We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I am the Founder of Timeless Dream Events, which provides couples that may find themselves in unique situations with a “timeless dream event”, that will celebrate life and love at a minimal notice. After my husband, Troy proposed, he was diagnosed with a rare cancer in stage 4. While helping Troy go through his treatments, I was also planning our wedding. Troy did NOT want to cancel the wedding, as the vision of seeing me walk down the aisle gave him the hope and motivation to overcome and beat cancer. Planning a wedding with someone who may not survive to that date can be scary, but I did it! After going through this heart-breaking ordeal, I realized my life’s purpose! We love to celebrate life & love each day, and I want others to feel the same way! Everyone deserves a celebration! I love to help others share their love stories with their families and friends.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I got into the wedding industry through my own pain points. I had to plan my wedding all on my own and was stretched very thin due to also having the run my fiancé back and forth to cancer treatments and working full time. I wanted to be a beacon of light to other caregivers and beyond! My business is set up in a way that I can be ready to help any couple at a moment’s notice! I have performed marriages and set up weddings in hospice wings, backyards, living rooms, parks, and other “unconventional” spaces. We will do what needs to be done for those who want to celebrate their life and love, because everyone deserves that!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I first started this journey of wedding planning, one of my friends asked me to be their wedding planner and of course I said yes! As we started the planning process, she asked me to also officiate her wedding and I was hesitant as I wasn’t sure if I wanted to become a part of the clergy. The more I thought about it, I decided to go for it and become an Ordained Minister. No sooner did I send my paperwork in for the state of Ohio to approve it, one of my other friends called me and said that her Dad was dying in hospice and her and her fiancé would like to get married ASAP. It was such a “God-thing”, not only did I get to marry one of my best friends while her Dad got to watch before he passed on, but I also have had the privilege to marry several friends, my cousin, and clients who have turned friends! I am grateful that I listen to my intuition and that it is usually right!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Since I am still considered a newbie (3 years!) in the industry, I sincerely believe working with other well established wedding vendors has worked well to establish and build my reputation. Having a fantastic wedding planner mentor, business coach, and just overall having someone keeping you accountable helps as well! Also, when I first launched my business I teamed up with a wonderful photographer who took pictures of décor set ups, so that potential clients could see what I could do and I could provide referrals from previous events I had planned before becoming a professional wedding planner. I am open and honest about my services & pricing with my clients, so that there is nothing left up to confusion or chance. I never want any potential client to second guess booking me, whether it is for wedding planning, celebrant services, or travel planning. I want them to feel happy and secure that they booked me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.timelessdreamevents.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/timelessdreamevents
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/timelessdreamevents
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrA2sXnO_DFsn0xtG9-aLQ
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@timelessdreamevents
Image Credits
Brit Jaye Photography