Party
Planning Guide
Everything you need to know to help plan the
perfect party
Canopies & Tents
We
currently carry canopies in 10 x 10 and tents from 10 x 10 up to 40
x 80. A canopy is a lightweight structure, used to protect against sun
and light rain. It does not protect against heavy rain. It can be
installed by the homeowner, or by our party staff. A tent is a heavier
duty structure, design to withstand more severe elements. It is
a complex frame system that must be installed by our party staff. Tents
can accommodate sides, for further protection against unpleasant weather
and cold.
Canopies and tents can be installed on a grassy area, in a parking lot,
in a warehouse, etc. They can be used for parties, wedding ceremonies,
business meetings, fund-raisers
whatever your event may be. Mention any
unusual conditions, so our staff can accommodate your needs.
When deciding on the right size structure for your event, several
factors need to be considered. How many people will be attending? Will
food be served buffet-style? Do you need a dance floor? As a general
rule, for a seated dinner, you will need 10-12 sf per
person, without the extras. For example, a 20 x 20 tent will
accommodate about 40 people. Then figure in the other items. Multiple
tents can be used separately or joined together to make a variety of
configurations. Call with your specific needs and we can let you know
which size tent is best for your event.
Tent Accessories
Now
that you have decided which size structure you will be using, you can
look at other accessories that will compliment your tent and fill other
needs. We have a whole line of tent sidewalls, lighting, heaters, fans
and generators. Consider the time of day, weather and location to see if
these are needed.
Our
sidewalls come in a French-window look or solid white sections. These
attach to the frame system of the tent. They come in 20 or 30 lengths
and go around corners. You can enclose an entire tent or just a portion
of it.
We
offer a wide variety of lighting to meet your needs. Do you want to
light the entire tent or just have a party glow? We have chandeliers and
globe lights. These can be installed many different ways to get the look
you want.
If
it is cold or hot outside, we can help with that! We have two sizes of
propane tent heaters to accommodate the size tent you choose. We also
have fans to help with those warm summer days. They come in a variety of
sizes to meet your needs.
When entertaining outside in cooler weather, on a patio or deck,
consider a Patio Heater to help warm things up. They need to be used in
an open area with complete overhead clearance. They run on a 20lb
propane tank and need no electricity. Its a great, inexpensive way to
add another space to party.
Maximum Capacity per Tent Size:
Note: These are maximum capacity. If buffet tables, dance floor, etc.
will be put under the tents as well, that will reduce the number of
guest tables that the tent will accommodate.
10 x 10
1 - 6 round tables
(seats 10)
1 - 5 round tables
(seats 8)
2 6 x 30 tables
(seats 16)
10 x 20
2 - 6 round tables
(seats 20)
2 5 round tables
plus 1-
8 x 30 table
(seats 16)
3 6 x 30 tables
(seats 24)
10 x 30
3 6 round tables
(seats 30)
3 5 round tables
plus 1-
8 x 30 table
(seats 24)
4 6 x 30 tables
(seats 32)
20 x 20 or 10 x 40
4 6 round tables
(seats 40)
5 - 5 round tables
(seats 40)
6 8 x 30 tables
(seats 54)
20 x 30
6 6 round tables
(seats 60)
8 5 round tables
(seats 64)
9 8 x 30 tables
(seats 78)
20 x 40
8 6 round tables
(seats 80)
10 5 round tables
(seat 80)
12 8 x 30 tables
(seat 108)
40 x 40
16 6 round tables
(seats 160)
20 5 round tables
(seats 160)
24 8 x 30 tables
(seats 216)
40 x 60
24 6 round tables
(seats 240)
30 5 round tables
(seats 240)
36
8 x 30 tables
(seats 324)
40 x 80
32 6 round tables
(seats 320)
40 5 round tables
(seats 320)
48 8 x 30 tables
(seats 432)
Tables & Chairs
Depending on the type of event you are having, we have several varieties
of tables and chairs to choose from. The type of event will help
determine the best seating arrangements.
Our
tables come in many sizes and shapes. Round tables help to keep the
conversation flowing. Rectangular tables are better for events that have
a presentation your guests need to watch. Round tables give a more
elegant look. Rectangular tables can be arranged in many ways to meet
your needs.
There are some general guidelines you can follow to determine how many
tables will fit under the size tent you have chosen. For round tables,
allow 54 between tables for chair space and food service. An easy
formula is to divide the square footage of the tent by 10 for maximum
seating (Example: a 20x20 tent is 400 sf. Divide 400 by 10. The tent
will seat a maximum of 40 people with round tables. You can place four 6
foot round tables seating 10 people each under that size tent).
Rectangular tables need about 60 for back to back seating (Example: a
20x20 tent is 400 sf. Divide 400 by 8. The tent will seat a maximum
of 50 people with rectangular tables. You can place six 8 foot
rectangular tables under that size tent).
New
to our table line are Adjustable Height Cocktail Tables. They are 36
diameter and adjust to 30, 36 and 42 heights. They can be used as
intimate seating or as a tall cocktail table.
Our
chairs are strong folding chairs with molded plastic seat and back with
a steel-tube frame. You can choose standard beige or white.
Event Essentials
The
tent size has been determined; the amount of tables and chairs have been
figured out; lighting, heating, generators, sidewalls- they have all
been ordered. Now you need to fill the tent with all the little
essentials that make an event special.
Those tables need to be covered! We have a whole line of linens in just
about every shape, size, color and fabric you can imagine! We, also,
have napkins, chair covers, table runners- all that you need to set the
perfect table. Let your imagination & creativity go wild to create your
unique party look.
When having a head table at a wedding, buffet tables for food and
beverage, display tables for business or trade shows- anything you need
a more formal look for- we have table skirts in many colors that can be
added to the linens. For a more modern look away from the traditional
skirting- we have oversized one piece linens that go to the floor. Same
idea- but with a clean, contemporary look.
For
those times when linens arent the best choose for table coverings, we
have a great alternative. They are disposable custom fit covers, made of
a PVC plastic with elastic all around. They form fit to the top of the
table. They wont blow away and can be wiped clean. They are perfect for
informal or outdoor parties and events with scattered seating times. You
can choose from many sizes and colors.
Need extra trash cans? We have a disposable alternative for sale.
Need an archway for that special wedding entrance? We have two
different styles to choose from!
How
about a bar for beverage serving? We have a portable bar for easy
set-up.
Want to have a little fun at your event? Consider adding one or more of
our entertainment items for young and old alike. We have moonbounce,
dunk tank, trampoline, Pitchburst ballon game, miniature golf, and
sports toss.
Are
you having a guest speaker, music or a presentation at your event? We
have 100 and 200 watt sound systems, cordless microphones and a
multi-media projector.
Where there is music, there needs to be a place to dance! We have dance
flooring available in a wood-look plastic. The wood-look plastic can
withstand moisture, so can be set up outside, if you prefer. It comes in
3 x 3 sections and should be installed on a perfectly level area. If
placed on grass, our flooring system is required for under the
dance floor. When deciding the right size dance floor, you should
figure about 4-5 sf per person. A 12x15 dance floor will comfortably
provide for 36-45 dancers at once. Speaking of flooring systems- we now
have a great flooring system that can be used for many situations.
It is made of a hard black colored plastic, in 6x24 inter-locking
sections. Each piece has skid resistance and a hole drainage system, so
it can be used in any weather condition. Use it under tents, over dirt,
grass or gravel, create a temporary patio area- whatever your needs.
New
to our Event Essentials line- staging! It comes in 4 x 4 sections and
can be made into a variety of configurations. Ask for details.
Linen Length Guidelines
Use
the following chart to determine the correct size linen for the table
you are covering
Drop Length
For Floor Length All
Sides
36 Round Table: 96
Round Linen
60 Round Table: 120 Round Linen
72 Round Table: 132 Round Linen
6x30 Long Table: 90x132 Linen
8x30 Long Table: 90x156 Linen
For Seating Length
60 Round Table: 90 Round Linen
72 Round Table: 108 Round Linen
6x30 Long Table: 60x120 Linen
8x30 Long Table: 60x120 Linen
Skirting Requirements
6x30
Table
front & sides
: 11
6x30
Table
all around:
17
8x30
Table
front & sides:
13
8x30
Table
all around:
21
3 8x30
Tables
head table
: 29
36 Round
Table
all around
: 9.5
60 Round
Table
all around
: 16
72 Round
Table
all around
: 19
Food Preparation
No
event is ever complete without the best part- the food! We help make the
food preparation easier with some essential cooking items.
Storing food at the event site or by the cooking area is safer with the
proper equipment. We have a portable 4.5 cu ft top-open freezer to store
meat, ice cream, etc. There are also two sizes of coolers- keg coolers
and picnic coolers, to keep food and drinks the right temperature until
they are needed.
We
have a variety of cooking sources, depending on your menu. Our grills
are large to serve a big event. Charcoal grills are 5ft long and propane
grills are 6ft long. The propane grill comes with a 40lb propane tank,
which should be enough for about 8 hours of use. We have single burner
propane cookers that can hold large cooking pots or pans. We have large
steaming pots and clam pots that can be used on top of the burner. Our
hot dog steamer is electric and can cook up to 110 hot dogs at one time,
as well as steam a couple dozen buns to go with them.
To
help make your party run smoother, we have added an Insulated Pan
Carrier to our Food Preparation line. It does not need electricity.
Whatever you put in, it keeps it at that temperature until you open the
door and serve. Cold foods stay cold. Hot foods stay hot. You can even
carry it to another location. Prepare the food at home, then bring it to
the party site. This item is great for Holiday meals, as well. Cook the
food, clean up the kitchen, then sit down and enjoy a hot meal!
After all that food, you will need some coffee to go with dessert. We
have a variety of coffee pots in 24, 55 and 101 cup sizes, as well as
pump pots. The pump pots hold about 2 liters of hot or cold beverages
without using electricity. Just fill the pots and sit them on the table
for easy self service.
Serving Essentials
When having an event- be it a party, wedding, business meeting, etc-
presentation of the food is very important. It can change an event from
a casual party to an elegant occasion. Whichever way you want to go, we
can provide all the serving items you need to make it a memorable event.
Your table setting can go from simple to elegant just by adding china,
flatware and stemware. Our china pattern is a classic white plate with
gold trim. It comes in a 10 plate, a 7 salad/dessert plate, a 7 bowl,
a cup and saucer. There are also serving pieces, which include an oval
meat platter, vegetable bowls, a creamer and sugar bowl. The flatware is
stainless steel and comes in a dinner knife, dinner fork,
salad/dessert fork, tablespoon and teaspoon, as well as serving
pieces. For stemware, we have a short wine glass (best for red wine),
tall wine glass (great as an all-purpose wine glass or for white wine),
a champagne flute and a stemmed water/all-purpose glass. We, also, have
glass serving pitchers. As an alternative to these items, we carry a
disposable line of plates, flatware and glasses. The plates are not your
typical paper products. They look just like real china and etched glass
plates, but can be disposed of after use (no clean up!) The
flatware looks exactly like silverware until you touch them. They are
plastic! For glasses, we have plastic specialty glasses such
as Margarita and Smoothie.
Another item that adds elegance and fun is a champagne fountain. You do
not need to serve champagne to enjoy this great piece. It can
accommodate childrens fruit punch, iced tea, wine or other adult
beverages. It comes in your choice of aluminum (which holds 3 gallons)
or gold (which holds 2.5 gallons).
When serving your food buffet style, there are several
food warmers/chafing dishes to meet your needs. The larger 8 and 9 quart
units come in a polished or brushed finish, with either a full or split
pan. The split pan allows you to serve more choices with fewer warmers.
There is also a 4 quart round chafing dish, which is great for sauces,
vegetables and side dishes, or for warm desserts such as cobblers. The
warmers will need sterno fuel, which we can provide. Each one should
last about 2 hours. The larger units need 2 cans, the round uses one.
When serving your buffet dinner, do not forget to have plenty of
serving utensils on hand. We have gravy ladles, meat forks, pastry
servers, solid & slotted spoons, spatulas and tongs.
One
of our newest items is Waiters Trays. They can be used to serve plated
dinners, butlered hors-doeuvres, as buffet table serving platters or
to help carry items at clean-up time.
Party Themes
A
great enhancement to any event is to create a theme. Let your
imagination and creativity guide you through every aspect of your
planning. Use the theme to drive your invitation, food & beverage,
dιcor, favors, entertainment, activities and dress code choices. Theme
parties do not have to be limited to just childrens parties. They are a
great addition to adult parties, anniversaries, festivals,
fundraisers...even weddings!
A
great place to start is to see what the guest of honor likes (football,
alien movies, beach, Jimmy Buffet, cruises) and build from there. Maybe
there is something unique about their profession or name or age then go
with that. Fundraisers and festivals really benefit from a theme lift.
Once your theme is chosen, keep it going from invitations to take home
favors. Its a great way for your event to stand out from the crowd!
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