Rent or Buy Services and Supplies

Even if you are not planning to hire services or to rent supplies, you may want to review this section anyway. 

There is information about ‘birthday packages’ that can streamline your party planning and efforts, in that these packages contain many of the supplies you’ll need to hold a specific theme party. 

If you have the lead-time to order the packages online, you can avoid shopping for items to match your theme.

Let’s start with event planners and party planners:

Remember at the beginning of the chapter I mentioned that there are 3 major plannings to a party?

They are:

1. Venue
2. Food
3. Entertainment

In entertainment, that’s where you will look for party planners: People who will entertain your kids. Some of them, even provide food and/or venue.

When you hire a party planner, you are going to have to pay for the luxury of having someone else do all the work. Fees vary, depending on the size of the party and the geographic area in which you live.  But, in most cases, you will find it less expensive to plan and execute your own party. 

If you have the money to spend, this option is a wonderful way to sit back and enjoy your child’s party without having all the headaches and stress.

A good party planner will sit down with you and work through the details of what you want, understand your budget and work with you to plan your child’s special day.

You should know that the larger event planning companies will probably not be interested in doing a small event like a child’s birthday party. 

You will find event planners in the yellow pages of your local phone directory and online. 

My resource page will give you an idea of the services they perform and, although you will have to check for regional and local party planners in your own community, the links below will give you an idea what MOST service and product providers offer across the country.

If you don’t have all equipment and supplies you need for a larger party, you should know that local rental companies in your area will rent most anything, from tents and canopies to tables, chairs, tablecloths, silverware, grills and coffee pots. 

If your local rental agency is out of what you need, check with your community fire hall, Masonic temple or Elks club.  Many of these organizations will rent out their equipment AND their halls to make extra money for the organization, and their prices may be better than other rental companies or facilities you check. 

Even the local catering companies may be willing to rent tables and chairs or other items so thumb through your yellow pages, or look online, and check out these resources before you make a decision.

Call far enough in advance (at least one month in advance) to be sure you get what you need for a particular day, especially if your party is during a busy ‘event’ season (spring graduations and weddings, Christmas parties, etc.)

Find out if the company charges more for one day rentals vs. full weekend rentals if you need to pick up the equipment on a Friday for a weekend event.  And find out when you need to return the items. Most importantly, find out if they will deliver!  If so, they will probably charge extra, but it may be worth it to you if you are going to be very busy on the day of the party or the day before the party.

Ask if the company will set up and take down tents, etc.  There is likely to be a charge for this service but you may not have enough people around to help you set up a big tent in your backyard on the day of the party. Be prepared to pay for the items when you pick them up.  Ask about penalties if you have to change the order close to the party date, or if you have to cancel. 

Be sure you understand what charges will apply if items are broken, torn or damaged while you are using them.