Request for Proposals for
Preferred Vendors List

Fall 2023

About Make it Mariko

Make it Mariko (pronounced MAH-ree-ko) is a San Francisco experiential events agency led by women of color that creates magical, meaningful moments for the community. We are experience curators, community organizers, corporate planners, nonprofit advocates, and event enthusiasts. 

We are committed to curating creative, inclusive, and diverse spaces in the events industry to challenge the status quo and pave the way for a new generation of event experience curators. Our company was founded in 2015 by Gina Mariko Rosales and we have a wide network of creative partners, vendors, and clients that we work with throughout the Bay Area and beyond. 

We do Experience Design, Planning & Production for:

  • Events & Curated Experiences
  • Brand Activations
  • Launch Campaigns
  • Corporate & Community Conferences
  • Corporate Leadership Summits & Internal Events (like Holiday Parties)
  • Community Festivals (like UNDISCOVERED SF, our flagship event)
  • Social Impact Events

Through our wedding collective, POC Wedding Party, we also curate wedding experiences. Learn more about our company values and hear our origin store here: www.makeitmariko.com/about

The Opportunity

Thanks for your interest in submitting a proposal to be considered as a vendor for Make it Mariko and POC Wedding Party!

Background
  • We want to add more talented vendors to our Preferred Vendors List so we can consider them and their rates for future events. 
  • We love to highlight vendors from groups that have been historically underrepresented in the events industry, including people of color, women, and LGBT people.
What does it mean to be on an Event Planner’s Preferred Vendor List?

Read this blog to find out more and learn tips on how to put your best foot forward for the RFP process.

Cliff Notes of the Blog for Busy People
  • As a full service events agency, we submit proposals to our Clients that are “all inclusive” meaning that we manage the entire event budget and have to estimate said event budget BEFORE even landing the gig
  • This means that even before we sign contract, we often already know exactly what vendors we want to work with as we have “budgeted them in” and their package offerings based on what we think we’ll need for this Client. 
  • Having you as a Preferred Vendor means that we already know your packages, offerings, and rates so that we can “hold budget” for you as a potential vendor (pending Client final approval of course).
Deadline

Please submit proposals by Friday October 6, 2023 (EXTENDED DATE) to be considered.

People of Color, women, and LGBT vendors are encouraged to apply!

Vendor Scope of Work 

We’re looking for proposals for the following types of vendors:

Caterers

Corporate:
  • 200 person conference
  • Continental breakfast
  • Buffet Lunch
  • (2) Snack Breaks
  • All day beverage station with coffee, tea, juices, spa water
  • Cocktail Reception including passed apps, beer, wine, 2 signature cocktails
  • Should include at least 1 vegetarian/vegan option for all meals
  • Please include all staff needed to cook, serve, bussing tables, and collecting/prepping all rentals for pickup

*MIM team will handle: all tables, linens, napkins, plates, flatware, glassware for guest tables

Weddings:
  • 150 person wedding
  • 3 passed appetizers (including 1 vegan option)
  • Buffet style dinner including salad, 2 proteins, veggies, and a carb
  • Small cutting cake for the Couple
  • Dessert bar with (3) dessert bite options
  • Coffee & tea station including compostable cups, stirrers, cream, sugar, etc needed for station
  • Please include all staff needed to cook, serve at the buffet, bussing tables, and collecting/prepping all rentals for pickup
  • Include chafing dishes for buffet and any equipment/serving utensils you need for food service at the buffet table
  • OPTIONAL ADD-ON: (6) hour bar service with Beer, Wine, and 2 Signature Cocktails (if your team does bar)

*MIM team will handle: all tables, linens, napkins, plates, flatware, glassware for guest tables

Photographers

Corporate
  • Please share your hourly rate for general event coverage for gigs in San Francisco/Oakland/Berkeley. 
  • Should include 3-5 teaser hero images sent by next day
  • Full album to be completed within 1 week of the event
  • Final photos delivered ideally by some platform like Pixieset where it’s easy to download at various sizes.
Weddings
  • 6 hour wedding photography package
  • 8 hour package
  • 10 hour package
  • Engagement session 
  • 5-8 teaser photos by next day
  • Full album to be completed by XXX (you tell us how long it takes)
  • Final photos delivered ideally by some platform like Pixieset where it’s easy to download at various sizes.

Videographers

Corporate
  • 1 minute sizzle reel with music licensing
  • Basic intro/outro image bumpers (to be designed by MIM)
Weddings
  • Package 1: Basic video documentation of all the important parts of your wedding: The Ceremony, Dinner speeches, and First Dances, with original footage delivered on a USB stick after.

Package 2: Edited 3-5 minute video with music (you tell us your packages/offerings/rates for this video option!)

Florists

Weddings
  • 2 Large ceremony arrangements
  • 4 Small arrangements (dessert table, gift table, 2 bars) (4” diameter)
  • 10 Small cocktail arrangements
  • 3 Small bud vases per 10 dinner tables
  • 2 Small bud vases for bathrooms
  • 1 Bridal bouquet
  • 3 Bridesmaids bouquets
  • 8 Bouts (1 Groom, 3 groomsmen, 4 parents)

Hair & Makeup Artists

Weddings
  • Bridal hair & makeup
  • Bridal hair only
  • Bridal makeup only
  • Bridesmaids hair & makeup
  • Bridesmaids hair only
  • Bridesmaids makeup only
  • Mom hair / makeup
  • Travel fees
  • Any other fees to consider?

Graphic Designers

Design
  • General event signage design
  • Event wayfinding design
  • Event swag design
  • Social media template design
  • Experiential Design
  • Photo realistic mockups (VERY IMPORTANT!)

*Portfolios will be very important as we want to see your range and understand your design aesthetic. Lookbooks are encouraged.

Contract Event Planners

  • We’re always looking to hire Contract Event Planners who have past experience managing events from end to end independently.
  • Past experience working with Clients always a plus.

TO APPLY // Review this job description for full needs.

Apply by Friday September 29, 2023 to be considered!

apply here.

Frequently Asked Questions

I already applied to your Vendor Directory list. Do I need to apply again?

Yes. This is a different process where we’re focused on getting all inclusive real estimates from vendors in order to consider you for future event budgets. The main difference is that we didn’t collect actual estimates in the other application – just rate sheets. 

I have questions about the proposal in order to get you an accurate estimate. Can I email you?

Yes, you can email sales@makeitmariko.com with questions about the RFP. We will keep updating this FAQ with questions and answers as we receive them.

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