the big announcement!

I am bursting with excitement over here. I mean the really, truly ready to explode kind of excitement. Does this excitement have to do with the big announcement? Why yes it does. Am I going to tell you what the big announcement is...finally? Why yes I am. But first, let's start with a list of fun facts about yours truly, shall we?  

1. I am obsessed with anything and everything vintage (please refer to exhibit a...exhibit b...and let's face it, exhibit c might as well be this entire blog!) 
2. I love all aspects of wedding planning, especially the decor/little details side of planning (but I guess you probably already knew that!) 
3. I am very particular (ok, a bit neurotic) when it comes to decorating. I will spend hours, days, sometimes weeks searching for the perfect piece of furniture or décor and then spend even more time tweaking things around the apartment to make sure the new piece fits in seamlessly. Zpao makes fun of me because I get really intense. Apparently I get this "I'm-thinking-really-hard-don't-bother-me" look on my face when I'm considering anything interior design related. Ha. 
4. My dream job = a job where I get to be creative, work with people, and plan events (everything from the overall feel of the event down to the most minute details).

I’m sure you’re all thinking “thanks for the random facts but what does this have to do with the big announcement/can we get on with it already?” Well, turns out these random facts have everything to do with my big news so hang tight, all will be revealed!

You see, for the past few months I've been secretly trying to figure out what to do with my life career-wise. Yes I have a job and yes I enjoy it but up until recently I couldn't really imagine myself finding something I wanted to do forever. There were a lot of things that sounded interesting, but nothing really grabbed me. I felt like I was waiting for some "aha" moment...something to happen that would give me a sense of direction and purpose.

Well, my first mini-"aha" moment came shortly after zpao and I got engaged. I realized that my love for all things wedding went above and beyond the typical "I'm getting married so I'm going through a wedding crazed" phase. I realized quickly that working in the wedding industry combined many of my loves: working with people, planning events, making things look pretty...even obsessing over unique vintage details! I call this my mini-"aha" moment because it definitely gave me some sense of direction, but I didn't have a concrete plan or an immediate goal in mind. 

It wasn't until just a few weeks ago that I actually had the real "aha" moment. I was looking through some blogs when I came across a brand new company down in Southern California that specializes in vintage rentals for weddings, photo shoots and other events. That’s when it hit me...OMG. I CAN MAKE A LIVING OFF OF MY OBSESSION WITH WEDDINGS, VINTAGE THINGS, AND DÉCOR!!!! Fan-fricken-tastic!! I’m pretty sure I shrieked and then jumped up and down and then shrieked some more. When I told zpao about my discovery (and then proceeded to talk about how I wanted to do the same thing nonstop for days on end) he said he had never seen me so excited about something before. Apparently I looked like a kid on Christmas morning. 

Since my discovery a few weeks back I’ve been doing a ton of research, brainstorming, and networking. After careful thought and consideration I’ve decided to go for it...I am officially starting my own vintage rental business!

My plan is to work with couples who want to add a bit of vintage charm to their wedding but don’t want to invest the time and money to go out and find all of the pieces themselves. I’m also hoping to work with photographers and event planners who are looking for vintage props to use at photo shoots, engagement parties, etc.  

Some examples of things that will be available for rent? Chandeliers, old typewriters, all sorts of containers (mason jars, pitchers, glass bottles, vintage tins, etc), antique tables/chairs, vintage suitcases, vintage signs/letters plus much, much more!

It’s obviously going to start small. I’ll start by renting out the items that I currently own (which lucky for me I have quite a lot to choose from already!) and add more items to my collection based on demand. My goal is to have the company up and running by the beginning of 2011 so I’m spending the next month or so working on my logo, website, rental terms and contracts. There is definitely a lot of work to be done (on top of a full time job and planning my own wedding! Aghhh!) but I am so incredibly thrilled to be getting started!

So there it is. My big announcement! If any of you awesome readers out there know someone who is getting married in the Bay Area and has a love for unique and completely fabulous vintage décor let me know! I would LOVE to work with them! 


xoxo, 
zar