meet the PEOPLE
behind the designs
As a husband and wife team, we've been in your shoes and know exactly how overwhelming planning a wedding can be. Our goal is to take the weight off your shoulders, eliminating the need to source multiple vendors, navigate countless mass produced options, or do it yourself.
Emily's story
I'm Emily, the creative mind and heart behind Something Borrowed. I'm a mom to two kiddos and a lifelong Rhode Islander, who was working a very corporate job only four short years ago. I took the leap into the world of weddings after crafting wooden signs from local families and following my heart sign by sign into the wedding industry.
I've always been drawn to weddings, thanks to my grandmother, a lifelong florist who inspired me that it's possible to build your own business from the ground up. As a child, tagging along on her wedding deliveries filled me with excitement for the magic of having all your favorite people in one room, for one night.
In my spare time, you can find me dreaming of our next project (workaholic, through and through!), listening to Taylor Swift, browsing the internet for new recipes, and catching up on my favorite TV shows.
It's cliche to say, but I've found myself through running Something Borrowed and enjoy working with fellow creatives and couples on their special day. You can say I'm a bit "extra," and I love it when my couples bring that same energy.
Derek's story
On the other side of this venture is my husband Derek. You may know him from our Instagram where Derek carries things.
While weddings weren't originally in his life plan, Derek realized many of his ventures helped prepare him for running Something Borrowed today. Growing up, he enjoyed woodworking with his dad, gained expertise over many years at a commercial signage company, mastering many of the tools and materials we use today, before working as a painter. In 2022, he left his job to join me full-time and found a new love for creating custom builds.
Outside our creative business, he's a devoted dad, husband, and a big fan of New England sports, video games and the art of grilling the perfect steak.
Derek's favorite part of what we do is the moment when he can finally step back to admire the finished product on wedding day with all the extra touches to bring it all together.
New to
kelsey
In 2025, we brought on Kelsey as our Studio Operations Assistant. Kelsey keeps everything behind the scenes running smoothly, from managing logistics and client communication to helping launch our semi-custom invitation collection.
With her industry experience and eye for detail, she ensures every couple’s experience is seamless from start to finish. Kelsey lives in Connecticut with her family and was Emily's first mentee in 2023.
STUDIO OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
the team
We can't deliver a wedding without stopping at one of our favorite restaurants for an appetizer to go - there's nothing like post delivery mozzarella sticks, am I right?!
We're people first, always. Our client and vendor partnerships are the heart of our work and we'll always go above and beyond to exceed expectations.
Our wedding day tool kit includes more than you could imagine, including extra paint to touch up our pieces on the spot.
We were so sure that we would get married one day that we picked our wedding date 2 weeks into dating - and stuck to it four years later.
We will obsess over the right shade of acrylic or paint to get it exactly right. We don't settle around here!
We first met working together..Derek wrote up Emily for being on her phone at work (some things never change)
We're always looking for a new TV show recommendation - true crime is our jam.
The Vermont countryside is one of our favorite places to visit.
Family traditions are important to us, whether they're our own or yours.
If you're asking our opinion...
In
- Personal touches
- Prioritizing guest experience
- Intentional design choices
- Vendors who become your friends
- Quality > Quantity
- Coastal wedding venues
- Honoring family traditions, while making your own new ones
Out
- Mass produced details
- Focusing only on what's trendy
- DIYing beyond your comfort level
- Stressing over wedding details
- Cutting corners to get the job done
- Wedding decor that isn't cohesive
- Inviting your aunt's friend's mom because you "have to"