At Lifetime Events by Jacqueline, it is our number one goal to service our clients with pride, excellence, and customer satisfaction. Planning an event takes time, energy, flexibility, perseverance, and plenty of patience. At Lifetime Events by Jacqueline, we possess all this and more to make your event a Spectacular day to remember. Whether you are having an Intimate Event or a Grand Gala, a barbecue or home tented celebration, we ensure to follow up on the details while you enjoy the celebration. Our event styles range from Simple and Classic Elegance to Fun, Modern, and Colorful Extravagant Events. We specialize in Multi-Cultural Weddings.
Our Mission: We LOVE working with busy professionals to create a spectacular celebration of a lifetime in New York, Southern California, the Caribbean & Beyond. It doesn’t matter where you want your event, we travel and have connections worldwide.
Our Brand: Our Clients’ Vision + Our Expertise = Spectacular Event of a Lifetime.
Our Promise: Through our process and agreements, we will be there from the beginning to the end.
Our Clients: Though our clientele varies, we work with a majority of clients who are Medical, Law, Finance, Education, and Creative professionals. We also work with clients looking to have a cultural or multi-cultural event experience.
We work with our clients from start to finish, pick up from somewhere in between your planning process to bring life to your vision, or just ensure that your day flows smoothly by coordinating details on the day. Planning and executing an event takes hours to plan, in addition to your daily activities.
Our commitment to excellence is unsurpassed, let us take the pressure off so that you can Relax.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced while planning an event and how did you overcome it?
I thought I had challenges along my event planning career but planning during the COVID 19 pandemic tops them all. Being an event planner during the pandemic has revealed that all the knowledge I have gained throughout my career has prepared me to manage the changes, challenges, and adapt to the new mandates.
This pandemic has been a psychological, behavior, and life-changing phenomenon as it has impacted everyone globally. This pause has created a trickle effect for the events industry for years to come.
I overcame most of the challenges, fears, and uncertainty for the future of my clients’ events by setting up early stages and being pro-active. I started my communications and preparations for this “unknown” phenomenon a few weeks prior to it reaching my region. I had a few destination and local weddings/events, and being a few weeks ahead put my clients at an advantage moving forward. The majority of my clients’ events were postponed, but as the months kept passing on and the pandemic still in effect the changes were ongoing.
Even though it may seem that this pandemic has taken the event industry 20 years back, I feel that my 20 years in the industry continues to move my career forward as I approach this unknown phenomenon with resilience, flexibility, and being open-minded.
How important are your relationships with vendors and what are some ways that you successfully cultivate and ensure good rapport?
Building and maintaining relationships is essential to being successful in the event industry. This has always been at the forefront of my business and has been immensely essential during the pandemic.
Here are a few of the ways I cultivate and maintain my relationship with event professionals:
1. Joining event associations and organizations
2. Networking and continuing the conversation
3. Keeping in mind that the first initiative to building the relationship is getting to know the person and business first, and then business relations. This builds trust, rapport, and a partnership.
What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for you personally or professionally?
I have a few things on the horizon, but in July 2020 I am officially launching my first book. Shortly after the launch of my book, I will be launching my educational program and the re-launch of my mentoring program.
What inspired you to launch your own company in the event industry? How long did it take from initially having the idea to setting up and starting to attract a client base?
As a former accountant and payroll professional, I was introduced to the world of events during the planning of a holiday party for a corporate company I worked for. From that moment I planned smaller events and collaborated on a few. I then decided to gain knowledge and officially open my business. Initially, I started my business part-time as I developed the company and understood the clientele I wanted to service. It took me close to 8 years before I went from part-time to full time.
For those looking to start a career in event planning, here are a few steps I would recommend:
1. Education
2. Collaborate and gain knowledge
3. Start off small to learn more about your business brand and your clientele.
4. Focus on your expertise and keep growing your brand.
5. Keep learning.
What are some things you wished you knew before starting your businesses?
When I entered the event industry, I knew that event planning was not held to the same standards as an accountant, but I knew there was a bright future ahead. What I wish I knew back then was a way to create a movement to take event planning to the same career platform.
An event planner is not just a party planner, we are professionals equipped with similar skills as accountants, attorneys, and scientists. Here are some skills just to name a few:
• Organizational
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Communication and interpersonal
• Team-working ability
• Client services
• Analytical and logical reasoning
• Research
• Time management
• Patience
• Determination
• Flexibility
• Problem solving
• Project management
• Self-motivation
Anything else you’d like to comment on while we have you?
Follow my personal brand as well:
Website: https://www.classyandinspiring.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classyjv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classyjv/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lebjv/
