Something Borrowed {Portland} is possibly the most fantastic thing I've seen in northwest weddings ever. It's basically a wedding library, where Portland brides can check-out things to use for their days. Best of all? It's FREE! Say what?!
I had to find out more, so I sent a quick Q&A over to Lane' Bigsby, owner and founder of Something Borrowed. All of the photos are from their inventory!
A: Something Borrowed is a lending library for wedding goods and décor. It’s just like going to the library to check out books, but for items you might use at a wedding.
We carry a variety of items including mason jars, colored vintage glass, birdcages, signs, milk glass, serving ware, mismatched plates and so much more. Really anything that’s vintage, rustic, shabby chic or garden inspired.
Q: How does it work?
A: Very easy, actually! Brides look through items in our inventory either online via our website or our Facebook page. Read and complete the necessary borrowing forms and submit the documents along with a deposit to hold the items. Brides let me know what they’d like to borrow by submitting an online reservation or downloading our inventory checklist and sending it in via email. I respond to all inquiries by checking availability of each item and answering any other questions the bride may have.
Q: How old is Something Borrowed? Why did you decide to start it? Had you seen similar things in other areas, or is this a brand new thing?
A: Something Borrowed is just a few months old, having officially launched in October of 2011. The idea was planted when I met with a few bride’s off of a wedding website who wanted to try and trade/borrow items locally here in Portland. We met and discussed options and while we weren’t able to borrow for our weddings, the idea stuck.
Q: How old is Something Borrowed? Why did you decide to start it? Had you seen similar things in other areas, or is this a brand new thing?
A: Something Borrowed is just a few months old, having officially launched in October of 2011. The idea was planted when I met with a few bride’s off of a wedding website who wanted to try and trade/borrow items locally here in Portland. We met and discussed options and while we weren’t able to borrow for our weddings, the idea stuck.
I’ve done a lot of volunteering in the community and being a Master Recycler, I’m always looking for ways to encourage thoughtful consumption. It all was a perfect fit for my interests and something I really felt Portland needed. While the idea behind Something Borrowed is not new, we are the first lending library for wedding décor; now joining the ranks with the other lending libraries such as the tool and household goods libraries.
Q: Who can take advantage of your services?
A: Something Borrowed is open to any resident living in the Portland Metro area. Items are to be borrowed for the sole purpose of personal use and not for commercial use or to be re-rented.
Q: What kind of couple do you cater to?
A: We’re really here to help the DIY bride and especially those with a limited budget. I don’t believe that anyone should have to shell out thousands to have the wedding of their dreams. If I can help save a couple some money on décor, that just might enable them to afford a photographer, for example, that will give them memories to last beyond just their wedding day.
Q: What inspires you?
A: I was raised in part by my Grandparents, specifically my Grandmother who was a very crafty, creative and thrifty woman. In addition to her volunteering, she was always making something – from preserving jams and jellies to making pottery and sewing. My Grandmother was a huge role model and very much an inspiration to me growing up. She instilled in me the power of giving and the ripple effect it can have on people and a community.
Q: How can those in the Portland area participate in Something Borrowed aside from borrowing?
A: Something Borrowed is built upon the warmth and generosity of its borrowers, donors, and the community. If someone has wedding décor or goods they’d like to donate, we’d be happy to accept them to expand our inventory and help others. We also gladly accept cash donations to help with our operating expenses (such as our storage).
Q: I see that you recently got married for around $3000. What one piece of advice do you have for budget-minded couples?
A: My biggest piece of advice is to create a budget and stick to it. I created a very detailed Excel spreadsheet to track expenses for each major area within the wedding (attire, food, photography, entertainment, etc.). It was crucial in staying organized, as it is easy to overspend; especially in the last few weeks before the wedding when you realize all the small things you forgot (they add up quick!).
You’ll have to make some sacrifices but really think about the nice to have’s and must have’s (caterer vs. potluck, DJ vs. iPod, etc.). Keep your costs down by picking a few DIY projects, shop at second hand stores and enlist the help of friends, it really can save you a lot if you’re willing to put in a little extra time.
A: I was raised in part by my Grandparents, specifically my Grandmother who was a very crafty, creative and thrifty woman. In addition to her volunteering, she was always making something – from preserving jams and jellies to making pottery and sewing. My Grandmother was a huge role model and very much an inspiration to me growing up. She instilled in me the power of giving and the ripple effect it can have on people and a community.
Q: How can those in the Portland area participate in Something Borrowed aside from borrowing?
A: Something Borrowed is built upon the warmth and generosity of its borrowers, donors, and the community. If someone has wedding décor or goods they’d like to donate, we’d be happy to accept them to expand our inventory and help others. We also gladly accept cash donations to help with our operating expenses (such as our storage).
Q: I see that you recently got married for around $3000. What one piece of advice do you have for budget-minded couples?
A: My biggest piece of advice is to create a budget and stick to it. I created a very detailed Excel spreadsheet to track expenses for each major area within the wedding (attire, food, photography, entertainment, etc.). It was crucial in staying organized, as it is easy to overspend; especially in the last few weeks before the wedding when you realize all the small things you forgot (they add up quick!).
You’ll have to make some sacrifices but really think about the nice to have’s and must have’s (caterer vs. potluck, DJ vs. iPod, etc.). Keep your costs down by picking a few DIY projects, shop at second hand stores and enlist the help of friends, it really can save you a lot if you’re willing to put in a little extra time.
What's even more fabulous? We'll be featuring Lane's wedding later this week. :)
Don't forget to enter our giveaway for free wedding bands!!!
This is pretty much the coolest thing ever! What a fabulous idea! I can't believe I haven't heard of it before. We may need to start something like this in Eugene. :) P.s. I am sick right now too... no fun!
ReplyDeleteHey Becky! Isn't it absolutely swell?! Feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteLindsie/Becky -- if anyone is interesting in starting a similar venture, please don't hesitate to let me know. I would LOVE to share what I know and offer any help. I hope to see the inspiration and idea spread beyond just Portland as I think it's exactly what other cities (and brides) need.
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much!
i LOVE this idea... anyone know if there's something like this available in the seattle area?
ReplyDeleteWhen I started Something Borrowed I researched other wedding lending libraries and couldn't find anything, anywhere. All I can hope is that others are inspired and start one of their own in their city. It's SO rewarding and a great way to hold on to that "post wedding bliss".
DeleteShe solicited donations for her non-profit "library" and now it's a for-profit business based on those donations? I wonder how many brides donated to the "library", and now she is turning coin on their generosity? Is that legal?
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThank you for asking these questions. We would like to respond so that there is not inaccurate information about us or our business circulating.
First, Something Borrowed, LLC was never a non-profit organization and never advertised or presented as such. It was created by Lane' Bigsby out of a desire to help people and modeled after a lending library to service a small community. Other libraries that exist in our area ask lenders to make a monetary donation to help ensure that the costs of the library and the time it takes to manage it are covered. As people began to utilize the services it became clearer that we were unable to obtain donation amounts that would cover very nominal operating costs (storage area, website fees, time and fuel). For months these expenses were paid out of pocket solely by Lane'.
In regards to donation of goods by other brides, less than 4% of our entire inventory has been donated and the majority of the donations have come from family and friends that wanted to support the concept. The rest of our inventory has been purchased by Lane'. It is a fallacy that we have received an abundance of items and/or money and are now making profit off of others generosity. There have been countless hours and a lot of personal money contributed to set up and provide this service. We realized rather quickly that what began as a labor of love was unable to sustain itself for the long term. Reservations were put on hold while assistance was sought to determine how this entity could move forward. We struggled with deciding whether to obtain non-profit status so that we could fund-raise and apply for grants, or move to a business model that still retained the essence of what Lane' envisioned, or to simply close . It was determined that a non-profit was not feasible for the people involved and we moved forward with a for profit model that included an element of charity in the form of a sliding fee scale for services. We also made the commitment to price our items well below the industry standard to add savings for our clients. Clients can request a 0-90% discount on their orders so that we share the burden with them. To our knowledge there is no other company offering this kind of service or discount in the industry. If you are interested in our service and were not clear on our operations we invite you to speak with us. We try our best to work toward solutions that will work for everyone involved.
Lastly, you inquired if this was legal. We apologize if our intent and subsequent change in business structure was not conveyed or transparent to the public. We did send some follow up emails and posted information about our new structure here: http://somethingborrowedpdx.com/service-changes-and-expansion/.
We have not conducted in any illegal activity regarding our business. We also do not feel that we have morally or ethically done anything wrong to warrant any libelous comments. This concept was created out of a passion to share sustainable and affordable solutions for special milestones in people’s lives. It was created in the spirit of love and a desire to help people. We hope you understand and also feel that it is ok for us to try to take care of our needs as well as provide a great service to the public. If you have more questions or comments please feel free to contact us directly. We welcome any and all feedback and critique!
Warm Regards,
Kellie Guess - Partner
Lane' Bigsby - Founder + Owner
something borrowed {portland}
affordable vintage rentals for any occasion
Yeah, I'm pretty disappointed that this isn't a library at all but rather a rental service. I was really excited as an avid free-re-cycler and as a bride on a tight budget. It's sad that the sliding scale isn't really advertised on their website. There is also a 50 dollar minimum rental. Yeah... that's a good chunk of my decor budget... lol.
ReplyDelete