Our Top 3 Most Popular Rentals

Photographer: Katie Beverly Photo

When planning any type of event, rentals are a huge part of tying a space together and creating a complete look for your venue. It can be tricky to determine what you’ll need for your space, especially with so many choices, so today we’d like to highlight our top three most popular rentals. The items on this list are some of our favorite pieces that are not only a reflection of our clients and their taste, but of trends in the event and wedding industries as well. These top three items are staples of any wedding or event and are perfect for customizing your space.

Photographer: Andy Seo

1. Draping - Drapes are one of the biggest ways to dress up your space and transform your venue. Regardless of your fabric or color palette, drapes are the perfect way to enhance the natural beauty of a space or even hide any blemishes your venue may have. Drapes can be used in so many creative ways, such as highlighting focal points, adding dimension, or setting a classic background for your wedding. We love transforming a venue by using draping techniques that brighten up the space and add elegance at the same time. 

Photographer: Katie Beverly Photo

2. Chiavari Chairs - These chairs are a favorite of our clients, and for good reason! We have so many choices of different colors and materials, including metallics, wood, and acrylic. Great for receptions, ceremonies, or parties, Chiavari Chairs compliment any type of decor and keep your guests comfortable.

Photographer: Amy T Photo

3. White Seamless Dance Floor - Dance floors are one of our specialties and such an underrated item. Not all venues provide their own dance floors, so this rental piece is important in establishing designated space for dancing. While our seamless white dance floor is by far our most popular, we have many color choices, including black and mirror. Our dance floors are also customizable to ensure the perfect size or shape for your venue, whether you’re looking to cover an entire ballroom floor or spotlight a smaller floor.

Whether you’re looking to combine these top three rentals for the ultimate package or use them individually to highlight an aspect of your venue, you can’t go wrong with draping, Chiavari chairs, and a white seamless dance floor. With so many customizable options for each of these items, you are sure to find the perfect color and material for your event or wedding. 

Sitting Sweet - A Guide to Sweetheart Tables

Photographer: Andy Seo Studios

In the last ten years there has been an influx of new wedding trends, including the first look, mix-matched bridesmaids dresses, and alternative dessert options like pie or cookies. Along with these trends, we’ve seen the rise of what we now know and love as the sweetheart table. This table, set up for the couple of honor during the reception, is a newer trend that we absolutely love because of the versatility of design and the opportunities it provides for newlyweds.

A sweetheart table is usually a semi-circle or rectangular shaped table reserved just for the newlyweds. This table is placed at the front of the room at the wedding reception, facing toward the guests. There are quite a few advantages of having a sweetheart table, first being that it allows the newlyweds to have some one-on-one time at their reception. Slightly separated from the rest of the guest’s tables, a sweetheart table gives the new couple time to eat and converse together. This is also a great way to direct the attention of guests during toasts and first dances, which usually will occur near the sweetheart table.

In terms of decor, a sweetheart table really opens up a lot of options for couples. Since the sweetheart table is special, a lot of couples choose to concentrate their decor on this table. Such a small table is easy to make look grandiose and creates a beautiful focal point for the reception. We absolutely love decorating sweetheart tables since couples are much more creative when it comes to one table; in the grand scheme of things, sequins on all your tables might be overpowering, whereas just on the sweetheart table it creates a striking look. It is also a great way to tie in the rest of your decor and incorporate elements from the sweetheart table among the rest of the reception tables.

There can be a few downsides to having a sweetheart table, but we have come to learn that the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Some couples may feel too isolated from the rest of the reception at a sweetheart table, or even worry that guests will feel like they can’t approach the table. One great way to get around this is by doing table rounds during dinner. If the couple has a chance to eat during dinner service, made easier by a sweetheart table, then they are free to roam the reception and say hello to guests at each table. This way, you have the best of both worlds in getting that private table but also have plenty of time to speak to your guests.

The sweetheart table is a wonderful addition to wedding terminology that is a great way to add something extra to your reception. With countless design and logistical options, a sweetheart table is a romantic concept that gives the newlyweds their chance to shine and at the same time, share extra time together during the wedding reception. 

Rachel and Mike's Terranea Resort Wedding

Elegance was the name of the game for Rachel and Mike’s gorgeous wedding at the Terranea Resort and we had an absolutely wonderful time working with them. As destination weddings go, this one had it all and we got to do what we do best – add luxury elements to a beautiful space. 

Our white dance floor is one of our favorite rental pieces and does so much for your space. Every reception needs a dance floor, and this stark white one is a great way to make your room look bigger and brighter, which is one of the biggest reasons for using it at Rachel and Mike’s wedding. It also keeps the focus on your décor and florals while creating the perfect foundation for all your reception activities. 

Rachel and Mike chose gold Chiavari chairs to emphasize the details at their reception and provide their guests with a comfortable seat. This addition of a metallic pop throughout the room really brought out the gold accented flatware and were a great contrast to the white and green hues of their florals. These gold chairs stand out against the backdrop of crème linens as well as the white dance floor and flowers, giving the whole room a glamorous feel.

No reception would be complete without a pop of color! In this case, Rachel and Mike chose navy blue velvet napkins to add color to their palette. We absolutely love the way these specialty napkins play off the white flowers and emphasize the blue accents in each arrangement. Texture was another element in play here, and when it comes to elegant, velvet is always a top choice. 

Rachel and Mike’s stunning wedding at Terranea put into practice one of the key aspects we love: incorporating details to make your reception pop and add to the aesthetic of your event. We loved each choice, from the white dance floor to the gold Chiavari chairs and navy velvet napkins. Every accent piece added to the overall elegance of their wedding and made the whole room glow.

Specialty Chair Rentals

Photographer: Kelly Waterman

In the wedding and event world, the word “accent” is used freely and often. It’s a great, all-encompassing word that refers to highlighting key elements of your event and allows for touches of personality and flair in a multitude of ways. You may have heard the term when describing décor or colors, but today we’re going to explore it in a new phrase: accent furniture. This catch-all phrase for specialty furniture rentals are so much more than your typical chairs or sofas and can be used to elevate your space and tie in decor.

Photographer: Kathryn Colby

One of our favorite ways for incorporating accent furniture is at our client’s cultural weddings, such as a Hindu or Persian ceremony. The fixtures at these wedding ceremonies are very important in carrying out the traditions of each culture, and that all starts with a foundation. In a Hindu wedding ceremony, the couple will sit under a Mandap, the four-poster structure at the front of the space, usually on some sort of special chairs or settee. Similarly, a Persian ceremony has the couple sitting under a canopy held up by female members of the family, usually seated together on a bench or loveseat. Using a specialty rental such as an upholstered sofa or set of matching arm chairs is a great way to elevate the look of the ceremony while providing comfort to the couple sitting on them. There are so many options for these types of accent rentals in all types of finishes, colors, and materials, and they really set the couple apart by providing a seat of honor during the ceremony.

Photographer: Kelly Waterman

Accent furniture can also be used throughout your wedding reception and cocktail hour in a variety of ways. A lot of our couples choose specialty chairs for their sweetheart table, which really makes you feel like a queen or king! Setting yourself apart with a pair of elegant armchairs is a great way to make your sweetheart table stand out even more and give the guests of honor (that’s you!) the spotlight they deserve. We also have many types of lounges and armchairs that are perfect for creating vignettes through your event. Specialty lounge areas bring an extra touch of glamour to any event and provide guests with comfortable seating options that are great for sitting over drinks and conversation.

Adding a bit of personality to your wedding or event with accent furniture rentals is so easy, and can even be fun! Choosing the perfect lounge seating for cocktail hour or regal armchairs for under the Mandap will elevate your event and set the scene for a beautiful ceremony and great night.

Light the Way: The Importance of Event Lighting

Photographer: Lin & Jirsa

Everyone loves a good before and after photo, and never is that truer than when the lights go on. Not only does lighting perform an important practical function in allowing your guests to see where they are going, it also provides an aesthetic that immediately sets the mood for your event. These two features, functionality and ambiance, are the key elements to making your event beautiful and lighting is the way to do that.

From a practical standpoint, lighting is critical in making sure you and your guests are able to see their surroundings and move from one space to another with ease. That doesn’t necessarily mean your room needs to be lit brightly from all angles! Your lighting professionals can create pathways and illuminate signage with strategical placement of different types of lighting to ensure safety and ease of movement. Lighting can also be used to camouflage parts of your space that you don’t love, from outdated wallpaper to shag carpet and beyond. Using lighting to highlight major players at your event is also a great way to draw your guests’ attention, be it the bridal party entering your reception or a key note speaker ready to wow the crowd. 

On the aesthetic side, lighting creates an instant mood, which elevates the emotions and heightens the energy of your guests as they step into your space. Using lighting can set the mood for your guests as soon as they walk in the door, be it with bright and fun colors for high energy events, casual washes for an intimate setting, or dynamic shadows for lounging and chatting. Lighting can also be used to change the tone of your event when you switch activities, such as using color to transition from dinner to dancing or focusing spotlights from a grand entrance to speeches.

Overall, your lighting choices define your event and set the tone for whatever activities you have in store. Not sure what type of lighting is best for your event? Check out our latest post here for an event lighting guide that is sure to help you figure out what you are looking for: https://www.illuminateeventservices.com/blog/2019/3/6/guided-by-the-light-the-perfect-lighting-for-your-event. If you have any questions about lighting, design, or anything party related, leave us a comment or give us a call; we’d love to chat with you and help you plan your perfect event, lighting and all!