Griffin and I in NYC- August 2017
As we enter a new year, I figured it was time to introduce myself. It's been a while and I know there are those who don't know much about me past the wedding planning job and what's in my "About Me" section.
So, hi there! My name is Sara Jones and on top of being a wedding planner and coordinator I'm a wife to Jason and a mommy to Griffin. Jason and I met in 2009 and got married in 2016 (which reminds me that I should do a final blog post about my wedding experience as a planner!). Griffin just turned three on December 27th and really is the light of our lives. He makes us laugh and smile every day and has a personality that is so infectious. He loves everyone and has been fussed over by strangers basically every day of his life, not to mention all of our friends and family!
Running your own business isn't always easy and the year that I was pregnant with him was my busiest yet as a wedding planner. I was also working a full time job and for some reason wasn't using assistants yet (seriously, what the heck was I thinking?!). The first year after he was born, I worked with seven couples and two of my best friends got married. It was more than enough to keep me busy with a newborn but what I had forgotten about was planning forward and working on booking more clients for the following year when I was off of maternity leave. I'm still not quite back at the level I was before Griffin was born in regards to the number of weddings each year but that's not always a bad thing. One of the biggest lessons I have learned from having him is how important time is. Every client meeting, vendor meeting, site visit and wedding day is time away from him and while I want to be successful in my career (and need to be to help pay bills!) I also want to make sure that 1) there is a balance and 2) that the work I am doing is being valued and that the clients and vendors I'm working with are getting the best out of me. I can say that I have been guilty in the past of working for next to nothing and while there are exceptions to every rule, this is the thing that has changed most in my business since becoming a mom.
Other than weddings and my family, there are two other loves in my life that anyone who has met me in person only a few times will probably know... coffee and hockey. Most mornings begin with me making coffee at home in our French press (with Griffin's help of course... he actually learned to count to ten by helping me... no joke!), and it's not unusual for me to take my laptop to Starbucks and work for a few hours while sipping on either a caramel macchiato (January to beginning of November) or eggnog lattes (beginning of November to whenever the sad day comes that they tell me they are out of them for the year). Eggnog lattes are probably currently running through my veins. I love talking weddings over a cup of coffee so call me or email me any time, whether you are planning your own or are a vendor and want to chat. I'm also one of those rare unicorns that can drink coffee any time of the day or night and then fall asleep immediately so it's also not unusual for Griffin to go to bed and then me make a cup and do some more work in the evening.
And then, there's hockey... specifically Vancouver Canucks hockey (but I'm also watching Canada play in the World Junior Championships as I write this... I love this time of year!). I have been a Canucks fan since before I can remember and one of my greatest dreams come true was becoming a season ticket holder. I've had a ticket package since 2003 and worked my way up to full season about eight years ago. Thankfully, Griffin seems to really enjoy the games and he loves coming with me to watch and of course see Fin (their mascot) cause he will be spending many nights at Rogers Arena! It also works out quite well that the majority of wedding season and hockey season are during different times of the year!
When it comes to weddings, I love watching them take on the personalities and traits of each individual couple. I get to take part in so many different styles which is the greatest. I don't want everything to always be the same because that's when it gets boring. One weekend I can be at a golf course and the next I can be on a farm so this is a job that never gets old. I also get to work in an environment that is all about love and celebration with friends and family and who wouldn't want to be surrounded by smiles and laughter (with some happy tears) for their jobs.
I hope this post has taught you a little something about me. If you ever want to get together for coffee just let me know (you know I'll love it!).
Happy planning,
Sara
So, hi there! My name is Sara Jones and on top of being a wedding planner and coordinator I'm a wife to Jason and a mommy to Griffin. Jason and I met in 2009 and got married in 2016 (which reminds me that I should do a final blog post about my wedding experience as a planner!). Griffin just turned three on December 27th and really is the light of our lives. He makes us laugh and smile every day and has a personality that is so infectious. He loves everyone and has been fussed over by strangers basically every day of his life, not to mention all of our friends and family!
Running your own business isn't always easy and the year that I was pregnant with him was my busiest yet as a wedding planner. I was also working a full time job and for some reason wasn't using assistants yet (seriously, what the heck was I thinking?!). The first year after he was born, I worked with seven couples and two of my best friends got married. It was more than enough to keep me busy with a newborn but what I had forgotten about was planning forward and working on booking more clients for the following year when I was off of maternity leave. I'm still not quite back at the level I was before Griffin was born in regards to the number of weddings each year but that's not always a bad thing. One of the biggest lessons I have learned from having him is how important time is. Every client meeting, vendor meeting, site visit and wedding day is time away from him and while I want to be successful in my career (and need to be to help pay bills!) I also want to make sure that 1) there is a balance and 2) that the work I am doing is being valued and that the clients and vendors I'm working with are getting the best out of me. I can say that I have been guilty in the past of working for next to nothing and while there are exceptions to every rule, this is the thing that has changed most in my business since becoming a mom.
Other than weddings and my family, there are two other loves in my life that anyone who has met me in person only a few times will probably know... coffee and hockey. Most mornings begin with me making coffee at home in our French press (with Griffin's help of course... he actually learned to count to ten by helping me... no joke!), and it's not unusual for me to take my laptop to Starbucks and work for a few hours while sipping on either a caramel macchiato (January to beginning of November) or eggnog lattes (beginning of November to whenever the sad day comes that they tell me they are out of them for the year). Eggnog lattes are probably currently running through my veins. I love talking weddings over a cup of coffee so call me or email me any time, whether you are planning your own or are a vendor and want to chat. I'm also one of those rare unicorns that can drink coffee any time of the day or night and then fall asleep immediately so it's also not unusual for Griffin to go to bed and then me make a cup and do some more work in the evening.
And then, there's hockey... specifically Vancouver Canucks hockey (but I'm also watching Canada play in the World Junior Championships as I write this... I love this time of year!). I have been a Canucks fan since before I can remember and one of my greatest dreams come true was becoming a season ticket holder. I've had a ticket package since 2003 and worked my way up to full season about eight years ago. Thankfully, Griffin seems to really enjoy the games and he loves coming with me to watch and of course see Fin (their mascot) cause he will be spending many nights at Rogers Arena! It also works out quite well that the majority of wedding season and hockey season are during different times of the year!
When it comes to weddings, I love watching them take on the personalities and traits of each individual couple. I get to take part in so many different styles which is the greatest. I don't want everything to always be the same because that's when it gets boring. One weekend I can be at a golf course and the next I can be on a farm so this is a job that never gets old. I also get to work in an environment that is all about love and celebration with friends and family and who wouldn't want to be surrounded by smiles and laughter (with some happy tears) for their jobs.
I hope this post has taught you a little something about me. If you ever want to get together for coffee just let me know (you know I'll love it!).
Happy planning,
Sara
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