Elaborate backyard events are having a moment, and we are here for it! We love the idea of turning a family cookout into an Instagram-worthy celebration, leveling up a birthday party to an all-out extravaganza, and adding luxurious, extra-special touches to intimate gatherings. Check out these fun rentals and services on offer around the 901!
Use the link below to skip to a specific section:
- Photo Booths
- Unique Furniture and Decor
- Balloon Installations
- Mobile Bars
- Sweet Treats
- Bounce Houses, Water Slides, Inflatables & More
- Entertainment
Photo Booths
Strike a pose! Photo booths are all the rage and add a fun touch to an event. In one of the cutest ideas we’ve ever heard, the Amurica photo booth is a 1950s teardrop camper converted into a mobile photo studio. The inside is filled with lights, color, and tons of props. This unique photo booth is perfect for every outdoor gathering, from weddings to birthdays to family reunions.
In addition to exotic car and chauffeur services, inflatables, chairs, tents, and tables, Unique Party and Event Rentals offers photo booth rental services with plenty of fun props and background options. If you’re planning an intimate backyard wedding, check out The Booth by LoveStream, which advertises high-quality, high-energy fun — with customizable, affordable options for props, set-up, and backdrops.
Unique Furniture and Decor
Your guests will need a place to sit, but why be boring about it? Unique, plush furnishings and beautiful decor add luxury and comfort to your backyard soirée.
With Glamp901, glamorous camping is not your only option. This small family-owned business also offers unique ways to gather and enjoy company, offering delightfully decorated tents and teepees for a party, sleepover, or girls’ night. There’s also a new “Gather with Glamp” low table seating set up. Best of all, owners Brad and Liz Barksdale do all the work for you; all you have to do is provide the backyard!
You can’t go wrong with Mahaffey Event & Tent Rentals for luxury and elegance. A Memphis standby for over 100 years, Mahaffey rents premium tents and accessories to transform your backyard into a wonderland. From chandeliers to string lights, lounge furniture to dance flooring, and everything in between, Mahaffey has what you need to create a stunning wedding, party, or other event.
If you dream of a vintage look, Ila Vivian Vintage Rentals has charming furniture, props, and decor. We love the cool, retro touches we spotted on social media!
Balloon Installations
Balloons add instant color and excitement to any party. If you want to go all out, a balloon installation is the way to bring on the festivities! Create a grand entrance, provide a photo op, add a little ambiance, or disguise a less-than-pretty area of the yard. Balloon installations are multi-purpose wonders. We found two eye-catching Memphis balloon purveyors that offer exciting options.
Captivating Balloons provides innovative and inspirational balloon decor for both large and small events. The team even receives annual training from industry leaders from around the world!
The Pop of the Party has unique exterior installations that bring creative accents to various decor themes. You’ll find balloon garlands, backdrop rentals, helium balloons, streamer rentals, columns, centerpieces, and more.
Mobile Bars
Food and drink are high on any list of party priorities. While we aren’t going into catering for this article, we can definitely help you out with the drinks. Mobile bars are a great addition to any occasion, but these little cuties are perfect for outdoor events.
Elevate your beverage experience with Highball. Owner Avery Amstutz and her tipsy trailer, Francie, offer craft cocktails, beer, and wine. And the Highball team loves to decorate the bar to match the theme and vibe of your event. They offer packages that are customizable to your needs and vision.
Tipsy Tumbler Traveling Tavern is a cool, vintage-style mobile bar. With an all-white exterior, handmade wooden bars, hanging lights, and shiplap interior walls, this trailer is a showstopper! This tavern is not just for looks, however. There’s room for up to three bartenders to serve guests signature cocktails, wine, and beer.
Sweet Treats
We all know how hot it get in Memphis, so cool down with a Mempops! They do catering for parties and events, with a minimum of 100 popsicles per rental. You can see pricing and details here.
If you want your event to feel like a carnival or county fair, check out Funnel Cake Family for freshly squeezed lemonade … and of course funnel cakes. Miccos Snocones, based out of Arlington, can also can come to you! Whether you’re craving some shaved ice, ice cream, or shakes, they’ve got you covered.
Bounce Houses, Water Slides, Inflatables & More
Ramp up the fun at your next family reunion, neighborhood get-together, or children’s birthday party! Rent a bounce house, water slide, or other fun inflatable for your backyard and turn a run-of-the-mill gathering into an event they’ll remember for years.
901 Parties has everything you need to make your next party a roaring success: inflatables, carnival rides (vintage Ferris wheel, anyone?), balloon artists, costume character rentals, and much more. They also offer some very cool all-inclusive packages, such as the Mechanical Bull Party. In addition to riding that bull, you’ll get western-themed decor, music, and fun foods like funnel cakes and burgers.
Locally owned Tiky Jumps will ignite outdoor fun with high-quality event furniture, interactive games, inflatables, trackless trains, dunk tanks, and more. They even have the cutest little bounce houses just for toddlers!
Family-owned and operated Bluff City Parties & Events has a colorful and extensive selection of inflatable water slides, bouncers, combo bouncers, interactive games, obstacle courses, slides, carnival games, and concessions to rent. They also offer party packages that are priced to work with multiple budgets.
And if you’re in the market for just bounce houses, Boujee Bounce has everything you can imagine! From your basic bounce houses, to ones with slides and ball pits, this will be the hit of your party.
Entertainment
Nothing beats live entertainment if you want to make your backyard event truly over-the-top. Children adore face painters, balloon artists, and magicians (and let’s be honest, most adults enjoy them, too). Live music is lovely, and we love supporting local musicians. 901 Parties, listed above, has options for face painting and balloon twisting artists. You can also check out platforms such as Punchbowl and GigSalad.
You can also check out the amazing sounds of local band Jeff Hulett & The Hand Me Downs. A favorite at The Green Room at Crosstown Concourse, the indie folk/folk rock band loves to jam at private parties.
“There’s nothing like a house show,” Jeff says. “They just hit differently. Whether you want something in the background, a rock show, or a listening party, my band loves these occasions. We work with the host to fit the vibe.”
For the young, and of course, the young at heart, face painting artist Amanda Buchanan at Pain’t It Cool offers a wide range of colorful options: face painting, henna tattoos, temporary glitter tattoos, and more. Her designs are works of art, and she is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet!
Happy entertaining, Memphis!
**********
For more unique entertaining ideas, click HERE!
