Celebrate with Vintage Charm
Text by Holly Matkin • Photography by Matt Ehnes
The allure of nature becomes part of the décor at Kayla McAnally’s event rental and design business.
Never underestimate the potential beauty of chicken wire, mismatched china dishes or a timeworn three-paned window once they become the muses of an artistic soul. For Rustique owner Kayla McAnally, recognizing the latent elegance of simple objects is more than a talent – it is the catalyst that turns special events into unforgettable memories.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have my own business,” Kayla explains, “and I always knew I wanted to do something creative. I just wasn’t sure how I wanted to do it.”
Kayla’s timeless designs add class and romance to any special event. “I want to stay true to our brand of vintage and rustic,” she says.
Getting the Party Started
After graduating from college, Kayla took a position which provided her with opportunities to plan and coordinate large company events. “I found that I really enjoyed putting everything together and making it work,” she recalls, “plus I actually liked the pressure!”
Rustique’s inventory features hand-selected pieces for your special day. Photo by Ariel Dawn Photography.
She honed her skills further while helping friends with décor and design of their weddings, baby showers and other special gatherings.
“Whatever they had going on, I really wanted to do whatever I could to help make the day special,” she says. “Everyone kept telling me that I was good at it and that I needed to turn it into something bigger, but I still wasn’t sure.”
When the time came for her own wedding, Kayla had already envisioned the rustic, vintage style she wanted, but struggled to find a place in the Great Falls area where she could rent the décor she sought. As a result, Kayla decided to track down the perfect collection, hand-selecting individual items – classic furniture, table settings, yard games and countless “special touches” – that would later become the building blocks of Rustique’s inventory.
“Auctions and estate sales are great,” she notes. “I found a lot of pieces in Spokane and Kalispell, or sometimes on Craigslist or online garage sales. Now that I have the business, people are starting to approach me with things they have for sale, which is nice.”
Design Your Dream Day
In November, 2016, Rustique opened for business via the launching of the company website. “First and foremost, we are an event rental business,” Kayla explains. “But we also do event design, event décor setup and custom event décor. If a client has an idea, I will make it happen or I will reach out and team up with other people who can help make it happen.”
What Kayla is unable to find, she creates. “Take our farm tables, for example,” she says. “I collaborated with my friend, Matt Steffens, who is a carpenter. He made them for me from the designs we put together.” Many items in the Rustique inventory has Kayla’s personal touch – whether adding wording to windows, refinishing furniture or adding chicken wire to screens for displaying photographs.
“More than anything, I want people to know that if they attend one of our events, the scene will be nothing short of amazing,” Kayla says.
“I consider Rustique to be a boutique,” she explains. “I don’t want mass-produced items, and I want to stay true to our brand of vintage and rustic. We curate every piece, so if we add it, we absolutely love it. Some items – like the glassware – I’ve collected one piece at a time. There’s just something very romantic about using things that have their own history and their own story.”
Perhaps the best illustration of Kayla’s talents can be seen on Rustique’s website, www.rustiquemontana.com. “The photo on the homepage is my wedding,” she says, almost shyly. “I did all of the décor you see there. Our goal is to make customers’ events above and beyond their expectations. We don’t take shortcuts, and we are invested in their projects from start to finish. It’s all in the details,” she emphasizes. “ That’s where the “wow” comes from!”
