Shortly after hiring Jen for my wedding at the Jubilee Estate, my fiancé and I settled on a wedding date of 12/28/2024 after confirming with our VIP guests. Jen facilitated the contract to reserve the date, and we signed it. Days later, we were suddenly told that the venue had been "accidentally" double-booked and that we needed to choose a new date. This was devastating. I later learned that another family booked the venue through Airbnb because it still showed as available, which left me wondering whether the issue was truly a mistake or just a careless oversight by Jen. Instead of taking accountability, Jen shifted blame elsewhere and downplayed the situation while I was left in tears. When we picked a new date, she went completely unresponsive for almost a week, leaving us in limbo as we anxiously waited for confirmation that our date was secured. This early experience had us seriously questioning our decision to work with her, but since we had already paid, we hesitantly moved forward.
Over the next 10 months, our frustration only grew. Jen frequently canceled or rescheduled Zoom calls without warning, often without any explanation, and with no regard for my work and school schedule. It became exhausting trying to keep up with last-minute changes. More concerning was her complete disregard for our budget. Despite us making it very clear what we could afford, she continuously pushed the most expensive vendors on us. I later realized that she charges an extra 10% fee if the total event cost exceeds $75,000, which left me questioning whose interests she was really looking out for.
As the wedding got closer, crucial tasks were still unfinished, and we had to chase her down for updates. We specifically asked to finalize vendor proposals well before traveling to Florida so that payments would be handled in advance. Yet, week after week, she gave excuse after excuse, blaming vendors for the delays. When we finally called the vendors ourselves, we were shocked to hear that they had not even heard from her! Instead of advocating for us and ensuring everything was running smoothly, it felt like she was the source of the holdup. Then, when the final proposals were sent, we were shocked to find unnecessary add-ons that we never approved--like 300 wine glasses for 125 guests. It was clear that we had to micromanage every detail just to prevent additional, unnecessary expenses. This is what I expected HER to be doing for ME, not the other way around!
Just when I thought the stress was over, two days before the wedding, we received an email informing us that we needed to pay for a generator--something that had never been mentioned in the 10 months of planning. This last-minute expense, on top of everything else, felt like the final straw. To make matters worse, the day before the wedding, as I'm scrambling to move into the estate and get ready for my rehearsal, I received an invoice for Jen's additional 10% fee and was told I needed to pay it THAT DAY. I was on vacation, without my computer or records to cross-check numbers, making this request beyond unreasonable. To avoid creating waves, I paid it. When I finally reviewed the invoice after returning home, I was stunned to see that she had included costs for vendors my mother personally found--vendors that she had no involvement with - AND she included prices that corresponded to proposals with a much higher guest count than what was provided on the final guest list.
During my reception, I was further disappointed when I observed Jen being short and dismissive with my guests. I actually watched her physically shoo people and rudely tell them to go to their seats before dinner, which left me feeling embarrassed.
I initially decided not to write a negative review and move on, but today (TWO MONTHS after my wedding), I received an email from a vendor stating that six linens were missing from the event and that JMEP told them I was responsible for the replacement cost. Considering JMEP was the one who rented and stored the linens, I was baffled as to why this was suddenly my problem. When I reached out to Jen to discuss, her response was extremely dismissive--essentially telling me it wasn't her issue because her name wasn't on the contract. When I expressed my disappointment in the way she chose to handle the situation, she fired back with a petty threat, saying she would "have the vendors charge me back the extra 10%" that I supposedly received as a discount for being a client of JMEP. Real classy, Jen! Beyond unprofessional. To anyone considering JMEP for wedding planning, I strongly urge you to think twice. read more