We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Walker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

I have been blessed with the opportunity in giving back in so many way throughout the years of owning H.E.R. (High Expectations Rentals). One occasion being designing and providing rentals/decor for an event by the name of “Night to Shine” sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom evening experience for guests with special needs and it is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced before.

This event holds a special place in my heart and has been an incredible experience to participate in. It consistently proves to be a wonderful decision, and I eagerly anticipate being part of this magical occasion each year, especially because it supports such a great cause.

This evening is designed to enchant the guests in their prom experience and make wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. From the smallest detail, to the large scaled install’s, H.E.R. is thrilled to be involved in every aspect of Night to Shine and giving back to the community.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

High Expectations Rentals & Design began with a passion for unique details, exquisite events and fine artisanship. After being a wedding planner for over 10 years and dabbling in interior design, my desire to create a perfectly designed event for clients grew to new heights. Down to the smallest detail, I wish every experience to be transformed beyond my clients wildest dreams. I work very closely with them to ensure that every event, order and detail is exactly how they have envisioned and is conducted with precision.

Recognizing a gap in the wedding industry for affordable modern rentals, I aim to fill this void by offering curated elegance to events through lounges, decor, and design services. My passion for making things beautiful and bringing my clients vision to life is what drives me and fuels my excitement for each upcoming event. There is nothing more exhilarating than envisioning a concept, meticulously implementing every detail, and ultimately transforming a space into a truly magical experience.

I absolutely adore my job and look forward to helping each client create their dream wedding or event.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

H.E.R began back in 2022 when I was a full-time planner and had never considered rentals as part of my services. It all started when one of my planning clients expressed a desire for sweetheart chairs, a Yurt, and a cozy lounge setup for their Crozet Mountain wedding. Upon discovering that local rental companies had high minimum requirements, I offered options from my own small collection used for styled shoots. The clients loved the idea, and from there, H.E.R was created and grew exponentially. Before I knew it, I was investing in large area rugs, accent chairs, sofas, and various decor items. My passion for designing curated lounges and infusing personal touches into my clients’ special days has brought immense joy to my life. Enhancing my beautiful brides’ wedding experiences with elevated details is incredibly fulfilling.
From a modest beginning with just a few accent chairs, one black settee, and a yurt, we have expanded to 18 sofas and over 1200 square feet of rental space. We are thrilled with our growth over the last few years, evolving from a side venture into a full-time endeavor.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The past decade has presented numerous personal challenges, contributing significantly to my personal growth and development which has also affected how I conduct my business. I have been a Marine wife for over 10 years now, my husband’s frequent deployments often left me as a single mom caring for our newborn along with my stepchildren who were with us often. After several years of military life, we made the decision to transfer to northern Virginia and began the process of moving and our exciting new venture.

Just before our move to VA and as our home was two days away from being sold, Hurricane Florence struck our hometown in North Carolina in 2018 and our home was lost due to the flood. Thankfully, my family and I had evacuated, so no one was harmed, but unfortunately, we lost our home and everything we owned. This forced us to start over from scratch and adjust to life without a home right before the holidays. We were in need of our NC home to be completely gutted and renovated before it could be put back on the market while also transitioning our family to northern Virginia.

This period marked one of the most challenging times in my life, necessitating a complete pivot and reevaluation of our family’s way of life and priorities. For over six months, we were without a home, living with only the items we had evacuated with in September 2018. As a mother, I experienced immense stress during this time, wanting to create a sense of home for my family despite our circumstances. I was also aware of the pressure my husband faced, needing to relocate for his new job in Virginia.

Losing everything and witnessing my family endure such hardship profoundly shifted my perspective on what truly matters in life.Through this experience, I have come to appreciate the importance of prioritizing family, managing workflow effectively, ensuring adequate sleep, and recognizing the overall significance of life. These challenges have taught me invaluable lessons: to never take everyday details for granted and to pursue what you TRULY LOVE, because tomorrow is uncertain. Once we established our new lives in Northern Virginia and things were finally settled, I began planning and designing once again. This eventually evolved into my new passion of creating the rental company (H.E.R.), and my enthusiasm for helping clients with rentals and design reached new heights. I have been blessed with owning this amazing company for a little over two years now, and each installation continues to teach me something new. I am beyond grateful to my clients and for my job; everything it teaches me each day is invaluable

Contact Info:

• Website: https://highexpectationsrentals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.e.r.highexpectationsrentals/

Image Credits

Photo 1: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Bluemont Bell / Gown – Didomenico Design /

Photo 2: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Bluemont Bell / Gown – Ava Laurenne

Photo 3: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Bluemont Bell /

Photo 4: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Mortgage Hall Estates / Gown – Ava Laurenne /

Photo 5: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Mortgage Hall Estates / Gown – Ava Laurenne /

Photo 6: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Mortgage Hall Estates / Gown – Ava Laurenne

Photo 7: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Mortgage Hall Estates / Select Event Group

Photo 8: Photographer – Lindsay Mack Photography / Venue – Mortgage Hall Estates / Select Event Group

Photo 9: Photographer – Kristen Gardner Photography / Venue – Historic Oatands