5 New Ideas for Entertaining in Chicago

Blue Plate is putting a unique twist on the traditional bread service for seated dinners. At each setting, the evening's menu is printed on a bread sleeve containing an individual baguette. A trio of butters—including flavors like garlic and herb, honey pecan, and goat’s milk—is placed on the table and served family style for everyone to share.

Chicago rental company Nimble Well focuses on unique and vintage decor, and recently event planners have been enamored with its collection of colorful stemware. Nimble Well offers 150 to 250 glasses in all the colors of the rainbow, from amber to rose to dusky purple. Prices are a la carte, ringing in at $2.25 to $2.35 per glass.

This month, Luft Balloons launched a section on its website allowing customers to mix and match the company's balloons to build their own bouquets and balloon installations. Users can click through options like custom colors, string colors, and shapes, and then pick up the balloon work of art at Luft's Logan Square shop or order it for delivery.

LondonHouse Chicago’s new $16-per-person Willy Wonka catering package lives up to its name. Sugar fans will love the Nerd-covered cheesecake pops, made-to-order cotton candy, and everlasting Gobstoppers, among other sweets. The menu options inspired by the classic Roald Dahl children's novel include suspended “Violet” blueberry treats with vanilla cream ready to be plucked off the wall. The LondonHouse culinary team can even create custom-wrapped chocolate bars with a select few containing “golden tickets” for raffle prizes.

Go for a loft-chic look with Hall's Rental Services' new industrial dining table. The Chicago rental company's table measures 8 feet by 42 inches, and the tabletop is reversible: Choose between a distressed white top or distressed walnut top.