When couples get their first look at a venue on inspection day, it can give the wrong idea of what a wedding will actually entail. A room that looks stunning in photos often looks more like an empty space with a bare floor, plain walls and ceiling when it’s quiet. You don’t get a wedding-ready room just by booking a venue. You need tablecloths, linen, chairs, centrepieces, the archway for the bride, aisle runners, dance floors, lighting rigs, marquee covers, glassware, cutlery and catering equipment. Guess what, all those things are usually not included in the venue rental, no matter how much you pay. Most couples only find out about this gap in their planning in the middle of the process. That’s when all the stress and panic start to set in, and costs go through the roof. The good news is that you can avoid this. By getting the venue to spell out exactly what it includes in writing, then creating a list of everything else you need, you can avoid making some very costly mistakes.
The Hire vs Buy Maths for a Single-Day Event
Buying a load of stuff for a one-day event, like 100 chairs, 10 tables, 100 place settings and a marquee that you never get to use again, then trying to recover at least some of the costs by selling it all off afterwards just doesn’t add up. At best, you might get 30 to 40 cents back on every dollar you spent. All the hassle and expense of storing, transporting, cleaning and looking after that equipment again for just one event isn’t worth it. Hiring, in most cases, is the way to go. Then there are all the super specialised items that you can’t possibly buy off the shelf, things like Tiffany chairs, LED furniture or a marquee that lets you see the stars twinkling above. These are hire-only items for most people, aside from the big venues that host lots of events. When you hire, all that hassle and expense is factored into the price. It’s not something you have to deal with yourself.
What a Good Hire Supplier Actually Provides?
Now, the best wedding supplies hire suppliers in Australia will do a lot more than just deliver the equipment to your doorstep. They’ll take care of setting it all up for your ceremony, then get everything packed away afterwards, leaving you free to enjoy the rest of your day. They’ll even supply all the tables, chairs, linen and lighting you need. That means you don’t have to worry about juggling multiple suppliers with different delivery schedules. When you book with a top supplier, you can expect high-quality equipment, not some rickety old chairs or stained tablecloths. A good supplier will even offer to come out and inspect the equipment with you before the event. That way, you know exactly what to expect.
The Full Supplies List Most Couples Actually Need
The ceremony is usually where most of the effort goes into decorations. Think about the beautiful backdrop for the ceremony, a pretty arch to stand under, maybe an aisle runner to lead the bride to her groom, comfy seating for the guests and perhaps even some gorgeous floral centrepieces at the entrance. When it comes to the reception, things can get a bit more elaborate. You’ll need to sort out tables and chairs to match the number of guests, plus some nice table runners and overlays to give things a bit of a professional touch. Don’t forget centrepieces to make the tables look great.
Of course, you’ll also need plates, cutlery and glasses for everyone to use. Sometimes the venue will be able to provide some of those bits itself. More often than not, you’ll need to hire them in. You might also want to look at getting a backdrop or feature wall to really make the room stand out. If the venue doesn’t already have a dance floor, you’ll need to hire one of those too. Then there’s the catering kit. This can be pretty involved depending on the venue. Things like cool rooms to store food in, chafing dishes and Bain Maries to keep it warm, plus all the serving utensils and platters you’ll need.
