Whether you are having a corporate event, wedding, or any social function our diverse range of quality equipment, our quality control standards and procedures and our friendly experienced staff will ensure you enjoy a positive and memorable occasion. the following pages you will find helpful hints for planning your next event whether it’s a cocktail or children’s party. 12 Helpful Hints for Planning a Successful Event 

1. Plan ahead as far as possible to insure your choices will be available when you want them. We cannot always guarantee we will have a hire item available if it is not ordered in advance.

2. Determine your budget. Browsing through our catalogue or talking with our staff will assist you in this task.

3. Plan your party or event with a theme including colours, style etc.

4. Choose a venue or site to host your event. If you wish to hire a marquee for your event we will need to do a site inspection to ensure that the area is suitable.

5. Determine the number of guests for your event. This is important because it will determine the number of tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, crockery and so on that you need to hire.

6. Determine the equipment you will need to hire. Browsing through our catalogue will help give you ideas and our staff are always willing to make suggestions and give advice.

7. If you are using a caterer you will need to meet them to determine the type of food and cost. We are happy to recommend caterers if you do not know where to start.

8. Send out invitations at least six-eight weeks prior to your event, if your event is formal in nature.

9. Determine other professional needs, including florist, photographer, bakery, entertainment, and decorations.

10. Determine if accommodations and transportation will be necessary for your invited guests.

11. Finalize all aspects of your event with the professionals that you have chosen at least one week prior to your event.

12. Finally consider your neighbours and warn them ahead of time if you think the party is going to be noisy.

Planning to Party, Party, Party! 

If you are having a holiday party, birthday party, going away party, anniversary bash, new years celebration (or any other type of party) here are a few party tips and party ideas to help make your party a smashing success!

Planning the Party 

Party Planning:  Plan ahead, it’s the attention to detail that makes the difference. Allow plenty of time to prepare for your party, make a list and work out what you will need in advance. This is especially true if you need to hire equipment and if your party is happening at a peak in the party season (e.g., New Years Eve). Things are hectic when party-time approaches so stay organized.

Hire Suggestions: To ensure that your event goes according to plan make sure you order your hire equipment in advance. Party Food: Choose your food carefully. Choose foods that complement each other. Try setting a theme for the food on each table. Allow 4 to 6 hot finger snacks per person. You may wish to do the food preparation yourself or you may wish to contact a caterer. A hand tip is not to serve gooey, drippy sauces near expensive rugs or furniture. Keep some carpet cleaner on hand, just in case. Hire Suggestions: Cutlery, crockery, serving platters, bain marie, food ovens and warmers, and the like.

Drinks

Drinks: If your guests are expected to bring their own drinks, let them know in the invitation. If you’re serving alcohol don't forget the ice. You can never have too much ice at a party. Use quality ice for the best tasting mixed drinks. Add fresh fruit to your shopping list. Limes, lemons and oranges should be sliced in advance. Consider making two punch bowls; one with alcohol and one without for your non-drinking guests.

Hire suggestions: Glasses (cocktail, wine, beer, martini, champaign saucers and flutes), caraffs, ice buckets for wine bottles, temprites for kegs, urns for tea and coffee, and so on

Venue 

Venue: The choice of venue is critical in creating a great event.

Hire Suggestions: A marquee looks great and can be erected in your backyard, on the beach, in a park and many other locations (you will need council permission if you want to use a public area). The choice is endless; as is the choice of flooring, staging, tables, chairs, linen, and chair covers and decorations.

Atmosphere 

Party Atmosphere: Create a festive party atmosphere with lights, decorations, scents and music. Use scented candles or simmer a pot of water with cinnamon and citrus fruit to fill the house with a delightful aroma.

Hire suggestions: Lighting, red carpets, decorations, contribute much to the atmosphere of the party. Fairy lights, strobe lights, mirror balls, colour lights and smoke machines can add to the fun.

Music 

Party Music: Music is an important element of most parties. If pre-recorded music is to be used, consider the musical preferences of your guests. Have a variety of music available.

Hire Suggestions: Jukeboxes, karaoke, public address systems.

Entertainment 

Fun Party Items: There are heaps of fun party items that can be used to entertain your guests and make your event memorable.

Hire Suggestions: Pool tables, soccer tables, data projectors, video cameras and the like

Seating and Eating 

Seating and Eating: Consider the amount of seating required and ensure you have enough seats for your guests.

Hire product suggestions: Tables, chairs, linen, chair covers, cuttlery, crockery, glass wear, walming ovens, chafing dishes and much more

Now that the work is done, relax! Let your guests enjoy themselves. With the proper ingredients in place everyone should have a great time. With good food, good cheer and good friends you can't miss!

Planning a Cocktail Party

Whether you're an experienced cocktail party host, or just stepping into the stylish world of cocktail party entertaining, here are tips to help make your next party a successful event.

1. Stock up on plenty of ice. You'll need it for chilling bottles of wine or champagne as well as serving in drinks on the rocks. Use only quality ice if it is to be placed in drinks. A good rule of thumb is to plan to have 1-pound of ice per guest. You can hire eskys to do the trick!

 2. Be prepared with an assortment of glass styles to cover the type of drinks you plan to serve. These include wine glasses (champaign flutes and saucers; large and small wine classes) for wines; straight-sided highballs for tall drinks; straight-sided old fashioned studs for softdrinks; beer glasses for beer; tumblers for spirits and juices; champaign flutes and saucers, martini glasses, and hurricane glasses for elaborate cocktails. We can provide you with glasses for all occasions and drinks.

3. Have twice as many glasses on hand as guests. For wine, champagne and martini glasses, wine glass charms will help guests to keep track of glasses as they mill about your party.

4. For a 2-hour party where you only plan on serving wine and/or champagne, you'll need to have one bottle for every two guests. Have a mix of white and red varieties. 

5. For a basic bar you'll want to stock up on vodka, whiskey, wines and beer. For a more complete bar you can add gin, tequila, rum, bourbon, vermouth, sherry, and brandy.

6. Don't forget to stock up on mixers including orange juice, soda, tonic, ginger ale, cola, tomato juice, tabasco, lemons, limes, horseradish, worcestershire sauce.

7. If you anticipate your guests will be wine drinkers, you can prepare by uncorking a few bottles in advance, and then replacing the corks.

8.  Great cocktail recipes are essential at a cocktail party.  Visit: http://www.drinknation.com/ for some great ideas