When you think about wedding rentals, do images of tents, tables, and linens come to mind?
That would only make sense: Those are some of the most commonly rented items at weddings, and rightly so, since they can save you the expense of buying and transporting them, along with storing them after the event.
But wedding rentals and venue upgrades also offer an opportunity for you to add creative touches to your wedding that are undeniably you—or to go a bit grander with your décor.
“That's the thing about rentals—they can make your big-day dreams come true, without the commitment of a one-time purchase,” Chloe Gorman wrote for MarthaStewart.com.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a few suggestions for using rentals to satisfy your creative wedding visions.
Pro tip: The sheer volume of rental options can be overwhelming. We suggest starting your planning by establishing a color scheme and/or theme, and then you can start looking for items that will support your vision.
Table Elements
Since your wedding guests will spend the majority of their time at their reception table, this is a perfect place to incorporate your unique style, beginning with your table linens.
“The napkins, tablecloth, and runner are additions that can showcase your creativity. Rebecca O’Dea of BBJ Linen told Brides magazine.” You can mix and match colors and fabrics to create a customized look.”
You can find linens in a huge variety of colors, patterns, fabrics, and textures—your artistic tools for expressing yourself.
And your options don’t stop there. Even your chargers, holders for the plates holding meal courses, can serve as creative elements. Use chargers to add a luxurious feel to your tables, or add fun by creating a mix of materials and colors. Chargers are also a great way to make other table elements shine. Gold chargers, for example, with gold flatware, can make the colors pop on your tablecloth or other decorative items.
Additional possibilities include renting China pieces for vintage, rustic or Victorian themes—or mixing pieces to add whimsy and color to your place settings.
Flatware and stemware offer additional options for infusing your personality into your wedding, vintage or special theme
Pro tip: As you consider your table options, try to keep the big picture in mind. For example, if you’re going to display mismatched China or chargers, you’ll also want some neutral elements—possibly your table linens—so items aren’t competing for attention.
Lighting
Your wedding lighting choices are another way to let your personality shine at your wedding.
Using rentals, you can create hang fairy lights for an enchanting effect, put out lanterns for a rustic or vintage feel, or display chandeliers for a touch of glamour.
If you want a whimsical effect, consider hanging rice paper lanterns over your dance floor—or go all out and bathe the entire reception area in light from a glowing overhead canopy.
Create Your Own Lounge Area
Another popular trend, and option for wedding personalization, is the lounge area.
While many venues offer areas where you and your guests can sit and relax, you always can create a lounge of your own—or add some special touches to what’s there.
Possibilities include:
-Renting sofas, loveseats, and chairs that support your wedding theme—or simply offer comfort
-Going a step further and renting side or coffee tables, where you can display signs, photos, and other personal touches
-Throwing in some pillows or rugs for extra pops of color and personality
-Enhancing the room’s appeal with rented live potted plants. (Rented plants and silk flowers also can be arranged along your aisle and displayed on reception tables.)
Some rental businesses specifically offer lounge packages. Borrow My Vintage in West Branch, Iowa, for example, invites customers to select from a wide variety of items, from blue-velvet couches, rugs, and pillows to signs, lanterns, and terrariums.
Mirror Rentals
Mirrors have become a popular way to add beauty and elegance to weddings.
One option is to transform them into customized signs: Use them to display seating charts or your signature cocktail.
Mirrors also can enhance the atmosphere you’re aiming for. You can find modern, artsy mirrors, antique mirrors; mirrors in dramatic frames. They’re a great tool for adding more personality to your event.
Whether you want to add dramatic elements to your wedding or a few strategic, creative touches, renting is a helpful—and often affordable—way to achieve your goals.