​Our inventory used on the tables:
Blue & White Dinner Plate Collection, Ice Blue Goblets,
Peacock Blue Goblets, Teal Goblets, Retro Flatware.








Want all or a little of this look? 
Contact Local Chicagoland Contributors:
Planning/Styling:@kensingtoneventdesign
Photographer: @anamariavieriuphotography
Venue: @evanstongolfclub 
Cake & Desserts: @thequintessentialcake 
Decorated Cookies: @ivrysdelights
Floral: @kensingtonevents
Floral Wall & Hoop: #glamourinbloom
Rentals: @DishandDecorVintageRental
Stationery:@flyydesigncreative
Paper Goods: @devilishdz
Cart Rental: @sweetcartsrental

Our Rental inventory used on the Sweet Cart-Sweet Carts Rental:
Blue Cake Plate, Small White Footed candy Plate, Clear Glass Spooner, Blue Sherbet Cup’s, Clear Rectangular Glass Tray, Small Clear Footed Pie Crust Plate, Clear Large Footed Cake Plate, Tin Globe, Scrabble Tiles.    

Everyone knows the changes the mortgage industry has gone thru over the last decade or so. In fact, most people know of a former mortgage loan originator. You can now add my name to that list. Yes, I am a former mortgage loan originator.
 How did I make the leap and launch my own vintage tabletop rental business? That seems to be the million-dollar question.
The truth is that I was angry and miserable those last few years as a mortgage loan originator. If I’m honest, I felt trapped in a dead end 100% commissioned job. It was hard to see a way out. I had been extremely angry for years from the industry changes. Knowing full well I needed to get out of the mortgage industry but what should I do next, what can I do next.
 One day seemingly out of the blue, a friend said, ‘you should rent china plates you would be good at it”. Rent china plates? It might sound silly to you, but the idea sparked my curiosity.
I did a bit of research and was delighted to discover the idea was a legitimate business happening around the world. And, a relatively fresh concept in Chicagoland. It reminded me of a previous job I had more than 20 years ago.  Prior to the mortgage industry, I sold retail store fixtures. Everything a retail store needed to run their store from shopping bags, display racks to mannequins.  I’ll never forget the time I sold 500 piñatas to a retail store for their window display. We didn’t carry piñatas in our catalog but with a bit of creative ingenuity, I found a way to get them for the customer.   
Fast forward to now, and it seems I’m using that same determination and creativity to support customers.  This time around, I supply beautiful tableware for couples celebrating special occasions. I work hard to help them add their own style and personality to their special day.  It brings me great joy to share my vintage collection and help make their special day truly memorable.
 But how did I make the leap?
In looking back, I would say there were three things that helped me.
 1) A strong self-awareness- I understood my strengths.  
*Positivity-cup is always half full explains why I stayed in the mortgage industry too long.
*Maximizer-natural ability to take something from good to great
*Ideation-I love to brainstorm
*Relator- Natural networker
*Achiever-I have always been Goal oriented
2) Recognizing my values-Bringing joy to my life and to others.
3) Understanding my love language-Yep love language that’s right. Mine is quality time. That’s why I      enjoy my appointments with clients. Spending time hearing their story and helping to meet their           need.
 These three things gave me the confidence to take a leap and launch a business based on my unique strengths and talents. I am sharing this with you in the hope it may help you find your own true passion.
 There is nobody just like you. Embrace your strengths and take a leap! 
 
Janet Mathews
Owner and Founder
Dish & Décor Vintage Rental
www.DishandDecorVintageRental.com

We are very excited to announce we were chosen by two wedding planners to participate in Chicago Style Weddings Magazine  year long "Designers Challenge" competition. The planners chose the venue, theme and vendors. Fresh Rustic Romance is the Winner! 

The Words That Shape Us
Alexis Alvarez
​Owner of Lillian Rose Events
Shares her vision for the shoot.
In early 2018, I did a consultation with the sweetest couple who had a vision for their wedding where they merged their love of literature and the city where they fell in love, Paris, in the details of their wedding. Their anchoring phrase: The Words That ShapeUs. Ultimately, we didn’t end up working together but our conversation & their love story left me so charged with vision, that I knew I had to get it out somehow. Over a year later, I had the opportunity to partner up with a group of ridiculously talented creative partners for the Designer’s Challenge & I knew it was time to execute this dream. As you can imagine, over 18 months, I had the space to really get to know this fictional couple I was designing this shoot around. This couple was backpacking through Europe with their best friends & after an electric night in Paris, they found themselves hand in hand in a field of Tulips at dawn committing to spend their lives together. After exchanging their vows, they went to a local cafe to celebrate.
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Imagine your wedding day. The dream has come true. You and your new partner enter the reception to begin the celebration of a lifetime with family and friends. As you walk into the room it sparkles and captures the magic of the moment. The tables are set with colored water goblets twinkling in the candlelight and an assortment of vintage floral china plates at each setting. The image reminds you of your grandmother and how much she would love this moment. It brings a tear to your eye as you know she is with you in spirit.
 
I own a vintage china and glassware rental company that specializes in creating beautiful table-scapes for weddings, showers, and other special events. Almost daily, I receive calls from people wanting to sell their mother’s china. Their hope is to make a bit of money and know the family heirloom will get used in a special way.
 
Here is the truth of the matter. Our old family china and glassware is not going to make most of us rich. I usually pay .50 per piece and if it is really spectacular a little more. By piece that means plate, teacup, saucer, platter, bowls etc. in the end it’s worth about 50.00 to 100.00 per set.
 
Yes, places like replacements.com list the value at 50.00 per plate. That market is designed for people needing to replace pieces in their own collection. This is an alternative option for selling that old family china. Simply take a photo and places like replacement.com will make an offer. They don’t accept everything, and you will have to pay the cost to ship it to them. Another option is to try and sell on Facebook Market Place, OfferUp, Craigslist. This way people can pick up from you (meet at a police station parking lot or other business) to the hassle of packing and shipping the heavy china collection.
 
My company is all about making new cherished memories with vintage pieces from the past. Here is a photo of Lynn’s china she received in 1950 for her wedding day. Lynn’s china lives on and is no longer stuck in the basement but is used and enjoyed at weddings, showers and special events like the photo below.
 
Interested in selling your family china or vintage glassware to Dish & Décor Vintage Rental? I am located in Crystal Lake, IL and buy from the greater Chicagoland area.
 
 
Simply follow these steps:

1. Take a photo of the front and a close up of the back. Please note, I do not purchase chipped, broken or china where the glaze has cracked.
2. Email a photo with your contact information to janet@dishanddecorvintagerental.com
3. Share a sentence or two of why the pieces are special to your family.

 
Here are a few of the pattern names and images I’m currently seeking to add to my collection.
White Lace on White China
Lace Bouquet-American Limoges
Lovelace-Crown Victoria
Plymouth-Carlton
Translucent-Salem
364 Wakefield -International Silver
Tahoe- Noritake
Brocade-Style House
 
Have any fond memories related to family china and glassware? Feel free to share it here!

Are you trying to come up with ideas for a Romantic Wedding Shower this Spring?

​Here are some simple tips.

1) Look into renting space from your local park district. You don't have to rent from the town you live in. This photo was taken at the Crystal Lake, Illinois Main Beach Pavilion for a Styled Photoshoot.

2) Rent your tableware. They will be delivered early and picked up after the event. You wont need to worry about washing    everything because the rental company will wash them at their studio.

​3) Rent your linen. Color goes a long way in setting the mood. The linen in this photo is Blossom Lamour. It has an elegant sheen to it and when you add in the textured Pink Soiree Napkins it screams ROMANCE. All rented from Windy City Linen in Wheeling Illinois.

4) If you are using a Park District venue most already have chairs and tables so you won't need to rent those. Chairs pictured belong to the Main Beach Pavilion.
5) What food to serve. Usually most people opt for a light lunch of salads. 
6) Centerpieces speak with your local florist on what will fit your budget they may also have favors too. The flowers and box of chocolate favors in the photo are from Apple Creek Flowers Woodstock.
7) Don't forget about the cake or sweet table.
I brought together vendors for this styled shoot and submitted the photos to the local newspaper-The Northwest Herald.
The paper called right away and  interviewed me over the phone. The reporter even spoke with one of my clients. I still can't believe the fantastic article they wrote. I couldn't be more happy. Click the link below to read the newspaper article.
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​This week is my 2 year business anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, I wanted to create a special image using my  table numbers. To represent this second anniversary, I chose a gold tone oval #2.​
I took a photo. But thought the gold tone oval looked too lonely. I found myself asking, “what else can I add to make this even better?”  I added a glass doorknob with the blue license plate #2. That felt better but my instinct was it still needed more. I added some blue books to connect with the blue number. Took the next photo but I still wasn’t satisfied. It needed something more. I added in an extra doorknob to create a bit of sparkle. That is the life of a maximizer! Always looking for how to take something that is good and make it excellent. 
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According to StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, “Excellence, not average, is a maximizer’s measure. Transforming something strong into something superb is thrilling.” Two years into the creation of Dish and Décor Vintage Rental and I continue to be thrilled with helping others turn a special event into an extraordinary occasion. All pieces used in this photo are available for hire!

I bet I am not the only one with Maximizer qualities. Are you a Maximizer and what profession are you in? 
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"What are you planning for your dessert/sweet table?
​My husband of 27 years Joel and I recently went out to visit our son Ryan attending his senior year at West Virginia University. ​Of course we had to stop and see what treasures we could find around Morgantown. ​I was so excited to find this small 15 x 11" blue overnight case (top right). I saw it and grabbed it so fast, I didn't have to think twice about it. I knew it would fit be fantastic. When you build a display like this you need to use pieces to build height that are small enough in scale to work together with the other displays. The small case was hard to find because most cases this size have a handle on the top. ​This 6 foot table display is great for many types of sweets and can hold around 150 pieces depending on the size of each piece.​ There is plenty of open space to place additional sweets around the platters on the suitcases and also right on the table.  You can also add additional pieces to expand this to an 8 Foot sweet table. Call or email us now to book "The Morgantown Sweet Table" for your next party. The Morgantown Sweet Table package is available to rent for $116.00 food not included. 
​If you want to be the first to see new inventory when it comes in sign up here.   

​Use unexpected elements to make a statement on your gift table, sweet table or sign in table at your next event. Our Pink Polly dress maker form will do just that it is just the right size for a table, standing at 31 inches high. Have your florist add flowers to create a luxurious effect. Florist's are the most creative people you will ever meet give them a chance to go wild and you will be happy you did. We are always happy to drop off our props at your florist. Call now to rent Pink Polly at $24.00 and use her to create a Spectacular event.

I was speaking with a bride and her mother in my booth at Woodstock Wedding Walk about my rental collection the other day. When the bride said "MOM thats your scale you have in the pantry'!
​Why not make your wedding décor more meaningful by using props from your mother or grandmothers home first. Then fill in what you don't have with rental items. Here is my recommended list for creating a vintage look at your next affair.
​1. Mismatched Vintage China-can be used on a set table, buffet table or the head table only.
​2.Vintage Luggage and Trunks-use as card boxes, message note holders or stacked.
​3.Vintage hardback books in various colors -stack in 3's on tables with twine or lace.
​4. Vintage kitchenware repurposed as props to hold china and platters-scales, dish drainers, chairs, etc.   
​5. Pearls-Drape faux pearls over books, over typewriters, over centerpiece flowers.