jesGORDON/properFUN

What 3 words describe your work Eclectic, outside-of-the-box, individualistic to each client.

Why should someone hire you? Because we genuinely care about your event. Each client should know that I personally work on every event that comes through our door. I oversee every event whether I am physically there or not. I have a team, rather than staff members, that have defined strengths that make our events flawless in executing them. We also make our clients' personal creativity shine through. We help our clients find their inner creativity and teach them how to express that through their events.

What are the common misconceptions about your services? That it's an easy and fun business to be in! Of course we adore what we do, and even though it comes naturally for us, it is never easy! Dealing with human emotions and insecurities is a talent in itself...the design is the easy part in our industry; it's the road that gets us there that can be tough at times. Another large misconception is about the price of flowers and the labor that goes into them. Often folks don't realize that we need to start working on flowers three days prior to the event in order to condition them before event designing with them.

What drew you to this field/how did you get started? Well, I was hoping to be a rock star but that didn't work out. My mom noticed that I hated school from a young age, so she asked her good friend to give me a job in her shop. (I found out later that she paid my salary because they couldn't afford an extra employee!) I then went on to do movie sets and became the youngest design director at Tavern On The Green in NY. I worked there only for a year and went out on my own by the age of 20.

Tell us about a favorite, unusual or most interesting moment at a wedding: I have to say that I love it best when a bride is just simply happy to be at her wedding. She is just excited to get married and kind of lets everything else roll off her shoulders. This is rare because lets face it: this is a stressful time for anyone, even if it's just out of excitement. We had a bride once that was so carefree that she jumped into a pool with her Vera Wang dress on! Pretty funny...

Tell us about a wedding you worked on that really makes you proud: One of my recent faves was a same-sex wedding in Malibu. The couple had been together for 27 years and their 15-year-old daughter asked them to get married when it was legal in California for half a second. We created a magnificent supper club, old-Hollywood-glam style on the lawn of Gull's Way under an ethereal and magical tent.

What have weddings taught you? Compassion and the ability to be in touch with not only my emotions but the emotions of others as well. Also, since weddings are on a timeline, I have learned to accomplish enormous amounts of work in very little time.

What is the best advice you give to a couple when planning their wedding? Keep your perspective and be happy you found each other in this crazy world.

What are 3 words that describe your personality? Charismatic, genuine and chameleon-like.

What is your favorite quote? My mother once said when I failed algebra, "It's not how smart you are, it's how you are smart." This quote changed my life.