Missoula Bashable Event is a Must-Attend Event [SPONSORED]

One company is making a splash and showcasing how a bit of intent and a lot of creativity can come together to take a basic idea and turn it into a fun and captivating event. Posh Paper Weddings and Events are set to take the stage on Nov. 3 to showcase event industry leaders and talent, and prove that Missoula has more to offer than black and white invites and cream tablecloths.

Bashable takes place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Zip Auto, 300 West Main Street in Missoula. Bashable is a wedding and events fair with a new flare and a different vibe. If you’ve ever had the urge to test drive a car before buying, or to audit a class before registering, this is the event for you. The event will literally be a party where event and wedding planners will experience what each vendor will be like at their event. Furniture vendors, for example, will have spaces instead of booths. DJs will be playing for guests while they enjoy a spotlight fashion show and sip a signature cocktail or local brew.

I had a chance to sit down with Olivia Shjeflo and Morgan Slemberger of Posh Paper Weddings and Events to learn more about what sets them apart and get the scoop on Bashable. Here’s what they had to say.

How did you come up with Bashable?

Morgan:
“It’s a nationally trending event across the country right now where there are these interactive, inclusive shows and wedding fairs where you’re not going booth-to-booth like cattle. Instead, you get to interact and have fun with vendors and see how they would actually be at your party.” 

Olivia:
“We thought Missoula was ready for this because Missoula is very hip and on the cutting edge so this is a perfect place to introduce it in Montana.” 

Morgan:
“A big thing about other fairs is that you go to it and you’re drained afterwards; not because it was fun, but because you went from booth to booth to booth. This is going to be something that’s way more interactive. You’re going to be drained afterward because you went, you danced, had a blast, and got information while you were having fun.” 

How did Posh Paper Weddings and Events begin?

Morgan:
“Olivia had been doing corporate events for seven years. We met in college and reconnected after college at an event. Olivia said something to me about wanting to get into weddings and events. I had just planned a couple of weddings and I shot Olivia a midnight email with a business plan and she said yes! And Posh Paper Weddings and Events was born.”

Take me through your creative process.

Morgan:
“We start by meeting the client and asking a lot of questions to really identify their personality and what they like. A lot of times a client will have no idea what they want. We get an idea of what they do in their free time and learn their personal style.”

Olivia:
“We develop a plan and use a lot of online tools, like Facebook, Pinterest and blogs to go back-and-forth with ideas for feedback. We start with smaller elements to get a better idea of their style.”

Morgan:
“We start with their ideas and if they don’t have any, we coax them out because they often do have ideas deep down. We’ll take the ideas and run with them by sourcing vendors and designs to identify a few price options.”

Olivia:
“The client at the end of the day always has the final decision to pick who and what they want for their event. We then design graphic elements using custom artwork tailored to their personal style.” 

Morgan:
“Usually everyone has a certain direction they want to go and we just help them get to that final destination and bring it to life.”

Olivia:
“When we get to the actual event, we’re the coordinators. We make sure everyone is on point and in line with the schedule. We make sure everything behind the scenes is cohesive. Our clients should have no idea how hard we work.”

How do you use new media in your work?

Morgan:
“For Bashable, we have a Pinterest board for anyone to look at that has the look and feel of what the event will be.”

Olivia:
“Pinterest has been a great tool for us to share with brides and clients. It’s an amazing collaborative tool because we can see what a bride’s taste is and make suggestions. We start somewhere and add pictures and gather feedback and keep going.”

Morgan:
“That’s really in the first third of the process because we nail down the design and run with it using Pinterest.”

What’s your secret?

Olivia:
“I’m the glue stick girl and she’s the digital girl. So I can make anything that anyone wants with tools, glue sticks, saws, sewing, and Morgan can make anything on the computer. Together we are one complete package.”

Morgan:
“We love our jobs. We do this because we’re passionate about weddings and events. We’re two women who are really the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. We’ve built this business by ourselves and we’re really proud of it.”

This bog is sponsored by Posh Paper Weddings and Events. For more information about Bashable or to purchase tickets, please visit bashableevent.com. Learn more about Posh Paper Weddings and Events on their website poshpaperweddings.com.