Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbi Moore.
Hi Debbi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2017, one of our daughters got married on a family farm. She had a unique vision for her reception: every guest would dine on a different floral, vintage china plate. Since we had nearly a year to prepare, we set out to find as many different floral china plates as possible. What we quickly discovered was that it’s surprisingly difficult to buy just one vintage plate at a time. More often than not, we had to purchase entire sets of dishes just to get a single plate we wanted. By the time the wedding was over, we had accumulated a remarkable collection of vintage china and weren’t quite sure what to do with it.That’s when I began renting the dishes for ladies’ teas, bridal showers, and baby showers. I quickly discovered how much I loved designing beautiful tablescapes with mismatched vintage china, and I couldn’t resist continuing to add unique pieces to my carefully curated collection.In 2019, I took a leap of faith and exhibited at The Wedding Festivals. I was incredibly nervous but that decision completely changed the direction of my business. I connected with talented wedding vendors, met countless engaged couples, and booked weddings that year. That was the beginning of Something Borrowed’s journey in the wedding industry.Today, our business has continued to grow. We now book more weddings each year than ever before. Looking back, what started as one daughter’s dream wedding became the foundation for a business I truly love.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say the journey has been smooth, but it has been one of steady growth—and with that has come some growing pains. One of our biggest challenges has been finding enough space to store and organize our ever-growing inventory.
For the first few years, everything was stored in our garage. Every dish pattern was carefully alphabetized and organized in Rubbermaid containers. As our collection expanded, we outgrew that space. Our solution; we rented a 40-foot shipping container and built custom shelving to house our vintage china dishes, goblets, and flatware.
I love keeping everything on our property because it gives me easy access whenever inspiration strikes. Many evenings, you’ll find me out there working—or, as I like to say, “playing with my dishes.”
One of the ways we stay organized is by pre-setting each bride’s tables before her wedding day. I photograph every completed tablescape so I can share the layout with my team, and I pack each table’s place settings into its own crate. That preparation allows us to set up quickly, efficiently, and exactly as the bride envisioned on her wedding day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
A few valuable lessons I’ve learned along:
First, early on, I was told not to become friends with my brides—that I should keep everything strictly business. I quickly realized that approach wasn’t true to who I am. I genuinely care about each bride and want to do my part to help bring her wedding vision to life. People can tell when you truly care, and building those relationships has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for both my business and myself.
Second, I’ve learned that involving brides in the design process creates a much better experience. We actually meet outside our storage container, pull different dishes, and build a mock tablescape so they can see their vision come to life. It’s one of my favorite parts of the process. Not only does it provide better customer service, but many times my brides come up with ideas I never would have thought of. I love that collaboration.
Third, I’ve learned not to take it personally if a bride decides not to book with us after our consultation. Weddings come with budgets and priorities, and I understand that. My goal is always to create something beautiful while working within each couple’s budget whenever possible.
Finally, I’ve learned that while the wedding industry is large, it’s also an incredibly close-knit community. It is one of the most supportive and rewarding communities I’ve ever been part of. Every wedding and every event reminds me why I love what I do. Being able to play even a small role in such meaningful celebrations brings me genuine joy.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My parents would probably describe me as outgoing and someone who never met a stranger. They’d also say I was independent and mature for my age.
Looking back, I think I always knew what I wanted. I’ve always been creative and a visionary, and once I set my mind on something, I worked hard to make it happen. Along the way, I certainly created a few obstacles for myself and learned some lessons the hard way, but those experiences helped shape who I am.
Today, I’m grateful for every part of the journey. The challenges taught me resilience, and they ultimately led me to where I am now—doing work I truly love and building a business that brings me joy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @somethingborrowedtablescapes
- Facebook: Something Borrowed Tablescapes
