Marie Kubin is Founder & CEO of RENT MY WEDDING, the nation’s largest online event rental company. Rental items include event lighting, photo booths, linens, pipe and drape backdrops, canopies, and more. We ship rentals directly to your door. After the event, just put everything back in the same box and send back. All items are designed for easy do-it-yourself setup. Shipping is FREE both ways nationwide. RENT MY WEDDING guarantees a flawless rental experience, and has received the most 5-star reviews of any company in the events industry. To learn more, call 1-800-465-8020 or visit www.RentMyWedding.com.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced while planning an event and how did you overcome it?
A big challenge that we often face is helping clients achieve a look that they’ve found on Pinterest, but on a smaller budget. We actually love this challenge, and it’s so rewarding to find ways to help clients create their dream event on any budget. We approach this challenge by first identifying everything that was used in the photo to create the look. Next we estimate the cost for all items. From there, we prioritize the décor in order of priority, and start eliminating items until we fall within the necessary budget. For example, if we see a venue washed in tiffany blue lighting with huge floral centerpieces and custom linens and chairs, we will recommend using tiffany blue uplights to create the overall look, and then scale back on the centerpieces, linens and chairs. The lighting will create a “wow” factor and achieve the overall desired look, and guests will not notice things like size of centerpieces or linen material.
What are 2 trends in the event planning industry that you’re excited about?
Texture lighting is one of the hottest trends right now in the event industry. I absolutely love this style of lighting because it completely transforms a venue. There are also so many different ways to use texture lighting. For example, project palm fronds on the walls to create a tropical ambiance, or display snowflakes on the ceiling and walls to set the mood for a winter wonderland. The possibilities are endless! Check out this link HERE to learn more about texture lighting.
Another popular trend is animated GIF booths. This is a fun twist on the traditional photo booth. Guests take a series of photos, but instead of receiving a printed photo strip, they get an animated image, similar to the Boomerang effect on Instagram. Guests can receive their image via text message or email and share to social media. As a special bonus, hosts can setup a custom hashtag to automatically post every time a guest shares their image on social media! Check out this link HERE to learn more about GIF photo booths!
What are some tips for creating an elegant and memorable event on a tight budget?
Looking for the best way to plan a memorable event on a tight budget? Light it up! Event lighting is the most bang-for-your-buck event décor item. Lighting instantly transforms any venue from drab to fab. Lighting and color also affects mood, which makes event lighting critical for creating an amazing ambiance for guests. Our clients are always amazed at how using just a few uplights adds a major “wow” factor!
How important are your relationships with vendors and what are some ways that you successfully cultivate and ensure good rapport?
Vendor relationships are hugely important in the event industry! We love working with all types of event vendors, including wedding planners, event planners, photographers, DJs, bands, florists, venues, and caterers. We’ve developed a VIP Vendor program to thank vendor clients for continued business. Through this program, vendors earn points on every order, and they can redeem those points for either cash back or gift certificates towards future orders. We also have a referral program, which is ideal for event industry professionals that do not wish to place orders directly but refer clients to RENT MY WEDDING.
What advice would you give someone who needs to plan a fundraiser but isn’t sure where to start?
Planning a fundraiser can seem like a daunting task! The good news is that it doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. The key is to stay organized! First, create a budget. Next, put together an event planning checklist. (Do a quick Google search and you’ll find many free resources for these checklists!). Then assign deadlines and volunteers for each task on the checklist. This is a tried-and-true way to successfully plan a fundraiser! PS: Looking for ways to save on budget? Choose a budget-friendly venue, and turn it into a high-end event simply by adding lighting! Event lighting also takes the focus off of other areas, such as centerpieces and linens. This means that you can use affordable centerpieces such as candles instead of costly fresh florals, and use standard white linens instead of upgrading tablecloths.
Anything else you’d like to comment on while we have you?
RENT MY WEDDING is your resource to plan an amazing event on any budget! We work with all types of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to couples planning DIY weddings. Why spend a fortune on your event when you can get the same look for less? Check out RENT MY WEDDING for all of your event rental needs! We look forward to helping you create the event of your dreams.
