Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Lowrance.
JENNIFER LOWRANCE – AN “ EVENT- FUL” LIFE
Event planners are born, not made. And no one is better living proof of that than Jennifer Lowrance, founder of J Low Events.
For the past seventeen years, Jen has been actively and successfully involved in the event planning industry. But as Jen will tell you, it’s not just in the planning, it’s also in the execution. Many times, with even the most meticulous planning of every bit of minutia that goes into an event, be it a wedding, a holiday party, an anniversary, a bar mitzvah, a retirement, or just an organization wanting to celebrate a milestone, you almost always have to have a “Plan B”, and many times a “Plan C, D, and E”.
Starting out in sales and event coordination with both CC Creations and The Chef’s Table at Bella Terrazza, Jen learned all aspects of the trade before taking on the task of working to create an award-winning venue where she would spend the next eight years.
Jen partnered with Bill and Jorden Mahler to create Briscoe Manor, a full-service event facility just west of Houston. In addition to finishing the final remnants of the architectural and interior design of the facility, Jen also used her experience (and her Communications Degree from Texas A&M University) to develop and implement the business model, marketing campaign, and event planning systems for Briscoe Manor. Hundreds of events and several years later, Jen took on the task of developing a full sales and event coordinating team to support the fast pace and busy booking schedule. Her role evolved into being a mentor to the staff and training the event team to continue the legacy of service and hospitality.
Along the way, Jen won accolades from hundreds of more-than-satisfied customers, as well as being named as a Fort Bend County Rising Star, and having Briscoe Manor named as “Best Wedding Venue” for four consecutive years by The Knot, Wedding Wire, and Houston’s “A”List.
Since her entry into the industry in 2001, Jen has planned and executed almost 1,400 events with great success. Jen has also spent her career building a reputation with industry vendors and clients that has allowed her to position herself with the opportunity to launch her own independent planning company.
In 2013, with the blessing of Briscoe Manor, Jen decided to use her experience in a new way by opening J Low Events, a total event planning firm literally planning everything from soup to nuts, as well as venues, décor, food, entertainment, and everything else that goes into planning and executing all types of events.
Her extensive and intensive amount of time within the event industry as catering manager, event coordinator, developer of award-winning (full service) private venue and business owner has seasoned her to be one of the leaders in the Houston market.
Also, it’s given her the ability to connect with a wide variety of clients, cultures and style of events – whether it is producing an intimate dinner for 12 in someone’s home to a large wedding celebration, Jen has been either behind the scenes or on the reception floor coordinating the cadence for a flawless event.
When not running J Low Events, Jen enjoys spending time with her family traveling and entertaining (you can take the girl out of the events, but you can’t take the events out of the girl). Her genuine Texas personality lends her to be a gracious host, dynamic coordinator and trusted professional. Her treasured compliments after every event – “you were like having a good ole friend”, “you made me feel like the most important person on my special day” or “you thought of everything”!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road is smooth when starting, building and running a small business! Thankfully I was raised with a sense of knowing how to thrive in organized chaos. Being able to bet on yourself and write your own paycheck is one of the hardest things to do. I’m lucky to have amazing cheerleaders in my corner that have always pushed me to be true to myself, my gifts and big dreams!
Resigning from Briscoe Manor was probably one of the more difficult decisions in my life. I knew it had to be God’s timing for me to move on to the next season in my life but it was like leaving your baby for the first time. To be honest, it felt like I was walking away from something special knowing that I would never be a part of it again. It had been such a huge part of my life. However, it was one of the best decisions I could have made in my professional career. It allowed me to reset and refocus on what was most important – my growing family. When I resigned from Briscoe Manor, I had a three year old son, Wyatt, and my second child, Julia Reese was just weeks away from being born.
My break from the 60-70-hours work week gave me time to realize how special it is being a mom, take a deep breath and figure out what I wanted to do next on my journey.
What was next for my professional hat? Deciding to either continue having my toes in the event planning world or jump right back in at the pace I was running…. Well, I was blessed to find a good balance. The timing of family friends getting married and offering to help them finish out the planning to reduce their stress level was my answer! After running the logistics and cadence of the wedding weekend, I knew I wasn’t done with my planning wand just yet. I decided to launch J Low Events and begin to build it around my family life – one event at a time.
I think the challenge of any working mom is balancing being truly present in your kid’s lives and passion for serving your clients while building something to be proud of. Since my business is primarily based on referral, our team is only good as our last event so it keeps you on your toes!
Please tell us about J Low Events.
SPECIALIZE: weddings, milestone celebrations, gala events and venue consulting.
MOST PROUD OF: As a whole, building my business on referral. Some of my clients are legacy brides – married their sister, brother or cousin years ago and they come back for the next big celebration. On the event side, I recently helped produce one of the most successful gala events for MainStreet America that benefits the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital.
SETS US APART: Sweet balance of experience, style, attention to detail and personal service.
In the last 17 years, I’ve worn every hat on the reception floor. From event coordinator to catering manager and from building a private venue from the ground up to knowing how everything behind the scenes, reception floor and vendors all come together to maximize my client’s investment and overall planning experience.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Thanksgiving with my family (when my great grandparents were alive) in San Saba brings back special memories. It wasn’t easy getting everyone together once a year but when we did it just felt magical as a child. Memories such as my great granddad working in the orchard, my great grandmother, Winnie, baking chocolate pecan and pumpkin pies, our family playing games past our bedtime, telling stories around kitchen table, and waking up to the smell of homemade biscuits/bacon was just good ole, simple family time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 25329 Budde Road, The Woodlands, Texas 77380
- Website: www.jlowevents.com
- Email: info@jlowevents.com
- Instagram: @jlowevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlowevents/
- Twitter: @jlowevents
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/jlowevents
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/jlowevents/
Image Credit:
All Photographers – Catherine Hall Studios, Kelly Hornberger Photography, The Silhouette Studio, Endless Exposures, Mustard Seed Photography, Stephanie Brazzle Photography and Fotowerk
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