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Ep. 202 - Embracing Sober and Wellness-Centered Celebrations - Jaz the planner
22 Plays16 hours ago
🎉 Happy Woo Wednesdays, friends!
Welcome to Episode 202 of Get a Heck Yes — the podcast that helps you attract your dream clients and build a business that feels like a heck yes!
Today, I’m so excited to welcome Jaz the Planner into the Heck Yes House! 🎊
Jazmene Thomas is an incredible LA-based wedding planner and founder of J. Moton Event Elements (JMEE). Her events are gorgeous, her energy is magnetic, and she’s all about creating experiences that clients will remember for a lifetime.
In this episode, we dive into a topic that’s fresh but so important:
👉 Embracing Sober and Wellness-Centered Celebrations.
Jaz opens up about her sobriety journey and how it’s influenced the way she curates events. Together, we share ideas on how to craft meaningful, mindful celebrations where everyone feels present, joyful, and connected.
💫 What you’ll hear:
- How Jaz transitioned from funeral director to full-time planner
- Why she founded JMEE and what drives her passion for stress-free event planning
- Tips for designing wellness-centered weddings and celebrations
- How embracing sobriety can transform your business and client experience
🎧 Tune in, take notes, and get inspired to create events that feel intentional, elevated, and full of heck yes energy.
Connect with Jaz:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jaz_the_planner
Website → jmottoneventelements.com
Connect with me (Carissa Woo):
Instagram → @carissawoo
Join the 10-Day Digital Product Challenge → https://course.digitalwealthyhypegirl.com/
If you loved this episode, share it on your stories and tag us! 💖
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Transcript
Introduction & Special Guest Announcement
00:00:00
Speaker
Happy Woo Wednesdays! Welcome to episode 202. Crazy right? So many of you have joined my 10 day challenge on how to make passive income with digital products.
00:00:11
Speaker
It's the best thing to do while you wait for inquiries for next year. The first time I made money in my sleep, my whole mindset changed and I never looked back. So today i have a very special guest.
00:00:23
Speaker
She is Jazz a Planner, LA based planner. in the heck yes house i met her at an event and i love her energy she has insanely gorgeous weddings on her ig so go give her a follow this is a new topic today but a very important one it is embrace sober and wellness centered celebrations so how to have like sober weddings i love her sharing her sobriety journey we give some really cool ideas on how to give your couples an experience to truly remember enjoy
00:00:59
Speaker
Welcome to Get a Heck Yes with Carissa
Carissa's Journey & Mission
00:01:02
Speaker
Wu. I'm your host Carissa and I've been a Los Angeles wedding photographer for over a decade. I've traveled the world, built my team, and seen it all.
00:01:10
Speaker
I now coach wedding photographers hit 10K a month and build a thriving business. In this podcast, we are going to deep dive into how top wedding creatives get that heck yes from their dream clients. We are not holding back on the struggles of the business and how to push through the noise. Some healthy hustle, mindset shifts, up-leveling your money story,
00:01:28
Speaker
Time hacks because I'm a mom of two, a little bit of woo-woo, and most importantly, self-love and confidence are just a few of the many things we will talk about. I want to give you a genuine thank you for following along my journey.
00:01:40
Speaker
i hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesdays so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon.
Meet Jasmine Thomas
00:01:51
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Get a Heck Yes with your girl, Carissa Wu. I have Jasmine Thomas in the Heck Yes house. She is known as Jazz a Planner and she does wedding planning services. She does full weddings, event planning, design and coordination in Los Angeles and beyond.
00:02:09
Speaker
And she is your calm in the storm. Welcome Jazz. Hey Carissa, thank you for having me. This is so cool. Yeah, I met you recently at a networking event at the Natural History Museum.
00:02:22
Speaker
So I'm so glad that we're here today. Yes, thank you. Yeah, fun question. What does it mean to you, like, calm in the storm? ah Well, I mean, especially in events, there's so many moving parts.
00:02:37
Speaker
And no matter how much we plan as you know planners, there are so many things that that can go wrong or unexpected things that pop up. And it's extremely important to remain com Yeah, collected and in control, because once you lose your cool, you just, you know, you're the client and, you know, you're leading the ship that day as the planner. Like, I'm the one that everyone is looking to for guidance and I need to set the tone. So it always starts, you know, in life and in event planning, wedding planning.
00:03:10
Speaker
You are source. It starts with you.
Jazz's Career Path & Personal Background
00:03:12
Speaker
So it's it's extremely important for me to remain the calm in the storm. Oh, I love that. You are a Taurus. Okay. Tell the Heck Yes listeners who you are in a nutshell.
00:03:21
Speaker
Okay. So I am Jasmine Marie Thomas. um I am a Taurus. I am... Love it.
00:03:32
Speaker
A lover of people. i love new experiences. I um it just turned 40. So I'm in, you know, in the Oh, 85, girl. Yes. um ah And I love to problem solve. I love to figure out all the the logistics and creating, you know, something from nothing. and making it easy for it for people to so celebrate and gather without all the um stress ah of keeping it together during their their event or their wedding.
00:04:05
Speaker
Oh yeah, that's awesome. And then did did you grow up in Los Angeles? So I'm born and raised in Santa Monica. I come from a blended family. So my mom had me with my biological dad and then met my stepdad when I was three.
00:04:20
Speaker
and Um, we, he already had an older son who was like five years, 10 years older than me and then had my sister and then my biological dad had kids. So we are all very like my, my two dads get along very well. My mom calls my biological dad's kids, her kids and,
00:04:39
Speaker
You know, um so I grew up in Santa Monica. I'm kind of i like the middle child in my family home. And I always took the role of being like the organizer, the planner. Like I planned family trips when I was a teenager, you know family holiday events. Like I organized all of that.
00:04:57
Speaker
Um, and, uh, I graduated high school early and I will left and went to HBCU and it was a complete culture shock. So I came right back home, ah yeah got a really great job with the city of Santa Monica. I was a funeral director and, um, that there I was, I was there for about 15, 16 years and there during COVID and all the you know, the intensity of of constant being, you know, constant death, constant sadness, yeah disorganization and living in like the unknown.
Pandemic Wedding & Personal Life
00:05:31
Speaker
So that's kind of where learned those 15 years really harnessed or, you know, held on to the fact that I am what people need, you know, during difficult times, I can provide them guidance and comfort and and really honing into the fact that I'm really good at logistics and figuring out plans and and making it seem simple when there's a lot of moving parts and lots of things um that that it takes to create a ah meaningful funeral or meaningful wedding or event.
00:06:07
Speaker
Yeah. So yeah, grew up in Santa Monica. I live now here in l LA with my husband. We've been together about six years. We met on Tinder when it was couple to meet um online.
00:06:20
Speaker
um We met on on Tinder. We got married in our living room during COVID with this work. But being the planner that I am, I decorated and set up the whole ceremony space. We had a photographer. We had our cake. We had a first dance. Yeah.
00:06:34
Speaker
like um um But it was during COVID. And so wearing many hats, being a planner, being a bride, um I managed a venue a few years ago. I've been in I've worn many different hats.
00:06:47
Speaker
So, yeah you know, when it comes to events or weddings, I can speak everyone's language. You know, I yeah know what the pain points are.
Cultural Experiences & Career Shift
00:06:56
Speaker
Yeah, going back to the um culture shock at HBCU, explain that a little bit more.
00:07:01
Speaker
So growing up in Santa Monica, it was really diverse. like um I had friends that were Hispanic, friends that Persian, white, of course, Black.
00:07:13
Speaker
It was very diverse. HBCU, it was mostly black with a few, ah you know, white people here and there, a few Asians here and there.
00:07:23
Speaker
And um I was, you know, though I was very independent growing up, I was still um sheltered. So was a lot of things I didn't, you know, i wasn't okay wasn't familiar with, like not having a curfew. I'm like, what? I could stay out all night and then I can get into the, sneak into the club and, you know, not do my homework. and It was just too much for me. I needed more structure. Yeah.
00:07:46
Speaker
That's when I came back home because, you know, out-of-state tuition is expensive. So I came back home and my mom being the matriarch of our family was like, if you're going to be here, you need to work and you need to go to school.
00:07:58
Speaker
And I did exactly that because I was like, I don't want to be homeless. i'm too I'm too cute to be homeless. Like that doesn't, with my overall plan. So I got it together.
00:08:09
Speaker
Luckily I got, you know, connected with the city and it was a great, experience. um But it was too much on me um emotionally. you know Yeah, you're like, too many people look just like me.
Mortuary Business & Personal Loss
00:08:23
Speaker
Yeah. I love how you look. Yeah, no, it was great. It was it was nice. ah It was a great experience for me to like connect with people, Black people from all over because you know, black people were very diverse, just in our own, you know, race, because there's black people from Chicago, black people were from New York, from California, like, we all have different dialects, different styles. Yeah, that I got exposed to a lot of different music.
00:08:49
Speaker
um And I still have some some friends from from my experience there. So I love that. it I wasn't I wasn't time for me to be there. Yeah, that's interesting. That's like an Asian person going to UCI. i Like, it's like,
00:09:02
Speaker
Whoa, all of Asians. um I went to UC Riverside. But let's talk about like getting a job with the city. Is that kind of what propelled you into getting into like the funeral homes? um Yeah. so I worked for the first city owned mortuary in the U.S. established that I was there um from 2006 to 22 years.
00:09:26
Speaker
to twenty two Okay, how did that happen? i So I worked as an independent contractor on a separate project. There was a redevelopment of one of the local parks, and I was a consultant on that project.
00:09:38
Speaker
um I grew up in the neighborhood, so I knew a lot of people that worked for the city. And there was a position that opened up. It was like, hey, there's an administrative assistant job or something like that. or i was like, okay, cool. like how you know It's city benefits. like Let's do it.
00:09:54
Speaker
But I didn't know that it was the cemetery. Like I had no idea. idea The guy called me and i was like, okay.
COVID Struggles & Career Change
00:10:00
Speaker
um But my grandmother was there is buried at the cemetery. A lot of my relatives um related to rest there over the years.
00:10:08
Speaker
And you know, just to rewind when my grandmother passed away two years prior to me having that interview, I immediately jumped into organization mode. My mom, my aunts, they were all emotional. They couldn't figure out what to do.
00:10:22
Speaker
And I was the one getting information for the insurance and the funeral home and putting together the obituary. That was 19 years old. I didn't know like to do all those things, but I did do it. And so that experience assured me, like, okay, continue on with this, see what this is about. You are, you you know, this could be something that you can, you know, do.
00:10:44
Speaker
I went and um during my interview, there was a ah family friend, like a close friend of one of my um great uncles. And he kind of vouched for me. And, you know, it didn't hurt that that my the person that interviewed me at the time sort of had a liking for, you know younger ladies so It kind of helped. Once I got in there. Who doesn't?
00:11:09
Speaker
I killed it. Like if you go on the Yelp, like you could see, like I have reviews from lots of different families from over the years. And it was a really great experience. But, you know, I was the last probably like six or seven years being there. i had established my business and had been doing both.
00:11:26
Speaker
And during the COVID time, it was difficult. I was the only one there managing all the the death calls, you know, three, four o'clock in the morning. um It was when one of my coworkers committed
Entrepreneurship & Passion for Planning
00:11:37
Speaker
suicide and a close friend of mine committed suicide.
00:11:40
Speaker
Oh, my God. I had took some time off and I kept trying to to make it work. I was trying to force it. And it just wasn't wasn't happening. And I told my husband, I was like, what if I don't go back?
00:11:53
Speaker
And he was like, do what makes you happy. you are really good You're really good at this. Like, don't go just for the money. you know, don't go back. Because that's all it had been for, because I was not being fulfilled.
00:12:06
Speaker
It was a stressful work environment. Yeah. Much with the families or like the type of work, but just like internally. um So it was a great experience I had. Went to lunch with a friend the other day and she said, do you miss it?
00:12:19
Speaker
said, girl, no. Being able to be a business owner and grow my business and make it whatever it is that I want it to be. If i want it to be small, if I want just focus on weddings, if I want to do corporate events or whatever it is, like I have that control.
00:12:35
Speaker
like yeah And it's ah it's a beautiful thing. I appreciate my time there, but I'm glad where I'm at now. What was the greatest lesson or lessons that you learned from working in that environment for so long with these with death?
00:12:49
Speaker
Yeah. So we are all we are all one. There were different people um that would come in of different cultures, different economic backgrounds. But at the end of the day, we they were all experiencing the same thing.
00:13:03
Speaker
And that united us. The same thing with ah you know, love and celebration. We all want, you know, as much as we like to be alone, we'd like to be together, right Yeah. Our...
00:13:16
Speaker
are um we We are all the same in that we're all going experience a loss. We're all gonna experience love. We all, you know, knowingly or unknowingly need that connection.
00:13:27
Speaker
So, yeah, and being able to facilitate that and make it easier for people to come together is it gives me goosebumps. That's that I really feel that's my purpose. Oh, that's beautiful. OK, let's talk about starting in your own business, your wedding planning business that time in your life and how you kind of launched everything, made it happen for yourself.
00:13:46
Speaker
Yeah, so it was officially, legitimately, it was October 20th, 2020. So that was like five years ago.
00:13:58
Speaker
um And I started, i don't even, did I have a, we have a very simple website. My husband was right there encouraging me. I called my husband. you know, if you have a spouse, they are like your best friend, your confidant, your therapist, your lover, your all
Business Management & Passive Income
00:14:14
Speaker
those things. But he's super partner. Like, you know, his algorithm now is all wedding. and it and go So he really encouraged me. um We got, you know websites together, the business cards.
00:14:26
Speaker
I had worked on a style shoot. And from that, one of the ah the designers on the team said, hey, I have someone that wants that needs a coordinator and, you know, she's, you know, not my budget or whatever it was. So I was like, okay, I'll talk to her. And it was at um the Harlan, Harlan J Pavilion in Palos Verdes.
00:14:48
Speaker
Yeah. And um the couple was so sweet. was my first wedding um that I had did alone. And um it was a great time. I had, you know, my two assistants.
00:14:58
Speaker
I had my husband, i had support and did it. And I was like, I can do this. This is, this is real. This is real. This can be um something that I can really take seriously. And at the time I was still working my full-time job.
00:15:14
Speaker
So I was thinking of it like, Oh, just be a hobby, something for me to have a creative outlet. But, you know, seeing the couple's reaction, seeing the guests, seeing everyone come together. And yeah, that was five years ago.
00:15:28
Speaker
So, yeah, I met your husband. He's awesome. He is. Oh, I love my husband, Cedric. He, He has, um he's a very soft-spoken. He's a man of very few words, but he is one of the smartest people I've probably ever met. He knows, you know, like in school when they teach you stuff in science and math class, he's like, oh, never need to know that. yeah Cedric will randomly recall something. I'm like, how do you know this stuff? Like...
00:15:55
Speaker
Yeah, he's the one listening and we're the ones like like ah floating in the air, right? ah That's so funny. Okay, so last question before Hot Topic. um I think the name of the game right now is like leads.
00:16:09
Speaker
So how did you manage to like start getting your business off the ground? Like after that first wedding, um give some advice for wedding pros listening.
00:16:22
Speaker
Wedding pros, listen up. If you don't have a CRM that helps you organize and automate your entire business, you need to stop everything and get one. I've been using 17 hats for over a decade and I'm telling you right now, I could not run my business without them.
00:16:38
Speaker
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00:16:53
Speaker
I break up payments for clients and it's such an easy heck yes for them because it's simple and stress-free. Plus
Networking & Business Growth
00:17:00
Speaker
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00:17:05
Speaker
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00:17:24
Speaker
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00:17:35
Speaker
I couldn't run this podcast or my life without you. All right, quick plug for myself, but this is really for you. If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I'm all about helping wedding pros make passive income.
00:17:50
Speaker
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00:18:08
Speaker
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00:18:20
Speaker
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00:18:32
Speaker
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00:18:45
Speaker
back to the
00:18:48
Speaker
So it was difficult because even though I was like, okay, I can do this as a business, I just thought to go on WeddingWire and then that's just where I lived, right? That's where people are going to find me.
00:19:00
Speaker
And um we had some leads from there. There were some referrals, you know, word of mouth and whatnot. um But it wasn't really until more recently, like the beginning of this year, i had got um a grant.
00:19:14
Speaker
And with the grant also gave me an opportunity to connect with um mentors in different fields. So one of them was a sales ah expert with over like 40 years in the sales industry.
00:19:27
Speaker
And we had met many a times. And one of his goals for me, he was like, I want everyone to know who jazz is. And I was like, what? I don't like to network. I just want to be in my bubble. I want to like put in my website and do my little ad on WeddingWire and The Nod and be done with it. And he's like, you need to go out. you need to So it really wasn't until like the beginning of this year where I have really been like networking. And
Sobriety Journey & Wellness Celebrations
00:19:52
Speaker
from networking, like I was telling you earlier, like you may meet someone and have a little conversation with them. And then it turns into...
00:20:00
Speaker
Another connection and it's like a domino effect of things. And, you know, though, one of the things that that um frightened me was, ah, you know, like, I'm really shy. Like, I just want to be like in my house, my husband watching Netflix and chilling like I don't really want to be out, you know, yeah you know, when it's wedding time that I'm on, I'm ready to go.
00:20:19
Speaker
um But I had to learn that that part of me that, that is, that is ignited during the event is also alive during networking is also alive during when, you know, when I'm meeting new people and all of those things, like it's just, it's not just for that moment. It's within me. And I've named that part of me jazz ah um just because it's just like, it's efficient. It's quick. It's to the point. And that's how, you know, I get at planning and,
00:20:47
Speaker
and how I um attack the the issue issue the planning logistics and challenges. And it's it's just to the point. Let's get to it. So... Yeah. Yeah. So I just, I'm the same.
00:20:59
Speaker
Yeah. Just get there and you actually have to network. You can't live on the internet because if any of you know, like I've met girls that do beautiful events. They post them on their Instagram. Then you meet them in person. Their attitude is garbage.
00:21:13
Speaker
They are not very nice to people. And it's like, no, I can't live on the internet. I need people to get to know me know who I am yeah and that has really helped so yeah I call myself Clarissa 2.0 yeah so you're jazz I'm Clarissa kind of kidding but yeah like it's like your alter ego for sure yeah okay let's get into a hot topic um what is your hot topic is a good one and why is it so near and dear to your heart okay so um hot topic for me would be um
00:21:44
Speaker
um embracing sober and like wellness centered um ah ah celebrations, like embracing that. And it's important for me because I have a little over two years of being sober.
00:21:58
Speaker
yeah Yes, yes, yes. You know, being in this industry, ah There are a lot of mixers and cocktail hours and this, this and that. And, you know, um I knew that in order to grow my business, I had to be present.
00:22:10
Speaker
I didn't have time for a cocktail. I didn't want to have a crutch. I don't, you know, got to the point where it was like, oh, I feel happy. So let's have a drink. Oh, I'm sad. Let's have a drink. I'm hungry. Let's have a drink.
00:22:22
Speaker
Like all these and like to be creative, like I was doing them. out I remember I needed to do a mood board and I was like, oh I need to have a drink first. And that's not the truth. Like I'm very much, uh, present. I, I address things head on and I think I have more fun now because I can like get up and dance and, you know, do all these things and, and have all this energy. And so with that being said, I feel like now, um,
00:22:49
Speaker
This generation, i was my husband sent me a Gmail or Yahoo Mail article, and it talked about how Gen don't even drink like that. More than a lot of them don't drink, right?
00:23:03
Speaker
um And that same same article, they said, well, most of them don't drink. ah Also, a lot of them think that it it's it's hospitable to to provide alcohol, right? But when we think about alcohol, it's sort of like um you know alcohol gets the party started.
00:23:19
Speaker
Well, how about this? How about if you reimagine what your what your wedding reception is like? What if you have more of a um an experience for your guests? What if it's just not, you know...
00:23:32
Speaker
um dinner, the bar and dancing with the DJ? Like, what if it's like a mocktail DIY bar where you get to, you know, select your base and your, um your were they adaptogens, you know, yeah ah additives that like give you like a calm or you a you know, a certain kind of feeling, not like a drug. It's like herbal based or whatnot.
00:23:56
Speaker
But yes, something like a DIY mocktail bar, you know, for the dinner. What if you have mocktail pairings with the different um um courses of your meal, you know, instead of just having just a DJ, a really cool interactive band, like give your guests more of an
Cultural Shift Towards Sobriety
00:24:14
Speaker
experience. Think outside the box and don't just use alcohol as a crutch.
00:24:18
Speaker
I think that you spend a lot of money and I've seen, ah You know, a lot of times, people you know, people think, you know, the alcohol, I can, you know, relax. But the next day you feel like crap. And yeah, this money, you feel like crap, you probably don't remember all of it. Like, yeah, like be more.
00:24:36
Speaker
um ah intentional and present for this really important moment moment of your life that you want to you know remember because you spent all this money and you're here with all your family and it means so much. like let Let's look at it different. like let's give them Don't think of it like what you're not having, you know, don't think of it like, oh, I'm not having alcohol, but think of all the experiences that you can give them. Like most people have not been to a dry wedding and it was, you know, wow. You know, I've seen, I've seen, had a ah drink at the DIY mocktail bar. We had all these really cool drink pairings with our food. The the band was amazing. We had it like interactive experiences that it wasn't just like us sitting at the table or waiting in line for 15 minutes to get a drink, like whatever it is, like, no.
00:25:22
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. There's like, yeah. I mean, me i'm me and my husband are on the same journey, so we're not completely sober, um but we definitely don't drink in the house anymore. Yeah.
00:25:34
Speaker
That helps a lot. This whole thing is kind of being sober at events is eye-opening to me. Like, i I enjoy like the coffee bar. I really appreciate that where they have like a fondue table or like a chocolate fondue or whatever.
00:25:46
Speaker
Something that you could, yeah, like something you could look at um interactive where you're not just like, okay, everyone get fucked up, you know, here's shots, shots, shots, shots and go crazy wild. And then, yeah, you're just like the next day you're like, what happened, you know? right And yeah you, um it's also like conversation starters, because a lot of us have been to, you know, just guests themselves. They've been to a lot of events. They see a lot of events and weddings and stuff on social. So it's like, ah it's the same thing, but give them something different, like, like challenge yourself, challenge your, your, your planner, dig deep.
00:26:22
Speaker
into, you know, who it is, who you are and what what it means to you. Like if you are a couple that likes to travel, like do stations from around the world, you know, food stations and have them move around and, you know, taste a little bit of this. And it's, and it's,
00:26:37
Speaker
And instead of just focusing on the alcohol, how about, you know, tapping into all of their senses? Let's do that. Like, let's focus on the scent, the the lighting, the different textures and of the decor and all the different food. Like, just don't do a protein, a vegetable, and a starch. Like, let's have fun with the food. Do some fusion. Like, we live in SoCal, especially, like, you can really get um really good ah creative with it. Like i had a couple, we're figuring out their menu.
00:27:08
Speaker
The bride is from Uganda. The groom is from Nigeria and their cuisine is different. You know, like what are we going to do? Are we going to have, you know, eat Nigerian or we're to have Ugandan? Well, let's think about how we confuse it. So that's that's kind of where I'm at with the sober events.
00:27:24
Speaker
Don't get lazy and just have an open bar and just say, go for it. You know, yeah do a little bit better. Yeah. Try harder. um I was going to say, are you talking a lot about this on your socials? like And are you bringing bringing in those type of clients that align with these values as well?
00:27:42
Speaker
I'm not talking about it too much on my social, show but when I have my conversations with my couples, um I do bring it up. I have had one one couple out of all of them that actually like tucked to it and was like, no, we're not going to have open bar.
00:27:57
Speaker
We're not going to have full bar. We'll have beer and wine and we'll just, you know, limit it. So I haven't had yet. And if there are any couples that want to do dry wedding, let's do this, you know, because it is really dear to my heart.
00:28:12
Speaker
um to be um to live life present yeah yeah and sober because there are so many experiences and and life is
Wellness Trends & Sober Brands
00:28:23
Speaker
so beautiful. Why do you want to like not be here for it. don't need to take a drink to party. I have a really good time sober.
00:28:32
Speaker
but Yeah. My my wedding, um one of my best friends, she was going through a divorce, so she got like blackout drunk. and so We had a choreographed dance, but she actually still did it, but it was just autopilot. Her eyes were like dazed over and then another friend had just gone through um like a breakup so she was like puking in the bathroom and we were at like one of those venues where like it was a a random photography place so like no one was there to like clean it up so people were like there's like puke in the bathroom yeah that's thing too like
00:29:09
Speaker
having to like console someone who's so emotional after they've been drinking so much or throw up, you know, those things, sometimes it lands on the planner, you know, yeah seriously fine you know, consulting someone, but I really don't want to throw a cleanup throw up.
00:29:25
Speaker
That's not what I want to do. Yeah. Oh my God. Okay. So, um, I think this whole like sober thing, yeah, is catching on to like the younger generation, um Why do you think that? Are they just smarter than us?
00:29:39
Speaker
I think that people are embracing like wellness and self-care and understanding the importance of it. And it's not just like the generations before. Even our generation, I think, is kind of like. work, work, work, but we are slowly getting into, you know, taking time out and and making self-care priority.
00:29:59
Speaker
um But, you know, the younger generation, they're like, no, I need to take my my time. You know, i'm not feeling the vibe. Like they're more in tune with with their selves. And, you know, alcohol is horrible for you. Like, even though it's legal, it's not good for your health at all.
00:30:16
Speaker
so Yeah. Have you seen the Charlie Sheen documentary? Yeah. Yeah, it was really good. I didn't know where that was going to but his his vulnerability was yeah so amazing. I had no idea. like I knew like the tiger blood and all that stuff that he was going through, and you know but he was very transparent. Alcohol can really do a number on your life, not just for that moment, but it could affect your life.
00:30:42
Speaker
Yeah, so I kind of looked into him. like his I don't think I was following him, but... um I saw that he has like a non non-alcoholic brand now. Oh, okay.
00:30:53
Speaker
Okay, Charlie. Let me check it out. Yeah, that's kind of cool. Like the branding and everything. So I know there's a lot on the market like now, um even at Whole Foods and um like Benmo, but like different celebrities have like non-alcoholic brands, but like it is kind of catching on. So I think you're onto something.
00:31:11
Speaker
Yeah. And there's, there's like, um there are mocktail companies instead of higher. So they, they only really, so like a good bar, they only do. So, so you know how there'll be some bartenders like, Oh yeah, we can do mocktails. And they'd be really like some club soda with cranberry juice and a little, like it's, you know, but they may do a really good job of, of creating,
00:31:36
Speaker
really tasty drinks that sort of yeah emulate the alcohol, you know, not effect, but like the the texture of the bubbles from like champagne or, you know, things like that.
00:31:48
Speaker
you know, they um They do a lot of events around the city. What was I looking at when they did like a yoga event or something like that? So they're everywhere. They just don't do events. They also are in the wellness, you know, because, you know, what they do is is good for you. It's not going to harm you like alcohol would. And they will not serve alcohol. Like if you want to serve alcohol, you have to hire a different bartender. And I love how they are very adamant about that and they they won't waver. so Wow. Interesting. Yeah, I did a sober wedding couple of years ago at Woo Kitchen and And they, we celebrated his like 10 year sobriety with a cake and they're just, you know, no alcohol, but they're like crazy dancing on the dance floor, like sea walking.
Educating on Sober Celebrations
00:32:29
Speaker
And was like, dang, they're like doing all that, like without alcohol. Like that's awesome. like
00:32:34
Speaker
Amen to that. For real. No, it could, it could be a really great time. It's, um, It's just about getting out of the way that you're used to doing it, the way they're used to seeing it.
00:32:46
Speaker
and And um just teaching your guests too. You know, the couples have the wedding websites. Use those websites to communicate with the guests like what it is that they should expect. Those websites go up far enough in advance.
00:32:58
Speaker
Okay, let's start with like a a sober Monday or you know what it is, whatever it is. So they can get used to it. And it's not just a shock. You don't want that. Don't do that. That's rude.
00:33:09
Speaker
don't tell them that when they get there, because someone's going to go and do a liquor store run. Yeah. They're going to have their alcohol. um But just express to the guests what it is, why it is you're doing that, you know, the meaning behind it.
00:33:23
Speaker
And then all the great things that they will experience without it. Like, look look at all the things that we're going to be doing and, and um the, The experience you're goingnna have does not need to be alcohol induced. Like you're going to have a great time without it.
00:33:39
Speaker
so I love that. Yeah, it is educating because like, for instance, I guess if someone did like go to a wedding to party and like they would be very like disappointed ah there was...
00:33:51
Speaker
no like open bar or whatever. But if someone was educated and be like, okay, this is not about that tonight. Like and it's about something else. It's about like being present and celebrating and like and they could like mentally prepare themselves. So I think education is, I think you should like talk about this on your social.
00:34:07
Speaker
Okay, Carissa, we'll talk more about that. Yeah. How about like your hubby? Has has he been on board with like sobriety as well? Are you doing this together? Wedding pros.
00:34:17
Speaker
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00:34:29
Speaker
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00:34:40
Speaker
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00:34:58
Speaker
You know, so in addition to my sobriety journey, I've also had a fertility journey and I've tried many different diets. so I've done alkaline. I've done raw. I've done vegan. And he's been on all of those journeys that alcohol.
00:35:10
Speaker
um Not so much. He does um limit himself. um I know in the beginning he was really scared. He was all like, well, what are we going to do? Like, we can't go. I'm like, we can go to the bar. Like people, people drinking doesn't bother me. And I can sit at the bar, get a mocktail.
00:35:25
Speaker
And that's a great, because I like to talk to people. So I'll be talking bartender, talking to the people next to me. I'm i'm like a low key matchmaker. I feel like I can like bring people together. you know He was a little apprehensive at first.
00:35:37
Speaker
um about drinking around me. um But he yeah made my sobriety has made him more aware of his own um alcohol consumption. We always host parties at the house and all my family knows I'm not going to buy alcohol so for you to get drunk.
00:35:52
Speaker
So it's BYOB or, you know, you just, and and they're very they're very mindful of that. They'll do like a little spritzer, a little like sangria something, um but it's not alcohol focused.
00:36:03
Speaker
at all yeah yeah oh I love that yeah my my husband is like nine months sober we drink a little in Japan but like prior to that um so his face like completely changed yeah better like yeah and he's just like wow like oh my god I lost my double chin like yeah and he should want to like do other things like you get more more creative like oh like I'm gonna have fun during the day and not like look forward to that like night high you know Yeah. Like ah even a morning jog or like a morning hike or like it's just your whole like life changes.
00:36:38
Speaker
Lifestyle change for sure. and Like the sleeping is better um and it just trickles down to being more productive. ah being more um you clear minded so you can, you know, figure out those problems. And it's not just like the event and wedding planning, like as a business owner, you know, figuring out like working the financial part of it, working the marketing, the social, you know what I mean? Like having the bandwidth to handle and manage all of that.
00:37:05
Speaker
You have, I have to have a clear mind. I got to be on point. I can't, take a day where I'm like, I'm going be hung over. Like, girl, no. Like, that does not, I don't have time for that. And, you know, because live like that, I want to share that too with my couples. I want couples to feel empowered to to host um dry their dry wedding or whatever event you know, they they want to do. If it's not the wedding, maybe it's a welcome dinner or maybe it's the Sunday brunch or something to to incorporate that, ah to give your liver a break and to allow your guests to be present and to enjoy all that you've, all the details you put into your day because you spend a lot of money.
Memorable Events & Honoring Traditions
00:37:44
Speaker
Like, don't black out.
00:37:45
Speaker
I want you to see all of this. You know, I've seen like stuff on Instagram, like NPR, they have like sober, like EDM concerts and like, or like coffee concerts and people are just having a great time, um whether they're on whatever, but no alcohol.
00:38:05
Speaker
So I love this concept. um Yeah.
00:38:11
Speaker
Yeah. um I wanted to ask you about like, what is your favorite wedding that you plan and like, why was it so special to you? I wouldn't say plan, but coordinate it.
00:38:22
Speaker
Okay. um It was a couple that got married at City Club, August 24th of 2024. They were an older couple. It was a second marriage for both of them. um They're both ah professional people. The wife, I think works,
00:38:39
Speaker
or the l LA County, the husband is, um, uh, like a local politician. Um, but their color scheme, when we spoke as what' it's black and white with a hints of lavender and what's the importance of, of lavender, like why lavender?
00:38:54
Speaker
And so the groom's son, um, youngest son had, um, committed suicide ah few years prior. And that was their way of honoring him. So, you know, sometimes at weddings, you see where they'll have like a memorial table or set aside a chair in memoriam of someone who has passed.
00:39:14
Speaker
But the lavender was all throughout the wedding. There was, her okay was complete, was nothing but lavender. um All the any sort of florals that you've seen, there was no greenery. It was just sprigs of lavender. And it's the space.
00:39:30
Speaker
It as soon as you walked in there, you were you were just overwhelmed by the smell, but in a beautiful way. Right. And, um, there were, uh, messages that were said that were shared on the couple's website to let them know the significance of the lavender.
00:39:47
Speaker
So even though he, the son wasn't there in the physical, his energy, his spirit was all throughout and they could have easily, i mean, there's nothing wrong with that, with doing the chair or the table, but just to incorporate the meaning of the lavender, um,
00:40:06
Speaker
in the wedding the way that they did um ah had me open my eyes. um And the the lavender was something that would calm him when he was going through, you know, difficult time, it calmed him. And it resonated even further with me because I, ah you know, have, I um had my, you know, having the fertility journey, it could be very stressful. So there are times when I make candles and I'll do lavender candles and that really, you know, helps me with all the the stress that comes up and things like that. So I had that connection and, and, um, during the planning, the the last minute, um,
00:40:43
Speaker
The last few months of finalizing the details of their wedding, um I really got to know the couple and it just um I connected with them on a different level than than my other couples, though. I love them. I love all of them. they are All of them, they have nicknames.
00:40:59
Speaker
when I'm talking them with my husband, all good things. um But they are just, ah they become like my family. Like i very in it's a very personal thing, you know, like everyone that they invite means something to them. And for them to choose me and my team and to guide them through the process, it really means a lot.
00:41:17
Speaker
And for this couple to um have me on board for such a ah meaningful um day, it wasn't just a wedding, it was also a day to honor their son.
Motivation & Professional Growth
00:41:29
Speaker
So um that really, really meant a lot. beautiful It stands out.
00:41:36
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, they're lucky that they hired you, especially since you're, you you mean you dealt with death for 15 years, so you could really help people in that situation.
00:41:46
Speaker
um i think that's, that's amazing. and ah Describe your brand in three words or just describe your brand. describe my brand it is don't carissa this is difficult but because when i think of my brand i think of me you know um who i am yeah it's relatability it's um you know when you look at who is my client avatar there is no race there is no economic um tier it's um
00:42:22
Speaker
I am for people that find importance in celebrating with their loved ones, using this time to celebrate their their family, their culture, their love. like That's who I'm for. I help you um make that a reality and honor um not just those that are present, but those that that come before you. Because um where yeah a lot of where I'm at in my life has been um the the guidance or the influence of those that that came before me, my mother, my aunt, my grandmothers. and And so my clients are people that want to bring all generations of their their family together and and honor not just their love, but their family and their traditions.
00:43:11
Speaker
So I guess that's what that is, Carissa. Yeah. Yeah. That's beautiful. Yeah, I love that. I love the answer. It encompasses who you are, and you're going to attract that.
Rapid-Fire Questions & Insights
00:43:22
Speaker
um Last question before rapid fire questions. i Speak to the hearts of wedding pros, like struggling to um either like they're just getting started and they just can't make it happen. Like they feel like everyone else is doing good and not them or people have who have been in the industry for a while and just feel like they're in the dry spell they just don't know if they're in the right place, right time, what would you tell them to like motivate them and like get them out of their head and make things happen for them? um Yeah, well that's a real thing. um the The self-doubt or
00:44:00
Speaker
Second guessing your decision to do this. Like, why, why do I need to do this? I'd say like, you know, we have that end goal, whatever that may be. um But I would just, just keep moving forward. If it's small steps, just keep making those small steps, keep making movement. Like,
00:44:16
Speaker
you know, there's that old saying, like, if you're not growing, you're dying, like always make sure that you are um evolving and pushing yourself. And, you know, if you do, if you're going about marketing the same way that you've been doing it the last few years, like change it up.
00:44:32
Speaker
Then, you know, everything around you is changing. Like you need to get with it, like change it up. um Don't be afraid of change. embrace the unknown. Like there that's what life is. Like you don't know what's going to happen next. Even if you think, you know, you, you have no idea you may have a plan.
00:44:49
Speaker
Um, and that's fine because, you know, um, that's kind of like your guide, but at the end of the day, it it may not go as planned and you, you could be okay. You will be okay. Everything is okay um And if you feel like, you know i can't do this, you know it it is okay to take a step back and readjust.
00:45:10
Speaker
Is this really for you? Because it does take a lot of work. And you know me being five years in, I could say this last year, I really was like working my butt off. um And I'm gonna continue to kick it up a notch and continue to go on. And we like to play that comparison game, but be leery of that because everything you see in a picture is not real. And there's, there's so much more that goes behind it to get there. Right. It's not just the picture. So create your own picture.
00:45:40
Speaker
Do you, because what you have to bring people need that. Yes. Movement creates motivation. I love that. Okay. Rapid fire questions. These are like shorter answers. um Favorite thing to do with your hubby, like to connect, reconnect.
00:45:55
Speaker
Favorite thing to do. Um, He's a foodie, so I go along. He drags me along to go eat. Yummy, yummy. Yeah. me yeah me yeah Best heck yes sales technique?
00:46:08
Speaker
um Best heck yes. I always connect. People like people, so I make it personable. I connect with them as a person. Okay. um Any or favorite ghost story that you have since you worked with the past?
00:46:25
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, that is that our office was like in a new building. And I don't know if they didn't have like the the seal or the gasket on the door. And our office was inside the mausoleum. It was like annna add on to the mausoleum. And so it was windy one day.
00:46:43
Speaker
And I was working in office by myself and all the doors started rattling. Uh-huh. I was like, he and so when my coworkers came back from lunch and I told them, they're like, oh yeah, that's just, you know, they, they didn't finish the doors. i was like, well, y'all could have told me that I was in here freaking out saying this is going to my last day. Like I can't do it.
00:47:03
Speaker
Yeah, no. And, and after that, ever anytime the doors rat off, i'll be like, okay, Charlie, the ghost, like, or whatever, like, you know, and just have fun with it. Oh my God.
00:47:14
Speaker
That's crazy. Okay. A social media hack or tip. Scheduling content. Scheduling content. i um That's a saving grace. I don't um post as much as I should, but when I do, I schedule it.
00:47:29
Speaker
um And it saves a lot of time. And it just like works for itself. It's like you put it out there. it does its thing. ah You got to make sure that you engage a little bit before. it's a little bit of a boost.
00:47:43
Speaker
But yeah, scheduling. love that. I love that. And then I call it my woo factor. Like what is your woo factor, but what is your jazz factor? What makes you stand up? I know relatability and everything, but but whatever you could say it differently, I guess.
00:47:56
Speaker
Um, in regards to like when we're working together and we're in a planning mode, it's, um, really getting to know the vendors, um, as a planner, i would like to, you know, promote or, and or share with my clients, the the vendors that I like to work with. If there are, sometimes they bring in their own and they're Jazz, I want to work with so-and-so. so Just building that connection and letting them know that we're all on the same page. We're here to make the client stay seamless and memorable in a good way.
00:48:30
Speaker
Yeah. um So it's ah just not being afraid to like step out. Like I'm not afraid of anything. It's either a yes or no. It's, you know, so people could have an attitude or not be so warm to receive me, but I just maintain who I am.
00:48:44
Speaker
And at the end of it, we're going to be besties. Oh, I love it. Okay. Well said. That was, we'll leave it like that. um Tell everyone where to find you and work with you. Okay. So on Instagram, I am jazz underscore the underscore planner.
00:49:02
Speaker
Um, a website is, uh, www.jmotanevenelements.com. Um, and yeah, that's where I'm at. i um, have had ah good time on the podcast today.
00:49:17
Speaker
Um, Yeah, it's been a good time. Thank you, Carissa. Who would have known? And not in the museum would have brought us here. like i know, your networking skills are A+. plus So I'm glad to have you. I like your energy.
00:49:30
Speaker
And i really like this conversation. i appreciate it, Carissa. Thank you so much.
00:49:40
Speaker
Thanks for joining me this week on Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. Make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about the show. Take a screenshot and post to IG. Tag me. Also, don't forget to download my free guide on how to become a lead generating machine.
00:49:55
Speaker
See you next time, wedding pros.