How far in advance should I book my event rentals?

This is one of the most thoughtful questions you can ask when planning an event, and the honest answer is sooner than you think.

For weddings, larger parties, and events that need tents, tables, and a lot of seating, booking as early as possible is always the safest move. Popular dates fill up fast, especially summer and early fall weekends. Even if your guest count is not final, locking in your date early helps ensure the equipment you want is available when you need it. Event Rent Maine is a newer business with limited equipment. This means if someone books our largest tent with resin chairs, we may be out of resin chairs that weekend! If you're checking our live availability and don't see what you want available, do reach out because we may be able to order equipment to meet the demand!

For medium-sized events like graduation parties, birthday parties, baby showers, and backyard gatherings, booking four to eight weeks ahead is usually a good target. This gives you time to plan comfortably without feeling rushed, and it avoids the stress of last-minute availability issues. The smaller the event, the safer it is to wait, but the equipment you want is always subject to availability. We do pride ourselves on fixing last-minute emergencies whenever possible; our fastest phone call to delivery time is just under 2 hours.

Another thing people do not realize is that delivery routes and setup schedules also fill up. Even if the equipment itself is available, time slots for delivery and setup may not be. Booking early helps secure both the inventory and the service window that works best for your event.
If you are unsure about your final details, it is still better to reserve early and make adjustments later. Guest counts, layouts, and add-ons can be updated as your event gets closer, but availability cannot be created at the last minute. We do allow booking online, time slots for delivery and pick up are scheduled to meet your needs best. Right now, as I'm writing this blog post, we're allowing for orders 2 weeks in advance notice; we'll likely switch to 4 weeks by 2027. Our business is constantly adapting to results, and this year is going to be big for us!

In short, if you have your date and location, it is time to book. Early planning gives you more options, less stress, and peace of mind knowing your event setup is already handled.