Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill McCarty.
Hi Jill, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m the owner of both Couture Events and the Hill Country Wedding Show in New Braunfels, Texas. I have been working in the wedding industry on and off for over 25 years. I think I am a sucker for a true love story and the belief that love overcomes most any obstacle. I love love and I love celebrations.
My love for weddings began, as most wedding planners start their journey, by planning my own wedding many years ago. There was something about the crazy stress of the wedding planning and the quick-moving parts of the event that made me feel “alive” by taking care of. I realized my passion then but did not have the time to pursue it. I was a DJ/KJ with my own band and was performing almost every night. As a busy entertainer, I had little to no time to do anything else- much less go back to school to learn a new profession. As I performed at more weddings and events, I continued seeing the chaos and the lack of organization behind the scenes. The ones who were supposed to be enjoying the day, the bride, the family, the organizers, were the ones running around working the event and stressed over the details. I took a mental note each time and the desire began to grow with each event. When my husband and I had a tragedy in our family, we decided to pack up everything and move to be closer to family. The move ended my entertainment career, and I had to figure out what to do in that new chapter of my life. I made the decision to go for it. I went back to school and have never looked back.
In late 2006, we made another move to the beautiful city of New Braunfels. Again, I found myself starting over. I took a hiatus from planning weddings and events as the recession was hitting a little close to home. As any new client-based business owner can tell you, the first few years are HARD! Building clientele and getting your brand in front of people is a challenge. It certainly was back then as social media wasn’t exactly what it is today. My husband looked at me one evening and said bluntly, “Jill, you’ve got to get a real job.” I was crushed, defeated, sad and felt like I had failed. I knew deep down what I had to do, though. I started the job search the next day. I landed a job with a big-name, well-branded American company. It truly was the best thing that could have happened to me as future successful business owner. I started at a base position, which taught me humility, and I eventually moved up to a big office in the back and meetings everyday position. I learned how to be a good employee, but I learned how to be an even better boss. I learned office skills I lacked before. I learned how to be organized. I learned how to listen to employees and implement their ideas. I learned customer service skills. I learned patience, I learned about KPI, ROI, trends, fashion and more. From that one job, I learned how to be a leader.
In 2017, I planned my niece’s wedding, and it was the beginning of the end for the corporate job. I felt the tug of my heart. I heard the still small voice. I knew it was time to start over again and reopen Couture Events. I resigned the following month and hit the ground running. Since the day of putting MY company name on MY office front door, it has been a pleasure to plan and coordinate so many weddings. It is such a rewarding experience to help couples plan and execute such a special day and quite possibly the biggest party they will ever plan in their lives. The rewards are endless, and my heart is always so full.
Along my event business journey, I have met so many amazing people – vendors who have turned into wonderful friends and couples who have become family. We are all continuously looking for the next big thing, the next trend, the next couple, and the next client. In the wedding industry, we vendors don’t get many repeat customers (and that’s a GOOD thing, haha!). It is an everyday push to get our business in front of couples. Being an entrepreneur/doer and always having a dream of organizing and producing a large bridal show, I saw a need for such an event in our growing city. As New Braunfels and the Texas Hill Country have steadily become a wedding destination, the quantity and quality of wedding and event vendors has also increased exponentially. I could not be more proud of the work the wedding and event industry is producing in our part of the great state of Texas. We have incredible folks doing incredible things. I felt a need to showcase the achievements of local vendors to those with the misconception that quality work can only come from the big cities. I also wanted to create an event that was affordable for local vendors so they could reach more people. Thus began the work of the Hill Country Wedding Show. I am proud to say that we will be producing our 4th annual HCWS at the New Braunfels Convention Center on January 2, 2022. We will be hosting over 125 vendors and are expecting over 1,200 brides through the doors this coming year. The HCWS is a wedding experience like no other, and I am proud of the work we are doing. We have been dubbed “the biggest little wedding show in the Hill Country.” I will take it!
Through my journey, I have learned that there are really only three guarantees: we are all born, we will all die, and we will all fall in love. Every one of those occasions deserves a celebration. To be a small part of one of life’s guarantees is a great honor. I will forever celebrate love, happiness, friendship and the chaos that comes with planning events! Cheers!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is never a smooth road. Owning your own business is certainly not always a dreamy journey down a smooth road. We all encounter challenges along each path in life, but I believe it is in facing the challenges that we find the wins and build character for ourselves and our businesses.
As stated previously, I had to restart my business numerous times for one reason or another. I could have given up, but I chose to come back stronger than the time before. God knows what He is doing and His timing is perfect. I had many things to learn from each experience in my path to get to where I am in my business today. Had I not had those experiences of delay, I don’t feel I would be as successful as I am today. Your setbacks are only set-ups for the future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I would love to tell you about my baby, Couture Events. We are a full-time wedding and event planning and coordination company based in New Braunfels, Texas, and we are always ready to assist anyone dreaming of creating the perfect day and the perfect event. Whether the affair is a small intimate setting, a family bar-b-que, corporate event, fundraiser, or the most important day of a couple’s life- a wedding, Couture Events will tend to every detail. Our focus is always to advocate for our clients and their interests. Our clients can rest assured their day is as important to us as it is to them because their beautiful and well-planned event is also our success. Our goal at Couture Events is to bring a special touch and fresh outlook to each event. We are there for our clients every step of the way.
With a growing, we offer a large variety of services. If you have only set the date and want us to do it all, we have a package for that. If you need assistance to wrap up the planning before your special event, we have a package that can help you through the last stressful months. If you’re looking for a professional to execute your plans on the day of the event, we have a package available for the coordination of your grand affair. Couture Events has two ordained ministers on staff, and we would be honored to officiate your ceremony with a customized service. Want our team to do it all at your event? Yes, please! We offer decorating and setup packages, cake cutting services and event clean up packages for a completely stress-free event. How about spoiling your bridal party? We can do that, too. Ask about our delicious mimosa brunch service. We are working now on a few new services to add to our menu, and brides will learn more about those in the near future. Stay tuned to Couture Events!
Our professional staff will handle all the details so you can throw the best event with no worries. We want you to enjoy the planning process. Most importantly, however, we want you to enjoy your big day! We strive for our clients to feel that they can attend their event while we attend to their event.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was a kid without a care in the world. I lived in rural Oklahoma until my family moved, when I was twelve, to the big city of San Antonio. What a crazy adjustment! My mom and dad worked hard to support our family, and we were a typical blue-collar family of five. I was the middle child, and well I guess that’s why I tend to be a little loud sometimes and do things my own way. I have always been competitive. It is in my DNA. I played softball from age four to age 18. I was a cheerleader, played flag football, sang in every choir I could and was on dance team in high school and college. My competitive edge drove me to earn a dance scholarship to college where I worked harder on having fun than grades. Isn’t that what you are supposed to do in college?!?
Most people in my life today would not know that I was a pretty shy kid who had a hard time starting a conversation. What do I say? How do I make a connection? What if they don’t like me? As the kid who generally stood a foot taller than the other girls, I wanted so badly to just fit in. It wasn’t until later I learned that standing “tall” and standing out was where it’s at! All those years, I wanted to hide and ironically now I work even harder to stand out. Making a connection with others is no longer a problem for me, but I worked very hard to gain that confidence.
Growing up, I learned to be a problem-solver. I had such supportive parents. My mama was my best friend who was there for me in every way. She sacrificed so much for us, and she never missed a chance to be my number one fan. In fact, to this day she still is my biggest fan. My daddy was a hard-working man who gave us the world on a silver platter. (Don’t think I had everything I ever wanted because I did not. I did have everything I ever needed, though! There is a huge difference.) My dad was my father, my coach, my shoulder to cry on, my protector, my school essay editor, my hero and my friend. One thing he was not was my problem-solver. Let me explain. When I was little, he was there for me in any way he could be to teach me and to help me grow. As I got older and came to him with my “problems,” he would ask me to present the problem AND what I thought was a viable solution. We would discuss my idea along with his opinion of the situation, and I would make the decision. You see, my dad taught me early on to stop and look at all sides, think about the options and make a decision based on my gut. He wasn’t my problem-solver. He was the problem-helper. He taught me to be the problem-solver.
My parents have been a shining example of what family and love should be. This year they celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary, and their example of dedication has settled in my soul. Their love has been the reason I searched for my Mr. Right and never settled for my Mr. Right Now. That led me to my soulmate with whom I share 25 years of wedded bliss with next year. I believe my parent’s love and dedication is the reason I do what I do today. I know firsthand that a true love story still exists.
Contact Info:
- Email: jill@coutureeventsbyjill.com
- Website: www.coutureeventsbyjill.com
- Instagram: @coutureeventsbyjill
- Facebook: @coutureeventsbyjill
Image Credits
Black & White bride picture – Dawn Elizabeth Studios HCWS photo – 1023 Photography Stain Glass Door photo – Amy Mathis Barn wedding photo – Dawn Elizabeth Studios Couple under tree photo – Shy Laurel Photography Bride with sons – JP Photography Couple by the lake photo – Sun Gold Photography Bride with Dad photo – Sun Gold Photography
