Burlap on Your Table!

Many people are attracted to the texture of burlap, and it's neutral color makes it very flexible and easy to incorporate.  Here's a table we have set up in our showroom incorporating burlap.

We currently offer burlap table runners only.  The table-runner is an economical way to incorporate burlap, and as you can see from the picture, using a runner provides the opportunity for nice contrast and use of colors.  It's shown here with a light olive table cloth, coral napkins, mahogany Chiavari chairs and succulent centerpieces.  Succulents are a great compliment to burlap... we can do these centerpieces for you as well. 

 
If you are interested in full-size burlap table linen, there are limited options available as true burlap is not truly washable.  However, we do have the ability to special order faux burlap linen. 

Please contact us at Party Production Rentals for more info. 

Ultimate San Diego Wedding

Party Production Rentals was selected to participate in the Ultimate San Diego Wedding as the rental partner.  The Ultimate San Diego San Diego Wedding takes a collection of some of the best wedding vendors San Diego has to offer and puts on a spectacular wedding for one lucky couple. 

Paula had fun working with a talented group of event professionals including caterers, coordinators, and photographers to put on an amazing day for this year's winners: Jannel & Matt.  This year the wedding was held at the Mt. Woodson Castle in Ramona.  We provided the rental products for the ceremony and reception, including Chiavari chairs, belly bars, tables, linen, dishware and glassware.

Here's a picture courtesy of La Vida Creations, one of the participating photographers:

Here's a link to some additional photos on the La Vida Creations Blog.

Here's a link to video from the event that SideBySide Cinema created.

Here are more pictures we received from La Vida Creations:

Recent Party / Art Show

We worked with one of our clients to transform an empty brick building in Liberty Station into a great party space. We supplied and installed the lighting (interior), drapes, tables, chairs, staging and dishware. 

Casa del Prado Balboa Park - Wedding

Balboa Park has a lot of venues for parties, weddings and events.  One of the most dramatic has to be the courtyards at Casa del Prado.  Here are some pictures from a midday wedding and reception we did this year.

We set up the reception in the inside courtyard

The upstairs balcony provides some great photo opps

The courtyard between the Casa del Prado and the Junior Theater is quite dramatic

Sweetheart table for the bride & groom

There are no chairs set up in these photos... the client had the caterer move the chairs from the ceremony area to help their budget...

The client used succulents as centerpieces

Belly bars helped make a nice area for the cocktail hour

The tables were set up in a star shape out from the center with market umbrellas for shade and effect

The archways provide a nice view of the event and a barrier from the park's foot traffic

Carrier Classic

Party Production Rentals was proud to be a part of the first Carrier Classic yesterday on the USS Carl Vinson.  President Obama was in attendance as the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Michigan State Spartans.

We weren't directly involved with the game, but one of our crews was excited to be there of the pre- and post-game action.  We provided some dance floor that was used to simulate a surface similar to a basketball court for one of the special exhibits on the deck, in addition to belly bars.

These pictures are from sbnation.com.  For some more great pictures of the event, click here.

 

For more on this unusual sporting event, see these articles:

• Where does aircraft carrier rank among unusual sporting events?

• Carrier Classic: North Carolina, Michigan State coaches learn plenty about their teams

• Obama honors U.S. military at Carrier Classic basketball game on USS Carl Vinson

Covering a Stage Helps Keep Off the Elements

We recently put up a stage with a canopy over it for St. Patrick's Church (and school) in North Park.  Having a canopy over a stage is a nice way to keep the heat (or other elements) off when acts will be performing outside.  This was a 16x24' stage with a 20x30' canopy over the top.  Lighting helps spotlight the musicians and is critical for evening performances. 

Side note: St. Pat's was having their annual festival, with which I was very impressed.  It's a volunteer effort by the parents to put this 2-day (all day) event on.  It's fairly small as festivals go, but they had lots to do:  bands all throughout the day, kid's activities, shopping, good food, a beer garden, and more.  We stopped by with the kids (it's also our church), and they had a great time.  Check it out some time. 

Backyard Wedding for 250+

If you have the space - and especially the setting - a backyard wedding can be a really special event.  We recently did a wedding in the Crest area of El Cajon that took advantage of the great views and the large yard this house had to offer.  The clients wanted to transform their dirt pad into an elegant yet comfortable venue for their daughter's wedding.

We put up 2 canopies in an L shape to wrap around their house and provide enough coverage for the 250+ guests.  We covered the ground with over 4000 square feet of green turf, which really transformed the dirt pad.  Inside the canopies, we strung ping-pong lights with paper lanterns, which creates a festive environment and gives off plenty of light. 

  

They had a sufficient budget to do the event right, but as always, there were trade-offs in the areas that were more important to them.  For example, they opted for basic plastic chairs and dressed them up with chocolate brown sashes, but went with a satin tablecloths and napkins for elegance.  They opted not to drape the inside of the canopy (ceiling), but had us cover the canopy legs in white as a more visual element.  This is a delightful family, and we enjoyed working with them to help them meet their goals. 

Overall, I think we were successful in achieving the feel they were going for.  According to the bride's mom, we had exceeded their daughter's expectations... and that, after all, is what it's all about.  

Party Production Rentals provided all the party gear you see in the pictures... canopies, tables, chairs, dance floor, lighting, linen, flatware and china - all except the flowers and centerpieces (though we offer centerpieces as well). Let us know if we can help you plan your dream backyard event. 

Organization Keeps Stress at Bay

We did a street fair recently where they were anticipating 50,000 people.  I noticed one of the main organizers was relaxing with his family an hour before the event was supposed to start.  I commented that everything must be going well if he was able to get in some "chill time" before the event even started.  He said things were going smoothly and showed me a detailed diagram they had put together showing the vendor layout and flow of the event.  He and his team spent many hours working on the details ahead of time, and clearly it was paying off.

There were a few big takeaways:

1. Make sure that you've got a detailed plan of how you want your event to go.  This will help you think about everything that needs to happen on the day of, so you won't be scrambling to find something if you think of it 30 minutes before your event.  Be sure to clearly communicate appropriate elements of your plan to your vendors prior to the event.  What you share should include the time frames they can arrive (staggering is good), where they need to go (their spot plus how they enter/exit).  
2. For your event rentals, you should have a clear list of all the items that should go in each area along with a diagram of how you want things set up.  One client from another recent fair had chalked out where they wanted each canopy - this made set-up a snap.  
3. Be sure to have a point person for questions and direction - if you're on a tight time frame, you don't want any of your crews waiting around to get questions answers or guidance.  If you have a big event with multiple areas, have a point person for each area (e.g., main stage, kid's venue, food court, etc.).  They can get to know what needs to happen and facilitate everything as it happens.  
4. Have good communication between areas, ideally with radios.  If something comes up, you can use the radio vs. wasting time trying to track down the people you need to talk to. 
5. Leave ample time for the unexpected.  It always pays to start early... you can never anticipate all the things that could go wrong.  If you only allow enough time for things to go perfectly and they don't, at a minimum, you're sure to get at least a few new gray hairs... or worse, your event could start late. 

 What was our role?  Party Production Rentals was the primary equipment rental company, providing the canopies, staging, seating, tables with linen and umbrellas and more.  Our part was done ahead of schedule (again allow ample time!), which our client greatly appreciated. 

How Many Tables Fit in a Canopy?

We do a lot of canopy set-ups at Party Production Rentals, and we often get asked how many tables will fit under a canopy of a certain size.  Generally, people have a preference for round tables under a canopy (though you should always go with personal preference), and there's a simple rule of thumb if you're using 60" round tables.  (60" rounds are the most common size, and they seat 8-10 people.)  For each 10' x 10' square section of the canopy, you can comfortably fit 1 60" round with chairs.  The picture below demonstrates how this would lay out in a 20' x 20' canopy. 

This canopy will fit 4 60" rounds as there are 4 10' x 10' sections, and each table fits 8-10 people, so you can accommodate 32-40 people.  For larger canopies, just use the same approach.  For example, a 30' x 30' canopy has 9 10' x 10' sections, so it will fit 9 60" rounds or 72-90 people. 

Note: I typically recommend capping the number of chairs at 8 per table for more formal events or events where you have a lot of table items (i.e., large place settings, you are serving family style on the table, or you have large centerpieces).  We do 10 at many events, and it's great for those events... but know there is less space, and the chairs don't push all the way under the table. 

Another option which would allow more people seated under a canopy - but is typically considered less formal - is to put rectangular banquet tables under the canopy.  Below I've demonstrated how this might look, though there are other variations. 

Keep in mind that sometimes you want space for other features under your canopy, such as a dance floor, bar, buffet tables, or a different size/style head table.  It helps to break the canopy into 10' x 10' sections, but we are also available to help you design the ideal layout for your event in the San Diego area.  We include this as part of the service Party Production Rentals offers when we do a canopy set-up.  Please feel free to give us a call or email!

New Rental Products

Paula and I just got back from the American Rental Association's Rental Show in Las Vegas.  Besides taking in some good shows and food, we purchased some new equipment for Party Production Rentals from the many vendors who show off their wares at the show. 

We frequently rent serpentine bars to clients who want to have a nice serving beverage serving station at their events.  We now have 2 additional bar solutions in the same price range (see catalog):

The 4' bar doesn't require linen and comes only in the black above, but the 6' bar with linen can come in a variety of colors depending on the feel you want for your event.

We've also been expanding our lighting options.  In addition to having the ability to design a custom lighting package from basic to elegant for all types of events, we have a new lighting option for our canopies:

This is a simple, but interesting lighting option that is cost-effective and provides a good amount of light for smaller canopies (e.g., 20x20, 20x30).

We also get frequent requests for backdrops for events - to go behind a stage, cover a wall or unseemly area, or section off a room.  As a result, we purchased our own pipe-and-drape, with both black and white draping.  The panels are 8' high and come in sections of up to 10'.  Each section rents for $55.

We also purchased a new podium to go with our growing selection of audio/visual equipment. 

There are more new products to come, so stay tuned - and feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about any of these items.

Holiday Parties - Transforming a Space

We were inspired by one of our client's use of a warehouse for their company holiday party.  In a time when companies are watching their expenses closely, they made creative use of some empty warehouse space they had at their facility.  We helped them with the layout and the rentals, and one of their employees liked to decorate - together the space was transformed!

SoNo Park Holiday Fest This Weekend

Ok, so I haven't posted in a few weeks.  One big reason is that Paula and I have been hard at work on the SoNo Park Holiday Fest, which will take place this Sunday from 10am to 5pm.  Our company, Party Production Rentals, is one of the "presenting" sponsors, and we are helping chair the event as well.  We've learned much from this, our first foray into planning a fair on city streets.  More on that later... for now, I want to share what a cool event this will be. 

Live music. Chili. Craft beer. Arts & crafts.  More chili.  Great prizes.  Kid's activities.  And more chili.  Thorn Street in North Park between 32nd and Boundary.  Be there.

The event features a chili cook-off with chili from 20 great area restaurants such as Urban Solace, Alchemy, Big Kitchen, and Vagabond. Coming to judge, we've got local politicos such as Susan Davis and Todd Gloria, plus well-known chefs like Deborah Scott.  Individuals can also test their chili skills and bring their own homemade chili to a "pot luck" style competition inside the San Diego Ceramic Connection.  You can taste the chili when you buy a hand-spun ceramic bowl that you get to keep (and trust me, this will become your favorite all around bowl in your kitchen). 

There are 7 different bands/artists playing, including Joey Harris of Beat Farmers fame.  The beer garden will feature craft beers from Pizza Port, Ballast Point, Karl Strauss, and Stone Brewing.  We will also have the Charger game showing at Delucca's, so there won't be that dilemma of whether to miss the game or not. 

See the event Web site for more details. 

We hope to see y'all on Sunday!  The canopies, tables, staging, chairs, linen, belly bars and more will all be provided by Party Production Rentals.  We'll have a sponsor table, and I'll be the EmCee for the event, so please stop by. 

Mission Trails Visitor Center

We did an event this past weekend at the Mission Trails Visitor Center.  The event was a fundraiser, and they served barbecue.  As a family we've been to Mission Trails countless times and the visitors' center several times, but I'd never been to event there before.   Apparently it's only recently that they've started encouraging people to have events there.  It doesn't take much encouraging when you see the place.

The great deck overlooking the park provides a beautiful, natural backdrop that would enhance many events.  You could fit 150+ at round tables on the deck, plus interesting nooks and crannies inside and outside the visitors' center make great places to explore, get away from crowds, or put bars, auction tables or additional seating.  The event last weekend made great use of the space: a bar was set up on the gift shop counter, the caterers set up in classrooms to stay tucked out of the way, and patio heaters allowed the guests to hang out outside while staying warm. 

Talk to Jay at Mission Trails if you're interested in putting on an event there.

Party Production Rentals for Your San Diego Party Rentals

Party Production Rentals is proud to announce we have expanded our outstanding San Diego party rental service to reach more of Southern California. We're now serving San Diego to Riverside and from Long Beach to Palm Springs and everything between. Whether you're having a Special Event, Private Party, Wedding, Corporate Event or a Romantic Dinner when it comes to your party rental needs we are here to help. Our experience means that you will be 100% satisfied.

Now, for your convenience we have a new party planning form to plan your event needs. Please browse our catalog, then go to the form and select the items you need, enter your information, and one of our experts on San Diego party rentals will contact you within 24 hours to help you with your party planning.

We look forward to servicing you!