Owner of Wish Vintage Rentals

photography by Tiffani Jones

The Lakelander loves community. We strive to reflect our city and its diversity, to incite pride of place, and to reveal lesser known facets of our community. We connect people, resources, and ideas. We’re aspirational yet approachable, sophisticated but homegrown. We dig deeper. And we aren’t afraid of a little grit.We believe in the culture of our city. We believe that one of our best assets is the talented and inspiring individuals who call Lakeland home. We believe that this city is better because of the people who choose to live here. Making an issue of The Lakelander is a labor of love. It takes a community of contributors working hard because they believe in this city as much as we do. In the coming months, we will highlight one of our very special contributors in each issue so you, the reader, can get to know the true makers of the magic behind this publication and get to know some fellow Lakelanders a little better in the process
When she’s not staging photo shoots for The Lakelander, Lisa Malott is often found sifting through antique stores, flea markets, and estate sales looking for special, one-of-a-kind treasures to add to her inventory for her company, Wish Vintage Rentals. Brides, photographers, and event planners from all over Florida contact Lisa to help add a retro flair to their events.
Wish Vintage Rentals was founded in 2012 when Lisa discovered a demand for unique vintage props in Central Florida. “I crossed paths with a pair of wedding photographers in the summer of 2012 and discovered that there was a need for vintage prop rentals in the Central Florida area,” she says. “They had a number of clients wanting to incorporate vintage furniture and decor at their weddings but were having a hard time finding a company that offered anything beyond the standard table and chair rentals.”
Since that summer, Wish Vintage Rentals has grown both in terms of its inventory and its scope. Lisa now serves clients in Tampa, Orlando, the beaches, and wides waths of Central Florida. Despite the breadth of her client base, Lisa’s dedication to finding the perfect pieces for each of her clients remains unchanged. “When I meet with clients and designers, I want them to be able to see all of the possible options that could work best with their vision,” she says. Though she does serve clients across Central Florida, Lisa established her business in Lakeland and always comes back to her hometown. “I love being a part of the great creative scene that exists in Lakeland,” she says. “It’s an awesome community to be a part of, and I am thankful that our company has been so well embraced.”