Lovebird Style: Wedding Planning with a Southern Charm

by AJNovember 18, 2011 4

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Image courtesy of www.loveisabigdeal.com

Zankyou is always on the lookout for exceptional wedding planners that we can recommend to all our ZK couples. One of our UK editors passed along this fabulous website www.lovebirdstyle.com to us and we were hooked from the start.

We recently had a chance to chat with the creative force behind the site, Jessica Sloane. Born, raised and based in Tennessee, Jessica’s style has everything we love about the south. She filled us in on what drives her to be the very best wedding planner she can be and some trends that you should follow and others you should just forget. So whether you’re planning a fall wedding, beach wedding, or theme wedding, she’s here to help. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Lovebird Style!

Image courtesy of www.Loveisabigdeal.com

How did Lovebirdstyle.com come about?

I was still struggling to find my niche when I got engaged at age 29. Since I had been a guest at many weddings and in TEN weddings, I knew I wanted my wedding to be non-traditional. I took the full nine months that we were engaged to thoughtfully plan out every detail of our wedding day and I fell in love with the process. I read wedding blogs daily and added volumes of inspiration to my library…I simply couldn’t get enough!

Image courtesy of www.magnoliapair.com

I’ve always had what I would call a “knack” for design… being drawn to aesthetics, textures, colors and lines. And contradictory to my creative side, I’ve always been a natural planner. I’m quick on my feet, observant and my husband would say that I definitely have a “type-A” personality. However, it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to plan my own wedding that I discovered my talent to help others make their day creative and personal.

Even after my wedding was over and published, I didn’t stop reading all the wedding blogs. Instead, I immersed myself deeper into the culture of the wedding and event industry. I now had this new passion that I couldn’t help but fuel. And thus I found myself thinking of a business name, designing a logo and setting up a website (with the help of my tech-savvy husband).

Jessica Sloane prepping for one of her wedding events

The owner doing last minute touch ups for the bride

What makes you different or stand out from other planners/studios?

A great planner knows how to put together a great event and manage all your vendors. They should also be able to coordinate all the key players on your wedding day. But not all great planners put an emphasis on design and styling. Quite frankly, it’s easier to repeat some of the work you’ve done before. But, it’s my goal to make sure that the event is unique to the couple and truly representative of who they are. That’s why I usually refer to myself as not only a wedding planner, but an event designer and stylist.

Image courtesy of www.loveisabigdeal.com

Which classic wedding trend do you think will stand the test of time?

One “trend” that seems to have stuck thus far and I feel will continue to grow is using elements that are passed down to you, recycling family heirlooms. Recently we’ve seen this in the trend of using antique china, mason jars, milk glass and other antique items that you got Grandma to dig out of the attic! This trend is one of my favorites because the brides and grooms are bringing in elements that mean something to them and their families. Even if you have to supplement the collection, it adds character and personality to your event.

The bridal party in cowboy boots

What is one wedding trend that you wish would go away?

Well that’s an interesting (and fun) question because there are a few! When you work in this industry, you get a little tired of seeing the same ideas repeated time and again. But that’s what makes designing a good challenge. It’s my goal to make each wedding I work on unique in it’s own right. With that said, one trend I don’t particularly like is when bridesmaids and brides wear cowboy boots with their dresses. The concept behind it is good, though, and that is to personalize what you wear on your wedding day, which goes for your whole wedding party. You should feel comfortable in what you wear and so should your wedding party. If they aren’t, then that will be apparent in the pictures. I also think it’s a great idea to wear things that are unique to you… maybe that’s a special piece of jewelry, a jacket or bolero or your favorite pair of shoes.

Image courtesy of www.loveisabigdeal.com

Image courtesy of www.loveisabigdeal.com

What’s the best part about your job?

With all of my clients, my ultimate goal is “to get it” – to understand what the couple wants their day to look and feel like and then translate that inspiration into reality. As a trained social worker, I’m good at assessment and figuring out what people want. My job now, is to make “it” happen. The execution is often the hardest part of my job, but it’s the part I enjoy the most! I’m really a designer at heart. The pay off for me is on the wedding day when I get to see all of our hard work come together… and if my clients are moved by that, then I know my job is done.

Jessica Sloane and Lovebird Style are available for all your wedding needs in the U.S. and for international wedding destinations as well.

Are you a wedding planner that would like to be featured on Zankyou? Email AJ and you can be highlighted as one of our favorite wedding planners.