{pat laughed hysterically when I walked out of the room with my new shoes but I still think they’re pretty awesome}

Growing up with the name Jacin {jay-sin} has given me a bit of a complex when it comes to names and being slightly sensitive about people’s initial perceptions. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my name and couldn’t imagine being anything else, but I’m pretty sure I’ve said the following statement more than anything else in my life “yeah, it’s J-A-C-I-N, not Jason”. As if that makes a difference, right? But I do get the look from most people when I introduce myself, as if to say “did I hear her right?” And to me, the spelling does make a difference, to understand that it’s the female version of the name. My name came from the San Jacinto valley in California, an area dear to my mother who was born and raised for the most part in California. Jacinto also means “hyacinth” in spanish, which is particularly fitting for me and my love of flowers, especially the sweet scent of hyacinths.

With this being said, when it came time to name my business in December 2010, I was struggling with the right fit. Should I use my name? What would be memorable? What would totally encompass what I wanted to do, as the biz evolved in to what I was working so hard to become? When talking to my first set of designers, I listed the potential names, one being lovely little details. I knew I was all about the details, and those little tiny details were what really got me excited. Even the details that only 50% of people would notice, but when they noticed, they felt a sense of delight. I wanted all of my clients to experience that feeling of delight when they walked out to their vineyard reception area, all set up as we had planned, but with those lovely little details that brought their vision to life. No matter which direction I wanted to go, I always came back to those little details. And that was that - my biz had a name, and I ran with it.

I registered my LLC, trademarked my name, and got going with business licensing, tax permits, insurance, and all the fun “stuff” that goes on behind the scenes of being a business owner. But every once in a while, I would see the cool girls in the industry with their hip company names and badass “rad” decor and start re-thinking my company name. In California, there are lots of camps of designers - rustic, hipster, modern, elegant, traditional, natural/organic. In defining my niche, I realized I needed to let go of whether my company name was “cool”, and own it. I am about the details. Those lovely, little details that bring life to each and every event that I pull together, through decor but just as important, the logistics. The golden ribbon tied around every spoon, the timeline in place to make sure the shuttle arrived as planned, the meticulously crafted seating charts, the I-can’t-believe-you-were-able-to-find-that details that bring delight to each and every client I work with. The natural place settings that scream California but still have that essence of New England charm. Using the natural, organic beauty to set the scene, accented with just the right details to tell the story.

It’s really hard in this industry to stick to your gut and keep going, especially with everything fluttering around you making you question every move you make. The same can be said for wedding planning, amidst the inspiration overload surrounding you via pinterest and wedding blogs. But for those in the industry, if you stick to what you do best, your name will become second nature. My company name might not be the coolest or hippest on the block, but it defines exactly what I do, and who I am, as I continually strive to improve both. And that is what gives me comfort on those days of questioning. So if you’re in the same boat, just keep moving and I promise you, you’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be. And your name will just be right there with you, tagging along for the ride.