Your Top Event Hire Questions - Answered
When it comes to event hire, we like to keep things easy, clear, and stress-free. Below are the most common questions we get asked—from hire periods and transport requirements to wet weather logistics and cancellation terms.
How long is your event hire period for?
Our standard hire period is four days. That gives you time to collect, use the items for your one-day event, and return them without the mad rush.
For example:
Friday event → collect Thursday, return Monday
Saturday event → collect Friday, return Monday
This hire period is based on the understanding that items are used for one event day only, not multiple days.
I’d like to extend my hire period—can I pick up earlier or return later?
Absolutely. If you’d like to extend beyond the four-day hire period (e.g. pick up Wednesday, return Monday), each additional day is charged at 25% of the hire price.
My event falls on a public holiday—how does that affect pickup and return?
We’re closed on all public holidays. If your event hire pickup or return date lands on one, it will automatically shift to the nearest working day.
Example:
If Friday is a public holiday, pickup moves to Thursday
If Monday is a public holiday, return moves to Tuesday
There are no extra charges for this—our standard hire terms apply.
What happens if something gets broken or damaged?
If an item is returned damaged, broken, or in need of extra cleaning, the cost to replace, repair, or professionally clean will be charged in full.
These terms are laid out in our hire agreement (which is legally binding). It’s the hirer’s responsibility to cover any excess or insurance-related fees for incidents like theft, weather events, or fire.
I’ve made a booking but want to cancel a few items—how does that work?
If you're removing items from your booking more than 40 days before your event, the non-refundable deposit paid on those items will be retained. For example, if you cancel $100 worth of items, the $50 deposit on those is not transferable to your remaining balance.
If you’re cancelling items less than 40 days before your booking start date, the full hire cost of those items is still payable.
Why? Our stock is limited and often booked months (sometimes a year!) in advance. Once you’ve reserved items, they’ve been taken off the market for other clients.
What if I need to reduce my item quantities after RSVPs are in?
You can absolutely reduce quantities—but we need 40+ days’ notice. After that, reductions are accepted, but the full amount for those items will still be due.
If your numbers drop significantly (by more than 10%—e.g. 100 guests down to 60), anything over that 10% reduction is classed as a cancellation and charged as per our terms.
Do you offer event hire outside of Canterbury?
Yes, we do! You're welcome to pick up items for use further afield. Just ensure you have the right transport, packing materials, and protection—especially for fragile or bulky items.
Longer travel increases the risk of damage, so bubble wrap, boxes, blankets, and careful tying-down are a must.
How do I return my order—and do I need to clean anything?
All items must be returned in the same clean condition they left us in (excluding linens—we’ll handle those, and laundering is included in the hire fee).
If items come back dirty or unclean, we’ll clean them in-house and charge accordingly.
Is delivery and collection included in the event hire price?
No—delivery and collection are additional. The listed hire prices are for the use of the item itself (for one event day), and don't include transport.
We’re happy to quote delivery and pickup—just ask!
Can I get a discount for a shorter hire period?
No, we don’t offer discounts for shorter timeframes. Our pricing is based on use for one event, with flexibility on pick-up and return built in to make life easier.
Can I just pop in to view your hire items?
We’d love to chat - but we work by appointment only.
If you’d like to come in, please book a consultation via our website. That way we can make sure one of our experienced team is available to walk you through our event hire range and help tailor it to your event needs.
Common Event Hire Pickup & Transport Questions
Do I need to book a time to collect my hire items?
Nope! You can collect your booking between 9am and 2pm on your start date—no appointment needed.
Can I pick up and return furniture myself?
Some smaller furniture items can be picked up and returned by you—but many require our team to deliver and collect due to their size or fragility. If you book online, a note will appear for any item that requires delivery.
For items I’m collecting myself, what kind of vehicle do I need?
It really depends on what you’re hiring. In most cases, you’ll need a small truck or van. You must also bring packing blankets and bungee cords. Items won’t leave our warehouse without proper transport protection.
If you’re only collecting a few items (like chairs and tables), a trailer may be okay—but it needs to be well-covered, tied down, and packed carefully. In wet weather, open trailers or utes with tarps are not permitted. A fully covered vehicle is required to protect the hire items.
What kind of vehicle should I bring?
It depends entirely on your order. Large items like backdrops often require a van or trailer. Our lawn games fit in most cars. Décor is usually packed into boxes and tubs, so make sure you have enough space—and something to keep things secure and protected during transport.
Can I pick up or return items on the weekend?
No—our warehouse is open Monday to Friday only. Weekends are our busiest onsite with events, so we’re offsite.
If weekdays don’t work for you, we can arrange delivery or pickup instead—just let us know and we’ll quote for it.
Still got questions?
No worries—just get in touch. If your question isn’t answered above, we’re more than happy to help.