

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maile Healey.
Maile, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It actually all started because Caleb proposed to me. 🙂
Shortly after becoming engaged, back in 2016, Caleb and I began planning our wedding! We booked our venue. We booked our caterer. Then we began looking for table rentals.
We knew we didn’t want to rent the plastic or rough-wooden tables that needed to be covered by a linen (nixing an extra rental was ok by us). We finally decided on farmhouse tables, however, we didn’t want the typical four post table. We wanted something that was a little more “us.”
After about a week of looking, I started to become frustrated. That’s when Caleb said I could spend one more hour table hunting and then we had to make a decision. So, as I began looking, he quickly said, “Babe, I’ll be back!.” and then took off. I wasn’t sure where he went but I didn’t think twice about it, because I was on a time crunch!
Not more than one hour had past and Caleb came in from the backyard, told me to cover my eyes and led me out back, revealing an 8ft farmhouse trestle table he had just built. I was SOLD! I fell completely in love with it, and that reignited the planning excitement and inspired us to continue “DIY-ing” the rest of our wedding, making it 100% “us.”
As Caleb was mid building the rest of the tables, he posted a sneak-peak photo on social media and booked our first rental that day, for a wedding dated a month after ours!
So I guess, long story short…we kind of accidentally became a rental company due to all of the work we put into our own wedding.
Shortly after our rental bookings started picking up, we added other services to the catalogue, because why not? But really, it’s because I fell in love with the whole wedding planning process and I already had 17 years of event planning and show production under my belt. So that’s why! 🙂
We currently offer:
– Handcrafted Rustic Rentals and Vintage Finds.
– Wedding planning/Management services.
– Simple florals.
Some of our top rentals are:
– Farmhouse Trestle Tables.
– 16ft Rowboat.
– 12ft. Convertible Bar with self-serving taps.
– Vintage photo booth.
– Custom wooden signage.
– and much, much more…
You know…it’s kind of funny how it all began with a proposal and then turned into the unveiling of Rustic Rentals L.A.
As the famous Dr. Ian Malcom once said, “Life…uh…finds away.” (Hahahahaha. Jeff Goldblum. Jurassic Park… you’re welcome)!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Accidentally starting the company was easy. Continuing and expanding the company was not, and still is not always easy. I have had a few physical and mental challenges I had to conquer.
One of the big hurdles I had to overcome, was right after all the tables were built. Caleb had me learn how to properly sand, seal and do upkeep on all fourteen, 8ft trestle tables. I was resistant (and whiny) at first but then he said a few words that really resonated with me.
He told me, “The best bosses are the ones who know how to do everything in their company. It’s when one knows the ins-and-outs of the company and how it works, that one can really control it and make it into what one wants. That doesn’t mean, you, the boss has to DO everything, but it is good to know HOW to do everything.”
Hmmm…ok smarty pants!
Another big challenge I still run into is on the delivery of our rentals. I’m not always on the delivery team but I am a lot of the time and you’ll see little ‘ol me carrying those 100+ lb tables just like the rest of our team.
Yes, they are broken down into separate parts and assembled on site but you better bet your tushy, I’m right there, carrying those beautiful, handcrafted gems and moving them into place once assembled! My job essentially is my gym! Which I’m grateful for because I cancelled my gym membership a year ago hahaha.
Then came probably the biggest challenge for me; not physically but mentally. I had to put on my “big-boy pants” and confront making my own website from scratch. I have never done that before. It took me 3 solid weeks of pouring every inch of my mind into this unknown universe and really pushing myself to do it, even though every thought in my head was telling me it was too hard.
After many unsuccessful days and a few… ok a lot of tears later, I successfully did it! I built my very first website! It might not be perfect, but I am damn proud of it! I’ll never build another website again, hahaha, because it’s definitely not my cup of tea, but hey! I have a new skill just in case I decide to change my mind.
In closing, this company has been very near and dear to my heart. It would not be here if Caleb didn’t propose and build me that first table. All I had to do was keep it going *wink*.
A huge, huuuuge thanks to Caleb for being my life partner, constantly supporting me and encouraging me to take Rustic Rentals L.A. to new heights and fly with it!
Please tell us about Rustic Rentals L.A.
I’m the owner and Lead Planner of Rustic Rentals L.A.
We specializes in high quality, handcrafted, rustic rentals and vintage finds. We also provide wedding planning/management services and simple florals.
The thing I’m most proud of is the fact that the majority of our inventory is handmade by us and we definitely have plans to keep expanding on that. So keep your eyes peeled!
We are also very real, down to earth people and it’s a priority of ours, to make sure our customers are having fun and feel like they’re part of the RRLA fam! ‘Cause what’s a party or a wedding without fun?!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Caleb Healey: carpenter/builder of Rustic Rentals L.A. – he is my rock, my hubby, papa to our little girl and 3 fur-babies. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband.
Erlinda, Dennis and Felicia Schliewe (Mom, Dad and Sister): They are my life. They are my best friends. They are the best family one could ever hope for and yes, they went above and beyond to help us with our wedding, including helping truck everything we made, to our wedding venue (4 hours up north).
Tyler and Shannon Healey (Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law): continuous helpers and supporters and they too, helped with a lot of the wedding set-up/breakdown, trucking items up north and always add happiness to Caleb’s and my lives.
All the small business owners we have met along the way! GO YOU! And thanks for your support as well!
Special shout out to @PoppyAndBirchCA (IG) for connecting us up with VoyageLA. Woot!
All the photographers we have worked with, including these two, featured here: www.JennSuttonPhotography.com and www.OneElevenPhotography.com thanks for capturing our work and allowing us to use your beautiful work to showcase it.
All the individuals who have hired us for custom jobs and freelance gigs, thank you!
All of our past, present and recurring clients, thank you. You make us exist!
If I am forgetting anyone, I truly apologize. It’s 1:52 AM. Feel free to call me (later!) and make me take you on a coffee date.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RusticRentalsLA.com
- Phone: 818-632-3217
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/RusticRentalsLA
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/RusticRentalsLA
Image Credit:
Jenn Sutton Photography and One Eleven Photography
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