Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessika Certeza.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I could remember I’ve always taken interest in events and planning. I’ve always loved setting up tables at family dinners, planning and coordinating trips, volunteering my time to plan family parties. I was always the go-to person when it came to stuff like this within the family. I also love entertaining and having company over. I grew up with a large family so having people around me is something I take comfort in.
I remember when I was seven years old, my cousin was babysitting my sister and I and I set the table with plates, utensils, and napkins. I remember getting in trouble because I used paper towels and that it was a waste setting them out. Haha!
I also remember staying up during sleepovers with my bestie, Camille and watching Say Yes to the Dress or Four Weddings because I wanted to get ideas of how I would want my wedding to be. I would only watch it at her house or whenever I am in my room because I didn’t want my parents to think I was already wanting to get married!
Fast forward to 2016, my boyfriend (husband now) was thinking of enlisting to the military and that’s when marriage came into mind. We were 21 years old high school sweethearts wanting to get married. I was like okay, cool, let me put my childhood wedding plans into place but things happen and we weren’t able to go through with it. I tell you this because 2016 was the year I contemplated with myself about wanting to be in the event business. I started researching vendors and ideas for my wedding, how to be a wedding planner, and etc but doubt overcame and I fell through with that idea. I even volunteered to coordinate my cousin’s NYE wedding which even fueled the idea I longed for doing. But I was scared and I didn’t know where to start.
Fast forward to 2020, I had been doing accounting and I could tell that my creative side was just itching to come out. Jordan (my husband) and I were ready to go through with our wedding. I was on full wedding planning mode, I reached out to vendors, looked at Pinterest ideas, and so on.
Planning my wedding sparked my curiosity again and made me realize how different I felt doing planning and connecting with vendors versus my full-time job. I knew that this was something that I longed for since 2016 and I finally did it. I did all the legal business stuff, created my Instagram, and started connecting with brides on Facebook, social media and volunteering to do styled shoots. Joy Events and Creations was born. I had set in my mind that I would only be able to book a couple of weddings but thankfully blessed that I was able to do 19 weddings in 2021 and have already booked 30 in 2022! Weddings are tough, they consist of long hours, back aches, & handful of different things but at the end of each wedding day, I’m happy. This is my passion, I love seeing all the love put into weddings, the special moments shared with the couple and loved ones. I love all my couples thus far and thankful for all the new friendships form. It’s crazy to think that my dream is now the reality I am living. I can’t wait to see where else it’ll take me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. It’s been a constant battle between self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and many other things. Aside from wedding planning, I was still working a full-time job that didn’t allow me to have enough time to work on my business. I think my biggest obstacle was making time and balancing my personal life, work, and wedding planning. Thankfully I have a full support team and my hubs to help me and remind me that it’s okay to take a break when needed. In the beginning, I would get upset if I didn’t end up booking a client or if I was told my prices were high. I just remind myself that it’s not my business but God’s business and whatever he has planned for it, I am all in.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Joy Events and Creations?
My job is to allow my couples to be a guest at their own wedding. Where they don’t have to worry about the timeline, they don’t have to worry about candles being lit. It’s such a special day that they’ve worked hard for and knowing one thing that goes wrong can take that experience away from them is something that I don’t want them to feel or have to worry about. It’s a day that they should be able to enjoy and cherish!
We specialize in Wedding Planning and Coordination. We help couples plan their big day so their end goal is 110x more rewarding and enjoyable for them. Our love for weddings and for our couples goes beyond just wedding days and we end up being friends for the long run!
We offer partial planning and design for intimate and big weddings, wedding management, as well as floral design. We are starting a floral arrangement option where people can send arrangements to their loved ones!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.joyeventsncreations.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/joyeventsncreations
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/joyeventsncreations
Image Credits:
@clsphotographydotcom – CLS Photography @lily_tapia_photography – Lily Tapia Photography @aloha_tatiphotography – Aloha Tati Photography @divine_lightstudios – Divine Light Studios @hey.clementine.florals – Hey Clementine Florals @gloriousdaybymelissa – Glorious Day by Melissa @yennispartyrentals – Yennis Party Rentals @loveafarose – Love Afa Rose @whitebarnranch – White Barn Ranch @temeculavalleymobilebar – Bar @ranchosaucedoredlands – Rancho Saucedo Redlands @fluerdesophia – Fluers de sophia @clover.thistle – Clover Thistle @thevintageestablishment – The Vintage Establishment @windandwillowweddings @simplybydiane @shopbellalexie
