Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Pennington.
Hi Jessica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I went to a career technical high school so when I graduated I was a certified event planner. As part of my career technical program, I worked at a golf club in their events department. Being a part of those events and watching things go from concept to completion was so thrilling to me. I knew back then that event planning was my career calling.
I moved out on my own at 18 years old and unfortunately my job at the golf club was not paying my new bills so I jumped into the world of finance and insurance. I found structure and success in that industry but I knew that was not going to be my career path for the rest of my life. After 3 years in that industry, I found myself in desperate need of a change. My fiancee (husband on Oct. 15th, 2022) encouraged me to leave finance and start my own event planning company. Together we came up with a sustainable business model and the funds to make it happen. Without Sean (husband) there is no way I would have been able to leave corporate America.
I officially opened Storybook Assistance LLC in June of 2022. I was very nervous but with the support of my family and friends, I took the leap. Within 2 weeks we began booking weddings. I was shocked at how quickly we took off. It was my goal to make my services affordable to the average couple but still maintain the highest level of communication and satisfaction. I am proud to say that in just a few short months we already have 20 weddings booked! And we continue to book very rapidly. I hope to expand to birthday parties, corporate meetings, anniversary parties, and many other types of events in the near future!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say the biggest struggle is taking that first step. When we started looking into financing the business in the beginning and supplementing the income it was very scary. I almost talked myself out of it 100 times. You have to put the doubt out of your head.
I made the decision that I was going to make this happen for me and for the family I am building. And there are definitely slow months where we don’t book as much. Those months are a struggle. I always remind myself in the hard times that just a few months ago I was praying to be where I am now. It’s never going to be easy but it is always going to be worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Storybook Assistance was born in 2022 out of a passion for helping brides on a budget and bringing their vision to life. We work with couples all over Ohio. Our team strives to meet and exceed the needs of everyone involved. This is because we understand the importance of working with (not just for) our clients.
We founded Storybook Assistance with one goal in mind: to assist in the design and production of unforgettable events. From small intimate affairs to large-scale parties, we strive to bring fairy tale magic to life, but also provide excellence no matter the budget. We offer day-of coordination as well as full and partial event planning services.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I would say most of my favorite childhood moments are very simple things. Things like when the power would go out so everyone would have to sit on the floor with flashlights and board games to pass the time.
Or movie nights in the living room. I grew up with 2 parents who were in gospel signing groups so I always loved traveling with them and being a part of the music.
Pricing:
- Day Of Coordination is $675 for the rest of 2022.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://penningtonevents9.wixsite.com/storybook-assistance
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storybookassistancellc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storybookassistancellc/
Image Credits
Katlin Peck Photography, Vanessa Hernandez, and Looking Through Glass Designs
