VENDOR SPOTLIGHT // A DIVINE AFFAIR
Today we’re taking some time to get to know Swish List member and wedding planner Jennie of A Divine Affair!
A short description of what you do: I am a WPIC Certified Professional Wedding Planner and Coordinator and my sole desire is to make your dream wedding become a reality. With different packages to choose from you are sure to find one that suits your needs perfectly! I can design and plan every single detail or I can simply jump in a month before your wedding to tie up loose ends, coordinate logistics and ensure on your wedding day that everything runs as planned.
How long have you been working in the wedding industry? I have been working in this wonderful wedding industry since 2006 and started my own business in May of 2011.
What makes your business unique? I specialize in Niagara weddings. Since May 2011, I have been planning weddings in Niagara and building amazing relationships with our gorgeous venues and incredible vendors. This helps ensure that I am able to suggest to my couples the best venues and vendors for their specific personalities, budgets and overall feel of their dream wedding. I am also the lead coordinator at every single one of my weddings. I only book one wedding per weekend so that I can make sure to be present at your rehearsal, assist with any last minute planning or errands and then be with you on your wedding day.
Favourite part of your business? Hands down my favourite part of wedding planning is the amazing people I get to meet and work with. I have developed wonderful and lasting friendships with many of my couples and with so many of the awesome vendors we have here in Niagara. I get to spend time with the loveliest people while planning the most fabulous parties.
A close second would be that moment that everything is all set up on the wedding day and your couple walks in to finally see everything we had planned all come together beautifully!
What inspires you? I am inspired by my couples. I am inspired by their story. How they met. Their hobbies, their passions, their interactions, their love. I thrive to make each and every wedding unique and personalized. I want to make sure their wedding day is designed and planned specifically for them.
Who is your mentor/hero in the industry? (your own industry or the Niagara wedding industry) I would have to say my mentors in the wedding industry have to be Tracey and Danielle, the co-founders of WPIC. Their commitment to WPIC and support to its alumni is really inspiring. They plan, organize and speak at weddings, events and conferences all around the world — how amazing is that! I love knowing that I have them and thousands of WPIC alumni behind me whenever I need them.
On your day off...where would we find you? If I am not working you will most certainly find me out at one of the many sports my children take part in. I always joke that my hobby is taking my kids to their hobbies. 90% of my time from September - March is spent at the arena where I am a very proud Hockey Mom and Wife.
What great wedding trends are you seeing this year? I am seeing that couples are throwing away traditions and making their wedding their own. Couples are really trying to make sure their wedding is memorable and they are more focused on personal ideas for their wedding and not focused on what a wedding traditionally included. Some other current trends are happening with attire — we are seeing stunning form fitting wedding gowns with statement backs and long sleeves paired with a-ma-zing shoes.
Do you have any practical advice for couples planning a wedding? The best advice I can give is to really take time to research your vendors. Having great quality vendors will make sure that the wedding planning process and the day of the wedding run a lot smoother and with much less stress for the couple. I obviously always suggest having a wedding planner. If hiring a planner for a full planning package is not in the budget, I do believe having one there to coordinate the day of the wedding is absolutely essential. This ensures that everything runs as planned and all issues that arise are taken care of so that the couple and their friends and families are able to fully enjoy their day.
Photography Credits:
Images #1: Daniel Ricci Weddings Image #2: Wolf Photography Image #3: Gemini Photography
