Meet My Supplier Chums!!
Welcome to my brand new feature – Meet My Supplier Chums!! This is my interview to sit down and have a chat with some of my favourite industry experts and for you to learn a bit more about the people who work in the background to make your event the best day ever. In this Blog, I’d like to Introduce you to Jodie of Ella Bella Weddings and Events.
Whenever I have worked with Jodie, we have had such fun. She is a real force of nature, full of passion, colour and dedication to her business, clients and family and her energy is contagious. As regional manager for the East of England for Quirky Weddings as well as a brilliant wedding and event planner she really knows her stuff and planning and organising is her bag – so with no further ado, here’s Jodie….
What do you do? I help create and plan alternative and unique weddings, giving couples choice for the wedding day they truly want.
What do you love about what you do? I believe every couple should have the wedding day they truly want, no matter who they are or who they identify as and I love the like-minded couples I get to work with.
How did you start out? I was originally a graphic designer that got into wedding stationery and after planning my own wedding realised this is what I was meant to be doing.
What sets you apart from the rest? I’m very colourful and I champion individuality, inclusivity and accessibility in the wedding industry.
What do you hate to see in the industry? The same cis-hetero, small size, white, their set beauty standards and cookie cutter weddings shown to couples in magazines and online/social media, so they don’t see themselves and realise they do have a choice when it comes to their wedding.
What do you love to see in the industry? The way suppliers all have the same end goal, making sure the couple have their best day ever and the unity of suppliers making the changes every day to make the industry more inclusive and accessible.
What is your favourite venue type? Outdoors! Especially festival style I love it, you get so much freedom with an outdoor wedding.
Who is your ideal client? Neurospicy, queer, non-traditional and quirky.
What causes do you contribute towards or believe in? I am a big advocate for the LGTBQIA+ and the disabled community. It is my mission in life to create safe and accessible spaces in the wedding industry. I volunteer for Suffolk Pride and I do charity events throughout the year for our children’s charity Amy and Friends.
What awards or accolades do you have? I have won an award from the Witham Neighbourhood Watch award for inspirational role model and Quality Business Awards in 2023 I have featured in many blogs, podcasts and magazines including Quirky Weddings Magazine, Rock and Roll Bride, Unconventional Weddings, Pretty and Punk, Magpie Weddings, A Suffolk Ceremony, BBC sounds, A Groom with a View and English Wedding Blog.
I’ll be completely honest I have never actually entered any, you must pay a lot of money to do so, which I feel is missing the point. If I were to enter any it would be the Quirky Wedding Awards but as I manage the fayres in the East I can’t.
Why do you love working with Celebrants? They are simply the best! They offer the couples choice and create the most personal ceremonies. They want the couple to have the best day, they don’t just do the ceremony and leave, they really get to know the couples and go above and beyond on their day.
How can people get in touch with you? You can find me at ellabellaevents.co.uk and on socials @ellabellaweddingsandevents
