Frequently Asked Questions

A 50% retainer is due at booking to secure your date and equipment. It's non-refundable — think of it as reserving your spot, not a hold we return. The remaining 50% is due 7 days before your event.

We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe, plus PayPal. We're not able to accept cash or checks — everything is handled securely online.

Most of our pricing is available instantly online — no waiting on a callback. For larger or custom events, reach out and we'll put together an itemized quote, valid for 7 days.

No minimum to book — there's no party too small. If you'd like delivery instead of pickup, orders need to total at least $75 to qualify.

Cancel 7 or more days before your event and you forfeit only your retainer — nothing else is charged. We are always willing to reschedule so long as the equipment is available for those dates. 

Yes — just reach out to us and we'll help you adjust your order. No changes can be made 7 days before the event. 

Most items are available for free pickup at our Willow Spring location, or you can add delivery to your order. Tents are the one exception.

Delivery is calculated based on distance, starting at a $40 base plus $2.50 per mile. For most of our service area — Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Angier, Garner, Clayton, Apex, Cary, and Morrisville — that keeps delivery close to or under $100. Outside that range, reach out — we're happy to discuss delivery up to 50 miles for the right event.

We monitor forecasts closely. If we determine conditions are unsafe, you get a full refund or a free reschedule, your choice. If you decide to cancel yourself because of the forecast, standard cancellation terms apply, though we're happy to move your date instead as a courtesy.

Normal wear and tear is included in your price at no extra charge. Items returned missing, broken beyond normal wear, or visibly neglected are billed at the replacement values listed in your rental agreement.

Things happen and in reality if you communicate with us we will work with you. An additional day's rental charge applies per item, for each day it's late. If you just don't say anything and are just late. 

Shake off any food, confetti, or debris, and make sure they're dry before packing them up for return — trapped moisture can cause mildew damage. Wax, burns, and stains beyond normal use are billed at replacement value.

We rent food-warming and serving equipment, but we're not a catering company — food safety and handling is the customer's responsibility.

You must be at least 18 years old to book a rental or sign a rental agreement.

Your space should be flat, clear of obstacles, and large enough for the tent itself plus some clearance on all sides for setup. A clear, easy path from where we can park to the installation site keeps setup quick and safe.

Easy, level access from parking to your setup location keeps delivery smooth and keeps your price as quoted. Sites with more complicated access — significant distance from parking, stairs, tight gates, or other obstacles — may require additional setup labor and carry an added fee starting at $100. Let us know your site details when you book so we can plan accordingly.

Not currently — our tents require a level grass or soil surface for stake installation.

Yes — please call 811 before your event so utility lines can be marked. This is required for safe stake installation. The Party Lot is not responsible for damages caused by unmarked tent installation. 

See our weather policy — we won't set up or leave a tent out in unsafe wind conditions (25 mph) winds, checked against a public source like weather.com.

Yes — sidewalls are available as an add-on to any tent booking, priced per wall.

For a 20x20 High Peak tent, setup typically runs 1–2 hours, with breakdown around 1 hour — faster without sidewalls. Time can vary depending on how far the tent needs to be carried from where we park.

Comfortably seats up to 36-48 guests at  6 ft rectangular tables. 6-8 per table. 

Yes — helium-filled balloons are perfect for a floating bouquet or centerpiece, while air-filled balloons stay exactly where you put them.

A standard helium balloon floats for about 12–24 hours. Ask about our Hi-Float treatment to extend that to 1–3 weeks, so decorations can go up well ahead of your event.

A full range of standard and specialty latex colors, plus foil designs by occasion — birthdays, baby showers, and more.