Finding your own JONRAH/GENRE

Our JONRAH EVENTS

Cover image Courtesy of Our Jonrah Events

Planning your special day can be stressful, especially having little to no understanding of what you are putting your money towards. Making mistakes for a grand event is not something anyone wants to do. This is where Sarah Valencia, of Our Jonrah Events, steps in. Not only is she there to give advice, but is also there to make an unforgettable memory for many. 

Sarah Valencia: Photographed by KMH Forte Photography for her branding shoot.

 Sarah has had an eye for event planning. She enjoyed it so much that her entrepreneurial spirit came back stronger than ever. Getting married in 2018 was a bridge for her to start her own event planning services, as she relates to the obstacles you may face while planning solo. Her skills being detail-oriented and resourceful, play such an important role in how she can carry out an event.

A graduate majoring in Textile and Clothing, with a minor in Fashion Merchandising in 2014, Sarah was sure she wanted to pursue a career within the fashion industry. To kick things off, she gained experience working with the special events department at Hudson’s Bay, as well as consulting at a bridal store, doing marketing, and assisting in wedding planning. She later branched out to hospitality, and then corporate planning at the University of Alberta. Realizing she had a talent for event planning, she was sure of carrying on her career as an event/ wedding planner. 

 

#ourjonrah

When Sarah and her now-husband Jon Jon married in 2018, they wanted to create a unique hashtag that their guests could use. This sparked the inspiration for her company’s name, Our Jonrah Events [pronounced jon-ruh]; as it is a play-on-words with the term, “genre”, and their names.

“Genre”, defined as a category of artistic composition— using this term in correlation with event planning, is an extension of her philosophy in planning. The vision for Our Jonrah Events was to help execute the weddings of her couples to be “their own genre” representing the story of her couples and reflecting their journey together.

Sarah and her husband, JonJon, at the grand entrance of their wedding. Photographed by Becca Shultz Photography

A journey to the aisles with you.

Sarah’s favourite part in event planning is “journeying with the couples”. Her services include a “Day-of Coordination” and/or month-of management. Here she touches base with her clients, reviews all their planning, ensures nothing is missed and builds a schedule for the day of their event. She also has the option of a Customized Completion where Sarah picks up where her couples left off or are stuck on planning. In addition to her packages, you may use her consultation services, where Sarah provides her expertise as much as possible to help you best navigate your wedding plans based on your budget, style, and vision.

Nothing is ever perfect and mistakes can be made; however, with the three years of experience in the industry, and an additional five years working with different clientele, she has learned through trial and error. Seeing clients make mistakes because of their lack of knowledge in what they are investing in can be heartbreaking for her to watch as she herself has faced those. Being able to work closely with her clients, educating them, and giving them what she likes to call “homework”  to do themselves, helps with the planning process. As a wedding planner, there are many technical details that need to be finalized to execute the project. In coordinating with the couple, getting into the nitty-gritties includes getting a hold of vendors, confirming information, and relaying it to her clients. This is where her expertise kicks in, as there may be hidden details a venue may have not mentioned, but maybe written in the fine print. Confirming the information and making sure that her clients understand is important to know before settling on a decision. 

 

Say "Yes" to the … venue?

Choosing a venue, like picking your dress and suit, is not easily done. There are many things to consider when finding the perfect venue—and the prettiest scenery can cost you more than you think. As a guesstimate, you can expect to pay at least $100 per head with the venue offering catering and bar service. The “perfect” venue might not exist; however, as long as it aligns with your vision, wants, and needs, then consider it perfect! The venue carries an important role in creating memories as this is the place where you can connect with your loved ones. An important key to finding a setting that adheres to your vision is understanding the accessibility that considers yourself and your guests. In addition, the logistics behind the destination is also important, as oftentimes not everything will line up according to choice of location, vendors, and more. With that being said, you can never know what to expect during the day of the event. A change in plans may occur, so it is a must to have a plan “B”, as well as emergency supplies. 

 Since the pandemic hit the world in early 2020, weddings have changed. Everyone may be excited to go back to their normal lives and see friends and family; however, it will pay to be mindful of your guests and their comfort levels. Elopement has become common to tie the knot as most just want a limited number of guests, or just immediate family. Outdoor weddings have especially become popular, considering the safety of hosting an event outside with open air, rather than in an enclosed environment.

Different clients, different stories, different visions.

Being an event planner, Sarah was able to network with many different creatives and businesses. She recalls a favourite event where she collaborated with a designer and calligraphist for a wedding in Ponoka, executing the wedding in two months. The couple's refined taste made the details of the event more unique. The trust the couple had for Sarah also made it easier to complete the wedding in the short timeline. With the time she spent with the couple and their unique vision, Sarah suggests booking your next event at an Airbnb or a restaurant, where it may be less desirable, but if you look hard enough, it may be a great fit!

 Sarah encounters new clients daily, with different tastes. All varying from your modern, , mid-century, and timeless vibe, to the more culturally infused. She finds most of her clients are trend-based, influenced by TV shows, colour schemes, and current events.

 Sarah may be most well-known as a wedding planner; however, she has collaborated with many local businesses on hosting grand openings, open houses, and workshops. 

 Planning your next event but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! Our Jonrah Events is here and can bring your vision to life!

A styled shoot envisioned by Sarah and brought to life - enchanted and whimsical outdoor theme at Pioneer's Cabin photographed by M2S Photography 

To get a behind-the-scenes look at Sarah’s recent project, head on over to our Instagram stories on August 1, 2021 @the_issuemagazine, to get an exclusive look at her "Day-In-a-Life"  of an event planner!

Want to keep up with Sarah and her future collaborations? Follow them on Instagram @ourjonrahevents or visit their website at www.ourjonrahevents.com.