Local couple’s wedding décor sparks thriving rental venture
STATE COLLEGE — What began as a way for a local couple to reuse leftover wedding decorations after their own big day has blossomed into a thriving special event rental business.
Rob and Aly Nese of State College have transformed centerpieces, arches, table settings and more into a sought-after service for celebrations across the region.
The Penn State alums stockpiled their own wedding décor in Aly’s parents’ basement — and family and friends began borrowing various pieces for their own special day. Aly Nese, who boasts a degree in tourism management with a focus in event planning, decided to combine her passion for events and décor with her desire to be a stay-at-home parent when their daughter Gianna, now 2 ½, arrived.
“We decided to take a leap. We started out in Aly’s parents’ basement, which worked perfectly at the time because our inventory was small and didn’t take up much space,” explained Rob Nese. “It was the perfect setup, until the business really took off.
“Before we knew it, the basement was completely taken over by décor and rental items, and we were looking for more space.”
Nittany Valley Events is located in the State College area and specializes in event décor, furniture, and whatever else one might need. By renting instead of purchasing, clients can realize the dream of their beautiful event at a fraction of the cost and without the hassle of acquiring everything themselves.
“We take pride in offering unique pieces you won’t find just anywhere,” Aly Nese said. Their collection includes vintage plates, assorted goblets, colored glassware, hand-picked furniture pieces and more, all which the couple has spent years gathering.
“Many of these items come from past events we’ve assisted with, so our collection features the best of the best from countless weddings, parties, showers, and more, truly setting our inventory apart.”
In addition to unique décor, Nittany Valley Events also offers tables, tents, chairs, farmhouse tables, backdrops, pipe and drape, and more.
“Our inventory is always growing, so what makes us stand out from our competitors is that we are often willing to buy the items our clients are looking for, essentially making our inventory endless,” Aly Nese said. “We aim to take the stress off our clients’ plates so that they can enjoy every bit of their event.
And the best part? When the event is over, there’s nothing for a client to store or manage.
“Everything rented from Nittany Valley Events comes back to us, and we take care of the
rest!”
Overcrowding has been a good thing
The Nese’s said that, when they started Nittany Valley Events, they never imagined they would outgrow that space so quickly.
They have since purchased a 3,000-square-foot garage to house their inventory and delivery vehicles! What began as a small side hustle in a basement has grown into a flourishing business with its own building.
Rob Nese, who has a degree in Turfgrass Science, works full time at Alpha Fire Company’s main station as the Assistant Chief of Special Operations for the Centre Region COG Fire Protection program.
While Aly is busy handling logistics such as orders, delivery and pickup scheduling, emails, and social media, Rob manages deliveries and pickups, tent installations, custom builds, and more.
Future plans
“We are constantly growing our inventory, so we hope to one day have everything someone needs for their event,” Aly Nese said. “While our inventory is vast as it is, we still hope to acquire additional styles and sizes of chairs, tables, tents, glassware, flatware, etc. to give our clients even more choices.”
The business recently moved to a new garage with triple the space.
“But our next big move will hopefully be our final one. We hope to eventually move into a location large enough for a storefront and with enough space to last us for an eternity’s worth of growth,” Aly Nese said.
The couple’s ultimate final goal is to not only continue with the event rental business, but also own a venue of their own.
“This way we will not only assist our clients in finding the perfect items for their event, but help them to see their event through to the end.”
Nittany Valley Events offers flexible, weekend deliveries and pickups. The majority of the work is done by just Rob and Aly, although they do get a lot of support from friends and family.
“Many customers book with us a year in advance, which gives us the opportunity to truly get to know them through many phone calls, texts, and meet-ups along the way, ensuring an incredible final product. Because of that connection, it’s especially important tous to make sure each of these amazing clients receives the very best experience!”
