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

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

At the time in which I first launched 3 Of Cups Events in 2014, I was Director of Events at The Sanctuary Event Space which is a non-profit venue in Downtown Austin TX that benefits the Amala Foundation that supports at-risk youth programs. While working there, I met Audrey, who managed the Sanctuary Yoga Studio on the same property; Audrey is now an Associate Planner with 3 Of Cups Events. She and I worked together at the venue for over 5 years while 3 Of Cups Events started to grow as a wedding and event planning company. Our work together at a shared space provided us with the opportunity to build a strong and lasting working relationship and friendship. Over the years, our 3 Of Cups Events’ team has grown over the years, while staying true to the initiative that served as the foundation of our company, inclusivity.

A great part of my position as Director of Events at The Sanctuary Event Space was to intercept inquiries from engaged couples that were interested in booking the space for their wedding. What shocked me was when I received emails from couples that asked if the venue “allowed same-sex couples”. Any time I read an email like this, my heart would sink. I was more upset to learn that some venues and vendors would not work with couples based on their identities.

3 Of Cups Events was established to provide an environment for all couples to feel safe, supported, accepted and celebrated. The diverse team at 3 Of Cups Events is committed to serving all communities with open arms and hearts, by honoring love in all shapes, sizes, and colors. And by staying true to our mission, we work with our clients on a personal level to ensure their weddings and events feel authentic and true to each couple we celebrate with.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Before moving to Austin, TX, I lived in New York City from 2002-2009, which is where I went to school and worked in film and theater. To escape the every day hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, I visited the Black Rock Desert in the Summers to work for the Burning Man Festival, which is where I met several Austinites that I connected with. I decided Austin was where I wanted relocate and that’s what I did!

When I first moved to Austin, I started working in the theater and performing arts scene both as a performer and producer, and started working as a talent booker and a venue manager at different venues. My experience as Director of Events at The Sanctuary Event Space and Event Manager on Duty at several local wedding venues provided me with the opportunity to closely observe how the local Austin wedding and event industry worked. I establish 3 Of Cups Events with a knowledgeable working background, which is what enabled me to create a company with a unique approach to wedding and event planning. I also joined the local group, Associated Wedding Planners of Austin (AWPA) which has allowed me to be a part of a community in my professional field and learn best practices specific to the services that 3 Of Cups Events provides.

At 3 Of Cups Events, we offer affordable, flexible, and customized packages that suite each unique client’s needs. We work one-one-one with clients throughout the event and wedding planning process. We provide each client with tools and guidelines, to ensure that our clients feel informed about each step of the planning process. At the end of the collaborative event planning process, each event is coordinated by our Day Of Event Coordination Team.

To help folks better comprehend our approach and services, we meet with couples over zoom to walk them through our wedding and event planning process, so they know what to anticipate as a final product. I also explain that we offer our clients the option to add on AV/DJ Services and we are partnered with Photographers that provide our clients with a special discounted rate. The goal of these initial consultations is to connect with them in a personable conversation in which we address them as unique individuals and work to establish a transparent relationship which serves their best interests. Ultimately, we want to make sure we are connecting with our clients in an authentic way.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When the Covid 19 Pandemic hit and the world was quarantined, all events and weddings were canceled. This was devastating for the industry at large and even more devastating for our clients that had to cancel their weddings. We lost all business overnight. And while we were personally experiencing this great loss, we had to stay strong for my clients to comfort them.

When the world reopened and weddings and event gatherings were allowed to take place, it was not the same. We had to adjust our very personable way of working with clients, vendors, and event guests with safety protocol at the forefront of every single interaction. It was extremely challenging to work in the heat of Texas in a mask, adjust all event plans to capacity limits, and re-plan every single detail. The emotional toll this period took on our clients and our team was humbling.

After time went by and restrictions started to ease, canceled weddings began to reschedule. The greatest challenge on our end was to meet our clients’ demands. We did not charge rescheduling fees, which is what most vendors in the industry did and we followed through with the promise to work with all of our clients with their rescheduled dates. As a result of this, our event calendar reflected two years of weddings to be accomplished in one year. We worked around the clock with no days off to make sure all of our clients were taken care of. Although we were exhausted, we felt accomplished and proud of our company’s commitment to see our clients’ events through.

The silver lining of the overall experience is that the 3 Of Cups Events Team grew stronger as a whole. The Day of Event Coordination Team grew to include a more well-rounded and experienced group of diverse individuals. And the planning process became more conducive to an an online virtual process with our clients. We are so grateful to have had the experiences and relationships with our clients and vendor friends during such a hard and challenging time. And we are so appreciative to be back to celebrating in a safe environment.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

The 3 Of Cups Events Team includes and eclectic and diverse group of individuals. The Event Planning Team sets the Day of Event Coordination Team up with success by providing comprehensive detailed plans. The Senior and more seasoned Day Of Event Coordinators on the team mentor Assistant Day Of Event Coordinators on site at events. Everyone has their own personal style, which is encouraged.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.3ofcupsevents.com
• Instagram: @3ofcupsevents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3ofCupsWeddingsandEvents/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3-of-cups-weddings-events
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@3ofcupsevents273

Image Credits
Bonnie Burke Photography (Jessica’s Bio Photos) Lisa Hause Photography (couple’s Photo)