Back in 2005, almost exactly 13 years ago, I had just moved to Denver, Colorado, and I had no idea what I was going to do here. I was a relatively recent college grad with a business degree who thought she wanted to work for a marketing firm. While at a BBQ, I met someone who worked for a local catering company, one of the best catering companies in Denver actually. As I was still looking for a job, she recommended it as an option to at least get some money flowing in for 
the time being. I called their HR team that week and started signing up and working events. Through my experience at Catering by Design, I learned a lot about how to provide top level service during events. As I grew up in the Midwest, work ethic is something that I was brought up with, but CBD showed me how to execute this in the event world. Whether this was making sure everything was cleaned up and there weren’t empty glasses/plates left everywhere or going above and beyond to help with tasks that weren’t even a caterer’s responsibility, CBD instilled in me the highest level of service to event clients. Eventually I found my way into a full-time job, but I still would help with catering events as my schedule allowed. To this day, I credit CBD for the start of my love for executing events.
I eventually started to look for event planning positions within Denver, but quickly realized that they are not very plentiful and extremely competitive. After doing some research, I decided if this was going to happen, I was going to need to make it happen on my own. I joined the Association of Bridal Consultants in 2006 and in February of 2007 achieved the status of Professional Bridal Consultant™. That August, I registered an LLC and Jaclyn Michelle Weddings was officially born. Through a friend, I found a couple who was engaged to be married in July of 2008. Knowing that I would need to get some planning events under my belt before I felt confident charging for my services, I basically begged this couple to let me help them. The bride, who today is one of my dearest friends, was worried about being a bridezilla and me hating her, but she finally agreed. To this day that couple is one of my biggest champions in my event planning business and only concreted the fact that I knew this is what I wanted to do.
Over the years, I have worked with so many different types of couples, but as I’ve grown as an event planner and designer, I’ve realized my true passion. I am at my best when I really getting to know my clients and their personalities so that I can put together an event that truly shows off their personalities. It’s relatively easy for someone to walk in and logistically help someone get from beginning to end of an event, but to deliver something that is so unique and special is really amazing and fulfilling. I used to say that my favorite part of an event was the end of an evening when everyone was so happy with their event, but I have another favorite moment that overtakes the original. Before we open the reception to all of the guests, I try to make sure that my couples have a chance to see everything that all of their hard work has created. This moment, is the one that I truly cherish each and every event.
Photo by Jo Julia Photography
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