Top Reasons to Rent vs. DIY

Top Reasons to Rent vs. D.I.Y.!

Top Reasons to RENT  your dishes rather than DIY-ing them

(or even using Plastic!)

Over the years I have occasionally been asked the very legitimate question "Why shouldn't I just buy everything myself instead of spending money on renting" Honestly, I get it! And that's what I did for my daughters wedding years ago and what ultimately catapulted me into this business to start with.  I talk about that a little in my "About" section of my website. I'll say this, it was definitely a bit of an undertaking that I'm not sure I would ever do again!!  And while it's certainly an option for some people, and can even be fun in the process, there's truly a bit more to it than might meet the eye.

All that being said, I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of my top reasons to RENT your dishes (and even decor) rather than DOING IT ALL YOURSELVES! (Or even using plastic!)

1.Buying them is honestly much more expensive! Sure, you might get lucky and score some items at a yard sale or have 8 or 10 settings gifted from your aunt but most of the time that’s not the case! Goodwill wants as much, or more often, more per item than you can rent them for! Nor do they typically have the quality you’re looking for!

2. Unless your event is small, say less than 50, it’ll take a pretty long time to find what you’re looking for and you’ll spend a ton of time and gas running around finding them.  Plus if you rent, you won’t have to stress when you are short items a week before the wedding (speaking from experience!)!

3. If  you rent them you won’t spend extra money finding things you WEREN’T looking for ~ and probably didn’t really need ~  every time  you enter a store!

4. Some specialty items, especially many vintage or retro pieces, are honestly difficult to find. Quality items cost way more than the rental cost, at least 3-4 times more and then some. When you rent from me, I’ve already sourced all the items and have been buying them for years. 

5. You won’t have to drive all over the county, or the next one over, buying off Marketplace! Nor will you have to coordinate schedules with the sellers!  Or worse, find something you want only to have someone else buy it first! 

6. If you rent you won’t have to try to resell anything later ... and put up with Marketplace buyers ghosting you or trying to coordinate pickup times. I’ve known a couple who DIY’d their wedding dishes and several years later were frustrated that they STILL hadn’t sold everything they bought, all the while taking up space in storage!

7. You won’t have to go home and remove annoying  stickers and WASH them! Every. Single. Piece!!! This holds true for both new and used  items.  Every piece I buy is ALWAYS thoroughly washed before it ever can be used! I've already done all the work!

8. You won’t have to store them. And storage space gets eaten up quickly! Plus you’ll need packing materials to wrap them in = more $$. You’ll need crates and/or totes = more $$.  Trust me! Boxes are NOT ideal. Dishes get HEAVY and boxes often break ~ especially when transporting dishes when they’re wet or soiled after your event.

9. If you RENT you’ll never have to WASH any of them! Not before, and definitely not after when they’re covered in grimy food and drinks! Nor will your friends & family! They get to just come to your wedding and dance the night away!  Weddings are busy enough without having to pack up dishes, take them home, wash them and repack them.  Consider renting dishes as a gift to your mom, your sisters, aunts, best friends! Don’t make them do all that work!

10. With so much on everyone’s plate (pun intended!) on the day of the wedding already, having a rental company  come in with all the dishes,  set your tables, then later bus and break them down and load them out is a HUGE time-saving, stress-reducing service! (Set-up and bussing are optional services I offer, but services that the majority of my clients utilize!) You won’t have to think about how to transport anything to or from your venue either. 

11. So why not plastic, you know, just buying disposable? You can, and there’s nothing wrong with that, sometimes it’s even a very legitimate choice. But keep in mind that  disposable dishes typically don't  hold the weight of food properly, certainly not as well as real dishes,  and those that do can cost plenty.  And the flatware? Let's be honest, who hasn’t experienced the inconvenience of a broken plastic fork  in the middle  of your meal! Probably not what you want for your guests!

12. And for the environmentally conscious, renting, as opposed to using disposable, means less plastic in the landfill and is truly the epitome of reuse/recycle! 

13. And lastly, envision your guests first impression when they walk into your reception and consider that a gift to them! A beautifully set table with real dishes,  maybe even beautiful vintage dishes, perhaps topped off with a thoughtful thank you gift at each setting, simply elevates their wedding experience! ! have heard guests' positive reactions countless times! A beautiful setting truly creates an even more enjoyable time and lasting memories!

Reach Out! Let’s Talk!