Q&A With Relics Vintage Rentals

Photo: Kirsty Gungor Photography

If you're looking to add a little personality to your wedding décor, Relics Vintage Rentals  is the answer to all of your Pinterest-black-hole-prayers. Based out of Milwaukee (and happy to travel to the Chicago area), the team over at RVR will work with you to design the perfect collection to give your big day the look it deserves. Whether you need a stunning farm table, some heirloom china, a stack of vintage trunks, or a rustic sheepskin throw, the Relics Vintage team will be happy to offer hands-on guidance to achieve your perfect look. Check out our Q&A with their in-house design specialist Jess below!

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2. GLT: I have to say, any vendor that boasts “schlepping” as one of their services offered has instantly earned my trust! It's astonishing how much legwork goes into putting together a truly beautiful event, and we love knowing that you have a team willing to invest a little sweat into the process. What are some of the simplest ways a couple might utilize your services to add an element of style to their big day? Are there any décor details that are most prone to be overlooked by a first-time planner?

RVR: Here at Relics, every event is a story! We want our clients to utilize our rentals to tell that story visually! Our team strives to deliver every one of our couple’s with a curated aesthetic that not only tells their love story but reflects their personal style. The simplest way to do this? Utilize one of our pre-assembled yet visually unique lounge packages. What is a lounge package you might ask? It is a furniture bundle that includes couches, chairs, rugs, tables and accessories all for a fixed rate. We now offer over 30 lounge packages each with its own flair and flavor. These stylized collections not only make an event shine but serve as a “one stop shops” for couples who do not have time in their day to hand pick each piece of decor for their big day. Weddings can often be overwhelming and a lounge package is an excellent way to easily add some frill and function (perfect for use during cocktail hour or as a photo booth!) to your event without totally overexerting yourself. It is the little details that make an event feel whole. We find that those details are most commonly overlooked when planning. For first-time planners, we recommend browsing both the “Grand Details” and “Petite Details” sections of our website. Accessorizing is key when making an event intimate, inviting, and all your own. 

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GLT: Judging by the look of your amazingly curated vintage collection, this seems to be a labor of love. Who is the mastermind of sourcing, or is it a team effort?

RVR: I love that you call it a “labor of love” because our collection is truly curated via the love of all things vintage. Each employee has equal opportunity to source items for our collection because we find that each team member has his or her own specialized taste that adds to Relics’ versatile (and somewhat quirky) aesthetic. It is the melting pot of different personalities and preferences that makes Relics the vintage sanctuary it is.


GLT: Pinterest Fatigue is a real condition that many couples find themselves facing as they plan the visual elements of their wedding. Do you have any suggestions on how to keep organized, or edit down many ideas to a cohesive aesthetic?

RVR: One thing I always recommend is printing off a few ideas from online or cutting out magazine editorials instead of just using Pinterest. This way, you are making yourself a tangible Pinterest board to look at that is physically present during day to day life. I find this helps keep me on track in terms of personal design aesthetic and know it would work wonders for any fatigued couples out there. If you aren’t wedded to any look in particular, having a tangible Pinterest board also allows you the ability to mix and match styles or create more than one style to eventually choose between.
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GLT: What are a couple of the wackiest items you have in your inventory? Any piece de resistance that deserves a special shout-out?

RVR: The most eclectic area of the Relics Penthouse is definitely the treasure trove where we store our entire loot of children’s goodies. We have a whole room dedicated to fun, funky items that might be impractical for daily use but are perfect for birthday parties, photoshoots, and more. This collection includes but is not limited to: a rainbow of vintage bicycles, ceramic animal heads, a vintage parasol made of hot pink fringe, a plastic dinosaur parade, a fleet of baby carriages, a hand sewn ballet tutu, a pair of mint-green waterskis, and a crown made entirely of glittery mushroom caps. Talk about wacky and whimsical!
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GLT: Can you tell us about an event where in your décor and layout really impacted the guest experience?

RVR: We recently had the privilege of furnishing the most incredible gathering. Imagine, if you will, a bohemian backyard garden experience located in the Italian countryside. This was the bride’s personal vision for her bachelorette party. Fortunately, being based in Milwaukee means close proximity to the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum—just the dreamy Italian flavor this particular client was conceptualizing. We were able to add gorgeous, on-theme details to an already incredible garden space. We converted our collection of wood palettes into a low dining table by covering them with antique linens and assorted colored crystal drinkware. Cuisine was artfully arranged and served on the most regal pieces in our brass serveware collection. The dining scene was flanked on both sides with our most lavish rugs and a plethora of comfortable lounge pillows. The event was visually stunning and, most importantly, centered around a night of dancing, food, and laugher. The bride’s vision combined with our attention to detail made it a very memorable night. You know it was a job well done when the guests of an event audibly “ooh and aww” when they see the photographs.
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Photo: Colleen Kubiak Photography

Stolen from the Relics Vintage Rentals Instagram, because, really, how could we resist? (Follow: @relicsvintagerentals)

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GLT: We all know timelessness is king, but are there any trends you're predicting in 2019 in the world of wedding rentals? Or any personal favorites you'd recommend to a friend this year?

RVR: We are obsessed with the outdoor rattan furniture trend. I think that brides will always be looking for the type of wedding that feels like a dreamy escape from the real world. Rattan provides the feeling of a true destination wedding even if the event itself is an intimate ceremony held in your own backyard. We think this category of wicker furniture works swimmingly indoors for our more bohemian clientele as well.

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Want to work with the Relics Vintage Rentals Team? We know you do! Check out their site HERE.