Rent vs. Buy: Wedding Decoration Ideas to Borrow for a Smart, Stunning Event

When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many important details to keep in mind, from picking a venue to coming up with wedding decoration ideas to setting up catering to choosing music, and many, many more. Because there is so much that can go into planning a wedding, the event can also get expensive. If you want to avoid unnecessary spending when planning a wedding, one potential option is renting some of your wedding decorations instead of buying them.

When you rent wedding decorations instead of buying them, you can find pieces that will enhance your event without having to acquire them permanently. You may be able to find all of the items that you need from one rental company, or you can find specific pieces from specific companies.

If you want to consider renting wedding decorations, but you’re not sure where to start, check out the guide below. It can help you understand the benefits of renting over buying (and vice versa), as well as which items you may want to rent as opposed to purchasing.

Renting Wedding Decorations: Pros and Cons

When you decorate for a wedding, there are lots of pieces that you need to either buy or rent. These items can range from table linens and flowers to canopies and carpets. There are pros and cons to both buying and renting items and decor, and you should consider each before you decide whether you want to buy something permanently or whether you want to pay money to use it for your event.

The Pros of Renting Wedding Decorations

There are many pros of opting to borrow and return your decor pieces instead of purchasing them and keeping them or trying to resell them after the wedding. Here are some of the best.

You Can Save Money

If you rent your wedding decorations, you may be able to make a more economical choice than purchasing them. This means that if you are on a tight budget for your wedding, renting is a smart option.

You Can Save Time and Reduce Stress

You may also want to rent wedding decorations if you want help with planning. Many rental companies can deliver items and set them up for you, as well as take them away when your wedding is over. This means that renting wedding decorations is a convenient choice and can ultimately save you stress and time. This can be especially helpful if planning your big day feels overwhelming, or if you are too busy in your daily or work life to focus on the logistics.

You Can Get Them Where They Need to Go More Easily

Linens and other wedding decorations can be heavy. They can also be bulky. Because of this, it can be tough figuring out how to get them around. If you rent big or heavy wedding decorations, you can rely on the rental company to transport and carry them to your event, which means that you won’t have to worry about the logistics of transportation.

You Can Have Help with Laundry and Cleaning

Also, renting wedding decorations like linens means that someone can do the cleaning and laundry for you after your event is over. If you will be busy celebrating or going on a honeymoon after the wedding, then renting wedding linens will allow you to do that without any added stress of additional responsibilities. Also, laundering and dry cleaning linens is expensive. Using a rental company will take that expense off of your plate.

 

 

You Can Ensure They Look Good

Finally, if you want your wedding’s decoration ideas to be cohesive, seamless and matching, renting is a good idea. Rental companies can give you pieces that they know work well and look good together, which means you can be sure that your wedding event is one that will make a lasting impression on you and your attendees.

You Can Choose from a Larger Selection

When you rent things like table linens from a rental company, you can choose from a greater selection than you can in a store. Rental companies stay tuned to the latest trends and buy products regularly, so you can ensure you’re getting to pick from a wide and varied choice of items.

You Can Stop Worrying About Reselling Them

Linen trends are quickly changing, so reselling your linens can be difficult. At the end of the day, people who buy their wedding decorations end up having to eat the cost instead of reselling them, because they become dated quickly. If you rent from a company, you won’t have to worry about the risk of not being able to resell your wedding decorations, and thus ensure you don’t waste money that you can never earn back.

The Cons of Renting Wedding Decorations

While renting wedding decorations can save you time and money, there are some drawbacks to paying for decorations you will borrow and return. Here are some of the main cons.

No Customization Possible

First, you usually cannot customize wedding decorations that you borrow. If you want to make an item in your decor completely yours, then you should consider purchasing it so you can customize it completely.

You Can’t Reuse Items You Rent

Next, you may also want to buy wedding decorations if you think you can use the pieces again in your regular daily life. However, if you rent wedding decorations you’ll have to return them, and you won’t be able to reuse them again once they go back to the rental company.

You Won’t Have Items to Keep as Keepsakes

Finally, you may simply want to purchase wedding decoration pieces because you want to keep them as keepsakes so you can use them to remember one of the most exciting days of your life. When you rent wedding decorations, you won’t be able to keep them after it’s over, so they will not be able to serve as mementos in the future.

 

Wedding Decorations Ideas for Renting

There are some wedding decorations that are particularly well-suited for renting, and there are some that are better suited for buying. If you want to rent as many wedding decorations as possible, here is a list of items that make sense to rent and why it makes sense to rent them.

Table Linens

If you are planning to serve food or drinks at your wedding, there’s a good chance that you’ll have tables there. One item you should rent for your wedding is table linens. Table linens are heavy and bulky, and renting them allows you to leave their transportation to a pro. You’ll need table linens for tables that guests will dine on, food table, the cake table, and more.

Chair Covers and Sashes

Are you going to put linens on your chairs to decorate them? Consider renting these too. Rental companies have a good selection of items you can put on your chairs to make them look elegant and festive, and they can handle the installation and setup, which can be time intensive, and then the removal, as well.

Runners

Runners are a type of table linen that can add color and contrast to your wedding’s decor. Rent runners alongside table linens for easy transportation and laundering after. A rental company will most likely have a wide selection of runners you can pick to enhance the look of your event.

Tables and Chairs

If the venue you are using does not have tables and chairs for your wedding, rent these from a company and do not buy them. Many rental companies provide tables and chairs, and they can set these up and take them down when your event is over.

Votives and Candle Decor

One of the most popular wedding decoration ideas is to use candles on tables to create a romantic atmosphere. If you plan to use candles and votives at your wedding, consider renting the votives and candle accouterments instead of buying them. These items are hard to resell, and you don’t want to waste money on something you will most likely ultimately discard.

Table Markers and Non-floral Table Accessories

If you are going to mark the tables at your wedding with numbers, and if you also want little decor pieces on the tables, consider renting them. These items may be specifically themed or coordinate with the rest of your linens and decor. Relying on a rental company to find them allows you to ensure that your decor matches and that you have enough of the items to go on each table.

Vases for Flowers

You may choose to have a lot of flowers at your wedding. You will need vases to hold those flowers. If your florist is not providing vases, consider renting them from a rental company. Vases can be fragile to handle, so you can leave their delivery and pickup to a professional. They are also bulky and you most likely won’t be able to use all of them regularly in your daily life, so it makes sense for them to be one of the decor items that you choose to rent.

Photo Booths and Dress-up Items

If you are planning to have a photo booth at your wedding, as well as dress-up items to wear in that photo booth, then you should rent those items. Many companies provide photo booth equipment today, including the actual booth, the camera, and the printer. Companies will also provide you costume pieces so that guests can take funny and entertaining photos.

Pillows

Pillows on guests’ chairs for the ceremony or the reception can make the entire event more comfortable for everyone. Consider renting pillows that match your table linens or flowers. That way you can enhance the look of your entire event without ending up with pillows you don’t want or need after the event is over.

Wedding Signs

Sometimes, weddings have multiple different events: the ceremony, the reception, cocktail hour, and so on. These might even take place in different parts of a venue. To direct people to the parts of your wedding, you may want to use signs. Consider renting these signs to direct people to the right place. Rental companies will have signs that have popular wedding words on them so you’ll find a sign that makes sense for your event, and you won’t have to create a sign that you most likely will not be able to use again.

Furniture

Do you want to have comfortable furniture for your guests to lounge on at your event? Rent furniture pieces instead of buying any. You can offer floor cushions, chaise lounges, and more to help enhance guests’ comfort.

Wedding Decoration Ideas for Buying

Some wedding decor pieces are better suited for buying. Here are some items you should consider buying instead of renting for your big event.

Photo Frames

Are you using photo frames as decor at your wedding reception? Or are you displaying photos of you and your beloved as decor? Consider buying photo frames. You will have a lot of photos after your wedding if you hire a photographer, and buying frames for the event will leave you with frames to use for your wedding photos once they are printed after the event.

Any Items You Want Customized

Do you want customized dinner plates or signs that have your name on them? If you want to have any customized items at your wedding, then consider buying them. You cannot permanently alter a rental item and then return it to a rental company, so buying a piece would allow you to change it to make it uniquely your own.

Any Accessories You Wear

If you or your wedding party will wear decorative, themed items, consider buying them. When you buy accessories, you give people little keepsakes they can hold onto after the event is over. This gives them a memento to remember your experience and helps them celebrate and honor your love every time that they wear it.

Renting Wedding Decorations: Consider Linen Hero

If you are planning to rent decorations for an upcoming wedding, consider using Linen Hero as your provider. Linen Hero is a company that rents out table linens, runners, chair covers, and more. By working with Linen Hero, you can choose from a large selection of linens that will allow you to customize your decor to your liking and ensure it looks great. If you want to know more about how Linen Hero can help you with your wedding decorations, get in touch with us today.