Meet Jeanne Coon-Bogath, owner and lead planner of Bogath Weddings & Events. Jeanne specializes in creating high-end, beautifully detailed events in Long Beach Island and along the Jersey Shore. Family traditions, her grandparents' 65-year marriage, and her love for the Jersey Shore are the main reasons why Jeanne loves helping couples plan weddings that honor their own family traditions at The Shore. The first kiss. The church exit. The first dances. She and her team love the moments and the meaning behind them.
What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
I was never the type of fluffy, girlie-girl, who spent hours day-dreaming about her wedding day. But you know what changed everything?!? When Richie and I found one another it changed everything. I had so much fun learning about weddings, researching, and planning my own wedding. After our wedding, I mentioned to my friend, Alexandra Peterson of Idalia Photography (who I had known for years and who photographed my own wedding) how much I enjoyed it. With her mentoring, encouragement, and support I dove deeply into researching my region and wedding planning. I know it sounds like a cliché (“bride turns planner”) but in fact, it was a really thought-out decision. As a former graphic designer and marketing junkie, I hashed out a detailed plan for my own education and business within a niche market, Long Beach Island, NJ.
Why did you start Bogath Weddings & Events?
I love having a job that allows me to work closely with couples in love, where they can celebrate their love and commitment with family and friends. I still cry at every wedding. Not a hard heavy ugly cry. But I get weepy and emotional during every wedding. The first kiss. The toasts. The “exits.” The first dances. The special dances. I love the moments and the meanings behind them. I love helping people find ways to authentically celebrate. I also have found the vendor relationships I’ve built with other wedding professionals in my community to be among one of the most rewarding parts of planning. Many have become really good friends. I enjoy doing work that helps other small businesses in my community thrive. Something that, with the latest challenges of COVID 19, has become even more essential to business.
If you could change one thing about the weddings and special events industry, what would it be?
I love being part of a small community of local small business owners who work really hard. But they also will work just as hard helping others. I have had the pleasure of working with many of them on non-profit events and raising money to help those in need as well as environmental issues. I did have some interesting experiences when I first started. I worked really hard and it took time to grab a foothold in my area. Now when aspiring planners reach out, I always take the time to answer their questions. And given advice. If we all did this, we might have fewer aspiring planners trying to undercut our worth, and we would help to build the industry. I do believe that there's a niche and space out there for everyone who wants to work hard.
How does using Aisle Planner help you deliver the client experience you want to?
I use every aspect of Aisle Planner, and it has been a game-changer from day one. I began using it for the robust timeline and cloud-based contact/contracts storage. I decided to fully commit and invest in business coaching that allowed me to save some time “figuring things out by myself” and begin using all of AP’s tools. With subsequent additions/upgrades to the platform, like the templates for layouts, it has saved me countless hours and allows me to provide couples with a seamless planning experience.
What is your favorite Aisle Planner feature?
I’m obsessed with Aisle Planner’s checklist. I love assigning tasks to couples and my own team members. But I do not doubt that the favorite feature for my couples is the “drag and drop” aspect of seating.
If you weren't the Owner + Lead Planner of Bogath Weddings & Events what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
It’s always been my dream to join the Peace Corps. I’m a true hippie. I had a great aunt who did just that after retiring from a long teaching career and her children had left home. She used to write me the most beautiful and inspiring letters detailing her adventures and mishaps while traveling the world. Aunt Theresa went to many exotic places and was able to immerse herself in the culture, with the added benefit of becoming a tourist on her days off. It’s not too late for me. I still hold onto this plan. But with a 16-year-old, it may have to wait a while. I also have to talk my husband into going with me!
As a business owner, what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome and benefits you’ve experienced?
When beginning my business I operated under the guise of “any wedding booked is a good wedding.” When in fact this resulted in a lot of really hard work that was often undervalued. Meaning, not only did I not charge my worth, but I was, at times, undervalued by the couple I was working for. It took time and effort to build a portfolio that showcased the type of work that represented my brand. I had to spend a lot of time and marketing effort gearing my work and expertise towards a niche location while still working for couples getting married in locations I had booked one or two years earlier in areas where I knew I didn’t want to continue working. The challenge was learning to say “No.” This is something I hear all the time. But in my case, it meant saying no to quality couples and budgets that were outside my territory. Yes, I could have charged more and made more, but at the expense of being away from my family. I had to decide early on, what I was willing to sacrifice for my business. And in the end, it was not the right time for my growing child and my husband. Interestingly, now that my 16-year old is old enough to help in the background of event set-up, we do get to spend some time together on wedding days.
What are three things you never show up without on event day?
My laptop, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. I’ve learned this the hard way. Almost 100% of the weddings I plan are beach weddings. And while it’s beautiful getting to spend the day (or at least a large portion of it) on the edge of the ocean, getting sunburned is no fun. Also, I’ve been pooped on twice now by seagulls. A change of clothes and a water bottle for a quick emergency hair rinse in the dunes is clutch.
What’s your personal philosophy on becoming a great wedding and event planner?
I am deeply invested in every couple’s process. Both emotionally and from a business standpoint. I take the time to get to know my couples, and I learn to meet them where they need me most. Also, I believe strongly in my own need to continually learn. I am not afraid to invest in my own education. And before ever outsourcing a task or job, I try it myself, first. I’ve found that some tasks are worth learning and retaining control over (for example my website design and marketing). While other jobs, like bookkeeping, I’ve learned how to do it for myself. And when I realized bookkeeping was beyond my abilities and taking way too long, I found someone to whom I could outsource the task to. But knowing how I wanted the job done, and being involved closely enough to monitor how things move forward has been key.
What’s your trademark in the client or event experience?
Hands-on attention to every detail when planning, especially beach ceremonies. It’s not simple. So many couples believe that it’s just a matter of plunking an arbor and some chairs in the sand. But there are so many considerations: tide charts, erosion, beach sizes, not to mention permits! I learned this when I went to scout a ceremony location with one couple, who remarked that the beach was much smaller today than the day before. After digging a little deeper, we discovered that the day before they had visited at high tide!
Is there anything you are particularly excited about working on this year?
This year, I began planning with Bay Magazine a bridal expo on Long Beach Island, the Wedding Bliss Expo. Hopefully, we can host it despite COVID-19. It’s not until November 8, 2020, so I still have my fingers crossed.
Just for fun
What’s the most used tool in your emergency kit?
My 3M Command Hook collection. I have a huge ziplock bag full of all different sizes and capacities. I have used them for everything!
I’m dying to design a wedding or event in…
There is this empty ball field on the edge of Barnegat Bay in Harvey Cedars, on Long Beach Island. It’s hosted one wedding. I have been trying to “sell” couples on tenting the field and throwing the most amazing wedding under a tent with the sunset and the bay in the background. Perhaps this year will be the year.
If you could plan any celebrity’s wedding, who would it be?
If it has to be a living celebrity, then I would love to plan Cody Rigsby’s wedding. He’s my absolute favorite fitness instructor! I have found that I have to stay in really good shape to be functional after a wedding day! And Cody’s workouts keep me working hard and laughing. But if I could choose anyone, even someone who is no longer living, it would be Frieda Kahlo. Hands down. She’s my obsession. Her taste and color sense. Of course, she’d have to do her wedding on the beach. But I like to think she’d be cool with that!
If you could go back in time, what’s one thing you would change about your wedding?
My husband says we should have skipped chair covers. I disagree. But we both agree we should have budgeted for a videographer. At the time, we just thought it was an unnecessary add-on. But we lost my dad a few years back, and I would give anything for that video of our wedding day now. This is a regret I share with all of my couples. And something that, especially these days, is even more important as we are helping so many of our couples navigate smaller guest counts without elderly family members who might not be able to attend in person.
During your time as a wedding and event professional, what’s the biggest mistake you made and how did you recover from it?
Spending too much money on a styled shoot without budgeting for it and without considering the branding. In fact, not discussing budget upfront and honestly for every single project (including when working with couples). With styled shoots, in particular, it’s so easy to get excited by the opportunity to collaborate and be creative, but if the shoot is off-brand it’s simply not worth the investment. A lot of planning is a learning curve. But one thing I did do was invest heavily in education. And I did do an off-season online course focusing on styled shoots.
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