Pick a spot and set up a tent.
Under that tent, bring in chairs, dishes, heaters, electricity, lights, a dance floor and “all the other things you would need to make 250 or 300 of your closest friends feel very comfortable.”
In the words of Diana Bishop at Taylor Rental in Petoskey, whatever a bride and groom need and where they want it, the business will deliver it.
“We provide one-stop-shopping for brides and grooms who choose to have their event in the middle of Aunt Mary’s field,” said Bishop.
Because of the beauty of the area, many couples want to hold outdoor ceremonies capitalizing on the natural amenities of Northern Michigan. But people need a place to sit, and plates to eat from, and nice linens to fold in their laps.

 

Regardless of the location — even if at an indoor venue — Taylor Rental specializes in bringing the goods to the site. “If you’re at the Perry and you choose the new brown, which is the old black, and a different style of chair or prefer to have different crystal, we provide those services,” said Bishop.
“It’s a very fun business,” she said. “We really have learned a lot about providing services for people.”
A member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, Taylor staff attends seminars to keep them in tune with servicing the wedding market. The staff can handle the needs of wedding parties from 15 to 700, Bishop said, though the typical size is 175 to 200.
As for advanced notice, she said for brides who are flexible in their linen and dish choices, short notice can be accommodated. For those a bit more particular, months in advance will ensure that “the dishes will be white, the linens will go to the floor, that sort of thing,” she said.  
If a wedding is on a Saturday, the Taylor staff will scout out the site for tent placement and to start setting up for the event several days prior. “One thing we’ve learned is that a little extra time is never a bad thing,” Bishop said.
They work with the caterers, florists and various vendors to ensure a smooth event, even if it’s staged in the middle of nowhere. “The thing about doing an outside event is that usually people have some emotion or history attached to it,” Bishop said, “and it’s a little more magical experience.”

Taylor Rental Center, 347-1840
Meyer Ace Hardware, 347-7390
Jordan Valley Rental, 536-2895