We recently connected with Jaime Ta and have shared our conversation below.
Jaime, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
The idea of rest in today’s western world can be a radical one. Early on in my wedding planning career, I felt like I had to say yes to every inquiry and wedding that wanted to book with me.
As each wedding season passed, I have learned to incorporate regular rhythms of rest each year. I also have practiced saying no more often, which then allowed me to say yes to other things that filled my cup and renewed by soul.
The key part of these regular rhythms was to actually schedule a break in the middle of what is considered “peak wedding season” . For me this looks like a small trip within our state or a bigger trip out of state.
Ever since our daughter was born in 2022, this practice has truly helped prevent burnout as a small business owner and as a parent.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a Pacific Northwest Wedding and Event Planner based in Portland, OR with a love for adventure and creating beautiful events to celebrate the joys of life with your favorite people. My business, Jaime Ta Creative helps couples bring their dream vision to life while celebrating their unique cultures and heritage.
Seeing all backgrounds represented in the wedding industry is a core part of why I started wedding planning and in addition to that co-founded, Vendors of Color, a free resource that allows both vendors and clients to find and hire BIPOC wedding vendors on the West Coast.
Inclusivity can be a buzzword that is thrown around and I hope that my actions allow others to be seen and heard, to not only have a seat at the table, but to invite those around me into a conversation about why representation and inclusivity matters.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My journey to becoming a wedding planner involved working on my qualities of determination, compassion and a willingness to try new things. Wedding planning can be stressful sometimes, so you have to be determined to get it done.
Being there for my clients is really important in this line of work, whether that means advocating for what their wants with other vendors or with extended family members
Compassion goes a long way when you’re guiding and supporting them through the planning process, along with the actual wedding day it self. In addition, there’s always something new to do in wedding planning, so you need to be open to trying new things. This brings more creative options to the table and will lead to a memorable experience for all guests involved.
By no means am I perfect at any of the above, but I keep practicing and reflect at the end of each wedding/event to see how I could improve for next time by asking for feedback from colleagues and clients.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking to partner with new wedding vendors who have a mindful approach to inclusivity, representation in the wedding industry and especially BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ creatives. The best way to reach out is via email: [email protected] with the subject line: let’s connect and collaborate
Styled shoots are a wonderful way to get form meaningful vendor relationships, so if you have an idea you’ve been wanting to bring to life, please feel free to reach out 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaimetacreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaime.ta/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaimetacreative
Image Credits
Katy Weaver Photography
Kai Hayashi Photo
Crystal Genes Photo
Myla Li Photo
Amanda K Photo
Christina Whittlesey Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
