The sharing of a meal has always been one of humanity’s go-to ways of connecting with each other, whether at the family dinner table, the corporate meet and greet, or the celebratory banquet. The foods we eat at each of these events might be very different, but they will always have one thing in common: the dish they are served on. No matter what foods you are planning to serve at your next event, you are going to need something to serve them on and a way for your guests to eat them. If you are needing more dinnerware for your event than you own and are thinking about renting but don’t know where to start, look no further. These answers to some frequently asked questions can help you find your footing.

Why should I rent my dinnerware?

While your own personal dinnerware may work fine for a small get together, chances are you don’t have the quantity needed to host a larger guest count. This leaves you with two options: buying and renting. You can certainly buy disposable plates and flatware at a very affordable cost, but you sacrifice the elegance that comes with using real china. You could also decide to buy real dinnerware, but this can be pricey as well as inconvenient as you will have to either resell or store it all after your event. Renting is that perfect middle ground where you can put together elegant and sophisticated place settings at a fraction of the cost of purchasing, and you don’t have to worry about what to do with it when you’re done. On top of this, renting is inherently eco-friendly and sustainable as it reduces the amount of single-use disposable products that end up in landfills.

What dishes do I need?

There are a lot of different elements that can go into a place setting, from forks and spoons to salad plates and wine glasses; however, that doesn’t mean you need to rent one of everything for your event. Knowing what you plan to serve and how you plan to serve it will really help you decide which pieces you need. Put together your menu and drink list first, then narrow down what your guests will need to eat and drink what you have chosen. Think also about whether the meal is served plated or buffet style. While a plated meal may require a plate and new flatware for each course, a buffet often only needs one size plate and flatware that guests reuse for each trip. Don’t forget drink glasses for water, wine, and any other drink available to your guests. If you have a caterer or bartender, they are often able to suggest what elements you need for your menu, and some will even place the order for you according to their contract. If you are planning the meal yourself and need help figuring out what you need, our consultants are more than happy to assist you in the process. 

How many should I order?

If you are planning an event far in advance, it can be impossible to know exactly how many guests are coming. So how do you know what quantities you should order? We always suggest you reserve the maximum amount of items you think you will need. This means if you invited 300 people, go ahead and reserve enough items for 300 people. If you find out later through RSVPs that only 250 are attending, you can always adjust the number of rented items to fit the lower amount. However, on the off chance that all 300 do attend, you can rest easy knowing that you have enough items reserved to cover all your guests. For plated meals, exact numbers are generally fine, though you may want to include a few extra plates and flatware just in case a guest drops one. For buffets, consider renting double the number of plates to account for guests returning for second helpings.

Is there an order minimum?

Not at all! No order is too small. We are happy to accommodate you whether you need 200 of everything or just 2 spare steak knives. You are also not obligated to rent full sets. If you need all five flatware pieces (dinner fork, salad fork, spoon, dinner knife, butter knife), we’ve got you covered, but we are also happy to provide just a salad fork and a dessert plate.

How do my dishes come packaged?

All our dishes come pre-washed and ready to use. Plates and chargers come packaged in wire racks to keep them safe for transport. Similarly, glasses are packaged in either wire or plastic racks depending on the style. All of these racks come wrapped in cling film to keep them clean and sanitary, so they can go straight from rack to table. Flatware comes bagged in groups of 10 by type for easy organization and counting. These bags are sealed immediately after the flatware is washed and sanitized, so you can be certain they are clean and ready to set at your tables. Large quantities of flatware are also packaged in large plastic bus tubs for ease of transport.

How should I return my items?

We send our dinnerware with you in racks and tubs to keep them organized and safe for transport, so please return them to their original packaging (minus cling film) for their trip home. While you are by no means required to wash the items prior to return, we do ask that you scrape and rinse any leftover or stuck food from them. Food left on plates and flatware can dry and harden to the enamel, causing items to require soaking before they can be cleaned and thus significantly slowing down the efficiency of our kitchen. Pre-rinsing prior to return helps us process your return faster so we can close out your contract, refund your damage deposit, and have the items ready for the next client.

What if I break something?

Mistakes happen. If we had a penny for every time a glass was dropped or a spoon was accidentally thrown away, we would have a lot of pennies! Every rental contract includes a 15% damage deposit that is, in most cases, more than enough to cover the average event breakage. Once your rentals are returned, our staff will check in your items and note any missing or broken pieces. The replacement cost for those pieces will be taken out of your damage deposit, and any remainder will be refunded to you once your contract is closed out.

Will you set my tables for me?

We are dedicated to keeping your dinnerware clean and sanitary from the moment they leave our shop to the moment you receive them. That being said, our delivery crews are expected to make multiple deliveries and pickups in a day, often rolling tables to outdoor venues and stacking chairs out of lawns. For this reason, we are not at this time able to set up your dinnerware for you. However, our in-office consultants would be more than happy to walk you through how to lay out a place setting and answer any questions you may have.