Weddings in North Carolina

I recently got a chance to take some pictures at this lovely outdoor venue, near the Triad and the Triangle, on 138 acres with a 7 acre lake.

Here you see the chairs in place for an outdoor wedding that weekend. It would be lovely if the weather were good. If it’s hot – there’s no shade. If it rains – you’re a long way from a roof. Just saying.

The Pavilion is a giant tent, open to a back patio.

The patio overlooks the lake.

It looks nice inside, all set up.

It costs $3125-$4175 to rent the pavilion, which is 60 feet square. Catering tent, tables, 200 chairs, and dance floor are included. For more information: PineLakePavilion.com.

They call this an “Advantage Portable Restroom Coach.” I call it a trailer and as there are stairs to get in, I don’t see how it’s handicapped accessible. Maybe they have a system.

When I was at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh today, to go to the Bridal Show, there was a fleamarket in full gear. I went by this store which rents tents, tables, chairs, linens, stages, dance floors, “and more.”

I thought I’d go see what was up and report back to you. However, there was a little sign in the window that said, “Inquire next door at the bike shop.”

The bike shop next door was not a nice yuppy bicycle store, it was a motorcycle place full of burly Hells Angels types. I was quite intimidated and walked right by.

Wedding rentals and bikers: this is not what I would call synergy.

If you want to look it up, it’s tentandevents.com (according to the sign).

Name of company: Careli Rental Service
Phone number: 919-697-3238
Showroom location: Durham NC
5? round tables seat 6-8: $8.00
chairs: wooden folding $2.60 each, plastic $1.30-1.60 each
6-8 foot buffet tables: $7
tablecloths for above: $11-15
20×20 tent: $230 (notice this is half the size of the others I’ve listed) includes setup and delivery
delivery charge: at the moment, free for orders of more than $125 in Durham and Chapel Hill, $175 in Raleigh
setup/breakdown: not mentioned on website

I called a lot more companies than this, but these are the ones who would actually talk to me. Some said they’d call me back – if they do, I’ll add them to the list. Problem calls:

• Ultimate Party (in Burlington) has an unfortunate infinite loop on the answering machine, they won’t be getting much business.

• General Rental Center in Durham has only one person who will give quotes and she is rarely in the office.
• Several seemed to be out of business, at least their phones were disconnected.

All these rental companies request as much advance notice as possible. They are often booked a year in advance; however, you can often be accommodated on much shorter notice. Spring and fall are the busy seasons. Confirm all prices!

Name of company: American Party Rental
Phone number: 919-544-1555
Showroom location: 3633 South Alston Avenue DurhamNC
5′ round tables seat 6-8: $8.00
tablecloths for above: polyester $15, dressier aruond $20
chairs: wooden folding $3 each, plastic $1.75-2.00 each
6-8 foot buffet tables: $7, $8
tablecloths for above: poly blend, $8.50
20×40 tent: $440 (800 sq feet, dining for 64 fills it completely) includes setup and delivery
delivery charge? starts at $60-75
setup/breakdown: $1 per chair, $2 per table (usually caterers do it, they say)
payment: ½ on booking, remainder
comments: they urge use of their website to build a quote. They also can supply your caterer’s needs (dishes, ovens, etc.)

Name of company: Best Rent All
Phone number: 919-286-3708 extension #2
Showroom location: 2410 Guess Road, Durham NC
5′ round tables seat 6-8: $8.50
tablecloths for above: $8.25, polyester only, but they have a few cotton ones
chairs: resin, padded seats: $3.25 each. Wooden ones are same price.
6-8 foot buffet tables: $8.00
tablecloths for above: $8.50
20×40 tent:$340 includes setup and delivery
delivery charge? $50 Durham, $75 Chapel Hill, $85 Raleigh
setup/breakdown: $1.20 per table, 35 cents per chair
payment: 50% on booking, rest due two weeks before event and is non-refundable at that point.

Name of company: General Rental Center
Phone number: 919-383-6186
Showroom location: 3512 Wortham Street, Durham NC
5′ round tables seat 6-8: $8.50
tablecloths for above: polyester $8, poly/cotton same price
chairs: white wood $3.00
6-8 foot buffet tables: $8.00
tablecloths for above: $8.00
20×40 tent: $330 includes setup and delivery
delivery charge? starts at $70
setup/breakdown: $1.50 per table, 20 cents per chair
payment: 50% at booking, rest on the day of, or preferably the day before.

Name of company: SCI party rentals
Phone number: 919-942-3500
Showroom location: 1705 Legion Road, Chapel Hill
5′ round tables seat 6-8: $10
tablecloths for above: $10 (cotton)
chairs: white resin, $3.45; brown plastic, $1.50
6-8 foot buffet tables: $10
tablecloths for above: $10
20×40 tent: $450 includes delivery and setup
delivery charge? $150 includes setup
payment: no deposit, but they hold your credit card #.

Name of company: Tent Rental Company
Phone number: 336-226-2650
Showroom location: 319 North Main Street, Burlington NC
20×40 tent: $400
delivery charge: starts at $50; $5 a one-way mile from their location in Burlington

Name of company: Party Rentals by Lisa
Phone number: 336-273-3814
Showroom location: 2643 Randleman Road, Greensboro
5′ round tables seat 6-8: $8
tablecloths for above: $9 polyester; has satin, etc. too
chairs: black plastic $1.25, white $2.00, white wood $3.50 each
6-8 foot buffet tables: $8
tablecloths for above: $9
20×40 tent: $400
delivery charge: in Greensboro, $50 includes setup/breakdown. To Chapel Hill, $100
payment: 50% on booking, the rest due 2 weeks before the event.

Name of company: Careli Rental Service
Phone number: 919-697-3238
Showroom location: Durham NC
5? round tables seat 6-8: $8.00
chairs: wooden folding $2.60 each, plastic $1.30-1.60 each
6-8 foot buffet tables: $7
tablecloths for above: $11-15
20×20 tent: $230 (notice this is half the size of the others I’ve listed) includes setup and delivery
delivery charge: at the moment, free for orders of more than $125 in Durham and Chapel Hill, $175 in Raleigh
setup/breakdown: not mentioned on website