Our Dynasty wine and water glass stemware features ribbing and ombre gold.  The Dynasty collection is in demand, so call to book for your wedding tables or any elegant luxe celebration. Puts a sparkle on your tables.

Our Design Center tablescapes glisten with the ombre gold. Above is our gold rimmed hammered glass charger, brushed gold flatware, blue and white mismatched dinner plate, Fern toile salad plate, blue and white orbs and vases on a navy table linen.

​Below is a festive butterfly table linen with our Water Lily scalloped charger and dinner plate with our mismatched vintage depression glass amber plate. The brushed gold flatware and brass centerpiece items and vintage books on a gold mirrored tray complete the look. Oh wait...don't forget the candleholder with peg cup for that extra sparkle. 

Did you know that we rent all types of barware?  Are you short on rock glasses, shot glasses, wine or water stemware?  We have large quantities, so you don't have to buy. Renting is more reasonable than you may think. Plus, we deliver, pick up and wash, so you don't have to.
The Dynasty stemware on our brass cart rental is something extra you can add to your party. 

Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and LinkedIn. 
​Serving northern Illinois, Chicago and parts of Wisconsin.
We deliver. We pick up. We wash.

We are tickled pink to have been part of the Chicago Style Weddings magazine photo edition. What an honor to be able to contribute to this magazine. The eleven-page spread features nontraditional wedding desserts, including unique wedding cakes, pies, and various scrumptious desserts. The cakes are in all shapes and sizes with such creative details and are displayed in some alternative ways. The blue and white color theme for this photo edition is where we came in. We could not be prouder of our blue and white pieces. We have the quantity and collections. Seriously!  These photographs are gorgeous and show just what is possible for your wedding day.

Getting married? Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding cake or special pastries for your sweet table? If you are thinking nontraditional, be sure to check out all of these talented bakeries and view their creations in the September/October issue of Chicago Style Weddings. Go to their websites. Make an appointment. Create your own style.

​Click on the button link for more of the magazine's photographs and ideas.

We brought it! This photo spread features our blue and white mismatched vintage plates, Water Lily white plates and chargers, blue and white vases, shades of blue glassware, etched vintage wine glasses, champagne flutes, gold Dynasty stemware, clear glass cloche, brushed gold flatware, modern stainless-steel flatware, brass tea cart, white wooden riser, brass candleholders, blue and clear cake stands of all shapes and sizes, gold mirrored trays, blue vintage books and even strings of pearls.

 Publication: @chicagostyleweddings 
Planner: @designedanddetailedweddings
Photographer: @allieidrac
Venue: @wildmanbt
Floral: @ashaddevents
Rentals & Decor: @dishanddecorvintagerental
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Cake & Sweets Providers: 
@bittersweetpastryshop
@cr8cakes
@delishcakes630
@ecbg_studio
@ekcakery
@poundcakebakery
@tonipatisseriecafe
@vanillechicago

Creating tablescapes with our clients is such a fulfilling experience.  Can you see how the colors we offer can truly make a reception glow? A fall table, whether in traditional autumn colors or not, gives a comfy cozy vibe to a gathering of family and friends.  ​

See anything here that grabs you?  It's fall wedding season! Get your GLOW on!

We deliver. We wash. We pick up. We make it easy.
Serving Chicagoland and suburbs plus parts of Wisconsin.

The shimmer of gold reflecting off of the candlelight is mesmerizing and a winning combination for an elegant wedding reception. Gold adds the perfect touch of high class for our upscale brides. Your wedding photos will sparkle! 

Featured here is our new Heritage Collection wine and water stemware in a Design Center tablescape with our Elegant Floral dinnerware collection, hammered glass gold rimmed charger and brushed gold flatware. Book our Heritage Collection today for your wedding day.

Perfect for that touch of gold on your tables. This tablescape also features our tea pots, books, cake stands, candleholders, peg cups and a vintage clock. Don't forget...our new table linen in Avocado Toile and the Bubble Gum pink striped napkins.​

The Glorious Gold dinnerware collection is the ultimate in luxury wedding place settings. You can add a colored salad plate or bread plate for dimension and interest to the place setting. Whatever details you are searching for we most likely have, so go on our website and make your Wish List. We serve northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. 

Make your Wish List. We will send you a quote. Give us your guest count, and we will check back 15 days prior to your wedding to adjust.
Or you are welcome to make a free consultation appointment to come in and play in our stocked Design Center. 
We deliver. We pick up. We wash. 

Place settings @dishanddecorvintagerental

Venue @providencevineyard
Planner @preoccupiedbride
Photography @greyes_photography
Florals @stemmingfromlove
Linens @BBJlinens 
Linens @latovalolinens

Venue @montebelloestate
Photography @joshuaharrisonphotography
​

Trending now...bridesmaids choosing their own bridesmaid dresses. A bride gives her bridesmaids a color palette or even a variation of patterns and/or fabrics, and the bridesmaids choose a style that suits their body type. That makes so much sense, doesn't it? Allowing the attendants to wear something flattering and comfortable, so they can dance the night away. Talk about gorgeous wedding photographs. The mismatched trend gives the eye a real treat. Whether the dresses are a vintage style, a boho vibe or a traditional affair, a variety of colors and patterns creates interest and gives the wedding guests something to talk about. The LADIES WHO DISH here at Dish & Decor feel that same exact way about your table styling. 

Imagine the reaction of your guests as they walk into the wedding reception to see the textures and colors created by setting the tables with mismatched plates, glasses, and more. We rent mismatched place settings for creative tabletops all the time.

Don't be afraid! The key to this is creating a cohesive look whether it's through a continuing pattern in a napkin that compliments the plates, glasses in the same color palette but different styles, or even plates with the same base color but different details. In your personalized consultation, we can play with all of our collections to come up with exactly the perfect table scape to reflect your style. We will set your table with you!

Tell your caterer what you want. You decide what plates and glassware you want on your tables.  If you are getting married at a country club, let the event planner know you are changing the place settings from the standard white fare. Bring your planner with you to our Design Center.  Make a free consultation with us.

​Just a reminder...your table settings are part of your overall decor, so be sure to give attention to the place setting details.  Flowers and table linens are not the only things on your tables that add interest.  Let's make your place settings compliment the florals and linens. Your wedding photographs will thank you. 

Our team member, Kristina, is quite talented and has one heck of an eye for design.  Pair that with her LOVE of baking, and she put together one cool citrus themed celebration for her mother and sister's birthdays. I just had to share these photos for your own celebration inspiration. And...Kristina has experience in photography, so we are lucky here at Dish & Decor to have these festive photos.

What do you think of this amazing party using our rentals serving those beautiful baked goodies?
Presentation matters.
Are you inspired to up your game for your next celebration?
We, the Ladies Who Dish, here at Dish & Decor firmly believe that any type of celebration needs to be EXTRA! We are here to assist you ONE PLACE SETTING at a time! 

Let's find out how Kristina came up with such a clever idea. She wanted to make an orange cake, so that started the theme. Lemon bars and Creme Brulee sugar cookies compliment this cake perfectly. Roses in pink and peach scattered on the sweet table plus sliced oranges, limes, lemons, and blood oranges tied the look all together. For the place settings, she placed our yellow, amber and pink depression glass salad plates and our goblets in the same colors. She used her own table linens. VOILA!  A citrus themed birthday celebration.

Here are all the rental pieces used for this birthday celebration. 
Click on our website above to create your Wish List.
​We will send you a quote. We deliver. We pick up. We wash.
We make it easy. 

Birds of a feather flock together.  Yes, they do.  We have been blessed to find vendors who are easy to work with and appreciate teamwork. We call these people our Friendors. These hardworking business friends are more than just vendors to us. We know how much it takes to run these businesses, and we are so appreciative to be in their flock. Our recent photo shoot highlights three of our favs, so join me as I take you through this delightful day that we spent together.

Erica Simmons, pastry chef and owner of EK Cakery in Belvidere, told me that she made lots of pies when she was young, which eventually led her to pastry school. Her passion started long ago. Her experience with French pastries and her particular attention to hospitality gives EK Cakery that extra special something. As Erica says, "Food translates in any culture." This is why she goes above and beyond for her clients.  We had the opportunity to collaborate for a wedding sweet display photo session at Providence Vineyard, Hebron, IL. We featured her pastries and cake on our sweet display serve ware rentals. What do you think?

EK Cakery is an exclusive "wedding only" (or large events) boutique cake and dessert shop. She also does monthly pop-up items.  All of Erica's items are baked from scratch including all of the fillings and frostings. Cakes are frosted with a meringue-based buttercream (Swiss meringue buttercream), so goodies are not too sweet.  She is able to decorate in a clean design style with this frosting. Check out what she made for our photo shoot.  And BTW we did enjoy these afterwards. YUM! Everything was too delicious for us to choose our favorites. Not only are these delights a treat for the taste buds, but also a treat for the eyes. So pretty!

When we contacted Erica for this sweet display photo shoot, we had to decide on a location. Of course, we immediately thought of Providence Vineyard in Hebron, IL. They are a Friendor that we have worked with often.  The building is absolutely gorgeous and would be the perfect back drop for these sweets! Working with Shaylee, the venue manager and lead wedding planner, is always a pleasure. This vineyard and barn located in Hebron, IL is a magical place. Be sure to go to their website if you are in search of a stunning wedding venue. Click on the photo above of the barn and read the blog where we featured Providence Vineyard.
Thank you, Shaylee for sharing this beautiful venue with us. 

Where do I begin??? Our goal has been to highlight more local vendors and incorporate what we do with their businesses.  Of course with the plan to promote each other.  Janet has worked with Erica over the years, and Kristina had Erica make her birthday cake in blueberry maple. Delish! Small world, right? Sara and Kristina are rock stars and Janet's right-hand women who organized this session. Sara is our Operations Manager while Kristina is our Inventory and Production Manager.  

Kristina met with Erica in advance of the photo session to lay out the sweet display, to coordinate colors and to discuss pastry options. It was decided that the wedding sweet display would highlight the Pantone Color of the Year Peach Fuzz, or as we call it Blush, while adding in some greens for contrast. This is an example of how we play when clients come into our Design Center. The photo above is the plan for the photo session.

On the day of the photos, Kristina and Sara packed, delivered, and set up the displays. They then broke down and loaded up our rentals and headed back to the warehouse.  These two made the day run so smoothly. The creative arrangements they put together with Sandra and Erica truly highlighted the bakery goodies and our rental pieces. In addition, they coordinated with Shaylee and Sandra to make this event happen.  Collaborating with these vendors made the day a success!

I'm Kelly, the blogger, wordsmith or social media person. I had the opportunity to interview Erica in the pre-planning meeting and then again at the photo session to learn about her skill set and passion for her business. I want to add just how kind and thoughtful Erica is.  Any couple would be fortunate to order from her to create exactly what they envision. 

Venue @providencevineyard Providence Vineyard 
Photography @sandraortizphotography Sandra Ortiz Photography 
Bakery @ekcakery EK Cakery
Table top/Serve ware @dishanddecorvintagerental Dish & Decor Vintage Rental

The St. James 1868 150-year-old church was literally transformed by Kate Crowle and her visions of European Elegance. In the heart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, her hard work, talent and dedication have created not only two decadent royal event and wedding spaces but also the most professional event management team. I cannot suggest strongly enough that you must visit the St. James 1868 website and read how her vision of a breathtaking "little piece of Europe" came to life. Her story is admirable and impressive. From the historic architecture to the Duke and Duchess suites, she has captured the feel of royalty and reinvented something old into something new and exciting.
​Milwaukee Wedding Venue | St James 1868

In January, Dish & Decor Vintage Rental was delighted to be a part of this year's St. James 1868 Annual Styled Photo Session and Showcase Event. The Abbey and the Hyde spaces were set up to show what a real wedding would look like. Royal couples who have already booked their weddings here and prospective wedding couples attended. What a lovely evening for everyone to experience.

Our tables were set with two different place settings on the St James 1868 tables in The Abbey as you can see in the photos above. These included our Black Toile salad plate, our clear mismatched salad plate, our mismatched vintage flatware and our Pure wine and water glasses.

Janet, owner of Dish & Decor Vintage Rental
Sara, Operations Manager
Kristina, Inventory and Production Manager

Our team was so excited to play with these couples. We showcased a variety of our dinnerware, chargers, glassware, and flatware collections. This allowed couples to ask us questions, place our pieces on the St. James 1868 tables to create their own table style and to see how their choices look in the venue. ​We loved talking with the couples to show them what is possible. By playing on the tabletops, couples were able to play and see how they could personalize their wedding tables and elevate their table style to fit their vision.

Not quite sure of the name, but Peach Fuzz is such a gorgeous delicate color, don't you think? I see it working with a vintage feel, a boho vibe and a cottage core theme. Coordinate with gold accents for an elegant table. You can use a little or a lot of this color to make a statement. Lucky for you, we have a humungous collection of all things Peach Fuzz, or as we call it Blush. Our Blush glass collection is rented often, and we are thrilled that this is the hot trend for 2024. We carry wine glasses, goblets, cake stands, sandwich trays, linens, candlesticks and more in this color. This trending color pairs beautiful with so many other colors such as light yellow, lavender, light blue, sage, smoke, teal and pink. I love how the Peach Fuzz/Blush color enhances floral arrangements too. And linens in this color can be an added touch. I just thought I should share with you some of our event and wedding photos that include our Peach Fuzz color that we call Blush, so you can see the versatility and pop that this color can add. EMBRACE THE TREND!

Nicole and Zach's Providence Vineyard wedding in Hebron, Illinois with our Blush goblets, Bold and Beautiful dinnerware, linens, etched champagne coupes, and mismatched vintage flatware.  

Oh Baby Shower
Venue @loftsofelementspreserved
Photography @anamariavieriuphotography

Ethereal Photo Shoot
Venue and Planner @eventsatethereal
Photography @redwood-sage
Florals @twistedstem

Boho Blue Stem Farm Shoot
Venue @blustemfarmandevents
Photography @sapphireweddings 
Photography @redwoodsage
Florals @nwchicago
Planner @cuetheconfetti
Table/chairs @stepituprental 
​
Winnetka Backyard Wedding
Photography @benfinch
Florals @twigsblooms

Bespoke Photo Shoot
Venue @providencevineyard
Photography @elletaylor

Dish and Decor Vintage Rental Photo Shoot
Cookies @sugarfixtreats

Nicole and Zach's Wedding
Venue @providencevineyard
Photography @stephaniekoppa

Set up a free consultation for your upcoming event. Our Design Center is stocked and ready for you to play! 

It goes without saying that we always appreciate when clients share their wedding reception photos. Their photos give me inspiration for our blogs and for sharing our beautiful tablescapes with you. When Janet receives wedding photos, our entire team huddles around the computer with loud OOOHs and AAAHs. We are always so excited to see the final product. As you can imagine, the Dish & Decor team only sees our rentals as they are packed up and delivered, and then again when they are picked up dirty. We don't see the entire room with our rentals or get to experience those WOW moments. We always love when our clients share their tablescapes and room shots with us. 

Interviewing Susan, who is absolutely AH-MAZING, gave me an inside look of how she planned this tented speak easy reception and how our services were an integral part of that. This go-getter planned her daughter's reception down to every last detail. She moved furniture and rugs into the spaces. She sourced pipe and drape and tent services. She hung seven chandeliers. Her daughter had given her free reign and wanted to be surprised.  Susan's excitement was contagious as we spoke.  She truly created a gorgeous space for her family and friends to celebrate this marriage. ​

Here is how it all began...Susan drove an hour and half to our Design Center for a free consultation with Janet. And she said it was so worth the trip. No white plain plates for this wedding. She had searched online for vintage China and found us. Susan admits she has a knack for finding the right people and sources, and she now has Dish & Decor on her favorite list. She knew she didn't want a venue. Instead, she chose a tented wedding in a friend's backyard with three garages (just wait and see these transformations).  I had asked her what items she for sure wanted for this day.  She said linens were very important and the colors of aubergine, golds, greens, and amber. Candles, candles and more candles! (Check out her business on Instagram and Amazon Wine Wix Candles.) She was creating a moody speak easy vibe! 

When asked about her experience at Dish & Decor, Susan felt that Janet listened to her and understood her vision. She said at times, Janet had to reel her in because there were so many things that she loved in our stocked Design Center! (That happens a lot!) Susan decided the goblets would be multiple colors of amber, blush, navy, olive, purple and teal. Then Susan spotted our Bold and Beautiful dinnerware collection, so those came to the table. Place settings were of the Bold and Beautiful dinner, salad and bread plates plus the teacups with saucers. Wanting to incorporate more gold, they added brushed gold flatware, gold encrusted wine glasses, and the hammered glass gold rimmed charger. Table linens of rust napkins and camel tablecloths tied the look together. Each table also had our clear water carafes.

Susan came here looking for China, but she also fell in love with many of our props/decor to add to lounge spaces in the garages. Vintage suitcases, crates, trays and more. Adding our gold trays, table numbers, floor easels, amber cake stands, and crystal bowls were details she needed. She left knowing that she came to the right place. And she stressed how important it is for people to come in and experience the Design Center. According to her, your tabletops are the jewelry. It is important to get those right. 

To describe how Susan transformed the tent and garages is almost impossible.  Look hard at these photos, and you will see that you cannot tell that there are three garages. Each garage with pipe and drape was decorated with many of our decor pieces to create the buffet area, bar, and charcuterie/sweets/memory space. One of our managers, Sara, could not believe these photographs because she had delivered our rentals to a plain white tent. Can you see how warm the spaces look with all of the colors Susan chose? The speak easy vibe came to life with our glasses, dinnerware, linens and more.
MOST IMPORTANTLY...what was the reaction of the bride and groom? Susan said her daughter is not into "this kind of thing", so her daughter had no idea what a huge production her mom had done for them until she walked into the reception. "Mom did good!" We couldn't agree more.
I feel one of the best compliments we received was when her guests asked Susan where she had found all of these colorful glasses. And some said they wanted their wedding to be just like this one. Her friends went on and on about how beautiful the wedding was.

And last, I asked Susan what she thought of our delivery/pick up process.  It is important to us that what we do makes things easier for our clients. She said there is nothing to improve. "Her packaging is unbelievable. It is stupid simple!"  So, I guess our labeled crates with directions and our carefully packed colored glasses in the proper order were helpful. We hear that a lot too. The fact that she didn't have to wash everything was the best perk of all. 

A huge thank you to Susan for giving us her time and for sharing this precious moment in her life.  She truly gave her all to make this day special for her daughter and son-in-law. Congratulations to the newlyweds too!

First choose your date and venue.
Next make a free consultation appointment with us! Come with a vision or without one. We will create your reception mood, tablescapes, and express your personalities. Checkout our website, blogs, gallery and inventory for ideas.
Then find your caterer and florist to complete the reception space.
Booking now.
​

Venue a backyard
Place settings/decor rentals @dishanddecorvintagerentals
Flowers  A talented neighbor
Tent @heartlandtent 
​Bakery @crumbcrushers
Candles @winewix
​

One of the first things to be sure of when planning your wedding or a gala event is that your caterer is a full-service business. Be sure to ask what the ratio of servers to guests is.  A full-service caterer will have approximately one server per 20 guests. This means that the staff is able to efficiently do set up and breakdown for the event.  They will also flip the rooms if the weather is an issue. Having enough servers to tend to your guests' needs is crucial for an enjoyable experience, especially a large event.

Dish & Decor has a wonderful working relationship with True Cuisine, a full-service caterer serving the Chicago suburbs and Chicago proper. To be clear, this company is known in the industry as SBR, True Cuisine and Sweet Baby Ray's catering. And yes, this business started with the Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce before evolving into a catering and restaurant business in Wood Dale, IL. Depending on the type of event and your menu preference, you have options. Be sure to check out their website for menus. Delicious!  For tastings, make an appointment. (You can also check out their restaurant!) If they have several couples booking tastings for a specific venue, True Cuisine may offer tastings at that venue.

We can speak to the professionalism and quality of True Cuisine, SBR and Sweet Baby Ray's. Dish & Decor often delivers our rentals to events that are also being catered by this company. Recently we were invited as part of a tasting for approximately 15 wedding couples at Providence Vineyard in Hebron, IL. Our part was to set up gorgeous sample reception tables with our rental place settings and linens. This way couples can become familiar with what we have to offer while tasting their food options. And True Cuisine's part was providing delicious food for the couples to experience for their Providence Vineyard booked weddings. The tasting included two buffet lines. One for the True Cuisine menu options. And one with the SBR menu options. Couples then marked on a form their preferences to create their wedding menus. What an opportunity for all involved.

What makes True Cuisine, SBR and Sweet Baby Ray's stand out and truly a full-service caterer is that the food is cooked on site, and the food is served hot. No warmed-up plates with food that was made elsewhere. For a wedding reception or large gala/fundraiser, it's important that the food is fresh and hot.  And we would agree with the following testimonials.  We have found he staff and servers are absolutely wonderful to work with. 

For more information about True Cuisine's catering services, contact [email protected]

You know who you are! Yes, we are talking to you today. YOU are the hostess that EVERYONE raves about. If there's a party to be planned, you are the first person your friends and family think of. You have the knack! You have the stuff. You absolutely LOVE entertaining. Whether it be a shower, a wedding, a birthday, a gal's get together, a tea party or the holidays, you are the "Go To" person. We know who you are, and we would love to work with you.

Please don't collect or buy...rent.
So much easier when you are busy with the party planning.

We imagine in your party planning that you always consider how to go above and beyond. You want your guests to be impressed and feel special. You think of every little detail...and so do we! They need to walk in and wonder just how you do it. A gasp would be nice! Making them green with envy is always fun. And I am sure you think you have all the stuff. Well, guess what...we have things you probably haven't even thought of. We start where other rental companies stop. And we have curated collections that are sometimes forgotten or passed by. Our clients are in awe. By coming into our Design Center, you will see that we can elevate, refresh and renew what you already have for your next celebration. Most of all, we have helped clients do some VERY creative things with our inventory. Let's boost your hostess skills and WOW your guests. 

⬆️Read our blogs. View our photo gallery. Book a consultation. Make a Wishlist. ⬆️

Send us or bring in a photo of the room, the tables and chairs you are using, the buffet, or anything else you want to work with. We will play!
Is the room dark and moody? Light and airy?
Is there a specific color theme already in the room? 
Does this party have a specific theme? 
We will set a table, sweet table and more right here. 
We can work together to complement your home for your celebration. 
Are you entertaining in a venue? Be sure to add our beautiful pieces to the standard place settings offered to you to elevate this celebration.
We will deliver to you and pick up. We wash, so you don't have to. 

 Let us deliver, pick up and do the washing! 
​This is the perk of renting. We make it so easy. 

Kelly is one of our team members here at Dish & Decor. When her father-in-law was turning 90, she knew it needed to be special. Turning 90 is a huge deal! The theme came about when it was decided to host in her barn and barn patio. A catered party with an ode to patriotism and the Air Force since he had served. Dish & Decor is excited to share this birthday party.  
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Red, white and blue decorations and balloons with airplanes were scattered about. Red flowers in pots were everywhere. His favorite foods were the buffet menu including BBQ brisket, fried chicken, mac n cheese, and salads. Airplane shaped Rice Krispy Treats, Nothing Bundt cakes, and homemade mini handheld rhubarb and peach pies were served on our blue and white dessert plates and red depression glass cake stand. Papa has a sweet tooth, and these were a hit! 
​
The patriotic festive table settings were spot on. Our place setting rentals of blue and white dinner plates and red mismatched glasses on the blue and white picnic checked tablecloths with her own red bandanas for napkins created a patriotic summer theme on each table. Kelly had been dying to use our vintage retro flatware, so she did! The table centerpieces were our blue and white vases and white milk glass bud vases with red, white and blue florals. By renting linens from Dish & Decor, the blue and white picnic check runners and tablecloths grounded the place settings and added a fun element to the day. 

NO PLASTIC plates, red cups or paper napkins for this special occasion!

Set up a free consultation in our Design Center to see our amazing inventory.
Follow us in Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn for more ideas. 

​

Did you know? Oktoberfest began in Munich and is an annual festival beginning in September and lasting until the first Sunday of October. This began as a marriage celebration of the crown prince of Bavaria and has continued to be a fall staple in many places. A traditional Oktoberfest uses the colors of the Bavarian flag, which is blue and white. Combining the start of fall to your Oktoberfest, we chose to share our autumn colors. Leaves are turning. The air is cool. Gather your friends and family to celebrate the coming of autumn with cheers and biers.

Set out steins with pretzel rods. Chill your beer bottles in a brass bucket. Slice up the apple kuchen on an amber glass cake stand. Serve up your appetizers on the wheat glass plates. Pile on the German potato salad to your Linen Coupe plate.

Set a table to show off our fall-colored Flower Power salad plates. Mismatched to create add autumn detail to the table.  Gives your guests something to talk about too!​

Whether you are grilling brats, serving pretzels and beer cheese or cooking genuine German food such as red cabbage, sauerbraten, schnitzel, apple kuchen or strudels...you can't go wrong when you spruce up the event with our amber, gold, or olive rentals and festive plates. Those clear glass wheat plates are so on point for a beer inspired Oktoberfest! Stack up our vintage crates and suitcases for an Oktoberfest buffet.

Set up a pretzel bar with bier cheese and sausages. Stack the crates to display the platters of food. Place the plates in the suitcase or the picnic basket for your guests to grab. Come on in, and we can actually set up this pretzel bar. We will take photos and send those to your caterer with the rentals, so on the day of your party the food will be displayed exactly the way you want. Cheers! 🥨🍻

But before we share our favorites, we want to hear what you love. IF you have been a client of Dish & Decor, let us know what rentals you felt made the biggest impact on your event. What spoke to your heart?  If you have not been a client of ours YET, you need to be! Take a look at all of our inventory links. ⬆️Make an appointment to come into our Design Center. ⬆️You have to see our collections to believe it.
​Here are a few of our favorite things...

Sarah loves our wooden crates, boxes, and drawers because they can be utilized in so many different ways. When stacked or arranged these add height, texture and depth. Food can be served atop these for a buffet, an appetizer space or for dessert display. Sarah also has a soft spot for our Flower Power vintage mismatched salad plates, especially the one with blue flower. She spent many meals eating off this patterned plate at her grandmother's. Brings back memories for her.  She also adores our Glorious Gold dinnerware collection just because it is so gorgeous. 

 She is a huge fan of the vintage depression glass salad/dessert plate collections that Janet has curated. So many pretty colors and cut-glass patterns. Pop one of these on each dinner plate, and you can create a whole new look for your tabletop. Pair them with our colored goblets and wine glasses to add even more sparkle. Add a pretty table linen and coordinating napkins and florals for a one of a kind table scape. Stack one color or mix them on your dessert display or buffet table. Serve desserts or appetizers on these beauties! Kelly also digs the retro colorful tumblers of amber, blue and olive that we have collected.  Adds some nostalgia to your event. 

 Kristina's favorite at Dish & Décor is our Bold and Beautiful dinnerware collection. This collection is mismatched vintage plates in much bolder and more regal colors than our Elegant Floral collection, and Kristina has a favorite plate and a not so favorite plate in this collection. However, she feels these work best when they are all together! Her other favorite collection is our Glorious Gold dinnerware. 

She had a hard time choosing her favorite things. She said these are all her babies! Janet has spent much time gathering and collecting from auctions and estate sales over the years. She keeps an eye for the unusual. What makes her the happiest is when clients appreciate the surprise elements of suitcases, crates, and boxes set on dessert tables and buffets. Placing our footed vintage glass cake stands on these items elevate the food to create a lovely display. Janet is proud of the World Traveler suitcase that she created.  She spared this suitcase that was sitting in a corner at an estate sale. She knew she could save it. She decoupaged a Chicago city map inside of it. This suitcase has been rented many time for travel themed weddings and showers. And Janet appreciates the vintage feel that comes with all of our pocket watches, clocks and scales. Let Janet assist you in putting together the most creative centerpieces with her pieces.

Molly requested a girly gathering revolving around her favorite food...CHEESE.  She envisioned her birthday as a picnic in the park, so Sarah and friends made it happen. 

Molly is a Chicago musician, so Chicago's Humboldt Park Boathouse was the spot for this celebration. Cheese was ordered from a local vendor who provided descriptions and pairings. Floral cupcakes matched the pink vessels and apple green linens. Molly wrote the description tags, while Sarah set up the beautiful spread. Jeremy, Molly's roommate, offered his photography skills for the day. The friends listened to music, ate delicious fresh and pickled veggies and exotic cheeses while toasting with lemonade. Painting pillar candles using the wax from colorful tealight candles for a creative birthday gift takeaway. 

Absolutely...Dish & Decor's rentals were the icing on the cake.  Birthday celebration possibilities are endless here.
To create this beautiful birthday picnic, Molly chose these items from our vast rental collection. Kraft wood cheese boxes, Pepsi crate, small brown suitcase, Sun Smile California orange crate and brass bird bowl. Pink mint tray, pitcher, leaf tray, oval bowl, sandwich tray, perfume bottles and glass frosted basket. Clear mint tray and cake stand. Amber mint tray, stemmed bowl, bottle set, and sorbet cups. Yellow specialty plate, Elegant Floral bread and butter plate with the sage goblets and napkins. Molly and Sarah played in our design center to pull this all together. 

​The birthday girl Molly says...
"Using Dish and Decor Vintage Rental made planning my first picnic a seamless process. It would’ve costed a fortune to buy all of the pieces I used, but with Dish and Decor Vintage Rental, I got to pick out items from an extensive showroom and mix and match them until I found the perfect combination for my event. The showroom is huge, and there are many color and design options to choose from for every item. I was worried because I don’t really have much of an imagination for design, but the showroom makes it easy by making the process so hands-on. I could set up a small table with the items I liked and see how they looked together. When you walk through, the room has beautiful displays for all sorts of events as well. The staff is incredibly nice and helpful and helped load my car up with the items I picked out. You get to return them dirty, and they’re all washed in their industrial dishwashers. D&D saved me so much time and money."

photography @jeremybell
bakery @flowercupcakeco
cheese vendor @beautifulrind

💗Flower language says that pink 🌸🌺🌷flowers, not just red, have become a symbol of love, happiness, gentleness and femininity. With that in mind, what better color for your wedding day at any time of the year. Shades of pink pair beautifully with a variety of other colors so consider elements of pink for your winter, spring, summer or fall wedding. Whether it be our Blush Pink or Bubble Gum Pink glassware, our pink depression glass salad/dessert plates, pink glass candlesticks, pink sorbet cups, our Vintage Rose dinnerware collection or any of our pink glass serve ware and cake stands, pop some pink into your reception. We absolutely love mixing unexpected colors with pink to make your reception unique and to represent you and your loved one's wedding day vision.
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​💗Most importantly, paying attention to these details will let your guests know just how much you appreciate them on this special day. You are creating a real treat for them at each and every place setting. Our glassware, dinnerware, serve ware and flatware are available in gorgeous colors to create that AH-mazing tablescape that will WOW your guests and give them something to talk about!

💗Make a free consultation appointment in our Design Center to create the pink combo you have been dreaming of (or maybe you haven't even thought of yet). Our collections are large, so it is best if you do come in. It is definitely worth the visit. We can set up place settings...and play!

💗Remember, Dish & Decor is not a planning service. However, we will coordinate with your planner, florist and caterer. We deliver. We pick up. We wash. We take all of that off of your plate. Pun intended!
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💗We are sharing just a few of our pink combination table settings. You will notice we are big on all things mismatched because this creates interest, texture, pattern and dimension. Mismatched is always on trend. Plus, your wedding photographs 📸will be stunning.

💗Be sure to read our Blog  ​First Look Tip for Photos of Reception 

💗Enjoy! 

  Bubble Gum pink mismatched vintage water goblets with the brushed gold flatware is perfect with the rose napkin and vintage tablecloth.  Add an ornate gold rimmed charger on the vintage inspired table linen for even more romance. This tablescape with the florals 💐​ and beautiful venue speaks our love 💗language! 
Wedding at Providence Vineyard, Hebron, IL.
Venue @providencevineyard
Photography @karaevans

This reception pairs the Light Blue goblets for water with the Blush Pink wine glasses. Our mismatched vintage White Lace dinner plate with vintage mismatched pink depression glass salad plates on a farmhouse table tells another color combo story. Mixing your favorite glassware colors adds interest to your table 📸AND PHOTOGRAPHS 📸as well as the brushed gold flatware. Light the candles🕯️ and watch this table sparkle. ✨
Venue @providencevineyard
Photography @rachealkazmier 
Florist @michaelamantarian 

Mixing Bubble Gum Pink water goblets with Amber wine and clear etched vintage champagne coupes is another perfect combo.  Don't forget you can elevate the look by using the Gold Encrusted champagne coupes. An interesting glass combo is adding the extra detail you have been looking for. This tablescape will look gorgeous outdoors or indoors. Candlelight with the amber glass is always stunning. 
Venue @bluestemfarms
Photography @ashleyraphino

A simple pop of Teal goblets with the Blush Pink wine glasses and Gold Encrusted champagne coupes completes this outdoor wedding featuring many natural elements. Check out the antlers, fruit, and vintage Amber bowls and cake stands. We also rent these unique props to create unusual or unique centerpieces, vignettes, and space fillers. 
Venue @ridgefieldestates
Photographer @annamarievieru
Planner @kennsingtondesigns

All the colors! Bubble Gum Pink, Blush Pink, Sage, Ice Blue, Light Yellow, Lime Green, clear Bella and more add such interest and whimsy to this reception. Our vintage champagne coupes feature the "pretty in pink" signature drink. 💗 Our gold mirrored trays can serve appetizers, drinks and sweets, and they also can be written on for signage. The Elegant Floral dinnerware collection and the bride's brightly colored brooch bouquet pulled it all together at The Haight in Elgin, IL. 
Venue @thehaight
​Photography @kristinbernice

Olive and Bubble Gum pink goblets alternating down the table with the boho style Linen Coupe dinnerware and brushed gold flatware creates this earthy tented backyard wedding vibe.  Also featured are the D'Arques wine glasses.  Perfect for this Winnetka tented wedding. 
Photography @benfinch
Florals @twigsblooms

Keeping it all pink? That works too.  The Blush Pink glasses for water, D'Arques glass for wine and etched vintage champagne coupes with our mismatched Vintage Rose dinnerware collection and the brushed gold flatware is the perfect pink place setting. 
​Venue @elementspreserved
​Photography @maryrosephotography

So...you are not into pink?
​Follow us as we feature all kinds of colorful combinations and monochromatic too. 

💗Hop on up to our rental inventory.  Search for PINK to see all that we have. 💗

The time for some tented backyard summer celebrations is now. ☀️ Wedding receptions, baby showers, BBQs, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners. graduation parties and family reunions can be made memorable when you include the details. Flowers are in full bloom.  Your backyard is stunning. People are enjoying the outdoors, so party in the back!  Rent that tent. Set up those tables and chairs. Your outdoor party can be spectacular, especially when you use real dish and glassware. Impress your guests by not using paper and plastic...eco-friendly! Add a little or a lot to show your guests how much you care. 

Colorful glasses, containers and vases for florals, props, decor, dessert service, plates galore plus loads of creative ideas! 

Whether you are hosting a garden party shower or a full-blown wedding reception, beautiful tabletop styling matters. We recently assisted a mother with a color coordinated graduation party for her son and daughter. A mix of the high school colors and college colors were incorporated into the backyard party. We assisted a family celebrate a father's 90th birthday in a barn, so the blue and white plates with red glasses and blue and white vases down the barn tables were perfect. The possibilities are endless with us! 

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn. 
Call to set up a free consultation. 
We deliver. We pick up. We wash.
Serving Chicagoland area, southern Wisconsin, Lake County, McHenry County, and Kane County.

Dish & Decor Vintage Rental was thrilled to be a creative part of Wedding International Professionals Association-Chicago (WIPA) Avant Garden event in May hosted at Chicago Illuminating Company. The featured speaker, Kristi Drago-Price of Editor's Edge, presented "Blue Print to a Standout Brand." My collections came into play during the reception, cocktail hour and the presentation backdrop. Entertaining Company's edible living garden food stations were set up with a variety of foods served and displayed in a way that was most appealing to the eye. The Avant Garden came to life in this space.

Isn't the food here displayed in such an absolutely gorgeous way?  We eat with our eyes, and the Entertaining Company nailed it. They were not afraid to veer from the usual for these scrumptious garden stations.  Expect the unexpected when the food is served in unique pieces. Artichoke salad and roasted beet salad in our vintage sorbet cups. Savory eclairs of lobster salad with avocado-dill cream, seared duck with cherry compote, grilled apricots, and arugula on our vintage pink and green cake stands. Savory madeleines of parmesan, chive and truffle and also feta and age on elegant floral tiered stands. Our vintage teacups served a mocktail over a huge ice ball, and guests' drinks were in our pink goblets. This event was truly a feast for the eyes. This event confirms Dish & Decor's philosophy that the details do matter, mismatched and layers add texture and interest, and presentation should always WOW your guests. 

Check out the backdrop bookcase behind the presenter, Kristi Drago-Price.  Our quirky unusual decor, including two aliens, filled the bookcase. Scattered about the garden reception, you will see our brass fairies, carousel horses and more. We collect things some may pass by, but our props and decor add whimsy.

Another great WIPA event! Magical, wouldn't you say? All of these friendors worked together for an absolutely fabulous event. 

We were thrilled to be featured on page 2 of the Crystal Lake Park District program this past fall.  The Main Beach venue is stunning. Our teal and navy table setting with the lake in the background highlights what a beautiful venue this is for weddings, showers and celebrations. Check it out.  They have expanded their venue space! 

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• ​Coordinate with us to provide the exact plates, cups, serving pieces that your menu requires.
• For a multi-course small plate event, let us know the pieces you need and what you are serving.  We can send you photos of the pieces along with the course labels making this easier for you on the day of your event.
• Remember we have some of the unique rentals that you may not have...such as sugar tongs, teacups, tea pots, china oval and round platters of many sizes, vegetable bowls and more.
• Sweet displays are our jam! Cake stands, risers, tiered stands, suitcases, gold framed mirrors and many vintage pieces to create the sweet table. We take a photo and send that along with the order, so staff can set up the sweet table according to the client's wishes.
• Let us coordinate what you need for family style and buffet events.
• We have found that often our clients may not know exactly what serving pieces they need to rent.  It is very helpful when we can actually chat with you about the specific needs for the menu.
• We love events that are creative and outside of the box, so give us a call. 
• Think of the time and money you save when the caterer is not having staff washing, sanitizing and drying. We do that for you.
• We would love to become one of your preferred vendors.
• Visit our Design Center. Too busy? We totally get it! Be sure to look at our inventory online.

We are proud to be listed as preferred vendors with several area venues and caterers, after all presentation matters. There is nothing better, or that runs more smoothly, than when we are working with our team of Friendors! We have built professional relationships with our teams. Knowing what they like and need, how and when they need things delivered, means everybody wins. Our Friendors can count on us because our goal is providing the best service to our clients. 

 Well, friends, I have looked for over a year to find the place that was just right to expand my Dish & Decor business!  Some spaces were too small and wouldn't allow for expansion.  And some were too big.  Some smelled of grease. Some had no washrooms. Some had no walls. I looked at places ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 square feet. We landed on a spot that is 6,000 square feet which is just right. I am beyond thrilled that I now have a beautiful design center to create tablescapes with clients and a large warehouse that houses all my rentals with spacious packing and washing areas. For those of you that have been to my Crystal Lake site, you know how much I needed more room and a washing area. I really didn't want to settle until I found the space that was perfect. In this location with nice curb appeal, I believe I have found just exactly what I have needed. 

I signed the lease on January 2, and then the real work began.  The space needed cleaning and updating, so I requested many quotes. By renting a scissor lift, my team and I cleaned and dusted the warehouse rafters and power washed the walls ourselves. Next, Kristina used a Zamboni type machine to scrub the warehouse floors. I attended auctions to find the best deals on washing equipment, steel tables, carts, and more. I have ordered more shelving units and labeled the shelving units we have. It is nice to have everything accessible and much more efficient in the warehouse space. 

Then came the FUN part, the design center. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look because I have been dreaming of this for years. New flooring, paint and cosmetic changes were a must. And last but not least, we have been moving shelving units, and rental pieces to the new design center for display. Tablescapes are set up for clients to envision what is possible. Dish & Decor is a tabletop design consulting business. We are not planners.  We assist clients in creating the tablescapes of their dreams because the table is an integral part of your event and adds so much to the venue. By appointment, we offer free consultation services for tabletop styling. We will work with your planner, caterer and florist as needed. 
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This space allows me to do so many different things with my dishes and decor. I am beyond excited about the future of Dish & Decor Vintage Rental. As we look ahead, we will be hosting our Open House so watch for the posts!

So many good take-aways from the conference that we thought we would share a few with you. Isn't it always a good thing to invest in yourself?  A getaway to Florida to learn what's new in the rental market was invigorating and energizing. 

Kristina, Dish & Decor Vintage Rental's full-time assistant, had some key take-a-ways from the trip.
"Besides the fabulous connections Janet and I made with others in the rental biz, I also took my first plane ride to my first business trip!  (Truthfully, I thought the plane sounded like a big MRI machine. Just saying.) The presenters gave me a wealth of information to absorb as I continue to learn all aspects of the dish and decor rental business. I learned it is not always about the numbers, but even more importantly the ability to communicate a memorable and relatable story with our clients. I also learned that while conveying my passion for what I do, I should strive to know my client and their needs in the marketplace. I learned that we are the "fairy godmothers" setting the bar high for unique table styling. We are responsible to stay ahead of the curve, stay on trend, and deliver the best experience possible."
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"On a humorous note, as we walked the trade show floor, we stopped by one of our vendor's booths, they were demonstrating glass caddies. As the sales rep was demonstrating the caddies, Janet, flexing her caddy knowledge, took over the booth! She had it down and covered all the points! The sales reps just stood back and let her go! I am pretty sure the reps learned a thing or two. I watched as my boss shared all the products we use, and how we pack them into their caddy boxes. Sometimes speaking rental owner to rental owner can mean so much more, than just hearing details from a salesperson.  We are pretty sure our rental colleagues liked what Janet had to say and bought the glass caddies. 😉 Janet exudes her passion when it comes to what we do. I chuckled watching her in action."

Janet, owner and creator of Dish & Decor Vintage Rental also had some key take-aways from The American Rental Association Conference (ARA).

"I had attended this conference years ago and found it very advantageous. I felt it was time to attend again this year. I am proud to be in a position to now have a full-time assistant, and I was able to bring her along. Until I hired her, I was basically doing all aspects of my rental business myself with a few part-time employees. Now that my business has grown, I know I can no longer do this alone. I will continue to mentor her in all aspects of what I do with the goal that she can manage it all for me. Now that I have been in this biz for six years, the conference reinforced many of the values and goals that I hold dear. It's the people, the team, and their strengths that matter. Strategically using our employees' strengths to put them in the right positions, keeps everyone happy and it is working great for my team. Kristina and I connected at just the right exact moment."

"One of the main highlights of the conference for me was Daymon John from Shark Tank, our keynote speaker. He definitely confirmed my beliefs. His message was...You are the business. You are already doing it. You are here for a reason. You have what it takes to succeed. You have the gift, the instinct, the drive and the passion. Daymon's words say it all."

"Another inspiring speaker was Steve Kemble. This lifestyle guru from Texas was something else! His passion and energy were off the charts. I love his sense of styling tablescapes which affirms my own design choices and what I have collected. The more textures and patterns the better. Mix it up! Layers and layers of texture. Steve says, 'We live in a mismatched world!' This speaks to my heart. And according to Steve, don't forget to use a charger because it adds elegance."

"Besides speakers, the networking at each session was amazing. I had to laugh at one of the exchanges I had in one of the sessions I attended. I was chatting with an interior decorator from Indianapolis. She wanted to know what I do. After explaining the tablescape pieces I rent, she said, 'You must have a good dishwasher!'
I said, 'Yes, sometimes 8-9.' She didn't realize we handwash most all of our pieces due to them being vintage and to being carefully inspected. I really shocked her when I said that last year, we handwashed 35,000 pieces. Her mouth dropped! 
Later, when I interjected myself into a trade show booth to explain how to use their glass caddies, I overheard her to tell her entourage, 'That's the lady I was telling you about that handwashed 35,000 pieces!'
And this is a perfect example of how I love the networking aspect of business. Our vendors and connections become friends. She and I realized that she has things I don't have and vice versa.  Our businesses can assist each other. And she will most likely remember my story."

​As we learned the current trends and what is coming in, and what is on the way out, Kristina and I came home with a long list of what we want to accomplish next. We are refreshed and ready for some big business decisions. Stay tuned!

Instead of giving a proposal gift to your wedding party, host an intimate party.

Make your wedding party feel the love. 💗After all, they will be at your beck and call for the weeks to come. Plus, they will be throwing you your bachelorette party and wedding shower. Do something extra for them. Surprise them with a get together to ask them to be in your wedding party. Tea party for just the bridesmaids' proposals. A Retro Bash or a Booze and Paint party for all of the wedding party and their significant +1.  Time to celebrate. 🍾

Make a Wishlist ⬆️for a very unique and different invitation for your friends and family who will be standing by your sides on your wedding day. We have all the rental items you will need to host any one of these proposal parties. 
Check out our price list.  ⬆️Renting is not as expensive as you may think, and you are going easy on the landfill.  NO paper or plastic products! 
Let us help you create a one-of-a-kind wedding proposal party. 
⬆️ We will send you a quote. 

I don't know about you, but when I think of a tea party I either think of a little girl's birthday tea party or more of a formal English tea party.  So, let's talk about some other types of tea parties. We love when our clients use what they have, and we add our tea party rentals to complete the event. 

You just got engaged! Congratulations! When it's time to ask your friends/family to be in your wedding party, surprise them by hosting a Par-Tea! This is a simple yet memorable way to make them feel special knowing they will be by your side on your big day.  Mismatched Vintage Rose teacups, tea pots and tiered sandwich stands will show your bridal party all the love! 

Hey Maid of Honor, planning your bestie's wedding shower is a significant duty of yours.  Create a signature drink with floral ice cubes to be included with the luncheon or late afternoon tea party. Make this an afternoon of girl talk, wedding talk, and relaxation for the bride. Let loose with the gang! Go elegant and fancy with our Glorious Gold mismatched plates and gold encrusted champagne coupes with our Glorious Gold teacups and saucers.  Or go floral for a light and airy afternoon tea with our Elegant Floral plates, tiered stands, teacups and tea pots. Inside or out in the garden, you are creating a bond amongst your wedding party. ​

Gather your gal pals near Valentine's Day and host a Galentine's tea party. Late afternoon tea with our Vintage Rose collection, red goblets, roses, heart shaped finger sandwiches and heart shaped candy boxes create the perfect setting for your favorite Ya-Yas. And don't forget the chocolates!

Want a more formal affair?  Replicate a Downton Abbey tea complete with clotted cream, scones and jam. Pull out some old-fashioned parlor games from the 1800's. Make your invitations reflect the theme by including dress attire. Definitely rent our Bold and Beautiful collection for this affair. You will need our tea cart plus tiered sandwich stands for your tables. Read our Bridgerton blog for even more ideas.

What better way to make your mother, mother-in-law and grandmother feel appreciated and loved. Host a tea party in their honor for a birthday or even Mother's Day.  Be sure to include favorite flowers, favorite colors, favorite desserts and go down memory lane with some framed photographs. Do something unique that will surprise her by also including some of your family treasures.  Use grandma's silver serving tray and crystal candle sticks.  You get the idea.  Mix sentimental items with our vintage party rentals. 

Who is in charge of planning the baby shower?  Grandma? Sister? Best friend? Sister? There are so many cute baby shower themes.
Tea with Mommy-to-Be! 
What a Cutie!
Baby on Board!
The Next Chapter!
Pick one and make it a tea party. Get away from the plastic tablecloths, paper plates and plastic cups to make this celebration extra. Pinks, blues, sage, and yellow are popular color themes. Our whimsical Scalloped Water Lily plates mix perfectly with our vintage mismatched teacups, teapots, depression glass cake stands and salad plates. Be sure to read our cheat sheet blog about how to be the #1 Nana when hosting a baby shower. Our prop rental inventory is extensive for a vintage baby shower. ​

A popular gathering for women's church groups is to hold a tea party while doing bible study or ministry planning. The Teacup Story is often included. Tying biblical passages with the tea party is a creative way to gather and reflect. After all, a lovely afternoon tea is meant to slow us down. Be in the moment, right?  A tea party is also perfect for celebrating those dedicated church volunteers.

Is it your turn to host the book club?  Surprise everyone by putting together a tea party.  They won't be expecting this. Be sure to rent our vintage books to stack, scrabble letters for each place setting name, tea tins for florals, and more for decor. For a takeaway, have each member create a paper rose from old book pages. Incorporate as much literacy into your table scape. Book talks over tea...what could be more intellectual???

Steer away from the traditional finger sandwiches and petit fours. Get comfy and include some heartier food items such as cups of soup, individual casseroles, heavier desserts, and richer teas. Add a hug in a mug, as we like to call it, with our Linen Coupe mugs. I picture this as an intimate small group of friends gathered around the fireplace. Nothing formal here.

Dish and Decor Vintage Rental is located in Crystal Lake. We deliver to Greater Chicago, Rockford, Naperville, Winnetka, Highland Park, Plainfield, Lake Geneva, Kenosha and surrounding areas. ​

As I look back at my December 2019 blog, one of the first blogs that I had written, I realize just how much my business has grown since 2016. In that blog, I share how I took a leap of faith and left the mortgage business to start a China rental business. This unique niche was just the challenge and much-needed personal change that I needed. As I built this business by myself, I am proud to say that December 2022 marks the sixth year of Dish & Decor Vintage Rental! To recognize these past six years, I want to highlight a few of my accomplishments.

First and foremost is my extensive collection of dishes, glassware and decor. My oh my how my inventory has grown! When I first began, I would only rent what I had collected. At that time, my collections were small. People ask me all the time where I had acquired all of my inventory. I would tell them that there is no 1-800 number to call. I have hand-picked each and every item and collected here and there over time. My goal back then was to reach 100 of each collection. Most of my collections are now over 400. As I curated more inventory, I then would rent larger events. Now I have one of the largest collections of colorful glassware in the area. And my dinnerware collections have grown as well. This year has been my best year to date.  My place setting and decor rentals have been rented for corporate galas, weddings, madrigal dinners, showers, tea parties, baptisms, church functions, and birthday celebrations all over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. No event is too small or too large at this point, I am happy to say.

As my business grew, I have tweaked and improved the packing, storage and delivery processes. I have purchased specific crates, racks and boxes for each collection. No bubble wrap here! Rentals are delivered in proper containers.  These are all hand washed and sanitized as well. We make it easy for clients, planners and caterers by including typed directions for setting the tables, sweet tables and decor. Setting up our place settings perfectly is our goal. We deliver. We pick up. And we hand wash our inventory again making the process as easy as possible for everyone. 

Speaking of planners and caterers, we have built relationships and become friends with a number of vendors.  We call them "friendors" because these networks have helped each of our businesses grow. We work hard and trust each other. Dish & Decor is a preferred friendor for several area venues and caterers. I am especially proud of these connections. These friendors know that I am reliable, flexible and available when needed. By working together, we all benefit. 

As my bookings increased, my computer system needed upgrading. Most important to any business is the ability of the computer system to handle its needs. This new system is easier for clients and friendors to navigate and is much more efficient for me. Within this system, our product photographer has been busy upgrading our photos from the ones that I took long ago. We are always maximizing! 

I now have a team, which I am most proud of.  I no longer work alone. Each year as the bookings have increased, I needed assistance. I built a team including a product photographer, a wordsmith for social media, a full-time assistant plus several part-time employees. This team rocks!  I am able to bring my assistant to the American Rental Association Conference with me this year. Mentoring her and including her in a conference is a proud moment. And again...it just doesn't feel like work. This team is just as passionate as I am about making each client happy. Each team member brings their own special strengths to my business. Our team collaborates for photo shoots, social media and marketing. We all keep our eyes open for new acquisitions to our inventory too. And we have great plans for the future!

A little foreshadowing...it was meant to be. If you made it through reading all of this, here is a tidbit you don't know about me. When I was 20 years old and living in my parents' house, my boyfriend was in the living room watching tv and my mother was in the kitchen drinking her white wine and eating popcorn. I was in the dining room with a lady who sold China. The deal was you order the China and pay in installments. I didn't think I would ever own my own China, so I bought it for myself on the payment plan. I wanted to build my credit. Who would have thought??? Now I have all the China I could ask for! I guess I was destined to do this!

My passion and purpose of finding joy has created a unique business that I am so proud of.  To have started off on my own and to have built this venture one client at a time, I couldn't be happier with where Dish & Decor Vintage Rental is today.

​Dish and Decor Vintage Rental is located in Crystal Lake. We deliver to Greater Chicago, Rockford, Naperville, Winnetka, Highland Park, Plainfield, Lake Geneva, Kenosha and surrounding areas. ​