Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Kuipers.
Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It’s in my DNA…
Growing up in the East Bay area, I was taught grit and hard work from an early age. My parents were extremely hard-working. They built our Adobe home in the country so I could spend my free time as a child climbing old oak trees and riding horses bareback through the valley. I grew up camping, driving fast down long gravel roads, and dreaming of traveling the world.
In a complete juxtaposition to this country’s upbringing, my mom instilled in me an appreciation and love of entertaining. She adored nothing more than breaking out the fine china and crystal to entertain, and she always had a stunning seasonal tablescape.
These are the nuances and contrasts that make me who I am: Wild and Free with a love of fine details and a devotion to hard work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes and no.
No, I have always had issues with any authoritative figures. Just ask my parents!
I worked my way through the hospitality circuit in local restaurants, bars, and ultimately, hotel management. That’s when I quickly learned that the corporate world was not for me. I am extremely direct, hate wasting time with bureaucratic red tape, and don’t sugarcoat things. I valued the client’s experience more than the bottom line.
On the other hand, yes, because my city might be big, but it’s a small town. Once you are in, you are in. So I started off by getting involved with as many different events as possible to gain the experience and knowledge, while networking as much as possible. Once that foundation was set, it was an easier transition for me as I found my footing. I realized running my own business was what I was built for.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a wedding planner and a designer. I started to really focus more on the designing aspect about eight years ago. I run a tight ship and I definitely geek out on the logistics and planning, but the designs were always something I really enjoyed. I just didn’t have the confidence to take ownership of it, like I do now.
With wedding planners and designers, one size does not fit all. It took me a long time to appreciate that my strong personality, empathetic nature, and unique aesthetic that I am drawn to was not for everyone, and that was OK. I started my company in my early twenties. I have since become a wife and mother, and my priorities have shifted. It wasn’t until I accepted myself for who I was and appreciated the perspective I now had to offer my clients, did it finally click.
My motto is “Permission to be yourself”.
Long gone are the traditional cookie-cutter weddings. I want your wedding to be a true reflection of who you are and what you stand for, all while weaving a thread of your love story through the fabric of your wedding experience. Your wedding is such an amazing opportunity to show your closest friends and family exactly who you are, who you love, and what you enjoy most in this life, and we are there to support you through it all.
What’s next?
Travel! We have been doing a LOT of traveling this year and have even more to come. After Covid, we have found that people are eager to make up lost time and get back out there and experience all the world has to offer. They want to encourage their friends and family to take life by the horns and hold tight alongside them. It’s a humbling and exciting part of destination weddings, and we are really enjoying it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onyxandredwood.com
- Instagram: @onyxandredwood
Image Credits
Shannon Skloss Ashley Ludaescher Ali Beck
