I am so excited to have Jessika as a guest on my blog today! If you have not heard of her fabulous company, Diva On A Dime Wedding Design, now is the time to check her out!
Jessika is a master at planning and coordinating your perfect dream wedding, at a fraction of the cost! She will help you plan, organize, keep you on budget and even attend your wedding day to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.
I had the pleasure of updating Jessika’s headshots this past March, just in time for the release of her new website! With her 50′s inspired style, playful and professional demeanor, I am beyond excited on how they turned out, plus I got to practice some of my new posing techniques! I am so in deep like with these images!
Let’s take a look at Jessika, what she offers and all those burning questions you may have…
How long have you been a wedding coordinator?
Just over 5 years in total now. I started planning weddings right after planning my own which was in June of 2007. I officially opened up the business on January 1st of 2008 and have planned all kinds of events since then.
What services to do you offer?
After 4 years in business, I recently decided to change up some of my packages and services. Some of the things you can expect to see are:
Diva for a Day: This package is the most popular option and is designed for those DIY brides and grooms that have already planned the whole day, but would like someone else to manage it all on their special day. We will come in and work with the vendors to ensure that everything runs just as you planned so that you can enjoy the day that you have worked so hard to plan.
Simply Divine: This package is the ‘all in’ package that is designed for those couples that just don’t want to be bothered with all the details. With this package, you just paint us the picture of what you would like to see, and we will make it a reality.
Diligent Diva: This package was created for those that don’t really fall into either of the first two categories. This one works well for the couple that wanted to do it on their own but have since decided that they need help. They don’t need us to plan it all because they already have a good start, but might just need us to finish things up for them and iron out the details.
Rentals and Add ons: We have added a new option for our couples with our new website which allows them to take any of our packages and add exciting things like: Wedding arrow sign rentals and placement for those hard to find locations, Candy Buffet rental and set up, Paper Ball rental, Chair Cover and Chair Sash Set up, Invitation Creation Assistance and RSVP Management, Wedding Favor Creation and Additional Coordinators for those larger events.
Why should we hire a coordinator?
You should hire a coordinator so that you can enjoy your day! No matter how organized you are, there are always little quirks and unknowns that will pop up throughout your day. Having a wedding coordinator there means that you don’t have to deal with these things when they arise. You get to carry on enjoying your day while the coordinator takes care of the concerns.
What can we expect with our first consultation?
Our first consultation is spent getting to know each other. I will usually meet the couple or just the bride for coffee and talk about what you have visualized for your day so far. We will then figure out what you need my help with and determine which package works the best for you. I am pretty flexible so if there isn’t one created, we will just discuss it together and come up with something that works for both of us. I believe in open and honest communication and feel that relationship building with my clients is extremely important.
What type of experience do you have?
I am a plan-a-holic! It started when I was a little girl planning my extravagant birthday parties and decorating my room for each and every holiday theme. As time moved on, it morphed into not only planning events but mastering the art of multitasking and scheduling. Several years ago I took on a role as a Team Manager for a major telecom company and my organizational skills really came to light. I had between 25-50 people reporting to me at any given time, was doing the equivalent of 3 different roles, commuted 2 hours each day, ran this business, went back to school at BCIT to take the wedding planning course and raised two kids while being a wife! While I am not doing the exact same things at this moment in my life, I am still an extremely busy person by choice. I love multitasking, learning new things and balancing interests. The experience I have isn’t only something that comes from planning events, it is something that has been piece of my character for as long as I can remember. Along the way I have also planned several large scale corporate events, large retirement and birthday celebrations.
Do you have a preferred vendor list we can look at?
Yes, I do have a preferred vendor list from past vendors that I have worked with that you are welcome to look at. In fact it is now featured as a page with links to their websites on my new website. It is important to note that while I do have a preferred vendor list, I am still very open to seeking out new vendors all the time. If you are looking for something that I haven’t worked with before I will research and interview many vendors for you before we choose who we will work with for your event.
Can you help us stay on budget?
Calling my business ‘Diva on a Dime Wedding Design’ was an intentional way of selecting my preferred client base. As a bargain hunter myself, I will do everything I can to help keep your costs down for your wedding day. I believe that you can have a beautiful, memorable wedding day without going in to debt, and without spending your life savings. Some of the ways that we do this are by doing things ourselves like making the invitations, packaging the favors and setting up the smaller décor items. Other ways we are able to save you money are by negotiating with vendors to get discounts which I pass on to my clients, buying things in bulk from wholesale companies and looking for things that have been previously used.
What is the average size of a wedding you plan?
I have planned weddings in a variety of sizes from 60 to 400 people so far. It really depends on how intimate the couple wants their day to be, the venue they have selected and their budget.
Will you be with us on our big day?
Absolutely!!! Depending on the package you choose, I might be the first person to arrive and the last person to leave, or I might just be there for the standard 10 hours, but I will definitely be there with a smile on my face!
Do you work alone or with a team?
I can do either. I have 2 additional coordinators that I work with when the event requires additional staff but I also do a lot of weddings alone. It really depends on the venue and the amount of guests attending the event. If it is a large venue, or if there are a lot of guests, I usually recommend a second coordinator.
What is the cost to book your services and is there a deposit that is required?
The cost to book our services depends on the service you would like to book. My prices start at $650 for the Diva for a Day and go up from there depending on what you are booking. I have done a tremendous amount of research on other coordinators and know that my rates are very competitive. I offer all discounts/commissions from vendors to be passed back on to the client and I don’t charge for little extras. The deposit to book the service ranges from 25-50% of the cost depending on the services booked. I try to make it easier for the larger bookings and break down the remaining amount owing into 4 equal payments.
Do you have a back up plan in case an emergency comes up and cannot attend our wedding?
While I have been fortunate enough to never have this happen, I do have a back up in place just in case. I have 2 other girls that work with me that would be able to take care of the day if an emergency came up.
Do you have a website and how can we contact you?
Yes, I have a new website at www.divaonadimedesign.com, a Facebook page you can view at www.facebook.com/divaonadimedesign and an email address that you can email me at info@divaonadimedesign.com. Alternately, you can reach me the old fashioned way by phone at 604 351 0080.
Best of luck to you Jessika and I look forward to working many many weddings with you!!
xoxo
show hide 1 comment