Why Rent If I Can Buy For Less
Fun Fact: Did you know that it’s cheaper to purchase land
and build your own house than it is to purchase one developed by a homebuilder?
And, we’re talking THOUSANDS of dollars
less! Why buy when you can build it
cheaper yourself.
When you
rent from a reputable linen company, let their client reviews define this for
you, there’s a great deal of knowledge and prep work that goes into helping you
create an amazing table design. A Linen
Consultant understands fabrics, dye lots, the importance of color consistency
from linen to linen and they also manage the always overlooked “prepping” of your
linens. Prep work that if not managed
properly can turn your experience into a nightmare and your design into a very
underwhelming display of nothing special.
When we
started Kennique it was because of our love for fabric and what it can do for
an event. After years of working with my
mom and being exposed to all aspects of event planning and design, I realized
that when it comes down to table design, being thoughtful and deliberate about
your linen selection can turn your event from average to freaking awesome.
Here’s the
reality…we cannot tell you to rent over buy. Of course it’s our preference to partner
with every client that reaches out to Kennique, however more importantly we
have to answer to our conscious, which says above all things we want you to
feel good about your decision and to do what works for your budget. No one should go in dept over an event!
The purpose
of this post is to give you a little insight to help you make the best decision
for your event.
Here are a few things
you should consider…
·
All
linens are NOT created equal. Quality and
quality assurance is key. Just because
the linens have the same name doesn’t mean they’re of the same quality. Request
a sample and compare that to one from your local linen provider. See how it appears on pictures as well.
o
Caution: If you’re ordering runners confirm that they’ll be the same width (don’t assume), especially if you’re using them on a head
table?
·
Consistency
of color. Because linens are typically
produced from different dye lots, it’s possible to receive an order that
includes different shades of the same color.
When working with a linen company, it’s their job to manage this so that
you’re not getting varied shades of the same color.
·
Cleaning. If you plan to resale after your event,
you’ll want to consider commercial cleaning.
Get quotes from a few local cleaners.
In most cases, when you factor in the cost of a commercial cleaner, you
will have drastically exceeded the cost to rent.
·
Prepping
of linens. This is the biggest “ah ha” for
clients. Regardless of how basic or beautiful
the linen if they’re not properly pressed and cared for, prior to putting them
on your table, your guests will know it and your pictures will show it. If you’re going to purchase linens, make sure
you have someone that’s going to take this on.
If you’re going to outsource it, find a local cleaner and get a quote
prior to purchasing.
Important to note: Consider slacks on a
hanger, when you retrieve them they are likely to have creases. The same goes for table linens. In most cases, if using a local linen
provider, you will receive your table linens on a hanger, which means they’ll
have fold creases. If this bothers you,
contract with the linen company to install.
At Kennique, we bring hand steamers on location to make sure creases are
managed. In most cases it’s not a big
deal because they’re minimal, however if this is a concern for you and you're renting ask
your linen provider about on-site treatment.
If purchasing be sure to assign someone to manage on-site steaming of creases,
in addition to pre-pressing.
Honestly, I
could go on and on, but this post is long enough already ;)
The reality
is you don’t build your own home, even though it would save you thousands of
dollars, because you value all that goes into the process and you want to make
sure it’s done right. Desire no less for
your event, especially if it’s a monumental event like your wedding.
Our purpose
for writing this blog was to address a question that we receive often from
clients. As stated earlier, we love
linens and events, so clearly it’s our desire to help all clients create an
amazing table design. However, if you
choose to purchase, ask the right questions so that you can make a clear
assessment of both options.
Happy
Planning!
