Serving up Services — Your Must-Have Iowa Planner Tool Kit for Summer Parties and Special Events

You’ve chosen a theme, the date is set, and the invitations have been sent. The hard part is over, right? Wrong! Finding the perfect Iowa event service providers for the food, entertainment, linens, and more can be a challenge. Are they dependable? Will they have what you need? Are they willing to work with you to ensure a flawless Iowa event? We know how nerve-wracking it can be to nail everything down. That’s why we put together this essential planner tool kit. We’re featuring the best in the biz when it comes to pulling off the perfect party. Use it for all your events all summer long (and the rest of the year too!)

Catering to your needs

The food you serve can really make or break your event. The last thing you need your guests to remember (and tell everyone about) is that the quiches were cold or the veggies were soggy. It’s important to count on caterers who have built a reputation for delicious dishes, the freshest foods, as well as flexibility in menu planning.

• Food with Flair puts their team of caring professionals at your disposal, offering mouthwatering menus and cooking up delightful cuisine. Call on them for either on-site catering at the Tuscany Event Center or off-site at a venue of your choosing.

• Catering DSM satisfies guests’ appetites at a variety of partner’s venues. Their chefs will custom create your menu, and implement an innovative approach to catering your event, incorporating action stations, roaming stations, self-service buffets, tapas style, or multi-course plated meals.

• A perennial Iowa favorite, Barmuda Catering offers gourmet catering and event facilities at six different locations.  With a menu culled from the most popular dishes served at their many restaurant locations, Barmuda can cook up everything from American to Cajun to Italian, delivering superior quality and flavor, along with exceptional service. 

For a complete list of catering options for Iowa events, take a look at our Iowa event caterers directory.

That’s entertainment

Want your guests to giggle and guffaw? Dance the night away? Pose for fun pictures in a photo booth? Come on … it’s a party. Bring on the entertainment. From DJs to comedians, magicians to mediums, and more, nothing gets things humming between guests like really great entertainment. Look for a professional or company that comes highly recommended, who has worked with a group like yours before, and who can tell you exactly what you’ll receive for their fee.

For a complete list of entertainment options, take a look at our Iowa event entertainers directory.

We’ve got a plan

CVBs are the workhorses of the meeting and event planning industry, extending your reach and capabilities as a planner. Of course, CVBs operate as non-profits and offer their services for free, so if you’re not utilizing them in your planning, you’re missing out on a great resource. CVBs are experts in their particular geographic location and can give planners the inside scoop on local businesses, venues and accommodations. They can arrange site inspections, check hotel and meeting space availability, and connect a planner to local service providers. Check out these CVBs in their respective regions:

• Eastern Iowa. Leave the bustle of the big city behind and seek out the small town charm/big time amenities of some of easterm Iowa’s finest communities nestled amidst some of the prettiest scenery you’ll discover in the Midwest. Take some time to explore Dubuque, Waterloo, Iowa City | Coralville Area and the Quad Cities, and see what their CVBs have to offer.

• Western Iowa. So many communities with so many amenities conveniently located close by to cities and gorgeous countrysides. What’s more, many of these great communities are renowned for their history, historic places, national parks, museums, and attractions, while offering an abundance of hotels, meeting venues, restaurants, and more. Discover the communities that put the “see” in CVB, including Okoboji, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.

• Central Iowa. Find out why so many native Iowans travel to a place famous for hospitality, fun, nightlife, professional sports, outdoor recreation and more. Picturesque and with a thriving arts and culture, restaurants, hotels and shops, the CVBs that operate in central Iowa communities attract folks from all around the country. Find all that and more in Ottumwa or Marshalltown.

For a more comprehensive and detailed look at CVBs in Iowa communities, Take Five minutes to explore the best Iowa has to offer.

Convenience for rent

Chances are pretty good that your event supply inventory does not include a 75 foot long tent, 500 mint green linen napkins, or a revolving disco ball, which means you’ll likely need to rent those things. Fortunately, there are a number of highly reputable firms that offer everything from portable shelters, to table linens, to two-way radios, to high tech AV equipment. When contracting with a rental company, carefully review the terms of your agreement, making sure that pick up and return dates are clearly specified, liability coverage for rented equipment is in place, and that all fees required are listed. 

• Tents, Linens and more. Tent and linen event rental companies stock a wide selection of table linens, runners and napkins in a variety of colors and styles. But that’s not all. Many of them also rent and can advise you on what’s trending in candelabras, centerpieces, chair covers, dinnerware, drinkware and much, much more. Consult with the pros at either Classic Events and Parties or Event Decorators of Iowa when it comes to your event rental needs.

• The tech experts at Markey’s Rental + Staging will take your drab presentation and make it dazzling! Will high-skilled technicians, quality equipment and professional project management, your event will become a defining experience with state-of-the-art AV equipment, computer rental, live event management, and more.

For a complete list of event rental options, take a look at our Iowa party and event rentals and services directory.