This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarketChat on April 25th, 2012 with JesGORDON/ properFun  of JesGordon.com . The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different.

Jes Gordon’s namesake company jesGORDON/properFUN, provides high end, personal event design and management with loads of signature style. Her first book, Party Like A Rock Star…The Celebrity Party Planner’s Tips and Tricks For Throwing An Unforgettable Bash, (Globe Pequot Press) enables everyone, regardless of their budget, with the tools to throw the party of their dreams.

 

In 2011, Jes was also inducted into Biz Bash’s Hall of Legends and honored for her creative approach to her designs.

 

Gordon stumbled into the industry at only thirteen years old as an assistant to a floral designer, where she discovered an innate eye for color. By the time she reached her junior year at Bard College, she had a blooming floral business. Gordon went on to open a contemporary art gallery and flower shop in Taos, New Mexico, and then moved to New Orleans to work on set designs for films, including “Interview with a Vampire” and “Dead Man Walking.”
In 1992, Gordon accepted an offer to become the Events and Décor Director for New York City’s famous Tavern on the Green. Her work there led to private commissions for celebrities including Madonna, Barbara Streisand, Harrison Ford, Nicolas Cage, John F Kennedy Jr., Woody Allen, Mel Gibson, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Sting, Elton John, and several others. She has since applied her eye for design and passion for the unexpected to building her own event design and production firm. Gordon has created captivating corporate events for Target, Tommy Hilfiger, Nissan, Budweiser, Rowenta, Swatch, King World Media, Lifetime Channel, among many others. She also continues to dazzle brides and socialites alike with dream-like weddings and private affairs.

 

Join Our Wedding Market Chats For Wedding Professionals Every Wednesday at 10:00PST, 1:00EST, and 6:00GMT (UK time) with the #WeddingMarketChat Hashmark On Twitter. Join us on Facebook every Thursday at 9:00 ET on www.facebook.com/weddingmarket . Learn something new to help your business grow every week. The chats are hosted by Wedding Market editor Julie Albaugh (@juliealbaugh).

 

Q1: How did you get involved with the @WeddingIndustry ?
Tweet Answer:  I was a hyper kid my mom made me go work in a flower shop when I was thirteen, it all started there!

 

Q2:When did you decide to go out & start your own biz?
Tweet Answer: Tav/Green as Event’s Director for eight mnths my clients would fllw me if I ever left,got me thinking.

 

 

Q3: What are the steps that take place in wedding event design?
Tweet Answer: Determine the concept/ ambiance you want to create have an honest look at your budget, then tweak to fit

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: We will have a photo shoot in summer. Which scenarios do you recommend shooting? e.g. table with centerpiece

Tweet Answer: Small details are grt for photo shoots tabletop, napkins ties, plates florals

Tweet Answer: You can really show off in a photo shoot VS real life events where only the overall ambiance shows

 

 

Q4: What are some ways in cutting costs in wedding event design?

Tweet Answer:  Don’t try to design evrthng concentrate areas your gusts will spend most time like the dinner reception

Tweet Answer: #focalpoints of the room dont over decorate!

 

Q5: Are there certain areas that can offer the biggest cost savings ?

Tweet Answer: dnt obsess the little details don’t re-carpet floor or add runners to your tables instead of full linens

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question:  Where do you find your inspiration? 

Tweet Answer: ahh everywhere!! young people rock! fashion, music, dogs 🙂

 

Q6: Can these methods be used with a budget of less than 15,000 & still WOW?

Tweet Answer: Of course I do it every day!! i wouldnt be good at my job if i wasnt creative about budget

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question:  What made you write your book? And how has it changed your career?
Tweet Answer: The industry needed an honest look! it made my parents proud 🙂

Tweet Answer:  The world got to know that i knew what i was talking about #validation

Tweet Answer: I wrote it all in the middle of the night!

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: How long were you at the floral shop your mom had you work in?

Tweet Answer: Ha!! longer than i wanted to be all through college 🙂

 

Q7: What would surprise wedding professionals about event design? 

Tweet Answer: Hard costs and the labor is a lot! conditioning flowers can take days=’s time consuming and

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Any advice for aspiring wedding blogger/planner-authors?

Tweet Answer:  Dont give up, keep going dont compete with others just yourself 

 

 

Q8: What is the average number of hours a wedding planner spends in designing an event?

Tweet Answer: smtimes it’s a full year plning =’s a lot of hours! It varies lets just say this kid doesn’t sleep much
 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: On runners but wht if they nly hav bsic colrs, wht, blk, ivry? Is it ok 2have runners? 

Tweet Answer: Yes, just dont let it overpower the room they need to harmonize with the flowers

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What do you consider your greatest event design triumph?

Tweet Answer: Ahh I designed Elton John’s Aids Foundation gala in three days 🙂

 

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Are there any designs/events in mind that you haven’t had the opportunity to do yet, but want to?

Tweet Answer: Yes!! I want to do a HUGE event celebrating the resurrection of #Ground Zero

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Do you offer any Design Classes for Event Planners or inspiring Designers?

Tweet Answer: Intern with a great event designer!! This is the best way to learn!!

 

 

Q9: Why don’t you tell me about your book?

Tweet Answer: #partylikearockstar its got a ton of info that helps raise the bar on events no matter where you are

 

Q10: Where Can Everyone Purchase Your Book?

Tweet Answer: Oh yes!!! http://amazon.com, borders, target everywhere!!

 

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What trends are you noticing?

Tweet Answer: Lots of DIY brides out there @etsy and @pinterest have opened new worlds

 

Q11: What would you like the #WeddingMarket to take away from this #WeddingMarketChat ?

Tweet Answer: ths aren’t funerals we’re planning, just wonderful occasions- lucky to share family and friends,chillax

 

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What advice would you give to a new Designer?

Tweet Answer:  Dont expect to take any week ends off ha! be aware of trends dont have an EGO!!

 

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What’s your best sales channel for the big clients? Do you recommend an PR agency?

Tweet Answer: Your work should speak volumes WOW at your parties and word will spread

 

#WeddingMarketChat Statement: It’s all about those referrals!

Tweet Answer: So true for twenty five years now it has worked for me!

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What’s your FAV online site for money-saving deals?

Tweet Answer: Buying things in bulk wholesale is great this kid loves @JamaliGarden

 

#WeddingMarketChat  Question: What is your fave element for giving the biggest bang for your design buck?

Tweet Answer: I love me a great ceiling installation!

Tweet Answer: Lighting goes a looonnng way too

 

Q12: What is your favorite celebrity wedding? 

Tweet Answer: myface recently was Vanessa Marcil and Giovanni it was so organic and low key

 

Q13: What other celebrities have you done work for? 

Tweet Answer: STING!, Madonna, Elton Harrison Ford, Barbara Streisand on and on I am lucky but i like “normal” ppl 2!

Tweet Answer: I am lucky I work for lots of famous brands too like #victoriassecret, target, nikon etc

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question:  What matters to celebs when they make a purchasing decision?

Tweet Answer:  Well they dont want to be taken advantage of so you need to qualify the budget

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: How do you explain your price? do you make a list of services,do you create samples,etc.?

Tweet Answer: Yes! visuals are so important story boards, renderings all of it!