Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Lee.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved to Atlanta from Toronto in 2008 and decided I wanted to start planning weddings. Being new to the city, I had no contacts or network, so I began reaching out to local wedding planners for an internship. After weeks of not silence from the planners I reached out to, I decided to take matters into my own hands and get started. I put an Ad on Craigslist to plan weddings for free. Two free clients later, I had enough to start my business. I used their online reviews and photos to create my website and the rest is history. Over the years, I have grown my business through word of mouth and trying to give every one of my clients an amazing, one of a kind experience.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge I face is hiring talent that loves and cares about JLE clients as much as I do. I always want to ensure that service is never compromised if a client is working with a planner on my team.
An ongoing challenge is ensuring your business strategy and offerings are evolving with the current market. I started the business at the beginning of the recession in 2008 so my strategy has drastically changed with the market.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Dubbed “one of the most sought after event planners in the south” by Southern Living Magazine, Jade Lee has become synonymous with style and grace. As a child, Lee would reupholster furniture and eagerly repaint the walls of her bedroom. Years later, this inherent flare for design would blossom into Jade Lee Events, the eponymous boutique event planning and design company behind some of the nation’s most coveted weddings, celebrations, and events.
From concept to design, plans to execution, Jade Lee is a creative visionary with over a decade of experience cultivating custom luxury events. The Toronto native moved to Atlanta in 2008 and founded her full-service design firm just a year and a half after graduating from the University of Toronto. Since that time, Lee has earned a reputation as the go-to planner for personalized events from an impressive index of both celebrity and non-celebrity clientele. Lee’s creative eye and meticulous attention to detail have earned her the commissions of notable clients. Her work has been featured in a plethora of publications including Martha Stewart Weddings, Essence.com, The Knot, Southern Weddings, The Atlantan, Style Me Pretty, Elizabeth Ann Designs, MunaLuchi, and more.
Large-scale events can be taxing for some, but Lee’s calm demeanor and self-assurance frees clients from the stress of planning. She adopts the client’s vision as her own, executing and elevating each event with her seasoned perspective. Now, Lee is putting that perspective to work and paying it forward by mentoring other aspiring event planners. In 2016, she began a consulting business specifically for neophyte wedding planners and florists. Through this work, Lee aspires to hone fresh talent and carry the torch for female entrepreneurship in the arena of event planning and design.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jadeleeevents.com
- Phone: 4044022550
- Instagram: @jadeleeevents
Image Credit:
Elizabeth Austin Photography, Reichman, Paperlily Photography, The Willetts, Justin Demutiis Photography
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