We recently had the chance to connect with Gina Jokilehto and have shared our conversation below.
Gina, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Travel. I love to travel and immerse myself in the place I’m visiting. I feel most like myself on a road trip, exploring and getting lost in the moment through scenery, culture, and food. When I really need to return to myself and recharge I always resort to hitting the road.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a former music industry vet turned boutique wedding planner. I’m known in personal and professional circles for my direct, unflappable personality, impeccable taste, the use of colorful language, and physical inability to not use my hands when I talk. Shi Shi Events was born 20 years ago, and hard launched from a hotel room in Maui. Since then, we’ve planned weddings from Vermont to NOLA with our signature approach of making a deeply crafted event feel naturally unfolding and carefree through gracious hospitality and intentional design. We make our magic through elevation of service, design, and ultimately the experience for both our couples and their guests.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have never subscribed to what the world told me I had to be. Born in 1980, I feel really privileged to be a Gen X’er and to have come of age in a time where artists like Janet Jackson and Madonna were sending the message to girls of control of your life and expressing yourself fully. We were the first group of girls who were really encouraged to own our power, be who we want to be, and dream big. I internalized that message of power and equality from a very young age and have never felt the world was entitled to tell me who I had to be. I have never accepted the concept of anyone putting me in a box. Societal “standards” like a corporate job, what motherhood looks like, what a woman should strive for, or how she should conduct herself as she moves through the world have always been so unattractive to me. I’ve pushed against those ideals my entire life. I could go on about this for a long time! Being unabashedly yourself is something I feel very strongly about and sadly I believe the world seeks to break in many of us.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering unfortunately is a much better teacher than success because in pain we find growth. My most painful moments are where I’ve learned how strong, how resilient, and how capable I really am. I’ve learned in times when I’ve been tested, the version of myself I need to be to handle that moment will always be born in that moment. That lesson has taught me not to fear future challenges because I trust myself implicitly and know I will rise to the occasion, whatever it may call for within me.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me a fad is something superficial, of the moment, and usually rooted in a “fun for right” now ideology. They’re a dime a dozen and easy to buy into and fall out of when the next one comes along. A foundational shift by contrast is a fundamental change in how society moves and operates. These are much deeper and triggered by larger events, much like the work from home movement that happened as a result of the pandemic. There are cultural phenomena that straddle both which I find endlessly fascinating. Consumerism is one where we frequently see not only trends but also foundational shifts in how and where people acquire goods and services and what those goods and services mean for their social identity.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am near water. I love nothing more than to be on, in, or near a beautiful body of water. Water is the softest and toughest force on the planet. It always leaves me refreshed and in awe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shi-shievents.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shishievents
Image Credits
Image with two large floral urns and long table – Mary Dougherty
Image with fruit, candles and floral on tabletop – Marina Claire
Image with berry colored structure with greens and lamps and round tables in front – Hannah Pickle
Image with bride standing at ceremony site – Gayle Brooker
Aerial image of reception with guests moving about – EFEGE
Image of escort display with two guests standing in front – Steve Steinhardt
Image of bride and groom eating a donut – EFEGE
Image of cocktail hour pool scene – Steve Steinhardt
My profile pic – Emily Millay
