Serving up Services — Your Must-Have Wisconsin 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 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.

• Davians Banquet + Conference Center puts their team of experts at your disposal, offering mouthwatering event menus and cooking up delightful cuisine. Call on them for either on-site or off-site catering. Don’t forget to ask about chocolate dipping fountains, too!

• Lake Geneva’s premier caterer for more than twenty years, Celebration on Wells Catering satisfies guests’ appetites in a picturesque setting.  Using only the freshest and finest local ingredients, they will work with you to create the perfect menu for your event.

• A perennial Milwaukee favorite for more than two decades, Bartolotta Catering + Events offers gourmet catering and banquet accommodations at eleven different restaurant locations.  With a menu that includes everything from handmade pastas to steak to pizza and more, they’re widely known for the superior quality and flavor of their food, along with exceptional service. 

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

For a complete list of live entertainment options, take a look at our Wisconsin 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/Central Wisconsin. Leave the bustle of the big city behind and seek out the small town charm/big time amenities of some of east central and central Wisconsin’s finest communities nestled amidst some of the prettiest scenery you’ll discover in the Midwest. Take some time to explore Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Wausau | Central Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Dells and see what their CVBs have to offer.

• Southern Wisconsin. 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 all-inclusive resorts, museums, and attractions while offering an abundance of hotels, meeting venues, restaurants, and more. Discover the communities that put the “see” in CVB, including La Crosse, Brookfield, Lake Geneva, Milwaukee, Real Racine and Greater Madison.

• Northwestern Wisconsin. Find out why so many native Wisconsinites go “up north” whenever they get the chance. Picturesque with a thriving arts scene, restaurants, hotels and shops, the CVBs that operate in the northwestern Wisconsin communities attract folks from all around the country. Find all that and more in Eau Claire.

For a more comprehensive and detailed look at CVBs in Wisconsin communities, Take Five minutes to explore the best Wisconsin 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 event 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. 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 Event Essentials or when it comes to your event rental needs.

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