Ambassador Feature: Katherine Dionne
Name: Katherine Dionne
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
QC Courses you’ve taken / are taking:
- Event & Wedding Planning
- Event Décor
- Luxury Wedding & Event Planning
- Corporate Event Planning
- Travel & Tourism
- Virtual Events Training
Your website: www.jetaimeweddings.org
Your Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jetaimeweddings/
Your Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakemanagement/
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hi! I’m Katie. I am the Owner of Je T’aime Weddings & Events, based in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. I am a boy mom to a beautiful 4.5-month-old named Noah. I am also a coffee addict, with a love of everything Disney.
Why did you decide to get into professional wedding and event planning?
I have always had a love for Disney, especially after working at Disneyland in California. While I was working there, I met a girl that worked in the Fairy Tale Weddings Department. I instantly fell in love with the idea of being able to bring couples’ dream weddings to life! I thought, what better way to do that than become an event and wedding planner?
Shortly after, Je T’aime Weddings & Events was born and I haven’t looked back since!
You recently became a Student Ambassador of QC Event School. How will you be there to connect with and aid new students, prospective students, and the overall QC community?
My biggest thing is being able to encourage others to take chances, and not let fear stand in the way of their dreams. Starting your own business is tough. Being in the wedding and event planning industry is even tougher.
However, it’s also one of the most rewarding career fields you can be in. I want to be a source of inspiration and knowledge to those aspiring to be in the wedding and event planning industry. There is no such thing as a stupid question, or too many questions. I am here to answer any and all questions to those that need it!
Did you know that you can connect with Katie within our Virtual Classroom on Facebook? Join today for a 2-week trial, and meet real QC students, alumni, and tutors!
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What’s the story behind your planning business’s name, Je T’aime Weddings & Events?
I have always had a fascination for Paris and the French language. I love the culture, the people, and the language. Since Paris has always been known as the city of love, I decided to incorporate that – along with my love of the French language in general – into my wedding planning business. “Je t’aime” is French for “I love you.” What is more romantic than that?
You’re currently working through our Event and Wedding Planning Course, as well as our Luxury Wedding & Event Planning Course. What sort of things have you learned so far from your units?
The biggest thing I have learned so far is about different cultured weddings. I have primarily done Christian and traditional Catholic weddings with my own business. So, it was really nice to learn about how other cultures practice weddings, too. This way, I can better serve any future clients that do not practice Christianity or Catholicism.
How valuable has your tutor feedback been so far?
It’s been extremely valuable! The tutor feedback is actually one of the biggest reasons I recommend QC Event School to others. Honestly, every time I receive my feedback, I learn something new and can grow from it. QC’s instructors bring in a different perspective, and help me look at events from a different angle.
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You’re also currently enrolled in QC’s Event Decor Course. As a planner who already provides clients with decor and event styling services, what additional skills are you hoping to acquire from this course?
I am hoping to broaden my design skills, and be able to think outside the box for my clients. I want to bring them an experience that they cannot find on places such as Pinterest. I want to be able to exceed their expectations, and bring their dream wedding to life in a way they never thought possible!
You’ve developed quite the audience on social media! What are 3 of your top tips for aspiring wedding and event planners who want to strengthen their online presence?
My first piece of advice is to make sure you come up with a strong social media plan. Create a content calendar and plan out what you are going to post, at least a month in advance. Figure out which sites you will post your content on.
The second thing I would advise is to engage, engage, engage! Make sure you are liking and commenting on other profiles, so your account will get noticed by the followers of those profiles.
The third thing is to have a strong branding strategy, especially on Instagram. Having a pleasing aesthetic is a surprisingly important way for your profile to get noticed!
Your professional portfolio is simply stunning! What are 3 must-have elements that you feel should be part of EVERY planner’s business portfolio?
You are too sweet. Thank you so much! I believe every event planner should be able to showcase their strongest skillsets.
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Think of your top three strongest skills, and try to apply those into your portfolio. For example: for me and my business, I know that my strongest skills are:
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Creative problem solving
When I post on social media, I do my best to find a photo that represents one or all of those three skills. In the description, I’ll go into detail about why those are my strongest skill-sets. Sometimes I’ll share a story from a previous wedding or event I’ve planned. Other times, it’s just to give advice to my followers.
The second thing your portfolio should do is showcase the style and brand you want to be recognized for. If you are someone like me, who specializes in Fairy Tale-themed weddings, you may post more light and airy photos that involve lighter, pastel colors.
Finally, a third tip I would recommend is to just be honest. Do not try and sell yourself on something you have no experience in. Be honest about what it is you are really good at, and sell that. Couples appreciate honesty. They do not want you to only tell them what they want to hear.
What was the most difficult part about starting your own wedding and event planning business?
To me, the most difficult part of starting – and having – your own business is being able to stand out over your competitors. You have to be able to come up with new ways to market and brand yourself. You need to be one step ahead in order to really stand out in a crowded market. You also need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the wedding and event planning industry – otherwise you will fall behind.
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Why did you decide to attend an online event planning school over a physical school to earn your event and wedding planner certification?
I really wanted to broaden my knowledge of event planning so I could better serve my current and future clients. It was extremely important to me to find a school that could allow me to work at my own pace and fit into my busy lifestyle. That is exactly what I found in QC Event School!
What has been the proudest moment to date in your wedding and event planning career?
I am still currently working on my courses. I can imagine my proudest moment will probably be actually receiving my wedding and event planning certificates and holding them in my hands!
What do you have in store for Je T’aime Weddings & Events in the future?
I have a lot of exciting things in store for my business in the coming year! Currently, I am working on two large projects. The first is a brand new YouTube channel! Couples will be able to follow me on exclusive venue tours throughout Arizona, hear from Arizona’s top wedding professionals, and get a behind-the-scenes look on wedding days.
The other big project I am about to officially open is Arizona’s One Stop Shop Virtual Bridal Expo, called “Prestige Bridal Affair”. This new age of bridal expos will allow couples to plan their weddings from the comfort of their own homes!
