Weddingbee PRO

We’re excited to bring you this interview with Jung Lee, founder of the NYC based, luxury event planning firm Fete. You may have seen her featured on Whose Wedding is It Anyway? or on her new TLC show, Wedded to Perfection coming this fall!  Join us as she shares a glimpse into her hectic life as a top New York City event designer, author, and reality tv star!

1. How did you first become an event designer?

When I first entered this industry, I was just the wedding planner.  My mission was always to make a truly personalized wedding that reflected the couple, and as their planner I felt like I knew them better than any other vendor.  I would bring my clients to different event designers in the city, and through good and bad experiences I just knew I could do it better for a few reasons:

1) Working with clients for months during the planning process, I really had my pulse on their personal style.  This was the key to designing with soul.

2) I noticed that too many designers focused on the tables but not on the entire environment.  Every single thing you see in a space relates back to the décor.  I wanted to create spaces that had a buzzing, infectious energy - stylish and chic, yet inviting and comfortable - one that you would never want to leave!

3) I wanted to work with different design tools that aren’t traditionally used in floral design. I love using different materials like leather, metal, driftwood… While architects and interior designers were creating amazing restaurants, hotels and lounges, wedding designers were limiting themselves to flowers, containers and linens. Whether it is creating a wall of art, customizing light fixtures to instantaneously make a space more intimate, custom designing and building furniture, it is about creating an overall environment, not just focusing on the flowers and the dining table. For instance, the bars that we built become great destination places for guests.  Not just to get a drink, but a place to hang out.  We have done large bars made of ice, to graffiti art, to leather, to all boxwood, etc.

2. Can you give us a glimpse into what it’s like filming your new TV show, Wedded to Perfection?

Wedded to Perfection, which premieres this fall on TLC, will show viewers what goes behind the scenes in creating and orchestrating high end FETE events.  There is no manufactured drama or crisis.  The filming has been relatively easy because the camera crew just shadows us while we work.  And, fortunately several of my clients allowed the cameras along for the ride.  The events we have been filming have been incredible and were captured in a way that you will feel as if you were there.  And of course, the stress and hiccups along the way are captured, as well.  I know the show is going to be unlike any wedding show out there.  The feedback has been immensely positive.

3. What is your typical day like?

Every day is completely different but always intense - normally a mix of meeting with clients, internal design and planning meetings, working closely with vendors on upcoming events, managing and guiding my staff, designing for events.  The focus of weddings is always on the aesthetics and creative ideas but the reality is that the “project management” (details, organization, logistics, etc..) is what consumes the most time.

Magnificent ficus trees adds warmth in classic reception space

4. You’ve built a successful event design firm, written a book and now have a tv show.  What was the biggest challenge to date and why?

My husband Josh and I got into the wedding business because we felt that weddings should be so much more interesting from the guest perspective. If someone is spending a lot of money to create such an important event, why are guests thinking about what time they can leave?  The first few years of our business was about understanding the business problem, which was why does the couple’s wedding experience not match that of their guests.  Once we figured this out, we started raising the bar of our weddings and things took off.  Our business solely relies on word-of-mouth. That’s why I think wedding blogs, such as Weddingbee, serve such an important role in helping couples identify some of the great talent out there, especially in New York.

5. What are 5 random things about you?

1. My husband says I am like a Sabra fruit - tough on the outside, soft on the inside.

2. My mother is my heroine.

3. I am more demanding on myself than anyone else.

4. After leaving South Korea at age 4, my family and I lived in South America for a year.

5. I have always loved hospitality, architecture and design.  I enjoy being on construction sites.  I started out building retail stores, then moved to residential homes before moving professionally into the event planning and design business.  One day, I hope to build the ultimate resort that can accommodate family vacations to extraordinary weddings!

6. What are the most difficult parts of your job?

My job is intense, demanding and often stressful.  We are hired to create “once in lifetime” events and experiences for our clients. We love our clients and we work tirelessly for them.   But often times, this means personal sacrifices.  The hardest part of my job is not being able to spend enough time with my kids.

Beautiful, garden inspired spring time reception

7. What’s next for you and Fete?

We are gearing up to doing a two day event in Santa Barbara and then we go to Chicago for another event.  Simultaneously, I owe our publisher our second book. ;-)  It’s coming.  I promise!

Power of simplicity and lighting

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Thanks so much for sharing Jung!  Be sure to check out their newly vamped website which features a new blog by Jung, and an inspirational Design Gallery!