Is there a market for hiring wedding items?

[fatnfrumpy]

My DH runs a crockery/equipment hire company serving London,kent surrey and Sussex.
We sometimes get asked for cake stands to hire from brides.
To expand what we offer to hire we have considered buying:-
Mirror plates,bird cages, glass/mirrored vases, fish bowls, cup cake stands etc
Would you consider hireing the table centrepieces or would you rather buy your own?

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Have you thought of marketing yourselves to wedding planners and venues rather than to actual brides?

[oopnorthlass]

Hi,
I'm getting married in a year and we looked at hiring some decorations (birdcages, lanterns etc.) and eventually decided against it. Here's why:

1. A lot of the things we looked at seemed quite expensive to say you're only hiring. For example, a small lantern tended to be about five pounds. I've had a look on eBay and seems I could actually buy one secondhand for that price. Plus, as we have a whole year, I'm planning on doing some charity shop hunting.

1. Some places charged fifteen to twenty pounds to deliver. If we only decided to hire a few things, this seems like a lot.

1. Probably just me being sentimental but I'd like to keep some of the stuff after the wedding for the memories.

Also, just imagining if it was me going into business, I'd be wary of fashions changing. For example, birdcages are in right now, but how long will it be until they're not? Then you're stuck with a house full of shabby-chic stuff

[sydlexic]

My DD is marrying next year. The venue does a package with this type of thing which adds £1500 to the cost so she is looking at hiring direct.

Most suppliers offer: table cloths and runners matching chair swags, chair covers, table centres, glass bowls, cake stands and chocolate fountains and sweet tables or barrows. Back drops with lights and aisle runners, red carpet with petals.

[deemented]

Yes - Theres a few on FB already - and an example is that i was quoted by my venue for hire of chair covers and sashes £3.25 per chair - i found a supplier of FB that will do them for £1 each, plus courier each way - and i save over £100!!!

[fatnfrumpy]

I have now got mirror plates, fishbowls, birdcages, martini glasses etc
They will be going on my website for hire in Kent, sussex,Surrey ans SE London.
Prices start at £3.00
Wish me luck in my new venture!