Posts Tagged ‘Party Rentals ME’

The following article is spot on and can make all the difference in the world in getting what you need without experiencing unnecessary pain, disappointment and unexpected expense at can ruin that perfect day. Exeter Events and Tents works closely with our clients, assigning qualified planners who truly work for you. Why? A good amount of our new business is with old clients and their referrals. That’s just the way we like it! We appreciate the trust they have in our abilities and never take it lightly. We are always ready to help and waiting for your call but before you do feel free to check out what our clients have to say about our award winning service. As always, enjoy the article.

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Dear Ashley, 

Two weeks ago, over 100 riders took to the roads of southern New Hampshire to participate in the 8th annual Granite State Quest – A ride to conquer cancer.  I am pleased to report that it was a wonder and successful day.  You may recall that July 10th was during one of those hot spells, not to be confused with the hot weather of the past few days.  In addition to the heat, there were some pretty good rain storms throughout the day.  Thanks to Exeter Rent – All with its generous donation of 3 tents the riders were able to find shade or get out of the rain when they circled back to Timberland after each of the 3 loops they rode throughout the seacoast.  Without the tents, our post ride barbeque for riders, volunteers, friends and family would not have been as enjoyable, as the rain returned on a few occasions during the celebration. 

Exeter Rent- All has been a wonderful supporter every year and thanks to your in kind donation and that of other local business, we are thankful and proud that 100% of the funds raised by the riders go directly to pediatric cancer research and patient care at The Massachusetts General Hospital.  Our fund raising efforts thus far have totaled $75,137 and we are hopeful to reach $100,000 which will result in an eight year total of over three quarters of a million dollars.

Thanks again and please extend our appreciation to the entire Exeter Rent-All team. 

Bruce Taylor
Co-Founder – The Granite State Quest

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Living on the New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts seacoasts offer many brides the opportunity to have their wedding on one of the beautiful beaches of New England’s seashore. Exeter Events and Tents is the leading authority when it comes to outfitting your perfect beach or seashore park wedding. We offer you the ability to contract with one supplier for all your event needs. Tents, tables, chairs, flooring, along with many choices of lighting, table settings and fabric selections allows you to coordinate exactly what you want and save money at the same time. We can also assist with finding that special seacoast location from Down East Maine through New Hampshire or along Massachusetts’s North shore, our over twenty years of working knowledge with the best venues in this area guaranty the perfect setting for your special day. Give us a call today to discuss the possibilities. We hope the following article inspires you to choose an outdoor wedding event and leave a comment or question, we would be happy to reply. Read the rest of this entry »

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I would like to take a moment before we look at this week’s featured article by Joanna Baymiller to thank the loyal supporters of this blog. It gives us great pleasure to bring you these timely bits of information every Wednesday  in hopes of making your event a more memorial, smooth running and celebrated experience. We would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas especially ideas on subjects that you would like us to cover. The subjects we talk about are near and dear to our hearts. We have a staff of professionals that have produced 100’s of creative, successful events using may of the ideas talked about in this article, so you don’t have to go it alone. Need advice or help please contact us we are always ready to help. After all, dazzling weddings under an elegant sail cloth tent is our specialty. So call us today you’ll be glad you did.

I hope you enjoy the article!

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The best  part, for me, of being a guest at a wedding? Other than celebrating the big day with the happy couple of course is, the food. I can never seem to get enough. A good caterer can make or break the wedding reception so here are a few great tips offered up by Bride Magazine that are tried and true. There are three important sections to this post along with a valuable work sheet at the end that you can down load and take with you on your quest for the perfect caterer. Oh one last thing… did I mention I am a great wedding guest? Bon Appetite!!!

 

Research first

Book your reception site before hiring a caterer. Keep in mind that many banquet halls have exclusive (or “preferred”) relationships with in-house caterers, which may limit your ability to work with an outside company. Check before you interview outsiders.

Menu matters

Plan to set up your menu at least six months in advance. If you’re marrying during peak wedding season (June-October) you may have to order it even sooner, especially if you want a big-name caterer.

Seek out referrals

Ask friends and family for recommendations, and talk to brides in your area. Once you find a caterer you like, speak to satisfied brides and ask for references before you sign a contract.

Set priorities

If having a large number of people at your reception is important to you, scale back on the refreshments. On the other hand, if gourmet food is a priority, then keep your guest list to a manageable size or restrict your bar offerings to wine and beer.

Buffet or banquet

Do you want a five-course dinner menu with individual wine pairings? Or is a barbeque buffet more in keeping with your wedding theme? Consider your personal style to determine what will work best for you.

Special requests

Are there dietary needs (vegetarian, kosher) to consider? Make sure your caterer has experience preparing these types of dishes.

Set the scene

Bring in photos of your dress, reception site, and flowers—anything that will give your prospective caterer a better sense of the type of reception you have in mind.

Tasting time

If the caterer is offering a complimentary sampling, be sure to clear the number of people you can bring beforehand.

How to save money

Daytime affair

Opt for a wedding brunch or luncheon reception instead of dinner, which is typically much more expensive.

Cocktail hour

Skip the full meal and celebrate with tasty refreshments instead—an option that works best for a celebration after a 2 p.m. ceremony (not dinnertime). Or host an afternoon tea or a late afternoon/early-evening cocktail reception.

Course cutting

If you have your heart set on a seated meal, cut back the number of courses from five to three.

Smaller selection

Ask guests to select their meal preferences on the RSVP cards so caterers can plan ahead, or choose a pasta or protein dish that you think has the broadest appeal.

Top quality

Keep the menu simple and focus on quality ingredients. Ask your caterer to use in-season produce from local farms.

Kid friendly

Order an inexpensive kids’ menu for the children’s table at your reception. Chances are they’d much rather have a cheeseburger and fries than foie gras, anyway.

BYOB

See if your caterer will let you bring your own liquor. (Be sure to ask about corkage fees.)

The basics

Limit your bar offerings to wine and beer. Liquor (especially premium bands) can add a wallop to your bar tab.

Size matters

Keep your guest list to a manageable number.

What to include in your contract

• The date, time, length and location (include specific room or hall) of the reception.
• The date by which you need to supply the caterer with a final headcount.
• Type of food service (buffet, cocktail reception, seated meal).
• Your approved menu and courses.
• Alcohol arrangements: Does your caterer have a liquor license? Can you supply your own wine? Will there be a corkage fee? What brands and vintages will they be serving? Can you return unopened bottles? Will there be an open bar? (If so, specify the hours.)
• Server specifics, including staff-to-guest ratio and dress code.
• The cost of renting equipment, silverware, glassware and linens.
• Arrangements for feeding other wedding vendors (photographer, band, planner).
• The name of the banquet manager who will be overseeing the reception.
• Price quotes for food and maximums on unforeseen menu expenditures; cancellation and overtime fees; deposit and refund policies; payment schedule; extra fees including gratuities and sales tax; and the total estimated cost.

What to Ask…

Choosing the right vendor comes down to asking the right questions.

Click for a printable worksheet to take to your appointments.

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By: Cedar Rain Gordon

So, most, if not all, weddings have some sort of budget.  If you have absolutely no budget, whatsoever, you could quickly be throwing 6 figures at the one day.  If you don’t make a Hollywood paycheck, but still want to have a wedding, it’s best to give yourself some sort of limit, so that you might still be able to own a house in your lifetime. 

Couples planning a traditional wedding in the New Hampshire seacoast region are spending an average of $20,000-$40,000.  The question then, is how to get the most bang for your limited buck.  The answer is to prioritize.  Make a list of all the things that are important to you.  For instance, a stunning view, a huge dance floor, elaborate & custom lighting design, a couture wedding gown, an open bar, haute cuisine menu, china & crystal rather than paper & plastic.  Make the list huge and dreamy and, maybe even, completely fantastical.  Then, start doing some pricing research.  Assign realistic dollar amounts to each item.  Add them up.  How far over budget are you?  Maybe not all.  Maybe you’re considering knocking over a bank.  Maybe you’re so discouraged you’re thinking of calling the whole thing off.

This is the time to sit down with your fiancé, and anyone else in your family who’s helping with the planning or paying, for a nice long chat.  Things can get challenging here; how often does your family agree on anything?  Let everyone say their piece, uninterrupted.  Let me repeat that: uninterrupted.  Once everyone has gotten the chance to say what’s important to them, it’s time to do a second budget crunch.  In a perfect world, each person could have the one or two most important items on their dream list.  In a real world, we’ll have to make some tough decisions.  The thing to keep in mind is that the day is about the joining of two people and two families.  Allow this budgeting process to open the doors of communication that will keep you all happy & functionin  in sickness & in health, for richer & for poorer, til death do us part.

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By Sarah Bissell

Lately many of our brides have been talking about having potluck wedding receptions instead of hiring expensive caterers. They send out invitations with a request that guests bring their favorite dish to share at the reception. What a great way to cut costs and ask your guests to participate in creating a lifetime of memories.

Ask everyone to bring a copy of their recipe. Instead of a guest book have a cookbook!

The cost of a cake, catered food and beverages can add up to thousands of dollars quickly. Many venues such as parks, public gardens and private homes allow you to bring in your own food. Read the rest of this entry »

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Spring is in the air and that means tradeshow season. Here at Exeter Events and Tents we are always seeking new ways to bring the best products and customer service to our clients. Last week I attended my 25th buying show at the American Rental Association.  The show floor was alive with tent companies purchasing the latest in special events equipment.   The consensus was this is going to be a very busy bridal year.  Weddings are booking very early and dates are filling up!

I spent a lot of time looking at all the new silverware and glassware pattern .  The glassware by Riedel was stunning.  It is lighter and more elegant than conventional rental glassware and is a well known brand in the wine industry.  Many of you folks who cruise have probably already been introduced to it in the wine tasting events held on the major cruise lines. Stay tuned I hope to purchase it for this summer season!

Here is a summary of other exciting new items at the show: Read the rest of this entry »

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I remember back in 2008 while picking up some furniture from an event at Perennial Gardens where I supplied the event’s tables, chairs, dance floor and china. While I was there I noticed that the tent was made of a new material I had not seen before called sailcloth. At that time corporate and wedding tents of larger sizes were manufactured from various types of vinyl materials. I inquired as to who the manufacture was and found out that a small company by the name of Sperry Tent out of Marian Ma had made this particular tent.  Apparently Sperry only did tents but not tables or chairs.  I guess they also don’t do linen or china being the caterer had put brought me under that tent that day.

Being first is not always being the best

I remember the Sperry Tent had a nice light flowing feel to it and not opaque like the other tents available at the time. I thought why not create a new and improved version of the Sperry Tent? I now understood one of the reasons why sails were lowered in a storm. This tent needed to be more water proof and durable while at the same time not lose any of its elegance and beauty. Read the rest of this entry »

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Exeter Events & Tents would like to introduce their new Vice President, Ashley Parkin. Ashley has been with the company for over 10 years and is an industry leader in planning wedding and event rentals. Ashley’s philosophy is simple, “an event’s success is in the details. No detail is too small to overlook. We hold our client’s hand through the planning process, from vision to execution. If our client is not happy then we are not happy.”

With Ashley’s new title comes added responsibilities including introducing Exeter Events & Tents to the Concord area. “We are opening a new showroom in downtown Concord located directly across from the State House. Concord compliments our business well and we are excited to provide the area with a full service wedding and event rental company. We are expected to open February 15, 2010.” The new Concord showroom will be located at 118 North Main St.

Exeter Events & Tents is Northern New England’s premier full service wedding and event rental organization. With over 25 years of combined experience, our consultants are more than happy assist you with planning your event rentals. Our extensive line of tents, dance floors, dishes, linens, tables, chairs, and other party supplies are perfect for a backyard barbeque, wedding, birthday party, or family outing.

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