Zoe, Author at DIY Wedding Tips

Rental Dishes For A Party

Today, we’re going to be looking at rental dishes for a party or wedding. This may not even be something you’ve thought of, but it can be very important! You may be asking, why would I need a dishware rental for my wedding? Well, depending on your venue, it may be something you need to provide. And renting is definitely the cheaper alternative. Let’s take a closer look.

Why Dinnerware Rentals?

If your venue requires you to use your own dinnerware, it can take up quite a large part of your wedding budget. There’s a range of reasons why it’s better to rent than buy your own.

Price – It may seem cheaper to buy plates yourself, especially as you can reuse them after, but most of the time it works out cheaper to rent them out.
Space – For example, if you have 100 guests, what would you possibly do with that many plates after the wedding? Where would you store them? Logistically, hiring them out would be much more convenient.
Time – On the day, transporting that many plates and then setting them up would take up a lot of time, especially if you’re doing it yourself. However, most rental companies will deliver your dinnerware on the day and help you set up.
Aesthetic – The bonus of renting is that you can choose your own designs. It doesn’t have to be a standard white plate, you can go wild and choose dishes to match the theme and vibe of your wedding.

Things to Consider

There’s a number of factors to bear in mind when choosing a rental company. Let’s go through some of the most important ones.

How many? – I’m not just talking about guests here! While it’s obviously most important to know how many guests are in attendance, you also need to bear in mind how many courses you’ll be having. It may sound obvious, but you will need a plate for every course, for every guest. For example, if you have 100 guests, and a 3-course meal – you’re going to need at least 300 plates (plus a few extra for potential breakages, etc.). Or to keep the cost down, you could hire someone to wash plates in between courses.
Food – If you’re having a 3 course sit-down meal, you’ll need far more dinnerware than if you’re having a buffet, for example. Also, having desserts like cupcakes would mean you may need less plates for that course. I can’t be the only one that doesn’t need a plate for a cupcake, right?
What are you Buying? – Is it just dishes you’re renting? Or will you need cutlery, glasses, charger plates too? All of those additional items will take an extra chunk out of your budget.
The Look – Do you want it to look formal, or something more casual? It may be worth deciding on how you want the look of your dinnerware to be before you start your search. This will make the search much easier.
Date – It’s important not to leave booking the rental until the last minute. Summer months are popular for weddings (June, July, August) and if you don’t book it early enough (6 months is recommended), there may not be many options available.

Where to Find Companies?

Google is your oyster when it comes to finding companies. Finding a company will all depend on the area you live in, as most companies deliver themselves. If you put in a simple “rental dishes (insert area here)”, you’ll likely receive a lot of hits!

USA Party Rental is what I’ve chosen for my example. It’s easy to navigate and choose what you’re looking for. You can sort by price and compare product prices and looks. There’s a range of colors and styles, and prices start from just $0.50. Naturally, the prices increase depending on how fancy you want your dinnerware to be.

Cost of Dishware Rental

Like with anything, without knowing how many guests and courses you’re having, it’s impossible for me to predict how much your tableware will cost to rent. However, working out the average cost can be made easier when using websites such as Weddings Cost Helper.

Weddings Cost Helper estimates that if you’re looking for something simple, it’s around $4 per head. If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, it’s around $5.50 per head. And if you’re looking for something extravagant, it’s around $7.50 ahead. Depending on how many guests you have, that’s quite a knock to your wedding budget!

Those figures are based on each guest needing cutlery, wine glasses, a bread plate, a salad plate, a dinner plate, a cup, saucer, and dessert plate. If you’re not needing all of the above or having fewer courses – of course, the price will be cheaper.

Something else to bear in mind is that companies may charge you extra for delivery or fuel, especially if you’re venue is a considerable distance away from their base. Always keep a bit extra aside in the budget to make allowances for this.

Remember, if your venue provides all-inclusive catering, renting doesn’t even need to cross your mind as it will all be sorted for you. Or you may want to opt for disposables – that really would keep the cost of the wedding down. Luckily for me, when I got married, I didn’t have any additional extras like this as everything was included!

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to navigate rental dishes for a party or wedding. It may seem overwhelming, but as long as you’re organized and get things arranged early enough – your wedding will be as stress-free as possible. And you’ll hopefully have some gorgeous dinnerware to flaunt.

Did you rent dinnerware for your wedding? How did you find the process? Was it more or less expensive than you were anticipating? I would love to know your thoughts. Please feel free to leave your answers in the comments below.

Read more about Chair Bows For Wedding Receptions.

Renting A Restaurant For A Wedding

Today, we’re going to be taking a closer look at renting a restaurant for a wedding. But first, we must look at some important deciding factors when choosing a venue. For example, what’s the cost? How do you find one? We’ll be answering all of those questions today.

Having a Restaurant Wedding Reception

When you’re renting a restaurant for your wedding/wedding reception, there are a few things you may want to consider and decide on when choosing your venue.

You may choose a restaurant for your wedding reception because it has sentimental value for you and your partner. For example, it may be where you and your partner got engaged. Or, it may be because wedding receptions at restaurants can actually be the cheaper option, depending on where you choose. This is great if you’re working on a tight budget.

Tips on Deciding on a Venue

Here’s a few things to consider when you’re choosing your dream venue:

Budget – Before you even begin your search, have a budget in mind for how much you’re able to spend. The price will depend on how much space you’d like, how many guests you have, which day you have your wedding on, and if you’d like exclusive use of the venue. This can all be discussed with the manager/events organizer of the restaurant usually. Be firm with your budget once you’ve decided on an amount.
Décor – Restaurants are already set up in their own design. It may be tricky to make your wedding reception feel authentically yours if you aren’t able to put up decorations or add some wedding flourishes. Be sure to check if you can do this before you book; especially if it’s important to you.
Parking – At a wedding, most people will be driving to you. Be sure to check that there’s enough parking spaces available for your wedding party. This is especially important if you have lots of guests.
Food – You’ve likely chosen a restaurant because you and your partner are big foodies. If you’re choosing a restaurant you’ve not been to before, make sure you sample the food! This one should go without saying, but you don’t want to book a venue and then find the food isn’t to your liking.
Cake – A traditional wedding cake is important to some couples. However, some restaurants may not allow you to serve food at their establishment. An alternative to this is asking if the restaurant can provide a wedding cake for you.

Most of these tips are all about good communication with your chosen venue. As long as you feel comfortable with your point of contact at the venue – everything should run smoothly.

Cost of a Restaurant Wedding Reception

There’s no doubt about it, depending on which restaurant you choose – restaurant wedding receptions can be expensive! Whenever a wedding is mentioned, prices usually skyrocket. For example, if you ask a bakery for a wedding cake, as opposed to a birthday cake – they’ll often charge you more, even for the same style cake!

So if you’re researching how many restaurants are, be sure to tell them it’s a wedding – as they just might have an additional charges. It’s frustrating but necessary to tell them.

It’s impossible to give you a price of how much you’re reception would cost without knowing where you’re booking. Depending on which area you’d like the restaurant to be in, the size of your venue, and how many guests you have, are all deciding factors on how much it will end up costing.

Value Penguin have estimates for each type of wedding venue – restaurants included! They estimate that if you’re wanting something more modest, you’ll be looking at around $2,000. If you’re wanting something more extravagant, it can be around $22,000. The difference is astounding!

Restaurants to Have a Wedding Reception

But how do you find out which restaurants offer a wedding reception service without manually having to research every restaurant? Well, you don’t have to worry about that as there are plenty of search tools online to make the whole process easier for you.

Wedding Wire is a great search tool. All you need to do is enter your selected area and it will list all available options – it really is that simple. You can enter your chosen date, how many guests, the settings, and amenities. Ones that match your chosen requirements then show up with contact details.

What I love about this website is that it also has a section to support diversity when narrowing your selection down. This may be important if you’re a same-sex couple and would like your reception to be owned by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

This website isn’t just open for the US, it’s international too. So wherever you are in the world, this website is a fantastic tool.

If Wedding Wire isn’t for you, try not to worry – there’s a plethora of search tools. Google is your oyster!

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you learn more about renting a restaurant for a wedding. It can feel overwhelming searching for a venue, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner. Maybe set aside half an hour every evening with your partner to look at venues. It’s important not to do too much in one sitting – it can feel tiresome and like a chore; we certainly don’t want that.

The most important part of your choice is cost, so before you start your searching – keep that price in mind. And remember to enjoy the planning. It’ll be the big day before you know it. Planning was one of my favorite parts of getting married – but I do love organizing things!

Did you have your wedding/wedding reception in a restaurant? Or do you have an upcoming wedding planned in one? What were the deciding factors when choosing your venue? I would love to know. Please feel free to leave your answers in the comments below.

Chair Bows For Wedding Receptions

Today, we’re going to be looking at the different chair bows and chair sashes for wedding receptions that you can find. Whether you’re wanting to try making them yourself, or you’re unsure of what chair bow or sash to opt for – this is the article for you.

There’s a whole host of options available. Whether you’re looking for a subtle way to dress up your chairs, or bling them up to your heart’s content, it can be tricky to decide what to choose. Which color should you choose? Which style bow or sash? Is there a fabric that will work best? Should you tie the bows yourself? It can feel overwhelming, but it certainly doesn’t have to be.

Tips to Help Decide the Right Bow for You

I’ve put together a list of tips to help choose your perfect chair covers and bows.

Color – I’ll assume you’ve chosen the color scheme for your wedding – that’s if you’re even having one! It’s the first thing I decided on when getting married. While most people opt for their chair bows to match their color scheme, you don’t have to do this. Once you’re set on a color, try ordering some different fabrics and color variants to see what you like best.
Cost – Weddings are expensive, there’s no doubt about that. Set a budget – and make sure it’s realistic. For example, if you have $1000 for reception décor, don’t spend $500 on chair covers.
Try it Yourself – This is a DIY blog, so of course, I’m going to suggest doing them yourself (we’ll take a closer look at this later). While it may be time-consuming, it keeps the cost down massively.
Measure the Chairs – This may seem like a strange one – but of course, not all chairs are going to be the same size. Check with your venue what size the chairs will be so you can get the perfect fit.
Decide on Your Material – There are a whole range of materials you could opt for. Organza, satin, taffeta. We’ll look more in-depth at those later.
Hire Them – Did you know that you can hire sashes and bows for your wedding? If you have a large number of guests or simply don’t have the time or money to make and source your own, hiring is a great alternative.

Choosing the Right Material

There are a few materials to choose from and what you choose, will depend on the feel you want your wedding to have. Let’s take a look at the choices.

Organza – This is the material you’ll most often see at weddings. It’s eye-catching and the cheapest option. They look elegant and come in a range of various colors. Organza is sheer and has a smooth finish. It’s also very lightweight.
Satin – If you’ve got more money set aside for your sashes, you may want to opt for satin. The proof satin is that it’s much easier to tie bows with. If you’re doing them yourself, it’s better to work with than materials like organza. Their glossiness and silkiness adds a bit of luxury to your wedding.
Taffeta – The most expensive of them all; high-end and stunning. They’re certainly the most formal choice of them all, and look beautiful with a centerpiece in the middle of the bow, like a brooch.

There are plenty of other materials to choose such as burlap, tulle, lycra, and spandex – but the three above are the most popular and easily accessible.

Finding the Right Chair Sash for Weddings

Surprisingly, there’s a number of ways you can show off your sashes on the big day. While most people opt for the traditional knot, that is just one of the many options available.

The “Traditional” Bow – If your wedding has a very traditional feel about it, or you don’t like veering away from the “norm” at weddings, this bow is perfect. The pros of this one are that it’s quick and easy.
The “Side” Bow – Another easy alternative (probably the easiest of them all). It looks just as elegant as the traditional bow
Double Loop Flower – This one requires time and lots of hands. The end product is stunning and worth the effort, in my opinion.

Here’s a great article where they offer 10 different ways to tie a chair – whether you’re doing it yourself or buying/renting ready-made.

Tying Your Own Bows

Tying your own does take time, but the end result is worth all that effort. As we’ve seen, there’s a range of ways you can tie them – from easy, to more complex. Totally Dazzled has a tutorial (with a video) on how to tie a chair sash bow, which is relatively straightforward. I always prefer learning how to do things by watching, so if you’re like me, this is perfect for you.

Budget Options

I didn’t have much money for my wedding. If you’re the same, you could try these super cute alternatives for chair bows at wedding receptions, to add to your chairs.

Use regular ribbon from your local craft store and make miniature bows
You’ll need a bunch of photos, peg clips, and hessian string. Tie the string round your chairs and clip on a cute photo or two to each chair of you and your partner
Hang a garland round every chair. You can usually buy these in bulk for a reasonable price

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you see the range of options you have when choosing your perfect chair bows and sashes for your wedding. Whatever budget you have, you can make your chairs look gorgeous and blend in with your wedding seamlessly. And just remember, as long as you and your partner are together, your wedding will likely be the day you always dreamed of.

If you have any other tips when choosing or making your own, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. I would love to see them. Sharing is caring!

Types Of Wedding Receptions

Today, we’re going to be looking at the different types of wedding receptions you may like to choose – whatever your budget may be. From the time of day, to which mealtime you’re eating it – there’s a lot to sort when planning your big day. I’m here to show you the types of receptions you could have, and make it easier for you! Let’s take a closer look.

Wedding Reception Formats

There are a range of formats available, ranging from formal to more casual. I went for something in the middle; a choice of 3 main meals you were served at a buffet, and then went to sit at your designated table. However, let’s look at some options you may like.

Sit-Down Meal

The most “traditional” is the sit-down meal. Whereby your food is brought out to you, almost like you’re at a restaurant. It brings an extra piece of luxury to your wedding and is a great way to treat your guests. It’s usually a 3-course meal, but it can be as many, or as few courses as you’d like.

If you’re the couple, it gives you plenty of time to chat to your guests in a calm environment and really make the most of your day, in between the hustle and bustle. Getting married really is tiring! The downside to the sit-down meal is that they’re always the most expensive option. A large portion of your budget would have to be put aside if you’re looking for a 3-course meal for every guest.

Buffet

A cheaper alternative is the buffet. While the food isn’t brought out to you, you still get to spend most of the time sitting down! What I love about buffets is how many choices you have. It’s great if you have a lot of guests with dietary requirements or fussy eaters, as there will be something for everyone.

Another bonus is that there’s so many options to choose from now. Hog roast, BBQ, traditional meals – you can serve anything at a buffet. While it may not be as luxurious as a sit-down meal, the food is usually just as tasty. And the guests often just as happy.

Afternoon Tea

If you’re not looking to be traditional in any way at your wedding, afternoon tea is becoming increasingly popular with recent weddings. Finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and desserts – your guests will certainly be happy. My mom opted for afternoon tea at her wedding and it went down a treat. You can add a glass of champagne/prosecco for every guest to add a bit of luxury for your guests.

If you’re on a tight budget, afternoon tea is a great substitute for a sit-down meal. However, due to how small most of the food is, you may have a few hungry guests later. But that’s nothing a few chips and dips won’t sort out once the party begins!

Hors D’oeuvres/Cocktails

If you like snacking on food with a glass of something alcoholic in one hand, this is the perfect option for you. If you like to talk and want your guests to mingle, this is a great suggestion. It’s also a good idea if you have a lot of guests – that way you can accommodate more people as you won’t need as many tables.

While the price of this one is inviting because of how little you’ll need to buy – again, you may end up with hungry guests in the evening. And not just hungry ones, drunk ones too. If you have an early wedding, this may not be the best option as people may be drunk from very early on in the day.

Brunch

If you’re an early riser, or a nervous bridge/groom – a brunch may be a good idea. You can get married nice and early, then have a brunch with your loved ones. You can really make it fancy, with breakfast items like eggs benedict and mini pastries. Mimosas are the perfect brunch-time drink. You can have a break before the evening party and enjoy the first few hours of married life once you’ve finished eating. Some couples may enjoy this break.

However, if you don’t want to rush getting ready and leisurely enjoy your day, this may not be the right choice for you.

Wedding Reception Styles

There are a range of wedding reception styles you can choose from. And whether you want your reception formal, or something a bit more out there – there’s something for everyone. A few style ideas to consider are:

Romantic – soft lighting, elegant flowers, light colors
Alternative – bright lights, jam jars as centerpieces, copper/gold tones
Chic – lace tablecloths, flower drapes, bunting
Disney – do I need to explain this one? The theme of my wedding was Disney!
Vintage – as long as it looks old and well-loved, anything can be vintage
Modern – block colors, simplistic designs
Whimsical – bright, bold colors, multicolor flowers, balloons – the crazier the better
Rustic – pastel flowers, hessian, jars – anything boho chic

Whatever your style, there’s something for everyone. This article from Brides has a great selection of styles to get you started on your dream wedding.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you see the types of wedding receptions you can have, and how many there are available. This list is by no means exhaustive either. The most important thing to decide before you start is your budget. If your budget is on the smaller side, some options may not be available to you.

You could even have a mix of receptions! You could have a sit-down meal in the daytime and a buffet in the evening. There’s no set rules at so what you should have at your wedding. The most important part is that you and your partner are happy…and enjoy the food, of course!

If you’ve had your wedding, what reception did you go for? If you’re waiting to get married, what are you hoping to have? Let me know in the comments below.

How Many Bottles Of Wine For A Wedding?

A question that comes up time and time again when planning your wedding is, “how many bottles of wine for a wedding?”. There’s a range of factors to take into account when making this decision. And in reality, it really is down to the couple how much they provide on the day.

Me and my husband rarely drink, and both our families know that, so our wedding tables had one bottle of red and bottle of white between 6-8 people. You may not even want to provide alcohol on your big day. Although it’s seen as traditional, it’s your wedding and you can choose what you spend your budget on.

Let’s take a closer look at how to work out how much you’ll need.

How Much Wine to Buy for a Wedding

There are a number of factors to decide on first.

How many glass(es) would you like each guest to have? – Just one, half a bottle, a bottle each? The choice is entirely yours.
Would like red, white, or rose wine? – Guests often prefer a mix. Everyone will always have their favorites. If you’re struggling to decide, add an option of what each guest would prefer on your RSVP slip; that way little will go to waste!
Would you like it put out in the center of the table for guests to serve themselves? – Some people prefer to keep it behind the bar and be brought out throughout the night, or others prefer it in the center of each table for guests to help themselves.
How many guests are you having? – This is definitely the most important question. Until you know the answer to this, it’s almost impossible to predict how much wine you might need.
Will you pay for all of the guests drinks throughout the night? – You may want to just pay for the first drink or two, or provide wine for the entire reception. There is no expectation and you shouldn’t feel any pressure to do this. Just provide what your budget allows.
Will there be other alcohol besides wine available? – If you’re providing other alcohol besides wine, that’s important to factor in. If you’re purchasing two drinks for each guest and buy it all in wine and beer – you may end up with a lot of leftover alcohol!
What is Your Budget? – Almost as important as how many guests is your budget. If your budget only allows one glass per guest, that is absolutely fine and you shouldn’t feel as though you have to provide more.

How Much Wine for a Party of 100?

As we’ve seen, it really all comes down to the individuals, but we’ll take a look at the “average” wedding of 100 guests and the wine you’ll need.

So we’ll say you have 100 guests who all drink wine. The average amount of wine given is around half a bottle per guest (0.5 of a bottle). You can change this depending on how much, or how little your wedding guests are likely to drink. Take it down to 1/3 (0.33 of a bottle), or up to 2/3 (0.66 of a bottle) accordingly.

We’ll do the first calculation based on each guest having half a bottle. All you do is:

100 (guests) x 0.5 (half a bottle of wine each) = 50 (bottles of wine total)

If you’re wanting to give your guests 1/3 of a bottle each (which is the ratio I gave at my wedding), it would be worked out like this:

100 (guests) x 0.33 (1/3 of a bottle of wine each) = 33 (bottles of wine total)

It really is as easy as that! You may want to add on a bottle or two extra. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my own wedding and weddings I’ve attended – there will be spillages. And it’s always best to be prepared for the inevitable. That way your guests will still get their quota, even if there a few spillages. Hey, there’s usually lots of drunk, happy people having a good time – it’s to be expected.

Wedding Wine Calculator

If you’d prefer for a calculator to work it all out for you and the “recommended” amount of wine depending on how long your reception is, you may want to try a wedding wine calculator. There’s a ton available online that will all provide a slightly different outcome – no two seem to be the same!

I’ve chosen the Majestic Wine Calculator to share with you as it’s quick, easy to navigate, and has recommended amounts of drinks per guest, per hour.

They suggest that for a 2-hour event, you should be providing 3 drinks. If this was the case, for 100 guests having 3 drinks, you’d need 30 bottles of white wine and 30 bottles of red wine (60 total). It’s a great calculator that I’d highly recommend using, even if you don’t follow the “recommended” amounts.

It also has lager, champagne, sparkling wine, and bitter options too – so you can really input all of your information in and get answers as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to answer the question of how many bottles of wine for a wedding? It really can be a minefield, and just remember there shouldn’t be a set expectation from your guests as to how much wine they should have – they’re just there to share your special day with you both.

Whether you’re a big drinker, an irregular drinker, or don’t drink at all – plan your wedding drinks around what suits you and your partner best. Weddings can become so overwhelming, so don’t let something like arranging wine become stressful for you. It’s super easy to work out!

How much wine did you have at your wedding? Or how much wine do you plan to have at your upcoming wedding? Do you think there should be an expected amount? I think this is a really interesting topic and I’d love to know your thoughts. Please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Read more about Feminist Wedding Ceremony Script.