Category: 5 Questions with

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5 Questions with…Cecilia Nguyen, Event Specialist at A&B Partytime Rentals

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Cecilia Nguyen.  Cecilia started with A&B in the summer of 2018 and quickly fit in with our team.

What does your typical workday look like?

Lots of emails, phone calls, and assisting customers in the showroom!

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

Wedding shows are my favourite so far.  The first wedding show I worked on was Creme de la Creme at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.  It is amazing seeing all of the models walking the runway in such beautiful wedding dresses.  The Fleur wedding show at the J.W. Marriott was another visually stunning show that I loved being a part of.  It’s great to see new designs and to meet other vendors, current clients, and future brides!

What are is the rental item that you are coveting right now?

Our Champagne Lace Linen is a classic.  It’s a great neutral colour that is still detailed and eye-catching that works with so many settings/themes.

Finish this sentence.  The key to a successful event is…

Teamwork!

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

I would throw an extravagant party for my mom just cause she deserves it!  She’s a simple person but loves a good surprise so I would throw a party with all of her favourite things <3

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5 Questions with…Kim Co, Event Specialist at A&B Partytime Rentals

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Kim Co. Kim started with A&B in the summer of 2014. Working during busy weekend hours, Kim is used to being quick on her feet.

What does your typical workday look like?

Saturdays are unpredictable! A tall Blonde roast from Starbucks sets me up for a day of last-minute order entries and event crisis management. It’s a bit of a juggling act too! With customers coming into the showroom, calling to place orders, or emailing to revise orders, Saturdays can get quite hectic.

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

My sister’s Carnival-themed 18th Birthday Party was really fun to plan and host. We had DIY carnival games, popcorn, cotton candy, and live performances!

What are some new rental items that you are coveting right now?

I love our new Wheat Burlap tablecloths. Generally, I like the earthy, rustic, and natural look. Think: lots of greens and natural wood with a splash of gentle elegance.

Finish this sentence. They key to a successful event is…

Keeping your guests comfortable, fed, and their thirst quenched.

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

I would love to host the ultimate Halloween party. Imagine an overflowing candy bar, caramel apple decorating, freshly popped popcorn, and taps of craft beer. All of this, of course, is in preparation for a horror movie marathon.

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5 Questions with… Kimberly Lam, Event Specialist at A&B Partytime Rentals

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Kimberly Lam. Kimberly is one of the newest members of the A&B family, starting with us in the fall of 2015. As an Event Specialist, her smiling face is one of the first you’ll see when you come visit our showroom.

What does your typical workday look like?

A little bit of everything: answering phone calls, emails, in-person inquiries, and running any last-minute reservations or revisions to the warehouse. Every few weeks, we’re also coming up with new tablescapes to brighten our showroom. When there is a rare moment of downtime, our team will enjoy catching up with each other and sharing a laugh. During our busy months though…there’s simply no predicting how our day will go!

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

While I’ve enjoyed working at the wedding shows and meeting vendors and brides, my favourite event will always be family Christmas Eve dinners. Our living room and dining area are usually bursting at the seams with chairs and king tables slotted in Tetris fashion to accommodate everyone. Santa usually finds a way to visit our house before he starts his journey!

What are some new rental items that you are coveting right now?

The Harvest Tables and Oslo Cutlery are such elegant and versatile pieces—I’m looking forward to incorporating them in future designs.

Finish this sentence. They key to a successful event is…

Theme. A unifying design that will guide the direction of other event aspects (e.g., food, cocktails, etc.) and create the perfect atmosphere can transport guests to a shared and unforgettable experience.

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

“A Night in Baroque Venice”: An opulent masked ball (who throws them anymore?) with gold and baroque details in a Venetian palace full of delicious food and flowing drinks. Vancouver is so laid-back and casual it would be fun to glam up and escape to a different ‘world’.

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5 Questions with…Jolene Dias, Sales Supervisor at A&B Partytime Rentals

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Jolene Dias. Jolene joined the A&B family in 2005, and A&B has never been the same since. She has quickly become a favorite contact in the bustling hospitality industry of Vancouver.

What does your typical workday look like?

Phones, phones, email, phones, customer in showroom, phones.

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

Too many to choose, cannot narrow it down!

Which rental item are you coveting right now?

Our Bistro Napkins.

Finish this sentence. They key to a successful event is…

…an open bar!

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

A Cinderella themed ball at the Vancouver Club (with an open bar). 🙂

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5 Questions with…Jackie Torres, Event Specialist at A&B Partytime Rentals

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Jackie Torres. Jackie joined the A&B team in the Fall of 2014.  Having previously worked in the hospitality industry, Jackie is used to working in a fast-paced environment.

What does your typical workday look like?

Similar to that of Wonder Woman! 😉 It involves a lot of typing, answering phones, handling client inquiries and occasionally humming random tunes in the showroom when it’s not busy.

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

The Brock House Wedding Show and Crème de la Crème Wedding Show have been some of my favourite events.

What are some new rental items that you are coveting right now?

I love our new Evolution Stoneware, as well as our Crown Gold Flatware.

Finish this sentence. They key to a successful event is…

…lots and lots of food!

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

I would throw The Ultimate Grammy Awards After Party! Talented artists, delicious food, and entertainment are all a part of my dream party.

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5 Questions with…Jen Camarador, Event Specialist at A&B Partytime Rentals

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Jen Camarador. Jen started working at A&B in the spring of 2014. She has a wealth of industry experience, having worked and volunteered with organizations such as the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, The BMW Store and JDRF.

What does your typical workday look like?

We are such a tight-knit group, so we really work as a team and help each other out where and when we can. We process incoming orders, help clients out via phone, email or in person and anything in-between. From data entry to following up on quotes and orders, and even prettying up the showroom, there is always something to do. I love keeping busy and time just flies!

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

I really enjoy creating table designs for wedding shows, as it is also a chance to meet our clients and vendors across the industry.

I also volunteer with JDRF on their annual Rockin’ for Research Gala. Last year’s theme was Venetian Masquerade and they had volunteers dressed in masks and gowns. It is a lot of fun and gratifying to know it is for a great cause.

What are some new rental items that you are coveting right now?

I am a sucker for anything pretty and pink, so I have fallen very much in love with the Blush Sequin Linen and hope to see more colours in the sequin soon.

Finish this sentence. They key to a successful event is…

…making memorable moments by adding personal touches.

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

Being a part of the wedding industry and working on wedding shows, I would definitely want to plan my dream wedding (call me a hopeless romantic!). I have come across so many talented people in this industry, with so many great ideas, how can a girl not dream? Plus, it is not just a day for me, but a day I can celebrate with the people I love most. I have not narrowed down on a theme yet, but I envision lots of flowers, good food and a large variety of desserts!

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5 Questions with…Angela Cruz, Event Specialist

Meet the people behind A&B that make all the magic happen! Our blog series, “5 Questions with…” introduces our team of event experts. Today’s post features Angela Cruz. Before joining A&B in 2012, Angela worked for Princess Cruises in a customer relations position for four years. At A&B, Angela is now one of our outstanding Event Specialists.

5 Questions with…Angela Cruz, Event Specialist A&B Partytime Rentals

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What does your typical workday look like?

One of the best things about A&B is that every day is different. Aside from helping customers that walk into the showroom, there’s a lot of time spent on the phone and on data entry. As we transition into our busy season, there’s also a lot of time going back and forth with the warehouse, coordinating details with the other departments, and sometimes even assisting with packing last minute orders.

What are some of your favourite events that you have worked on?

Working on weddings is always fun, especially since so many of the planners and designers we work with are amazingly talented. I also really like working on industry events because those are the events we get invited to!

With industry events, we actually get to see how our product is being used and get to talk to people about what it is we do. A recent example of this was at the Cocktails and Canapes night at the Vancouver Art Gallery. We had a chance to partner with some great Vancouver companies and were able to showcase our new stoneware plates.

Wedding shows like the Hush Wedding Show at Terminal City Club are also fun since it’s an easy way for brides and grooms who are planning their own weddings to ask questions and see examples.

What are some new rental items that you are coveting right now?

I love our new burlap linens! The platinum colour goes well for so many events and the texture adds a little something extra to the table without having to rely so much on décor.

Finish this sentence. They key to a successful event is…

Planning! At any event, something will always go wrong and you’ll need to be able to adapt, but a solid plan is always the best foundation for success.

If you had an unlimited budget to plan the ultimate event of your dreams, what kind of party would you throw?

I’d love to do a large-scale seasonal event like a Halloween Carnival or something for Christmas. I come from a large family and we always go all out for holidays, so it’d be fun to take those celebrations to the next level.