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

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 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 event? We know how nerve-wracking it can be to nail everything down. That’s why we put together this essential event 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 event caterers who have built a reputation for delicious dishes, the freshest foods, as well as flexibility in menu planning.

• Three Sons Signature Cuisine puts their team of experts at your disposal, creating mouthwatering event menus by design and cooking up delightful cuisine using local, sustainable ingredients. Call on them for drop off catering, and even pastry and cake design.

• With locations in four states, Lancer Catering has been satisfying clients with their cooking for more than thirty years. Offering complete corporate catering on-site, Lancer specializes in restaurant quality, upscale event menus individually designed for every client, with options that cater to low calorie, low carb, low fat or vegetarian diets.

• A Minnesota favorite since 1953, Broadway Pizza offers event catering and banquet accommodations at any of their nine locations.  With an event menu that ranges from pizza, to pasta, to sandwiches and more, they’re widely known for the superior quality and flavor of their food, along with exceptional service.

For a complete list of caterers, take a look at our Minnesota 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 event 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.

• Captivating audiences for more than 20 years, let popular show band Casablanca Orchestra get your guests moving with a variety of old to new school popular songs.

For a complete list of live entertainment options, take a look at our Minnesota 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:

• Southern Minnesota. Leave the bustle of the big city behind and seek out the small town charm/big time amenities of some of southern Minnesota’s finest communities nestled amidst some of the prettiest scenery you’ll discover in the Midwest. Take some time to explore Hutchinson, Albert Lea, Owatonna and Red Wing and see what their CBVs have to offer.

• Twin Cities Metro Area. So many communities with so many amenities conveniently located close by to downtowns Minneapolis and St. Paul. What’s more, many of these great metro communities are just minutes from the MSP international airport and the Mall of America, and offer an abundance of hotels, meeting venues, restaurants, and more. Discover the communities that put the “see” in CVB, including Bloomington, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville, Minneapolis Northwest, Roseville, and Twin Cities Gateway.

• Central/Northern Minnesota. Find out why so many native Minnesotans go “up north” whenever they get the chance. Picturesque and with more lakes than you’ve likely seen in your life, the CVBs that operate in central and northern Minnesota communities attract folks from all around the country. Find what you’re looking for in the Wilmar Lakes Area, St Cloud, and Detroit Lakes.

For a more comprehensive and detailed look at CVBs in Minnesota communities, Take Five minutes to explore the best Minnesota 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 rental companies stock a wide selection of table linens, runners and napkins in a variety of colors and styles. But that’s not all. They also rent and can advise you on what’s trending in glassware, furniture, flatware, china, centerpieces, lighting, draping and much, much more. Consult with the pros at Apres Event Decor & Tent Rental, or Ultimate Events, Inc when it comes to your event rental needs.

• Communication. Staying in real-time touch with your staff, valet, and security personnel is critical. Two-way radios, push-to-talk phones along with radio accessories keep you connected and keep things running smoothly. For communication rentals, contact Midwest Radio Rentals or Rhino Communication Rentals.

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