Conversations with Jennifer Troy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Troy. 

Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am an old Hollywood fan. The visuals, the soundtracks, and of course, the costumes. I loved everything about the lush scenes and the orchestral music but I’ve always had an affinity for the wedding dresses. I never thought that my love for wedding dresses would lead to my love of events. The very first event I remember planning was a surprise birthday party for my mother. I planned out the menu, decorations, invitations–I even had my godparents take her to dinner and a movie as a diversion. A few years later, I dabbled a little more into weddings with my job at Tuxedo World. There, I was one of the top-selling employees in the store and was even certified by Carlson Craft as an invitation specialist!! 

My love affair with events continued throughout the years–from baby showers and bridal showers to high school reunions and eventually, my own wedding. It wasn’t until I began to dig into planning my own nuptials that I realized that planning was not only a “real” career, it was one that was in demand! I enrolled in school, obtained my certification in Wedding & Special Events and I haven’t stopped learning and growing since! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road but it’s been an adventurous one. It’s difficult when you are branching off into entrepreneurship, especially when you’ve been raised by a blue-collar family who always believed that you graduated high school then college and got a job that you retired from. Working for yourself is scary–you’re solely responsible for your livelihood. That creates a great sense of trepidation. 

Not to mention that wedding and event planning is a luxury vocation. It’s totally possible to get married or celebrate an event without the help of a planner, so you’re truly at the mercy of the market, trends, and finances. 

A struggle I’ve encountered is the lack of appreciation for the services that event professionals provide and the way that our work is consistently undervalued. The point and purpose of most event pros is to remove stress from YOUR plate so that you can enjoy your event. There’s no way to properly quantify what that reduction in stress costs. 

Another one of biggest struggles many event professionals suffer from is imposter syndrome. The rise of social media has made it so that we are CONSTANTLY comparing ourselves to our mentors, peers, and strangers. We only see the finished product of planning, so we are measuring our beginning or middle with someone’s end. It is very disconcerting, especially for people who are normally very confident in themselves and their abilities. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Glorious Galas is a full-service wedding and event management company. We specialize in creating Moments & Memories. My personal specialty is event management. I love the BTS; the logistics; I love seeing something created from conversations and sketches. There’s nothing better than a well-timed event that leaves space for you to enjoy your day! 

What sets me apart from other event pros is ME! I am 100% a unique mix of fun, friendliness, care, concern, knowledge, and humility. I believe in the concept of WYSIWYG (Wysiwig). The acronym means What You See Is What You Get. I’m honest–sometimes brutally so–but at the same time I chastise you, I’m hugging you. Once you meet me, you never forget me. I think I bring my authentic self every time you see me and that’s what people respect about me. You NEVER have to guess where you stand with me. 

I am most proud of the growth and advancement of my brand. In 2021, Glorious Galas was recognized by Wedding Rule Magazine and WDIV Vote For The Best as one of the Best Wedding Planners in Metro Detroit. That’s a huge accomplishment for someone that doesn’t have a large PR team, that doesn’t have a super large social media following and that doesn’t run in some of the more well-known circles. It means that people SEE me; they see my work, my work ethic and they believe in me. 

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The next 5 years is going to be insane for the events industry. I think the 2020 Pandemic shutting us down has made people want to really CELEBRATE LIFE!! They want to be able to gather with loved ones and make sure that they are creating lifetime memories. 

Ceremonies and receptions will continue to move to a virtual space and eventually will include V/R components. I also believe there will be a brief return to the micro-ceremonies as we continue to encounter variants. 

Pricing:

• Event Management Services begin at $1,800.00
• Decor Services begin at $1,500.00 for 25 Guests

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.gloriousgalas.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/gloriousgalasofficial
• Facebook: facebook.com/gloriousgalas

Image Credits
Nicole Ashley Allen Studios
G7 Pro Photo