Sara Levesque, Wedding Director

Since I started Salt Harbor, I have been a huge believer in the idea that event design and event coordination/direction often take two very different personalities.  While the design part takes someone who is creative and schooled in the areas of spatial planning, color, floral, graphic, and concept design, an event coordinator/director is someone who must be wonderful with people and logistically and organizationally trained.  I have been so lucky to find some amazing people who embody the logistical/organizational side of the industry.  In this way, I am able to do what I love and am good at, and they are able to concentrate on what they are best at.  When clients book event design and direction, the result is a great collaborative effort where everyone can focus fully on their strengths, and clients benefit from a combination of planning approaches.  It also means that on the day of the event, there are two personalities on site, one making sure everything looks amazing, and one making sure everything runs smoothly!

I met Sara for the first time while she was coordinating weddings for The Bridge Tender.  When it was time for her wedding last fall, she hired us as her event design team.  Everyone here instantly fell in love with her personality, and after the wedding, I asked if she might be interested in directing and coordinating for Salt Harbor.  She agreed, and since that time Sara has been involved in many of the weddings we’ve done.  She has a great personality and instantly puts people at ease.  Brides and their families fall in love with her just like we did.  She has years of coordinating experience, which means that she can handle any emergency, manage any situation, and wrangle any unruly groomsman.  She has been and continues to be a huge asset to Salt Harbor.

More about Sara…

What do you enjoy most about directing/coordinating weddings?

I truly enjoy all aspects of the wedding industry. I love meeting with the Bride and Groom and getting to know them as individuals and a couple. It is an honor to be a part of their special day and help make the memories that will last them a lifetime. 

In your life what has prepared you for directing/coordinating and how long have you been in the industry?

I was a maid of honor/bridesmaid in 12 weddings prior to my own last fall. I have helped a lot of my friends coordinate their weddings, plan showers and parties. Being in all of the weddings gave me a chance to see all sides of the process and I learned from the experiences.  It taught me how to handle different situations such as an anxious bride or a family member not being in place for the processional. It made me aware of all of the details that need to be in place to ensure a successful day   I also realized how much I enjoy weddings and everything that comes along with it!

I have been working in the event industry since 1999(10 years now.) I started planning events for Virginia Tech when I was a student. After graduating with a Hospitality and Management Degree with a specialization in event planning, I moved to London to work with Marriott International’s Event Planning Department.  I have been planning events and weddings in the Wilmington area for over 5 years now and love what I do.

I am a very detail oriented and organized person.  My work experience has given me the opportunity to experience the management and catering aspect of event planning. I feel that these experiences help me relate to our vendors and work together with them during the planning process and the day of the event.  I also can adapt to change. In this industry, that is crucial because there are times when things happen that you can’t control, such as the weather, and you must adapt, quickly.  

What is your favorite moment of a ceremony/reception?

Looking at the Groom’s face when the bride walks down the aisle. All eyes are always on the Bride but I like to see the Groom’s reaction. My favorite moment at the reception is when the Bride and Groom are introduced to the guests. This is the first time the couple has seen all of the planning and details come together and it is very rewarding to see their excitement.

Any advice for brides planning their wedding?

My advice is to enjoy this time during the planning process. It is such a busy time but also very special and it flies by.  Make sure you take time to really enjoy all of the special moments leading up to your wedding day.    

How do you spend your free time, when not working weddings?

I enjoy spending time with my husband and taking our dog to the beach or on the boat. During the fall, if I am not coordinating a wedding, you can find me in Blacksburg, VA watching Virginia Tech football with my family and friends.  I also really enjoy entertaining—I guess that is the party/wedding planner in me!

Jillian Watson, Design Assistant

Jillian joined Salt Harbor in the Spring of 2009 and was an instant fit!  She is extremely creative and precise, which makes her an excellent addition to Salt Harbor’s floral and paper divisions.  Jillian can handle just about anything I throw at her, and even though she did not come with design experience, it seems as though she has been doing it for years.  To my delight, Jillian and Ashley together have effectively put a stop to my weekend all-nighters by being such amazing design assistants!  I simply could not have a better crew!

 

Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Wilmington?

I grew up in New Bern and decided to apply to college here in Wilmington.  It's really not much of a story.  It's far enough away that I can be independent but close enough if I needed to go home for something important.

When you actually get a weekend off, how do you like to spend your time?

Normally I spend a lot of my free time doing school work for the next week.  But I also spend time with my friends watching movies or hanging out at the pool or sometimes I go visit my family.

Tell us a quirky trait or two.

I am always hungry at 12:00 on the dot. I'm like the lunchtime alarm since we don't have a clock in the shop.

Hobbies, interests, important things to you?

I love books, music and movies all pretty equally.  I know everyone says that but I really do genuinely love these things and I don't know what I would do without them unless they made some sort of 12 step program to get over them.  I also knit, thanks to my mother who taught me well, and like shopping, thanks to my grandmother who is on the go if she has a dime in her pocket.

If you could do anything as a career, what would you do?

I really want to be a writer even though I know the chances of being the next Stephen King or Jane Austen is like six trillion to one

What is your favorite part of this job? 

My favorite part of this job is probably being a part of people's big day.  A lot of women dream about their wedding day since they were young and being a part of that and making their day special and beautiful is really great. 

What is your favorite part of a wedding?

My favorite part of a wedding is lighting the candles.  It's the finishing touch and once that is done everything comes together and it's amazing.

Which event has been your favorite so far?

Maybe Scottie Bond's wedding at Holden Beach mostly because Sara and I really got to know the bride and her family after being there for two days.  I also really love ones with themes like Tiffany Cox's baseball themed wedding, doing something different is always fun.

After working here, what advice would you give brides? 

Have fun with it, weddings should be about you as a couple and not your parents or your friends and you.

What is something you have learned that you never knew before working in this industry?

I don't think I ever imagined how complicated and intricate weddings could be.

Ashley Beasley, Designer's & Director's Assistant

Ashley joined the Salt Harbor team in the Spring of 08, when she applied for an internship through UNCW.  After the first event with us, it was clear that she was in fact the hardest working person I had ever met!  It does not matter what Ashley is doing, whether it is putting flowers in vases, setting up for an event, helping to direct a wedding, or cleaning up afterwards, she does it with heart and enthusiasm.  It was abundantly obvious after her internship that she needed to stay, and so she became an integral part of Salt Harbor.  Ashley is great with clients and guests, and so she was a perfect fit for a director’s assistant, and it won’t be long before she’ll be directing weddings herself.  We are so happy to have her!

Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Wilmington?

I grew up in Rocky Mount, NC. Family is very important to me. I'm the oldest of four; I love my sisters and brother with all my heart! In high school I only wanted to attend one college and that was UNCW. So when I was accepted, I immediately began anticipating life in Wilmington. I love everything about Wilmington: the beach, the history of downtown, and college!

When you actually get a weekend off, how do you like to spend your time?

Usually, with my boyfriend, Matt or visiting my family. On Sunday mornings, you can catch me at Port City Church. Also, I am a total beach bum, so when it's warm you can find me soaking up the sun!

Tell us a quirky trait or two.

I love to cook! Whenever I have free time, I love searching for new recipes. I honestly, think I have an obsession for good food. When I get to travel (hopefully in the near future), the one thing I look forward to the most is trying all the different restaurants. Secretively, I would love to be a food critic.

Hobbies, interests, important things to you?

Well, as you already know, I love to cook! I am obsessed with Port City Church's Overflow on Tuesday nights. I have a cute little Rat Terrier named, Flip. He is the pride and joy of my life, and not to mention the sweetest dog ever. I am a Communication Studies major, so I love interacting and meeting new people. My family means everything to me. As for a new hobby, I just recently enrolled in scuba class, so hopefully I will be a professional diver soon! To sum it all up, I try to live life to the fullest and make the most out of what I am given.

If you could do anything as a career, what would you do?

If I could do anything, I would like to be a corporate event coordinator. Although, my job at Salt Harbor has sparked my creativity and imagination, and because of that I'd also love to be an interior decorator.

What is your favorite part of this job? 

My favorite part of this job is having the opportunity to help direct weddings. Seeing the satisfaction and awe of the bride's face makes all the hard work I did throughout the week worthwhile.

What is your favorite part of a wedding?

My favorite part of a wedding is when the groom gets to see the bride for the first time. It's such an intimate moment shared between the two of them, but felt by all who watch!

Which event has been your favorite so far?

This is a tough one! If I had to choose just one event, I would have to say Rhonda and Wayne's wedding. They had their wedding on their farm in Shallotte. The wedding guests sat on bails of hay. Cocktail hour was held at a barn. And the reception was the perfect combination of vintage and rustic. Plus, I love sunflowers, and this wedding was full of them!

After working here, what advice would you give brides?

Have a back-up plan. Mother nature can be fierce!  Choose knots over bows!  Weddings work out best when you have help! A coordinator is a good investment.

What is something you have learned that you never knew before working in this industry?

I have learned so much. Probably the most important thing I have learned is that the best vendors truly do care about their clients. These are the vendors that want the wedding to be just as perfect as the bride's dream. In this industry details are everything. I have become so much more detail oriented, but that's because the smallest touches can make the biggest impact!

Anna James, Office Manager

I am not sure if we found Anna or if Anna found us, but whatever the case, I can never be grateful enough for her presence at Salt Harbor.  She worked her first event with us in September of 2007, when we were still extremely new and working out of a building in my back yard.  She managed to survive those beginning seasons when the only water source for filling vases was the garden hose, and we pulled all nighters every single weekend to get the work done.  As the company grew, Anna grew with us, learning the industry along with me and becoming extremely familiar with all the logistics and details of the local venues.  Today, she is very involved in the daily happenings of the company, answering e-mails, writing estimates, and answering the telephone.  She is also on site for weddings, making sure the layout is exact and overseeing the rentals and deliveries.  She is absolutely essential to Salt Harbor, and we could not do without her!

Here’s a little more from Anna!

Where did you grow up, and how did you end up in Wilmington? 

I grew up in Rocky Mount, NC, which is only about 2 hours north of Wilmington.  When I was 10 my dad got a new job and we moved to Wilmington, NC and I have been here ever since.  I’ve spent most of my life here in the port city and this is where I want to stay.  I love being so close to the beach and I love how laid back the whole community is. 

When you actually get a weekend off, how do you like to spend your time?

I really like to spend time with my fiancé and family.  I am really close to my family and we all enjoy doing things together.  Depending on what weekend it is, I might be off in the boat or Jet Ski, watching my little brother play soccer, at a football game, listening to a band at Bluewater, playing games with the family, or just hanging out at the house. 

Tell us a quirky trait or two.

I guess I would have to say that I like music and dancing.  I have a very eclectic style of music.  I like a lot of different kinds of music and know the words to a lot of songs, so at the shop you will probably see me singing or busting a move.  And if you’re lucky you will see me dancing to the music when we come to clean up a wedding.  I can’t help but dance to the music being played.

What are your hobbies and Interests?

I really enjoy going out on the water with any kind a boat.  I love just riding around out on the boat and feeling like I have no worries in the world.  I enjoy going to listen to bands with the family and dancing.  I would also have to say that I enjoy looking at wedding magazines and home interior magazines.  My mom and I love to go on the parade of homes and look at all the neat ideas people have.  I also enjoy watching HGTV and TLC to learn about the many ways to decorate.  I like taking my little Chihuahua on walks and to the beach.  I enjoy going to the fire department my fiancé volunteers at and helping out when I can.  I really like to travel to different places when I can, it’s nice to get away and see the world around you.  But I really just enjoy being with family and friends and having a good time.

If you could do anything as a career, what would you do?

I really love my job and enjoy coming to work everyday, so this is what I want to be doing.

What is your favorite part of this job?  

My favorite part about this job is working with all the girls in such a creative atmosphere.  We really work well together and have become best of friends, and when you put flowers, crafts, and design all together, it becomes a great work place.

What is your favorite part of a wedding?

My favorite part a wedding is hard to pin point.  First is when we take the bouquets to the bride.  The first time the bride sees her bouquets is a great moment of the day.  Most of the time the bride hasn’t put on her dress, so I really think that it is the first time the bride really feels like she is getting married in a couple of hours.  The next favorite moment for me is when we finally get everything put into place at the reception and you can step back and look at everything.  It really gives me that wow factor that we have everything done and it looks fantastic.  The last moment is when we come back to the event to clean up, and the bride and groom are still there, and we can see just how much they enjoyed their day.

Which event has been your favorite so far?

I have been working for Salt Harbor almost since it opened, so I have seen a lot.  This question is rather difficult because every wedding season just gets better and better.  If I had to say just one event that was my favorite overall, it would be Mary and Chris’s wedding.  They had their reception at Airlie gardens under a tent with wooden tables, beautiful flowers, fun and games, awesome food, and midnight snacks.  I really liked the color scheme that she had and I loved the rustic look that was incorporated.  I think that the wooden boxes that the centerpieces were in with the driftwood stumps were my favorite.  I also really liked the midnight snacks of cookies and soda. 

After working at Salt Harbor, what advice would you give brides? 

Make sure that you aren’t paying for 3 different people to do a job that one person can handle.  So many times with a wedding you end up having so many people doing the same thing when you can just have one person do it all.  It makes everything a lot smoother when you have the fewest amounts of people planning.  The more people you get involved, the more chaotic the planning and day of is going to be.  Find out what services your vendors can do before booking everyone.

What is something you have learned that you never knew before working in this industry?

There are definitely a lot of things that go into putting a wedding together.  I don’t think anyone realizes how much work goes into one day.  In the end it is all worth it, but there is so much more behind the scenes work that goes on.  I would also have to say that after working here, I have seen just how much is out there for your wedding day.  I never new how many flowers you could use for bouquets and centerpieces, how much you could put on a table to make your guests feel that they are an important part, and all the fun you can create to have a one of a kind wedding!

Our Story

I get asked the same questions all of the time—how did you get started in this industry, when did you start Salt Harbor, why the name, what is in store for the future.  Before I blog the scoop on all the great team members here at Salt Harbor, I thought I would give a little about our beginnings and our future. 

How We Got Started…

I am Jennifer and in 2006, I was finishing my master’s in creative writing, working in a local flower shop, planning my own wedding to my best friend, and completely indecisive about where I would end up occupationally.  I had changed majors in college 5 or so times, from graphic design to interior design to art, theater, and finally writing.  All I knew was that I could never really pick between the arts—I loved them all too much.  And then, while planning my own wedding, I realized that encapsulated in this one process was everything I loved—story, theme, color, flowers, art, graphic, and set design.  After the wedding, Bruce, my best friend, and husband at the time (we are no longer married, but still best friends) suggested that perhaps I had stumbled upon the perfect occupation.  He pushed the idea and by winter of 2006, we had the humble beginnings of a business started.  And boy, do I mean humble!  Our first wedding was designed in my kitchen with the air conditioning turned down to 55 degrees and our refrigerator housing the boutonnières and bouquets. 

I had no experience in event planning, but years of floral experience, so that is where we started.  Soon, however, I realized how unfulfilling it actually was to leave centerpieces on a table where the paper, linens, candlelight, and place settings had not been coordinated properly.  So Bruce suggested that I expand into design and planning.  While it was a somewhat overwhelming leap, I soon saw that it was not all that different from my experience as a set designer and stage manager.  Events really are theater, and the concept of event design seemed to work perfectly!  So Salt Harbor Designs adapted, took on more, and continued to grow.  Now we have a warehouse, a studio space, lots of inventory, great employees, and the capacity to handle full event design and planning projects.  And Bruce was right, I have found the perfect occupation!   

The Name…

I have been drawn to harbors for a long time, spending summers at a harbor on Lake Erie when I was young and finding my way to the lovely Wilmington harbor after college.  I wanted a name that was not “weddingy” and that represented the style I hoped to develop—a natural, rustic, unique approach to design and flowers.  Bruce came up Salt Harbor Designs, and I loved it!

What Is to Come…

Who knows!  We have grown so much in two and a half years, and I could not be happier!  I very much wanted to start a rental company that specialized in unique event rentals, and Harborside Event Rentals opened last month.   There are a few more custom divisions of Salt Harbor in the works, but they remain a little ways out.  Ultimately, our goal is to continue to implement well-designed events that are unique to this area.  Where things go from there, we’ll just have to see!