Seattle Event Planners
ABOUT US
Oh hey there! I’m Melissa, Master Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Jubilee Weddings and Events.
Believe it or not, I’ve done over 800 weddings over the last 14 years...yes my feet hurt, but it is SO worth it. I have been a certified wedding and event planner since 2005 and recently refreshed my certification through The Bridal Society. I am obsessed with wedding education. I'm constantly listening to podcasts, taking Masterclasses, or updating our processes to grow the company. Trends in this industry change constantly so we have to keep up!!
We take pride in coordinating weddings all over Western Washington. We have had the pleasure of working at many venues around the Pacific Northwest and love being able to visit new venues too!!
If you came over here to learn a bit more about me… well brace yourselves! I LOVE weddings and parties - I mean who doesn’t right?
From bridal showers and baby showers, to birthday parties and big celebrations, I want to be a part of it!
Being married since 2005, I know how exciting it is to get married to the love of your life, so any chance I can get to help another couple, is a dream come true.
Speaking of true love, we have an amazing 14 year old son, who doesn’t think I’m too strange just yet. I do act as his Uber driver to take him to sporting events, and school activities, but I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Traveling is always on my to do list, especially if it’s near a Disney park or resort. Who else is a huge Disney fanatic? I can’t help it, Disney is a magical place!
Cooking is also one of my passions - it may get a little messy, because making up my own recipes is a frequent activity of mine in the kitchen.
When I’m not planning or coordinating weddings, or when I don’t have one of my many other hats on, I LOVE kayaking. The movement of the water… the sun kissing my skin - there’s something so serene about it. Especially on a Washington lake.
I cannot wait to meet you, and to be a part of your special day!!
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Meet Our Team
MeLisa VanderVeen- Lead Planner/Coordinator
She is no stranger to the wedding industry, as she's been planning weddings for the past 16 years in Northwestern Washington! She loves the memories created when people come together for big celebrations. The culture, and the creativity of the couples & vendors who are involved is very beautiful to her. Her favorite part has to be when her couples say I do! The joining of two families... it's amazing. She is also really in tune with health and wellness! From creating new recipes to staying active, she loves doing this with her kids. Any excuse to get outside around the Pacific Northwest, is a good time for MeLisa.
Monika Nuth- Lead Planner/Coordinator
Since Monika started with us, she showed such an amazing love for planning weddings and events. Because of that, she is now a lead planner and coordinator for us! From planning educational workshops and social events, to hosting dance showcases and other events, she has proven to be an amazing planner and a welcome addition to our team. Monika really enjoys the process of making an idea become a reality, and is looking forward to coordinating a wedding that is smooth and memorable! She LOVES love. Seeing couples that are so in love is a special part of wedding planning for her. In her free time she enjoys dancing (hip hop oh yeah!) She also loves taking photos with her film camera. If there's anymore free time, catch her watching Netflix!
Samantha Iverson- Lead Coordinator
Samantha is a bright and bubbly gal with a love for planning. Her passion turned into a career, because she is now a lead coordinator and planner with us! She is currently taking classes at QC Event School (which is amazing) and she's helped many family member's with their weddings and has assisted putting on other family events. She is so excited to be a part of our team, because we are all so passionate about this industry. She LOVES to organize and the work that goes into making an event a reality. She says "Watching people's ideas come to life brings her so much joy." Her favorite part of this industry is helping bride and grooms have the most amazing day, and for it to be their dream come true. In her free time, she loves to read, go on walks/hike, watch Disney movies, and scrapbook! Let's see if she can do all of these at the same time....
Emily Houston- Lead Coordinator
Say hello to Emily! She has an eye for detail and a passion for event planning, so to have her on board is exciting! Since high school, she has planned several events with different organizations. Although she didn't start off with much knowledge of the wedding planning world, she is now pretty much an expert as she was an assistant with another wedding planning company during the busiest wedding season in 2021! She LOVES seeing couples, and people in general, come together to honor one another. She just loves, LOVE.
When she's not planning weddings and assisting on the day of, she takes her dogs hiking, goes kayaking (sometimes with her dogs) and being outside in general.
Kari Rae- Lead Planner/Coordinator
At Jubilee, we love mixing skill with heart, and Kari is a perfect fit. Starting her journey with fun high school dances, she quickly moved on to plan exclusive events by 2018, even creating fantastic corporate events for big names like Motsi. But Kari offers more than just flair. With 17 solid years in customer service and a key role at a Bellevue private bank, she's both professional and friendly. A proud graduate from the University of Washington, she pours her heart into every wedding, making sure memories last forever.
When she's not planning, Kari loves to draw, especially her favorite Disney characters. And for some relaxation? She heads to the peaceful vineyards of Chelan. With Kari on our team, we're all set to make every celebration even more special.
Lecia Murphy- Assistant Coordinator
This is Lecia Murphy, and she has been in the hospitality industry for a little while now! She began her journey at The Seattle Waterfront Hotel, assisting with sales and assisting the event managers with corporate events and weddings. She has taken the step to further her knowledge and expertise in the wedding industry and has joined our team! She really loves seeing the couples living in the moment and taking it all in. When she's not diving into timelines and coordinating day of events, she loves to paint, loves thriller movies (scary) thrift shopping and hanging out with her amazing family. Traveling is also a big LOVE in her life.