Ruth Rafferty, owner of Elegant Affair, has spent years making
sure people are well cared-for during social functions as a banquet
manager at San Juan Oaks. Thanks to the encouragement of those
around her, Rafferty recently opened her own party supply rental
shop.
Ruth Rafferty, owner of Elegant Affair, has spent years making sure people are well cared-for during social functions as a banquet manager at San Juan Oaks. Thanks to the encouragement of those around her, Rafferty recently opened her own party supply rental shop.
Rafferty, who’s worked at San Juan Oaks Golf Club for the last four years, got a nudge toward the business when her children became overwhelmed in planning a 25th wedding anniversary party for her and her husband.
“They told us what they were doing; I took over and finished planning for the party,” she said. “When my daughter got married, we wanted to do the wedding planning ourselves. We had it at Bolado Park. Then, a couple months later, I helped my niece plan her wedding. People told me that I was so good at it, I should look into starting my own business. I thought to myself how much I liked it. Things started snowballing from there.”
Rafferty said she initially thought of running the business out of her home, but it soon became evident she would need a showroom and place to store her rental supplies.
“I’m strictly a party rental business,” she said. “If people need to purchase balloons and other items, they can go to a party supply store.”
Elegant Affair has four different types of dinnerware available – plain white for more-casual events, and Versailles, Princess Gold and Princess Silver, which are for fancy dinners. All dinnerware includes dinner and salad plates, coffee cups and saucers. The Versailles has soup bowls, while the Princess Gold includes accessories such as sugar bowls and creamers, salt and pepper shakers, gravy boats, butter dishes, vegetable bowls and coffee pots. The Princess Silver pattern is available on request.
Flatware also comes in both plain and fancy. There are coffee urns and glassware. No party would be complete without serving bowls, serving trays and utensils, chafing dishes and punch bowls. Other items to round out decorating party tables include vases, candle holders, picture frames and centerpiece mirrors.
Events held in places without tables and chairs could present a real problem. That’s why Elegant Affair rents white folding chairs as well as round and banquet tables. Linens, napkins and skirting to cover the tables are also available.
“I have some arbors that are in production,” Rafferty said. “I hope to have them available by the second week in June. What’s so unique about the arbors I’m buying is they have an insert built right in. Users can take out the insert if they choose and have the flowers sitting down in the pedestals. What’s ingenious is this way you don’t have to worry about the wind knocking things off the pedestal; that’s a concern around here. They can also be put together and taken apart without tools which is another plus.”
While weddings will be a big part of Elegant Affair’s business, there are all sorts of reasons to have a party. Spring and summer are the perfect time for garden parties and graduation parties will be plentiful. Birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, bridal showers, family reunions and friends simply wanting to visit with friends provide a number of reasons to rent party necessities. Whatever the reason behind the party, Elegant Affair is ready to help.
Elegant Affair is located at 1745 San Felipe Rd., suite 5. For more information, call 636-7735.
