In the first half of this year there have been some big changes here at CVW. If you've been keeping up with us for a while, you've probably noticed some of them. From a big building renovation to a website overhaul to opening a small event space to doing some of our most amazing weddings yet, we've been keeping busy!
The New Building!
Since our launch in 2012, we have been steadily growing. What started as a home office and a little storage unit quickly became a storefront and a second rented space across the city to warehouse our rentals. We've added employees and a successful internship program. With all of this expansion, by 2017 we no longer fit into our old digs. We were sick of having nowhere to put our truck, working out of a cramped little office and meeting space, and the trek across the city every time we wanted to access our rental furniture. While our West Town storefront on Grand was a great location, it could no longer meet our needs. Not to mention, we were sick of paying rent for two different properties and having nothing to show for it! When we found 2018 South Ashland for sale last year, we fell in love. Taking on a new project of this magnitude was daunting, and we were wary of the perils of building ownership. But once we realized that it checked all of our boxes--meeting space and offices in front, storefront visibility, warehouse space and ground-level loading area, industrial kitchen space to clean our tabletop rentals--we knew we had to take the plunge.
Now paying less to own our space than we had previously been losing to rent every month, we could invest in a modest renovation. Well, we planned for modest...once we got started, it was hard to stop! It felt a little bit like being in our own home remodeling TV show as we managed all of these different projects and kept the budget on track. By March, we were exhausted but satisfied! Those who appreciate a good "before and after," this is for you:
Completely new windows and doors where ugly bubble glass and outdated signs had been
Redone floors including our beloved herringbone entryway
Hand painted ceiling mural by Liz Dixon of EJD Design
Demolition of old fixtures, walls and drop ceilings
LOTS of fresh paint outside and inside
Fresh ADA-accessible restroom (goodbye creepy old bathroom) with pretty tile floors
Fun new light fixtures featuring sustainable LED bulbs
Kitchen overhaul to improve efficiency for the rental prep squad
Check out the difference!
BEFORE
AFTER
And, of course, the move wouldn't be complete without making sure we had a pet-friendly office. We love being able to bring our fur babies to work and have them relax in their tent bed!
A Fresh Look!
With the renovation under our belts, we were ready to unveil our latest project: CV Atelier, an intimate event space located in part of our storefront that we didn't need for offices. We went from having not enough space to more than enough, and we were loving it! The space has already been used for showers, rehearsal dinners, retreats, photo shoots and even a small wedding. It's been a blast! We're loving the projection set up so we can host our own movie nights.
Before taking over as rental manager, team member Chantel spent the first part of the year finishing up her design degree. While things were a little slower, she revamped our website and we are eternally grateful. Now it's so polished and pretty!
Gorgeous Weddings!
We've executed incredible events in the first half of 2018 and have more in the works. For example, take a peek at Amanda + Tyler's wedding at the Columbus Park Refectory from June 23, photographed by Paper Antler. This was a full service planning event that we had been working on since July 2017 and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Our three-pronged focus on design, logistics and budget kept everything on track and enjoyable for our clients. We also provided fun vintage rentals to help complete their look, which just makes sense when every planning event comes with a rental credit.
Amanda writes from her honeymoon: "Thank you so much for making our dream day come true. Truly it was a fairytale and we thank you so much for you playing such a part in that."
What's Next?
It's hard to decide what the best thing is about the path our business is taking. We are proud to be forging our own way in a market that didn't have anyone like us before we launched. We are proud to have a tight-knit team of creative professionals who love what we do and love working together. We are proud to be socially and environmentally conscious, and to be a woman-owned business that is always striving to innovate and give back. We are proud of the glowing reviews and feedback we consistently receive from clients. We are proud that we strive to do our best for each wedding--whether planning, rentals or both--because we understand that every single event will create a lifetime of memories. We are proud of our business practices and our approach to customer service. Long story short: we are proud to be CVW!
Here's to the next six months of stellar events. We are so excited to see what the second half of the season brings, and we are already looking forward to what is shaping up to be an incredible 2019!
Vendors
Building: Photography | Christy Tyler Photography // Ceiling mural | EJD Design // Installation | Black Candy Design // Calligraphy | Delaina J Designs // Floral | Flor Del Monte // Catering | Northern Fork
Amanda + Tyler: Photography | Paper Antler // Venue | Columbus Park Refectory // Catering | Blue Plate // Floral | Atmosphere Events Group // Calligraphy | Delaina J Designs // Dress | BHLDN // Beauty | Renee Feldman Salon // Music by White Lake Quartet, Neil Dixon Smith (guitar) Okyne Medialab (DJ), Jeremy Kahn (piano) // Bakery | Sugar Fixe