Vendor Spotlight | Southern Events Party Rental

Happy Thursday everyone! If you're planning a wedding and looking for a great rental company that carries traditional rentals plus some unexpected and unique items as well then you're in luck!! Today we are featuring Southern Events Party Rental, the perfect place to rent all of your basics plus some super cool specialty items like farm tables, vintage china, and fancy restroom trailers! We recently asked Laura Wall, of Southern Events Party Rental, a few questions to find out more about this company and what they have to offer: What types of rentals do you provide?

Southern Events Party Rental offers all of the basic rental items you need like tables, chairs, linens, place settings, dance floors, decor, bars and service/catering equipment. We also offer an extensive inventory of specialty linens and items such as candelabras, lanterns and cake plateaus/cupcake stands. Our Vintage Prop Shoppe features charming and "shabby-chic" style furniture, accent tables, mix-match china, props and accessories. We are most excited about our newest additions - farm tables, rustic wooden benches and whiskey/wine barrels!

Explain your process of working with a bride.

We recommend that a bride visit us after she has secured her venue and date. During an appointment in our showroom, we walk brides through the process of determining a basic floor plan and the items that will be necessary. We ask all of the detailed questions that they may not think to ask to ensure there are no missing pieces. Once we have established the foundation of their order, we move on to making things look pretty! As the client selects items, we dress a table so that they will see the table look come together. We work within their color palette or event style to select the right combination of linen colors. Determining place setting needs like china, flatware and glassware can prove challenging to a client. This is usually the only big event they have planned/will plan, so we assist in calculating quantities and ensuring all elements of the food and beverage menu are covered. We usually top off the meeting with a tour of our design room and vintage items. Brides often find decor pieces that fit their theme and find that items like lanterns or bird cages can create a beautiful centerpiece without breaking the budget!

What sets your company apart from other rental companies?

Southern Events offers brides and clients a higher level of assistance when selecting rental items. We continually hear how we provide more selection, inspiration, styling suggestions and overall satisfaction! While we are not event planners, per se, we step into that role when it comes to your rental experience. Girls often say that selecting their linens and decor with us is "the most fun" part of planning.

We also stay on top of trends in the wedding and events industry to add new items to our inventory. Clients want what they see in magazines and on top wedding blogs! We also specialize in the truly "southern" or "rustic" wedding style... we are in Tennessee after all! We have a Vintage Prop Shoppe full of unique furniture and accessories.

We have recently been invited to join the elite group of Little Black Book vendors selected by the wedding blog, StyleMePretty.com. We are honored to meet the criteria upon which we were selected: exceptional client services, a genuine interest in fostering a client relationship, superior design style and the continual honing of your craft, and rave reviews by colleagues and/or clients.

What are some trends you are seeing at ceremonies/receptions?

The top trend we are seeing overall is vintage, vintage, vintage! So many brides add elements of this look by using heirloom mix-match china, vintage handkerchiefs, "found" items as unique display pieces or "shabby-chic" lounge areas.

Farm tables and benches are all the rage! The large farm tables offer a grand, feasting feeling and are gorgeous in any reception setting... even if you aren't a full-on vintage bride! While they are a natural choice for an outdoor event, we are using them in venues and they look divine. If a bride chooses to use chairs with her farm tables, she'll often choose bench seating for her ceremony.

The most requested item in the last month or so is the whiskey/wine barrel! We added them to our inventory to serve as an alternative to bistro tables, guest book tables or even cake tables. They're going like hot cakes!

And Mason Jars are here to stay!

What are your favorite venues to work with?

We love all venues! We work all over Middle Tennessee and we also provide exclusive rental services to many venues such as CJ's Off the Square, Lillie Belles, The Red House and Travellers Rest. We also enjoy working with Houston Station, The Factory and Belle Meade Plantation to name a few.