Q&A with Sarah and Vanessa, the Founders of Bali Event Hire

We all love to see behind closed doors, especially when it comes to our favourite brands. After a few requests, co-founders Vanessa and Sarah have kindly agreed to be featured! Get the inside scoop on what’s to come, how it all began and their favourite experiences so far..

SO ladies…. What can you tell us about Bali Event Hire and how did this journey in the Bali Wedding Industry start for you both?

Well… both Sarah and I are from bayside Melbourne with young families and we’re lucky enough to spend 6 months in beautiful Bali (during the wedding season) and then summer in Australia (how lucky are we?!)   We used to daydream about starting a business here (as many have before us!) and then as fate, good fortune and LOTS of hard work would have it – here we are living our dream with Bali Event Hire!

Sarah’s background is in Recruitment and HR and she is a natural people person (I’m regularly in awe).  She is calm and positive and communicates brilliantly with our clients.  I come from a Marketing and Events background and I am stickler for details and am endlessly planning the next thing – whether it’s a shoot, new product or promotion.  We’re a great team and share a quirky sense of humour (which you need on a daily basis working in Bali!)  Our work ethic, determination, love of Island weddings and our sense of humour is our recipe for success. 

The business was born after Sarah and I had organised a big event at the beautiful Villa Atas Ombak 4 years ago.  During the planning, literally everything was perfect except the rental furniture options.  We just couldn’t believe there was nothing available so we did our research, got down and dusty in loads of workshops until we had some beautiful stylish chairs and tables made for the event.  It was absolutely stunning and Bali Event Hire was born!

So with Bali Event Hire being one of the industry leaders on the Island for Event and Furniture Rentals, could you give us an example of the different types of products and services you have on offer?
Of course, Bali Event Hire is unique in so many ways. Our service is unparalleled, we are responsive and reliable and we really do care about our brides and clients, from the first email right through to the big day.  All of our furniture is designed and made locally with love and care and our standards for quality are very high.  Our range also easily sets us apart. Our pieces reflect an understated elegance, we add regularly to our range and our staff are incredible.  The feedback we receive about the attention and care our staff show at each event makes us so proud.  We are so lucky to have such a superstar team.

We also work with Event Planners and directly with couples who are planing their own Bali wedding.  We will recommend furniture options which depends on the style of the wedding and venue. Then on the big day, our amazing staff will set everything up, stay on site throughout the event (if anything needs to be moved) and then they whisk it all away at the end of the night!

After years of being in the Bali Wedding Industry, what do you find is the most amazing part of it all?
It’s so joyful!  Love is the best thing ever! Sarah and I still shed a tear watching brides walk down the aisle (usually we’re hiding behind a frangipani tree to get a peek!)  It really is an honour to be a part of the wedding industry particularly in Bali which is so full of magic, warmth and positive energy.


Your range is forever changing and moving with the current trends, Where do you both draw your inspiration from?
Everywhere! We’re both Instagram addicts so we’re always gazing at beautiful things. We love the Australian wedding scene too as the furniture is so relaxed, understated and elegant – which we love.  Saying that, inspiration can strike anywhere and we found our incredible Cuban Lounge set on the side of the road last year! We loved the shape so much we gave it a lovely face lift and then replicated it and viola!

So far, what is the most memorable experience you have had so far working within the Bali Wedding Industry?
It would have to be the journey we go on with our couples.  We usually meet an excited engaged couple via email, sometimes we have the pleasure of meeting them (with their mums and bridesmaids) at our Showroom during a pre wedding visit and then we see their magical wedding come together.  We really feel privileged to be a part of each wedding and we love it 12 months later when the pregnancy and baby instagram shots start appearing – we have a lot of Awwww moments!

So… what is the best way for anyone to contact you to either make a booking or see what your current range is?
The easiest way to contact us is via email at hello@balieventhire.com – an appointment isn’t necessary but we are always delighted to meet planners or loved up couples at our showroom in Canggu which is about a 10 minute drive from Seminyak, and there is always our website that showcases our entire range.

We all know planning a wedding can be hectic and get a little crazy at times, so If you could give couples one piece of advice leading up to their wedding day what would it be?
That’s a big one but we would have to say that selecting your suppliers carefully is essential.  If something is super cheap, there is often a reason for it.  You need vendors you can trust, who communicate well, understand your vision and make you feel happy and confident – it’s your wedding day after all!

Being as style-savvy as you both are, What is your one, ultimate industry insider tip for couples currently planning a wedding within Bali?
Stay true to your vision.  You know what you want and if there is anywhere in the world where almost anything is possible – it’s Bali!

And finally, with the current trends that we are seeing coming out of Bali, do you have any style predictions that we can expect to see this upcoming season?
With so many jaw-droppingly talented wedding professionals in Bali now, couples really do have the opportunity to stage weddings of a true international standard.

In terms of furniture and decor for 2017, we will continue to see lots of Natural Styling with raw tabletops and beautiful lush florals. What we call ‘Island Romance’ will never date, so think classic white chairs, soft, feminine florals and thousands of fairy lights.  And Boho Luxe  – who doesn’t love a braided, barefoot Bali bride!

As for our new season predictions,  we’ll be seeing lots of Tropical Glam, combining Bali’s unique natural elements with clean, modern lines, lots of statement greenery and colour pops.  White on White will be huge – think white long tables, white chairs with ridiculously magical lighting framed by an endless view!   And a new exciting addition to the Bali Wedding scene is the Statement Bar – stayed to perfection as a fabulous central spot for guests to mingle under the stars.

There’s lots of inspiration in our 2017 Lookbook which is hot off the press – packed to the brim with our beautiful furniture, new pieces, new ideas and styling references.


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