Auntie Approved Vendor: What’s Poppin’

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Sometimes the right vendor connection begins with extensive research and careful networking. Other times, your co-board member says, “You do events, she does balloons. You’re going to be unstoppable.”

As much as I hate to admit when Ashley is right, she absolutely nailed this one.

That introduction connected me with Sarah, owner of What’s Poppin’, and since then, the two of us have meddled in just about every kind of celebration imaginable. We’ve worked together on Chamber events, weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties and graduation parties. We’ve even planned ahead for the day someone finally brings us the “Best of Both Worlds” Hannah Montana party we clearly deserve.

What’s Poppin’ creates stunning balloon arches, garlands and backdrops that take an event to an entirely different level. Sarah also has a habit of sneaking in a little surprise for me—which is never required, but always appreciated.

Somehow, She Reads My Mind

Sarah endures an impressive number of texts and emails from me, especially when we have multiple events happening and are trying to keep every theme, color palette and setup straight. I’m mostly grateful she hasn’t told me to go away yet.

The best part is that I can stutter out approximately three words about what I’m envisioning, and somehow, she understands exactly what I mean. Her mockups always match the finished setup, although I’d argue the final result is usually even better.

Her delivery and installation process is flawless. If Sarah doesn’t think something looks perfect, she comes prepared with extra balloons and keeps working until it does.

Every setup she creates impresses me, but the two backdrops she designed for the Chamber’s luau and western-themed events completely blew me away. I was speechless—which, as most people who know me will confirm, is a rare feat.

My Balloon Savior

From a coordinator’s perspective, What’s Poppin’ makes my job easier because I am simply not a balloon gal.

I’ve tried. The results took hours and looked terrible.

Sarah is my balloon savior. I can trust her to take the vision, handle the design, arrive prepared and create something beautiful while I focus on the other 872 things happening behind the scenes.

Her work can fit absolutely any kind of event. She can make balloons elegant and sophisticated for an adult celebration or colorful and playful for the kiddos. That versatility is a talent all its own.

Plan Ahead—and Share the Idea in Your Head

If you’re considering booking What’s Poppin’, plan ahead. Think about the time of year, your event date and how quickly a talented vendor’s calendar may fill.

Having a clear theme or general direction is also helpful. And if you say, “Whatever you think,” while secretly carrying a very specific picture in your head—please share the picture in your head.

Odds are, Sarah can recreate your idea or adjust it to fit your space, needs and budget. She may be talented, but let’s not make her rely entirely on telepathy.

These Aren’t Your Average Balloon Kits

Professional balloon installations are not the same as ordering a kit online and spending several hours discovering that balloons do not cooperate.

What’s Poppin’ uses high-quality balloons designed to look better and last longer. And when I say longer, I mean it. The balloons from my niece’s birthday party lasted outside in a shed for nine months—and some were still good enough to use for the next celebration.

That may not be an official laboratory test, but the Auntie Research Department considers the results conclusive.

Officially Auntie Approved

There are so many reasons What’s Poppin’ has earned the Auntie Approved stamp. Sarah is creative, dependable, prepared and remarkably good at transforming a few scattered ideas into something even better than I imagined.

But somewhere along the way, she also worked her way into the hearts of my entire family—my parents, sibling, sister-in-law and nieces included.

And if that isn’t Auntie Approval, I don’t know what is.

Auntie Sarah has a pretty nice ring to it. 😉