Partnering With Ruby Design for Your Special Day!

Ruby Design Event Rentals and Design Co., a design and styling company that opened in 2010, has been partnering with Gather for all our styling and decor needs since our opening in 2016. Providing linens, centerpieces, wall decor, statement pieces, and so much more, Ruby Design is prepared for any event. 

Zeb Metzler, Lead Stylist with Ruby Design, decided to let Gather in on their side of things, ready to divulge anything couples might need to know when preparing to book their special date. Zeb’s role as Lead Stylist with Ruby Design involves setting up private and public events and helping couples stylize their special day. 

“Ruby Design does all things design and events rental, as far as decor goes. We have styled for and been booked for every event you can think of: weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, holiday parties, parties for the sake of parties, corporate events, charity events, and even outdoor decor,” Zeb listed. “If you've walked around Titletown, we do their seasonal outdoor photo-ops. Whether it's a spectacular theme or just a simple wedding, you name it, we'll do it!”

Booking your first consultation

Weddings have always been painted as one of the most stressful events for a couple to throw when it comes to timelines, the number of guests, and the steps to complete from the engagement up to the big day. There’s so much to do, but as an event stylist, Zeb is here to remind couples to soak in this period of their relationship as well. Simply booking the first consultation is enough to take a heavy load of stress off one’s shoulders. 

“Brides tend to prefer to get ahead of the game when it comes to planning, but it’s important to relish in this time as well! It’s an exciting step,” Zeb smiled. “We have brides coming in who are booked out for 2025 and 2026 already, and we always agree, the sooner the better! This way we can get that initial reservation on the books, we want to be able to guarantee the items they want.”

“It’s especially important to book early when booking a service, such as setup, takedown, or flip services because we are only capable of handling so many in a weekend with the amount of crew that we have,” he explained. “Booking a consultation early also leaves time for making adjustments to their look, quantities, or the items they want. We try to encourage booking that initial consultation as soon as possible.”

The first consultation is typically scheduled for an hour, in this time Zeb or another stylist will ask anything and everything pertaining to the relationship of the happy couple so that they can find the style that best suits what the couple is looking for.

“Once we have a good understanding of the couple, I always inform them we can adjust and add as much as they’d like,” he assured. “Sometimes, we’ll come back in for a second consultation because they had a new idea, they want to change their color palettes, or they found another piece at home they want to incorporate. Whatever the reason, we’re able to add and adjust things literally up until the day before the wedding, as long as those items are available to them.”

Depending on when and how extravagant the wedding is, Zeb says it is typical for about three meetings, including the initial consultation, and a few phone calls or emails here and there for clarifying certain requests, before the big day. 

“After that initial consultation, there will be a few follow-ups to clarify for special orders if we’re sourcing specific items for them -- but standard, as long as we've accomplished everything we need to in that initial consultation, I kind of leave the ball in their court,” he said. “If they want to come back in to set things up to refresh their memory or change anything, they can book another appointment with us and we're happy to help in any way. Three weeks prior to the event I always get back in touch with them to go over that final look to make sure that it's still what they’re looking for, and then two weeks out is when they take care of their final balance.”

While the last meeting isn’t typically until two weeks out when the couple pays their balance, Zeb assures them they can still make any last-minute changes up to the final day, at that point, the bill would simply be adjusted. Couples should be certain that everything is up to their standards for their special day, whether that includes an entire setup or just a partial collection of Ruby Design items, the design company is here to help.

“A few years ago there was a massive trend of DIY wedding items, and couples were opting for making about 70%-75% of their decor, only renting out a small percentage of our items,” Zeb recalled. “It has since dropped closer to a 60/40 split of couples bringing in their own collection, we’re seeing that trend slowly fade out.” 

“There are always elements that are more personal to the couples than what we can provide, but we love to assist in styling them into the scene, such as a memorial table with pictures of their loved ones who aren’t around for the celebration, or a special guestbook. Couples have begun looking more toward the showrooms and businesses like Ruby Design for decor again, and we’re thrilled to help.”

Zeb excitedly walked me through what an initial first visit and consultation looks like for a couple ready to plan their big day!

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“When people come to Ruby Design, they first walk into the showroom, which is redone periodically and is always completely different,” he grinned. “In the showroom, they will see stylings of dining sets and stations and a variety of items that we have to offer, all styled as if multiple events are going on in our warehouse.”

“After they’ve looked around, we then sit down with them to get some basic information: where they're getting married, the date, how many guests they're expecting, if they're leaning towards any specific color palettes, or any specific inspiration photos or Pinterest boards they've compiled. We want to see it all,” Zeb exclaimed excitedly. “We want to get to know them so that we can execute exactly what they're looking for. Then, we start that process from the ground up with basic linens, building up from there with, napkins, table runners, table decor, candles, centerpieces, and things of that nature while also taking into consideration their other vendors such as florists, photography, catering, etc., and how it all coordinates into what we have to offer.”

Coordinating and even styling a wedding is a team effort, requiring extensive communication between all parties and vendors for everything to run as planned on the big day. However, after partnering with Gather for nearly eight years, the two companies have coordinated an effortless song and dance for a perfectly routine setup, flip, and takedown.

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Teamwork makes the dream work

Ruby Design has pages and pages of items and themes for couples, companies, and even venues to choose from, but what really makes their products and stylings all the more impressive is pairing them with other local businesses to create a never-before-seen scene. 

“For the wedding showcase we set up, we have an impressive creative range and permission to go over the top,” Zeb revealed, devilishly. “I especially love it when we get to work with florists and other vendors because they do things I’ve never seen with decor, such as positioning vines to crawl up the walls and hanging our trees upside down from the ceiling! It's about creating different looks with items you wouldn't typically expect to use in that specific way.”

Creating an atmosphere or “uniquely you” setting is what Ruby Design thrives for, not wanting you to feel like your wedding is the same as any other wedding you’ve seen or attended before, and it’s also why Gather partners so well with them. Pinterest can be a great inspiration, but don’t get caught up on replicating a theme. Zeb even likes to think outside of the box when it comes to color palettes and coordination.

“I love not only getting to know them but then showing them the different possibilities of their decor based on how we've gotten to know them. I love showing couples creative twists to decor they might not have thought of, bringing in some fresh options for them so they can see different ways of bringing that vision to life. I want to give them more than just the stereotypical pictures on Pinterest, I want to give them something unique to their relationship, special and tailored to them.”

“I think color palettes vary per season, however, I like to go against the grain,” Zeb revealed. “In the fall, you'll see a lot of terracottas, earthy colors, burgundy, and deeper jewel tones, but I like to change it up and go fresh, light, and airy with light blues and greens, pastels! Color palettes also vary per couple, and it's fun because sometimes, as a stylist, you can tell whether a couple will be leaning towards light and airy, or elegant and bold, just after a few questions with the pair.”

The team of Ruby Design doesn’t typically stay for the duration of the wedding unless there is a flip from ceremony to reception, and even then they will often leave and come back. Usually, they make sure the evening goes entirely smoothly for the couple before they come back to take it all down at the end of the night.

“For the charitable and corporate events, there are times that we finish the setup, and we're invited to attend the event as the designers who put it all together! So there are certain events that we stay for I suppose; in that case, we're there from start to finish. We set up the venue, run home and change quickly, go to the actual event, and then stay there to take it down afterward,” he laughed. “Gather is one of those special venues that offer on-site ceremonies as well, so probably 95% of the weddings at Gather we’re there at 10 AM to set up the cocktail hour area and any ceremony decor that we're a part of, then we come back right as the ceremony is ending and that magical curtain closes.”

What happens when that magical curtain closes for cocktail hour?

“The guests are ushered to the cocktail hour, and at that time, Gather's crew comes in, clears the chairs, rolls out the tables… it's a little orchestrated dance we’ve perfected together, our crew is right there to start prepping the linens, napkins, charters, and table decor,” Zeb explained. “It's a well-oiled machine that we've created over the years, just to make sure that it runs pretty smoothly. We complete that in a very quick turnaround so that we're ready for the big curtain reveal with time to spare.”

“Being there to do those flips, and seeing the bride and groom walk in and be the first ones to see the venue before all their guests and the rest of the wedding party arrive, it’s just magical. Even though they couldn't see this full vision in the showroom, it comes to life in front of their eyes at the venue, and it's always fun to see that magic happen.”

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It’s your special day

After all of this time in planning and organizing items for the special day, it’s easy to get caught up in anxieties of how things can go wrong with decor, or the scene not looking the right way in the venue as it did in the showroom. No matter the worries, Ruby Design’s primary objective is to see a truthful smile on your face before you say “I do”.

“Everything is going to look different on the day of, but you have to trust the process,” Zeb reassured. “Sometimes couples come in with one specific vision, and we set up a table here in the showroom to replicate it for them and everything looks different than what they expected in their mind. Then we set it up in the venue rather than our showroom, and it looks entirely different than what it looked like when we first displayed it in our showroom. There are always outside factors that alter the image a bit, such as lighting and spatial differences, but we'll never give a couple something they don't like.”

“This is your big day, you should be excited,” he reminded. “Come in with an open mind and with all kinds of fresh ideas, and don't hold anything back! Tell us about your story. I love hearing stories of how people met because that sparks ideas from a designer’s standpoint of different things we can incorporate for the special day. It's all about getting to know the couple and being excited about what's to come because it is a very special day. It's something to celebrate, and we'd like to be able to celebrate that with them.”

There aren’t many times when Zeb has to calm or reassure couples with their decor decisions, typically only swooning at their love stories and adoration for each other, but when he does see those swells of anxiety and uncertainty he reveals it’s typically due to the same thing nearly every time.

“I feel like most of the times we see anxieties bubble up it's because there's a large entourage with the bride or couple, or there's somebody with them that's very opinionated in a way that contradicts what the couple is actually looking for,” Zeb sighed. “This usually makes the couple feel like they have to please their guests more than choose what they personally want. That stress comes from their own friends and/or family, so I encourage bringing people who are going to support you and support your decisions on your special day. It’s not their day, it’s yours.”

Creating this memorable evening for couples to look back on for the rest of their lives together isn’t Zeb’s only favorite thing about his job as Lead Stylist. The specific moment he chose this career path for can always be found in that first look couples give each other as they see one another down the aisle. 

“When the couple has their first looks at each other, when they're coming down the aisle, everyone looks to the one walking down the aisle, I like to look the other way, and see the face of who's at the front, standing, waiting for their partner,” Zeb smiled. “It's like that for us as the designers seeing that final product, seeing that first look as the finished product, and you become very proud of your work. It gets a little emotional, it chokes you up sometimes because you're happy that you're able to do something so magical for other people just to see the joy that it brings to them.”

Schedule your magically memorable wedding with Gather and Ruby Design today, and work with a team that values your happiness as a couple as much as you do.

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https://www.rubydesignonline.com/ 

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