Small Businesses Hosting Large Events – MEET (Meetings |

Professional suppliers to look for in 2025

Rebecca Essess

Growing up, Missouri’s hospitality industry included more than just the big, well-known providers. There are a variety of small vendors across the state that continue to host large events and create transformative atmospheres for attendees. You don’t have to venture far to find what you’re looking for; just look in your own backyard (figuratively, of course). Whether you need creative balloon displays, tent or linen rentals, A/V equipment, LED light panels, interactive entertainment or gift ideas, Missouri’s small suppliers have everything you need to make your next meeting or event Reach the extreme.

Balloons, balloons, and more balloons!

Balloon Theory STL is located in St. Louis. Whether you are hosting a corporate evening, hosting a holiday party, or celebrating a business milestone, Balloon Theory STL is passionate about bringing your event to life with their custom balloon installations. “Balloon Theory St. Louis is proud to offer custom balloon installations for corporate and commercial spaces as well as large events,” said company founder Melissa Fox. “Our balloon experts will create a spectacular event perfect for your business based on your unique budget, theme and other special requests. From large installations to intimate gatherings, no job is too big for our balloon experts or too small, we will accommodate your unique needs and budget.”

Whatever your event needs, there are many different balloon displays and styles to choose from, such as large commercial decorations, balloon centerpieces, balloon garlands for grand entrances, stage columns, foil letter columns, balloon arches and more.

All Balloon Theory STL displays are made with sustainability in mind. “Our natural latex is made from the sap of the rubber tree and the balloons are 100 percent biodegradable,” Fox said. “Our foil balloons are also reusable and will last for years.”

Change your space with style

Every great event starts with the right atmosphere, and Belmont Party Rentals has been serving the St. Louis community since 1975, making professional events and extraordinary celebrations a reality with stylish corporate event rentals extraordinary.

From elegant table settings, stylish furniture and AV equipment to dance floors, pipes and curtains, Belmont offers a wide range of rental options to suit events of all sizes, themes and styles. Whether it’s an intimate dinner, corporate event or fundraising gala, Belmont has everything you need – from the big-ticket items like tents and stages, right down to the small details like tableware and linens.

With a rich history dating back fifty years, Belmont Party Rentals has become a cornerstone of the St. Louis event industry. Its journey has included countless weddings, corporate events and special occasions, each contributing to their legacy of events excellence. If you are looking for a company that can ensure seamless event planning and create unforgettable experiences, Belmont is a supplier that can provide you with the best essentials.

Light up your next landscape event

As technology continues to evolve within the industry, lighting and visual effects must also evolve. That’s where Kansas City, Mo.-based Cashmark Media comes in. Founded in 2001, Cashmark Media initially provided live event and video production services and rentals for nearly two decades, and now focuses on providing solutions to frustrating problems experienced by planning professionals and community personnel. A/V face. Solution: Creative stage and set decoration.

“Our 3D landscape panel products are available for hire and are designed with customer safety, ease of use and original design top of mind. All of our landscape panels are designed and manufactured in-house. This includes computer aided design, CNC of 3D panels controlled mold manufacturing and thermoforming of the final product,” explains Daryn Cashmark, founder and owner of Cashmark Media. “Cashmark Media takes care of the entire process from start to finish. This allows us to tightly control the quality of the panels and also allows us to respond quickly to customer suggestions. We are now also adding bespoke three-dimensional decorative elements and signage with the customer’s logo to the on our service list.”

Cashmark Media’s Landscape Panels are a great way to add dimension and interest to any corporate meeting stage, special event, video shoot, and more. Additionally, they are a great alternative to the standard black pipes and drape backdrops used in many corporate conference stage sets. They can also feature uplighting and/or downlighting in any color to match your corporate colors or event theme.

Enhance activities and turn vision into reality

Corporate events are not just about presentations and networking, but about creating immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact on attendees. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Show-Me Live Event Production specializes in providing comprehensive audiovisual, lighting and creative design services to make your large-scale event appear effortless.

Whether you are hosting a corporate event, fundraiser, private party or virtual gathering, the company can bring your event vision to life and deliver flawless execution with custom solutions, technical expertise and creativity.

Show-Me Live Event Production manages everything from sound and lighting to video production, staging and decor, focusing on more than just the logistics of running an event. It focuses on creating experiences that evoke emotion, build connections and create memories that people will cherish long after the event is over. To meet the evolving needs of corporate customers and further enhance the event experience, the company also offers industry-leading LED wall solutions, versatile, high-performance displays for any type of setting.

Add “fun” to functionality

Looking to inject excitement and interactive entertainment into your corporate events? Then look no further than Record-a-Hit Entertainment, a full-service event rental company known for its variety of unique activities and attractions. Although its headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois, Missouri is a popular area served by the company. “We travel all over the country and we’ve done (a lot of) events in Missouri and we’re going to continue to do that. Missouri is actually one of the states we go to the most.” Marketing Manager for Record-a-Hit Entertainment Katie Beeskow said.

From carnival games and inflatables to mini golf and arcade games, the company specializes in turning ordinary gatherings into fun celebrations. Versatile and memorable, Record-a-Hit’s services are perfect for corporate meetings, trade shows, and even team-building events. Offering over 350 interactive attractions for a variety of activities, some of the most popular attractions include portable ice rinks, ice-free rinks, bumper cars, go-karts and mechanical bulls.

Sweet gifts for every occasion

For event planners who want to leave a lasting impression, Chocolate Chocolate offers delicious, locally crafted candies for event favors and corporate gifts. This St. Louis family-owned chocolate company produces handmade truffles, caramels and other treats that bring a touch of luxury to any gathering. Or, if you’d like to organize a team-building outing, take your team to the company’s chocolate factory, where you can tour the factory and see handmade chocolate creations up close.

From crafting balloon masterpieces to further enhancing live events with innovation and style, Missouri offers a variety of amazing vendors who are thriving in their respective fields of expertise and proving that even though they may be small vendors, they are redefining Meeting and event possibilities industry. They don’t just host big events; They are pointing the way to the future.

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Rebekah Icenesse is a staff writer from St. Louis.