COMBINING personal creations, vintage items and a passion for sustainability is what inspired Zoe Harvey to set up her own wedding and event prop hire business.

Borrow The Moon, based in Westbourne and founded in 2019, is the fruits of Zoe's labour.

After 10 years of being a fashion designer, Zoe directed her efforts towards creating a business that allows people to create their ideal wedding or event through her handmade and vintage decorations.

Zoe said: "I was due to get married in June of this year and I had planned a beach wedding. I saw a gap in the market for people wanting to get married in front of a backdrop or decoration, which got me thinking about setting up the business.

"For my wedding, I wanted to get married in front of a driftwood arch, but I couldn’t find one, so I made it myself. At the time, I thought ‘if I want this for my wedding, there must be other people who want it too.'

"I wanted to create a brand that was cool and authentic and not your typical white wedding."

Customers can hire props and backdrops as well as purchase packages for their perfect day.

Items on offer include a dreamcatcher backdrop, macramé cake swing, vintage peacock chair, driftwood arch and more.

For Zoe, this is what sets her apart from other decoration businesses.

She said: "I can make decorations and create what people want. I also offer a styling service. People don’t want to be decorating a venue on the morning of their wedding, so I go in and decorate it, ensuring that it looks great and the guests are wowed.

"A big part of my business is sustainability. I make decorations, use British flowers and buy vintage items to be hired and reused."

Despite Zoe's success in her first months of trading, Borrow The Moon faced challenges posed by the outbreak of coronavirus.

During the first lockdown earlier this year, the majority of Zoe's bookings were moved to 2021 but some weddings still went ahead once restrictions were eased.

Zoe said: "When we came out of lockdown, some people still wanted to get married this year, so I decorated small weddings. The small weddings I decorated were amazing - they were so intimate and special.

"I've had really great feedback from those whose venue I decorated for a small wedding."

On top of her wedding decoration business, Zoe recently teamed up with local companies Grazing Blue and Signature Cakes & Bakes to offer people a fine dining experience from the comfort of their own homes, called 'Besties Soiree'.

Zoe said: "We go into people’s homes and set up the accessories and tables and deliver the food, such as grazing boards and cakes. This is for those who want or planned an event such as a baby shower but can’t due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

"When we come out of this lockdown and hopefully go into tier restrictions, we’re hoping to see this collaboration through. It will keep me busy next year."

To find out more about Borrow The Moon, visit: https://www.borrowthemoon.com/

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