In this series, we interviewed our team with a handful of lighthearted questions.  You can read Jessica’s formal bio here.  Read below to learn a bit more about who she really is inside:

How would you describe your approach to planning weddings?
In one word: organized. There is so much to keep up with — at least 4-5 vendors, transportation, arrival times, deadlines, guest list, special requests, surprises, etc. — you have to be on your toes. Last minute plans cause so much stress so be organized and plan ahead!

What do you do for fun?
You mean there is a life outside of wedding planning?! Well, there is always attending a wedding (I like being a guest!), spending summers by the pool, and volunteering for Tri Delta. I love dining, so any chance I have to try new restaurants or visit old favorites is a welcomed treat.

What’s the most important piece of advice for brides?
Never stop thinking about the Big Picture! When you visit the florist and see the economy bouquet, then you see the extravagant bouquet, which one do you pick (”Well, it is only $50 more…”)? Then you repeat this process with the caterer, photographer, stationier , dress boutique… and you budget very quickly increases by thousands. If you keep the Big Picture in mind you will realize that you will be just as happy with the selection that fits into your budget as you would be with the one that breaks the bank. And in the end, when you have the money for a fabulous honeymoon, you will be 10 times happier than you expected.

What are you listening to right now?
The Beatles. I love the song “When I’m Sixty-four ” as a cake cutting song. It is light hearted and catchy, just what I would want playing in the background as I smush cake into The Love of My Life’s face.

What blogs do you frequent often?
The Preppy Wedding is one of my absolute favorites because of the colors, simplicity, and understated elegance.

What’s the best thing about weddings?
The ceremony. It is the only aspect of the entire day that makes a wedding, well, a wedding. My favorite are church weddings, where the larger-than-life doors open, the organ resonates off the walls, and the bride walks down the aisle. It is a breathtaking entrance that fills the entire room. How can you not remember that for the rest of your life?

What is your favorite memory from a wedding?
At the very end of the night, as she and her new husband are leaving the reception, the bride came up to me and thanked me, profusely, for helping make her day not only special but spectacular. She had the biggest heart and was so overwhelmed with happiness that she wanted to share with me how I had contributed to all that she had enjoyed. I was so touched by it that I remember her smile and sincerity as she and her Mr. Right left the reception.

What would you do with $1 million dollars?
I would start a scholarship for college students who have to work to afford their own tuition. Whether you opted to go to the more expensive school because of the quality of the education (which your parents’ can’t afford), or just want to make it through a junior college to improve your quality of life, everyone should have the college experience without worrying if you can continue next semester.

What is your favorite wedding trend right now?
Hanging things from the ceiling is the neatest thing! Whether it is lighting, fabric, or millions of tiny crystals people are just starting to realize the incredible effect that rigged decor has on the style of your event. We have all seen nice table settings but when it is lit just right there is a whole new ambiance and intimacy to the room.

What is your least favorite wedding trend right now?
Chocolate fountains!! They are definitely on their way out but every so often you walk into the reception and BAM – six tiers of molten chocolate ready to make the mess of a lifetime. There are so many things wrong with this: communal food source, splatter on everything within six feet, chocolate on the bride’s dress, small guests clogging the drain with every pretzel stick in sight… Could we all agree to leave this to children’s parties and The Melting Pot?

Tags: jessica

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 9:16 am and is filed under Wish News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.