We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Bright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Ive always loved to plan and setup parties. See that grand finally and look of everyones face gave me great joy. Having someone say “Girl I couldn’t have done this without you, you just took the idea and gave it a new meaning. I started off assisting with my church’s women’s events such as Teas, Breakfast and Conferences. I started having people ask me to help them with their events and gatherings. I fund myself asking the same questions over and over so I developed a questionnaire to help me know where they needed the most help. I started doing a consultation with my clients to get to know a little more about them and their event. During this time I’d get detailed facts such as guest count, color scheme, theme, location and event timeframe. Id tell them about the services I provide and what’s most beneficial t them. Often times my clients had a particular person or vendor they wanted to use in their event. This allowed me to chance to make business connections. I often gained new clients from vendor references. When I got engaged a whole new world of planning opened up for me. In some ways it was the same yet oh so different. My love for wedding planning began and I got to know a Iot more abut the wedding world. I learned it didn’t have to cost a fortune to have the greatest day of your life. As I began to make calls around town to figure out where to get what and contacting venues I started creating my own vendor list detailing their prices. Often I would reach out to contacts and business owners I met doing events. I was able t pull off my own wedding so I knew I could do the same for someone else. When dealing with brides I put myself back in their shoes. I know how important this day is. I know how fast they day can fly by. I want them to be in the moment and not worrying if the caterer is on time. Ive had to develop my time management skills to know how long it takes to execute the design for the event. Ive grown and raised my standards each event and or wedding Ive done. There’s always a lesson to be learned to make me better for the next.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a mom and wife with a passion to celebrate others. We often look forward to events in our lives but when life throws a curve we sweep the highlight under the rug. Being a planner allows me a chance to focus on executing your event so you can stay on track with your everyday life. I really got started with planning my baby shower. I knew what I wanted and how I wanted it. Started the day I got pregnant. I knew the first thing I had to do was plan where I wanted to have my shower and make sure they had open availability. There’s no such thing as planning too early, there are so many factors that go into a celebration. Starting early gives you a chance to start paying on things so you don’t get overwhelmed with the finances. Being a planner I not only provided planning services I also provide styling and decor, organic balloons and rentals. I talk my client through their event. I go through what’s needed and work within your budget. I understand living during and after your event. You can have glitz, glam and over the top, you can also have chic and classy and d it all in a budget. I always tell my clients communication is key when working with a planner. Let me know what’s going on and how I can help.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Helping out my church event then hosting my own baby shower turned into people asking me to help plan and execute their events. I noticed I started accumulating inventory and had the capacity to fulfill the needs for events. I began doing baby showers, birthday parties, graduations and then weddings. After executing my wedding in 2016 I was asked to do a church members wedding. I was so nervous. I didn’t know how to charge for services and time. I executed the wedding and learned how valuable my time was. I earned how to communicated with my clients and how important it was to do monthly review. I got pregnant the end of 2020 going into 2021 with 12 weddings booked. I felt God saying it’s time to step out on your own. It was the best decision, I can handle house work and business work in my own time.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My first wedding I was pumped up and ready to fire, then I hit a hard stop sign. I had to realize I had to put personal feelings aside and be a business owner. I had to make decisions and let my client know Yule trusted me with a task now let me show you I can do it. I had to learn to work with unfamiliar vendors and create relationships. I had to have tough skin and learn to say NO. My first wedding taught me to be upfront and honest with my clients. When asked my opinion listen to their question with their goal in mind. Each event is a new lesson learned. Each event is different, what worked for one may not apply to the next.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/anotherbrightevent
• Facebook: Another Bright Event