, you can even opt for more elite patterns and signature pieces than would be possible with a purchasing budget.
- Consistency – When you rent dishware and china, you’re sure to have enough matching pieces for your entire event, no matter how large the guest list. Even if your guest list fluctuates before your event is finalized, your rental order can be adjusted.
- Specialty Needs – If your event will need a special type of serving dish, display station, specialty utensils, or other unusual gear, it can be difficult to find the right options for purchase. Rental companies, on the other hand, can meet all your dishware needs with ease.
- Affordability – Instead of blowing your event budget on dishware and china you will only use one time, renting dishes is much more affordable and you don’t need to worry about storing them after the event has finished.
- Less Risk – While you may incur breakage fees if you accidentally break a rental dish, you won’t be risking your personal best china, heirloom family dishes, or other sentimental pieces that you would if you were using your own dishware.
- Easier Cleanup – Though rental agreements differ, you generally do not need to thoroughly clean china and dishes before returning them to the rental company, since they will need to be professionally cleaned and sanitized. Scraping food off the dishes is often required, but you won’t need to do any more detailed cleaning, which saves you a great deal of work after the event.
Tips for Renting Dishes and China for Your Event
Once you decide to rent china, serving dishes, barware, glasses, utensils, and other dishware for your event, it is helpful to plan thoroughly and fully understand the terms of your rental so there are no surprises.
- Reserve Early Make your dishware and china rentals as early as possible to secure the proper quantity, best selection, and best prices. The closer your event is, the bigger the risk that a rental company will not be able to fulfill your needs, but you will have much better flexibility if you rent early.
- Know Your Head Count When you’re ready to rent, know the proper head count for your event so you can reserve the right number of dishes. Most companies will allow you to make changes to your order, though the cutoff deadline for changes can vary based on the season, the size of your order, and the stock available. Also be prepared to break your head count down if necessary, such as how many guests are adults and how many are children, so different dishes can be properly reserved.
- Know Your Menu Different menus may require different types of cutlery, serving dishes, or plate sizes. Having a general idea of your menu when you make your rental reservations will ensure you have all the proper dishware and serving pieces for your event.
- Understand Rental Terms Before you sign the rental agreement, be sure you understand the terms and conditions. This should include pickup and delivery arrangements, fees for breakage, cleanup conditions, how to change your order, payment deposit requirements, and other important considerations.
- Consider Extra Costs Note any extra costs in your rental contract, such as if there is a surcharge should you require delivery upstairs, a day early, or for professional setup. Many companies require minimum rental orders, and there may be extra costs for certain types of contract changes after your reservation is made.
- Coordinate with the Décor Choose the proper dishware and china to coordinate with your event. You may be able to select from different colors or opt for different styles of dishes that can best suit your needs, giving your event a more refined, coordinated look with ease.
- Pack Carefully When you’ve finished with the rental dishes, pack them carefully for return. They will come with racks and boxes as needed, but improperly packed dishes can break when transported and you will be charged for that damage. Similarly, be sure all the dishes are accounted for when they are returned so you do not have any penalties for lost or missing pieces.
Renting dishware and china is an easy way to outfit your event with everything you may need, from serving platters, chafers, and utensils to table settings, barware, and cutlery. With so many benefits from renting, there’s no reason not to enjoy the convenience and sophistication of coordinated tables, elegant place settings, and beautiful china for every event you host.
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