Wedding Day Podcast Episode 33: Jan Oelke With Relics Rentals

Listen to the episode now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week’s topics: how to rent wedding decor, what to include in a wedding rental order, wedding rental checklist 2025, how to plan wedding decor for outdoor weddings, pros and cons of family-style wedding dinners, tips for using candles at weddings, how to make your wedding Pinterest-worthy, creative wedding lounge ideas, colored glassware wedding trend, family-style wedding receptions, unique wedding rental items, how to source wedding decor, best specialty rentals for weddings, wedding planning tips for using rentals, wedding reception decor on a budget, 2025 wedding rental trends

In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, hosts Sonja Babich and Brittany O’Neill sit down with Jan Oelke, founder of Wisconsin-based specialty rental company Relics Rentals. Jan shares the story of how her transition from a career in molecular genetics to motherhood eventually led her to discover—and launch—a creative business focused on event rentals. Inspired by industry leaders like Found Rentals and Casa de Perrin, Jan brought a new vision to the Milwaukee wedding market, curating a boutique inventory with a strong emphasis on design, storytelling and collaboration.

Jan walks listeners through the rental process from start to finish, emphasizing the precision and coordination that goes into each order. With a core team of ten and a rotating crew of delivery professionals, Relics ensures that every detail is accounted for—whether it’s a single statement piece or a fully designed ceremony and reception setup. She explains how multiple layers of review help guarantee that all rentals arrive correctly packed and ready for picture-perfect placement on wedding day.

The conversation dives into the evolving role of specialty rentals in wedding design. Jan shares how her team collaborates with planners and couples alike, using mood boards and inspiration images to understand a client’s aesthetic and needs. From dishware to lounges to one-of-a-kind ceremony décor, Relics Rentals offers options for every scale and vision. While many clients start with Instagram inspiration, Jan encourages putting a personalized spin on what they’ve seen before—elevating the event into something truly unique.

Listeners get an insider’s look at Relics’ sourcing philosophy, which prioritizes finding rare and beautiful items “out in the wild” over ordering from wholesale catalogs. This approach keeps the company’s inventory fresh and trendsetting, drawing inspiration from fashion, film and interior design rather than replicating past events. Jan also teases the launch of new product lines on the horizon, aimed at continuing to push creative boundaries in the Midwest and beyond.

Jan and the hosts also touch on the realities of rental operations, from candle cleanup to family-style meal logistics. She emphasizes the importance of planning for setup, teardown and weather contingencies—especially for outdoor or estate weddings. And while Relics Rentals welcomes walk-in clients, Jan shares why she loves working with professional planners who allow her team creative freedom or trust them to handle the nitty-gritty details.

As the episode wraps, Jan reflects on how much the event industry has evolved—and how Relics continues to grow with it. With a recent warehouse move and an ever-expanding inventory, her team remains committed to making weddings beautiful just as much as meaningful and memorable.

This episode is powered by Relics Rentals and The Edgewater. Special thanks to members Linen Effects, Continental Diamond, Warpaint International.