Ideas for Keeping Your Wedding Guests Entertained

Keeping Family Drama Out of Your Wedding

Weddings are joyous occasions, in which two families become one—at least, that’s the idea. In the real world, sometimes hurt feelings and bad blood between family members can come to a head when everyone gathers for a wedding, casting a shadow over the day. If you’re about to tie the knot, the last thing you want to deal with while you’re juggling wedding rentals, DJs, and catering is family members who are causing conflict. Fortunately, there are things you can do to put a damper on the drama before it even begins. Follow these steps to ensure you get to remember your wedding day for the right reasons.

Plan Your Seating Chart Wisely

The right seating arrangement is key to a peaceful wedding. If you have certain people who don’t get along with each other, make sure that they are not seated near each other, if possible. Put neutral family members at each person’s table to ensure that no one feels left out. For instances in which unfriendly family members may have to be close to each other, such as during the ceremony, put at least one buffer person between them to discourage conflicts.

Attempt to Address Problems in Advance

If you have an estranged family member that you want to have at your wedding, don’t simply send an invitation and see if he or she shows up. Well in advance of the wedding, reach out, even if you think that the other person should be making the first move. Try to meet up in person to lay the groundwork for a closer relationship. Don’t send a wedding invitation until it feels right, so he or she doesn’t try to use your wedding day as a chance to air grievances.

Make Your Expectations Known

Sometimes, conflict arises from the people closest to you, such as divorced parents and their new partners. Let everyone know what you expect in terms of behavior, and don’t acquiesce to demands like excluding new spouses. Stay neutral, and refocus everyone on supporting you and your spouse-to-be.

With American Party Rental, one thing you can count on being drama-free is your wedding rental experience. For table linens and other wedding supplies in Austin, call our rental team at (512) 837-6500.

Ideas for Planning a Sweet 16 Party

Turning 16 is a right of passage, so it’s no surprise that Sweet 16 parties are popular. With the right party rentals, you can turn any place into the perfect location for this big day, regardless of the size of your guest list or your vision for the event. If you are planning a Sweet 16 party, these ideas will help you get started.

Build Around a Color Scheme

If you can’t settle on a theme for the party, start by picking colors. The colors you choose can help set the tone for the event. Pick colors that go with a favorite sports team, season, or the birthday person’s favorite color. Table linen rentals are a great way to bring a color scheme to life and to create a foundation for the rest of your decorations. Some people even ask guests to dress in the color scheme to make the event feel even more cohesive.

Focus on Photos

Photo booths are a great way to commemorate your Sweet 16 party. Guests will enjoy going in and out of the booth with different groups of friends and props to take photos with. You can also hire photographers and have them photograph the event as though they are paparazzi. Let the guests walk the red carpet and pose for pictures before the party, and then have your photographers capture candid shots through the event.

Rent Carnival Games

Party guests of all ages love carnival games. Set up a Sweet 16 outdoor carnival with event rentals such as a bean toss, air castle, and dunk tank. You can even rent carnival food equipment, including popcorn machines and hot dog rollers. Don’t forget the game prizes.

At American Party Rental, we have all of the party supplies you need to host a memorable party for this milestone birthday. Learn more about renting party supplies in Austin by calling (512)837-6500.

Party Tent Safety 101

You’re Engaged! Now What? [INFOGRAPHIC]

You’re engaged? Congratulations! Now it’s time to take a deep breath and start making some plans. It’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed by wedding preparation, but relax- you’ve got this. If you need a little help figuring out how to get started, American Party Rental has got you covered, with this handy infographic.

We’ve got your wedding covered, too, with just about everything you need to make your day perfect. Check out our website, to find wedding accessories, china, linen, and much more. Then, contact us through our website or call 512-271-6626 for more information.

Spotlight on Our Lighting Rental Options

Whether you’re hosting a party in a tent or creating table designs, the right lighting should be on your list of event rental supplies. Lighting at your event can be both functional and beautiful, and few venues have the right kind of lights in place to set the mood for parties, weddings, and other occasions. Fortunately, American Party Rental is here to help with a wide variety of party rentals.

Among our huge selection of lights, you’ll find string lights, globe chandeliers, pin lights, and LED votive candles. We have a variety of lighting options for spotlights and other kinds of staging, as well as standing, streetlight-style lamps to add some flair to your décor. If you’re using lights in your rental tent, talk to a team member to find out what you need to ensure you have the appropriate power supply.

For more information about lighting rentals in Austin, call American Party Rental. We have all of the event rentals you need for any kind of occasion, from weddings to dinner parties. Contact us today at (512) 837-6500.

How to Give a Winning Wedding Toast

When a bride and groom are planning their big day, in addition to guest lists and wedding rentals, they have to find at least one person to deliver the toast. Getting picked is an honor, but it can also cause some anxiousness, especially if you aren’t used to public speaking.

Quell your fears about delivering a great wedding toast with the help of this video. Practice is key. Instead of winging it, write and practice your speech, so you’re ready to do the bride and groom justice when the day arrives.

At American Party Rental, we have everything you need to make your wedding vision a reality, from table linen rentals to wedding accessories. For more information about wedding rentals in Austin, please call (512) 837-6500.

Everything an Authentic Oktoberfest Party Needs

Oktoberfest originated in 1810 with the celebration of a royal marriage to which all citizens of Munich were invited. But modern Oktoberfest parties are more of a celebration of Bavarian culture, and of course, Bavaria’s beer. There are some who would argue that the only true way to celebrate Oktoberfest is to travel to Munich, Germany. But in fact, you can find everything you need for an authentic Oktoberfest party right here in the States. Officially, Oktoberfest 2018 begins on September 22 and ends on October 7, so start making plans and picking up party supplies right away!

Catering and Cooking Equipment

It’s traditional to serve food as well as beer during Oktoberfest. You may need to rent any of the following catering and cooking equipment:

• Grills
• Heat lamps
• Food pans
• Beverage tubs
• Serving trays
• Trash cans

Tents, Tables, and Seating

Protect your guests from the elements by having the party rental professionals set up a tent. If you expect to have a large number of guests, choose a very large tent instead of a couple of smaller ones. This lends itself to the communal, celebratory atmosphere of an authentic Oktoberfest. Similarly, rent long, rectangular tables, and set them up end-to-end to encourage guests to mingle. Rent benches instead of chairs. Decorate with table linens in shades of blue and white, which are Bavaria’s colors.

Food and Beverages

Beer takes center stage at Oktoberfest. Look for brews that originate from one of Munich’s breweries:

• Augustiner
• Hofbrau Munchner
• Hacker-Pschorr
• Paulaner
• Lowenbrau
• Spaten-Franziskaner

Pale ale is recommended for this day-drinking festival. And of course, all beer must be served in beer steins (krug in German). When clinking your glass with other guests, yell “prost!” which means “cheers.” Oktoberfest celebrations also feature traditional Bavarian food, including the following:

• Bratwurst and other sausages
• Roast pork
• Rotisserie chicken
• Potato salad or potato dumplings
• Giant pretzels
• Apple strudel
• Plum cake
• Kaiserschmarrn (a sweet pancake dish)
• Bienenstich (a cream-filled cake)

Don’t forget to rent enough flatware and silverware for your guests!

You can recreate the spirit of Oktoberfest right here in Austin, TX with party supplies available from American Party Rental. We offer everything from large tent rentals and lighting to catering and cooking equipment. Call a friendly representative at our party store at (512) 837-6500.

What Runners Want in a Finish Line Festival

The running industry has been evolving over the past couple of decades. After it exploded in popularity from the 1990s onward, the racing industry has been dominated by amateur runners who have come to expect more of racing day organizers. Most participants in the average footrace decide to sign up because they love the community atmosphere as much as the competitiveness. This means that, to continue to draw large numbers of runners and attract big name sponsors, race directors must plan fantastic finish line festivals. To keep costs down, look for affordable event rentals from a party store.

Seating

Whether you’re renting a tent or hosting your finish line festival in a state park pavilion, you undoubtedly need lots of seating options for your tired runners. Remember that runners often travel to events with family members and well-wishers, including young kids who won’t want to stand for long periods of time. Make sure you rent enough chairs to give your exhausted runners and their entourages a break, especially if you’re planning on having a long awards ceremony.

Food

Experienced racers bring protein bars and electrolyte gel packs with them, but they still expect food to be available at a finish line festival. Most runners prefer savory foods instead of sweet, although you can have a balanced mix of each. If you rent a grill or two, you could put someone in charge of grilling hot dogs and burgers. Other tasty treats that runners may enjoy include:

• Peanut butter crackers
• Bagels
• Fruit salad
• Whole fruit
• Quinoa salad
• Ice cream
• Popsicles

And of course, make sure you have more than enough water and electrolyte drinks on hand for your runners. Rent some beverage buckets and buy ice to keep the drinks cold.

Sample Giveaways

Every finish line festival needs swag bags. Check with your sponsors to see if they’ll donate some snack-size samples of granola, protein bars, or fruit leather. Samples of lip balm and muscle cream are always appreciated by runners.

Here at American Party Rental, we can’t organize your finish line festival for you, but we can provide the party equipment you need to make it an event to remember! Call a friendly representative at (512) 837-6500 today. Or, check out our online product catalog to see party supply rentals available in Austin, TX.

An Elegant Way to Fold Cloth Napkins

Table linens and cloth napkins make any event more elegant. To wow your guests, try doing the rose fold with the napkins. Watch this video to see a step-by-step demonstration of the rose fold. This etiquette expert recommends using a solid-colored napkin.

Observe carefully as she demonstrates how to fold in all four corners twice, then flips the napkin over and repeats the process once on the other side. She uses a goblet to weigh the center of the napkin down, and then strategically pulls out some of the folds to create a rose petal look.

You can rent all the table linens you need in Austin, TX from American Party Rental, which also offers party equipment for weddings and company parties. Call us at (512) 837-6500 or check out our inventory in our online catalog.