We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Vann-Campbell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I was a clinical director for emergency mental health therapists in five counties in WA state for ten years. When I married my aunt who had been a florist for 15 years taught me how to do florals so I could concentrate on creating for my wedding and it would help with my anxiety. I loved every minute of learning from her and I found it was a medium that I really understood and loved- so I started doing floral design for about 10 weddings a year for friends and family. When we adopted our daughter in 2017, I knew I needed to step back from my clinical position as I carried a pager at all times, often having to leave my home in the middle of the night, and I needed a more balanced work/life situation in order to best parent my new daughter. I was invited to do a big wedding show called The Big Fake Wedding and after being featured in some national wedding publications, I found myself being booked full time for events almost over night. Now I am able to see patients one or two days per week for a non-profit that works with children, adolescents and their families while also working on wedding florals from my home studio. My mission is to help couples who want professional, couture and beautiful florals but can’t afford $10,000+ for their wedding flowers. I offer discounts to couples who work in the medical, first responder or teaching fields in order to honor their sacrifices and challenges in a positive way. My hope is to continue helping couples of all creeds, races and orientations to experience their day of commitment in a unique and beautiful way- being able to do that while also balancing my role as a mental health therapist is the perfect combination!
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
I happened into this industry through a family member who shared her knowledge with me about 25 years ago- I am self taught other than that but have made it a point to receive training as often as possible as the wedding industry changes and trends differ. Keeping my business open through covid was a huge challenge with over 20 weddings cancelled or rescheduled in 2020.
We are still experiencing huge pricing increases and shortages on materials that used to be commonplace- I have found that most people who have weathered the pandemic while trying to plan their weddings have become as flexible as I have had to be, which is a blessing when it’s hard to predict what will happen next. I am so proud of the continued positive reviews I get, the ability I have to turn clients into friends and the ways that I can be an example of tenacity for other female business owners. I definitely have days when I think about throwing in the towel and quitting and I think normalizing those low moments is important since it’s easy to have imposter syndrome and get trapped in self doubt.
I want my followers and potential clients to know that this isn’t just a job for me, that I care as much as they do about pulling off a beautiful event and that I put unique energy and love into each arrangement I make. I have made life long friendships with past clients and count myself extraordinarily lucky to work among a network of professionals in WA who are honorable, friendly, courageous and talented.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I was in Europe in February and March of 2020 when the emails and calls started rolling in from couples cancelling their weddings. My family and I were concerned we wouldn’t be able to safely get home on top of my business seeming to implode in front of my eyes. It was a scary time for everyone. There were days when I was afraid to even open my email or answer my phone. Instead of giving up, I started offering every couple a complimentary bouquet and/or boutonniere if they chose to elope or have a micro wedding in 2020- this helped couples feel like they could make the best of the situation by getting married when they wished and then celebrating in a larger sense once the pandemic danger eased. I am pleased to say all but three of the weddings I had booked rescheduled to 2021-2022 and I was able to weather the worst part of the pandemic without closing my doors.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I feel certain my honesty, friendliness and ability to think on my feet has helped my reputation in the local wedding industry. I put very little financial investment into formal marketing because word of mouth has been so powerful for me over the years. Most of my clients find me through their planners, photographers, venues or were attendants in or guests of weddings I have done in the past. Most couples tell me I was the easiest vendor for them to work with which I credit to promptness of return emails, willingness to be flexible even at the last moment and desire to interact in a professional and down to earth way.
Contact Info:
- Website: jvcflowers.com
- Instagram: jvcflowers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicavanncampbellflowers
Image Credits
Arina B Photography Breanna Plus Kevin Photography Danielle Johnson Photography