Your South Dakota Wedding Rentals Experts
Hitch Studio, opened by Renee Bauman in 2014, started as a wedding planning studio. Since then, it’s grown to offer services like invitation design, event design, officiating, and venue management. Our biggest expansion to date happened in November 2025, when Hitch Studio had the honor of purchasing Party Depot’s event rentals!
With Party Depot’s 25-year legacy of rentals and balloons in downtown Brookings, we are thrilled to carry on the tradition as Hitch Studio Rentals — your trusted source for South Dakota wedding rentals.
At Hitch Studio, we believe that every milestone event begins with one thing: connection.
From elegant weddings and corporate events, to joyful graduations and birthday celebrations, we help make the connection — between the decor, the experience, the people, and the feeling you want to create.
We’re still in the business of love — but now, it’s love for every detail, every space, and every celebration that deserves to feel extraordinary.
Meet The Team
With a staff of over 40 people supporting the rental business, Hitch Studio is a woman-owned business that is thrilled to serve you at any event in South Dakota, Minnesota, and beyond!
Renee Bauman
CEO of Hitch Studio • Certified Wedding Planner
Wedding planner. Event designer. Invitation artist. Author. Entrepreneur.
And now — owner of a brand-new event rental studio.
Renee Bauman founded Hitch Studio in 2014 with one goal in mind: to bring joy, beauty, and calm to life’s most meaningful celebrations. With more than 20 years of experience in weddings, event styling, and design, Renee’s passion for details runs deep. After earning her degree from South Dakota State University (SDSU) in 2005, she launched her first wedding invitation business in 2007 — and has been helping couples celebrate in style ever since.
In 2025, Renee expanded Hitch Studio by launching the rental division, offering an amazing collection of statement piece rentals for your milestone event. It was a natural fit for Renee to add rental decor to wedding planning and event design.
Renee’s leadership extends far beyond weddings. She’s a proud community advocate and business mentor, serving with many boards throughout Brookings. She’s also part of a Mastermind Group for entrepreneurs, a graduate of the Dakota Rising Fellowship and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
When she’s not designing, mentoring, or managing a team of over 50 talented creatives, Renee finds joy in biking, going for walks, travel, and time with her family — her husband Jon and their two wonderful boys, Rhett and Hayes.
She’s an Enneagram 1, INFJ, and her top strengths are Achiever, Maximizer, and Futuristic — with Working Geniuses in Invention and Tenacity.
Amber Jensen
Rental Manager
I have been in the rental business industry for 10+ years. With many years of experience working with all types of events, I’m excited to continue working with old, current, and new clients as a part of the Hitch Studio team! Along with my rental expertise, I’m looking forward to continuing to master my balloon artistry skills for our clients needs.
I was born and raised in Brookings and now live on an acreage just north of town with my family. I started working at Party Depot in 2014. While working there, I received my associates degree in Human Services. While applying my studies in the working industry, I found my passion which is helping people find organization and joy in their lifetime events.
With three kids under five and living on a farm there aren’t many moments of quiet around our house. My husband and I find peace in the chaos in the small moments throughout the week. In my spare time enjoy playing piano and listening to music.
Five Fun Facts:
- I have three wonderful kiddos, my youngest was born on Christmas morning.
- I have been playing piano for 25+ years and just started teaching my oldest son.
- I LOVE to decorate for the holidays.
- My favorite local place to eat is Craft. (Their salmon, to die for!)
- Who needs coffee? Me. I need ALL the coffee.