Sonder - [noun] The profound realization that everyone is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

The idea came to us over our Sunday morning cup of coffee. My fiancé, Ryan, and I were brainstorming for our own wedding and, like many others in the same boat as us, were absolutely perplexed at how much it was going to cost us.

We kept saying what a waste it was to purchase items in bulk- all for one day. Not just because of the cost, but what does one do exactly with one hundred taper candles and a box full of various rustic wedding signage the day after they say ‘I do’? Yes, there are plenty of online platforms to resell these items on, but neither Ryan or myself would have the time or energy to meet up with random strangers of the internet in hopes of recouping a few dollars. And in the meantime, where would we store all this…stuff. Anyone that knows me knows I hate clutter more than anything, so more likely than not all of these items would end up in a dumpster or a local thrift store, collecting dust on a shelf and longing for the day another bride would discover them.

It would all be far more simple if someone created a local wedding network, where reusable items could be rented for couples to use on their big day- without the high price tags associated with buying. Items that could be picked up or dropped off, at the time and place you need them, and simply returned once you no longer needed them. Simple, hassle-free, eco-friendly, and affordable.

And thus, Sonder was born.