Hey everybody!
Benfield Photography would not be where it is today without J Bailey Occasions. Jenessa Bailey, who started the wedding planning company around the same time I moved Benfield Photography to Arkansas, was my first wedding friend in Northwest Arkansas. She probably thought I was a total creep by reaching out to her out of nowhere (I actually think it was on myspace! Seriously!), but I'm glad she agreed to hang out and chat wedding biz all those years ago. I remember asking her at that meeting what I should say to brides to make them realize they needed Jenessa to help plan their wedding (I had a meeting with a bride coming up), and less than a week later, we booked our first shared wedding.
The years following, we worked most of our weddings together. I have trouble explaining it... how we were able to get all the same weddings... but it boiled down to our brides saw that we worked really well together, had a fun time working together, and made the entire planning process and wedding day go so smoothly. Jenessa taught me a lot about weddings, and helped my business more than she probably realizes. When she decided to stop doing weddings so she could focus on mommyhood, I was kind of heartbroken; however, I adore her two kiddos and know she made a good choice (now that they're a little older, she owns and runs Swanky Sooie in her spare time!)
The best part of it all, however, is that Meredith and I gained a true friend. One of the absolute best people I know. We're still friends after all these years, and we're still thankful for her.
Here are some the detail and design highlights from over the years of working with Jenessa...
Lisa and Joe's Bentonville wedding (with a touch of Alice in Wonderland)
Jonna's ethereal wedding at the Inn at Carnall Hall...
Jessica and Brent's wedding at Matt Lane Farm...
Taryn and Ryan's Pratt Place wedding...
Brittany's darling private home wedding...
Another from Taryn's wedding...
Seth and Chelsea's Memphis wedding...
I just had to show this one (from Felicia and Casey Dick's wedding in Springale)...
Jenessa and her team created the ruffled effect by hand-pinning the linens - more than 3 THOUSAND pins, y'all! That's going above and beyond!
Well, I'm not sure where all that came from! I guess I was just reminiscing and once it started, it just kept pouring!!
While J-Bai doesn't do weddings anymore, the need for a planner is as important as ever. Let me know if you're a Benny Bride and don't know who to use! I'll get you set up!
Talk to you soon,
Dale