When planning an event, it’s natural to look for ways to save money wherever you can. One question we hear often is: “Should I pay for delivery and setup, or should I just pick up my rentals myself?”
The answer depends on your event, your timeline, and how much work you’re willing to take on. Here are a few things to consider before deciding.
1. Consider How Much You’re Renting
Picking up a few small items, like linens, napkins, or chargers, may be fairly simple.
But when you’re renting tables, chairs, tents, dance floors, bars, or large quantities of rental items, things can get complicated quickly.
Do you have a vehicle large enough to transport everything? Do you have enough room to safely load and secure the items? And, most importantly, do you have enough people to help?
Sometimes the delivery fee is worth it simply to avoid figuring all of that out yourself.
2. Think About Your Timeline
Event days are busy enough without adding a rental pickup and return to your schedule.
If you’re getting married at 4:00 PM, you probably don’t want to spend your morning loading tables and chairs, driving to the venue, unloading everything, and then worrying about getting it all back afterward.
Your time has value, too.
Having your rentals delivered allows you to focus on getting ready, spending time with your family, coordinating vendors, and enjoying your event.
3. Don’t Forget About Setup
Delivery and setup are two different things.
Getting the rentals to the venue is one thing. Getting everything arranged exactly where it needs to go is another.
Tables and chairs may need to be placed according to a floor plan, linens need to be put on tables, and larger rental items may require multiple people to move safely.
If you’re already juggling a dozen other things, professional setup can take a huge task off your plate.
4. Consider the Pickup Process
Before choosing DIY pickup, ask yourself:
“What happens after the event?”
After everyone leaves, you’ll still need to gather everything, load it back into your vehicle, and return it according to the rental company’s requirements.
After a long wedding or event, the last thing you may want to do is spend another few hours breaking everything down and loading a vehicle.
Professional pickup means you can leave the venue and let the rental company handle the rest.
5. Look at the Full Cost—not Just the Rental Price
It’s easy to look at a delivery fee and think, “I could save that money by picking it up myself.”
But don’t forget to factor in:
- Gas
- Vehicle size
- Time spent driving
- Loading and unloading
- Extra people needed to help
- Setup and breakdown time
- Potential damage from transporting items yourself
Once you add everything up, professional delivery and setup may be a better value than you initially thought.
6. When DIY Pickup Might Make Sense
We’re not saying you should always pay for delivery!
For smaller orders, DIY pickup can absolutely make sense. If you’re renting a few linens or smaller décor pieces and have a vehicle that can safely transport everything, picking up your rentals may be an easy way to save money.
The key is knowing what you’re taking on before you make the decision.
So… Which Should You Choose?
If you’re renting a large quantity of items, have a tight event-day timeline, or simply don’t want to spend your day moving tables and chairs, delivery and setup can be well worth the investment.
If you have a smaller order, plenty of time, the right vehicle, and a few helping hands, DIY pickup may be the perfect option for you.
At the end of the day, your rental experience should make your event easier—not add another thing to your to-do list.
Our biggest piece of advice? Consider the value of your time before automatically choosing the cheapest option. Sometimes paying for convenience is one of the best decisions you can make when planning an event.