Follow Friday - (FF) with Jessica Latimer

Name: Jessica Latimer

Occupation: The Managing Editor for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazines and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style New England Magazines. Editor for the online; weddingstylemagazine.com, weddingstylenewengland.com, graceormonde.com

Who is your role model/mentor: Since I was a little girl I have always admired Katie Couric for her strength and intelligence. Not to mention I think she has always done a great job being fashionable, while still being taken seriously. When she left The Today Show, it threw off my whole morning routine.

What do you like most about your job: I like the fact that every day is different and because I have worked for Grace since 2003, I think she trusts me and lets me get involved in a lot of different areas of her brand that I probably wouldn’t be able to if I worked for a larger, more corporate-style company. Since most of her staff has been with the magazine for several years, we have formed this odd little family.

MEN&FLOWERS; a Grace Ormonde Magazine tradition, Men holding beautiful bouquets of flowers.   

Daily ritual: I cannot leave my house without eating breakfast, watching the news and walking my dog. Without this little routine my whole day is doomed. From there work changes daily and then at night it’s time to walk my dog again, cook or order dinner (I don’t get in the kitchen nearly as much as I should), and then you will probably find me on the computer, reading or indulging in some reality TV—I’m such a sucker for Bravo.

The most rewarding part of my job is: Telling a client or contributor good news. Sometimes I forget how much of an icon Grace is in the industry, and reactions to finding out their work will be in the magazine have varied from screaming on the other end of the phone (my ear still hurts from that one, but it made my day), to explanations about how this has always been their dream and what they strive to achieve, to complete joy. I have never been one to work somewhere for a short period of time, and the relationships I have built with people over these past eight years have been amazing. I have heard about breakups, engagement, divorces, weddings, babies, and of course more personal things. I don’t get to travel a lot with the workload I have to contend with in house, so I have met so few of these people in person, but between Facebook, Twitter and emails galore, I feel like they have all become my friends and I am honored to have had the privilege to e-meet so many incredible people.

CAKE: Cake Opera Co., Toronto, ON, Canada; Photography: Richard Emmanuel Photography & Cinematography, Toronto, ON, Canada

What has been your biggest strength that’s helped you succeed in your industry? Have I succeeded? I take my job very seriously and I work so hard, but there is always room for improvement.

Memorable celebrity encounter/interview: When I first started working here, I went to Bridal Market in New York City with our fashion director, Tracy Trouf, twice. Going backstage to meet the designers put me in awe. I got to meet Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, Romona Keveza, Ines Di Santo, Kenneth Pool, Melissa Sweet and so many more. After the Melissa Sweet show, Tracy and I went backstage and somehow or another, the two of us, along with our photographer, Mike Colón, ended up getting invited to meet up with Melissa for cocktails at Spice Market in the city’s Meatpacking District. I had to pinch myself to see if it was really happening.

Where do you go for some retail therapy? I have tried to be good, but my weakness is actually shopping online. I get so many of those coupon codes via email and when the moment strikes, well, watch out. I have a particular weakness for shoes.

GOWN/FASHION SHOOT: Photography: Elizabeth Messina; Hair: Tara Jean for Unite Products/Artmix Beauty; Makeup: Daniele Piersons for MAC Cosmetics/Artmix Beauty; Wardrobe Stylist: Brian Primeaux for Artmix Beauty; Location: Villa Sancti Di Bella Vista, Malibu, CA; Gown: Romona Keveza; Earrings: Sherri Jennings; Ring: De Beers; Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Dream vacation spot? My dream spot is Venice, but I am just dying to go anywhere in Europe. My husband and I are actually finally going to the UK in late August after all of The Royal Wedding hoopla is over and I can’t wait!

What has been your favourite event to attend? I am a huge music person. My life has a soundtrack of varied styles and every memorable moment has a song that I associate with it, so when I can get to a concert, any concert, it is memorable. Hearing an artist live is completely different than listening to one of their tracks on your iPod.

Favourite hangout: I have been blessed to have the same group of friends since I was 12, plus a close group of people who I have met along the way. So anything that involves cocktails, friends and laughing is my kind of night. To be honest, one of my favorite spots is a local dive bar near my house and if I tell you the name, it will become the next it spot, so I will have to keep it to myself.

Favourite childhood memory: You will never believe me, but on my first birthday in addition to cake, presents and being the total center of attention I got to have my first lollipop. It was grape and I swear I can remember exactly how it tastes. Other memorable moments include being the second in my family to graduate college (everyone was so proud), my wedding day to the love of my life back in 2009, and adopting a puppy last year. I just love her to pieces.

LOUNGE: Location: Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE; Event Design and Production: designlab events by Hibah Albakree, Dubai, UAE; Furniture and Installation: Mootassim el Baba and Marwan Maalouf, Dubai, UAE; Pillows: Table Tops Events, Dubai, UAE; Lighting: Wide Angle Productions, Dubai, UAE; Photography: Danny Lyann, Dubai, UAE

What is your favourite ice-cream flavor? How embarrassing. I am actually lactose intolerant, but what they have done with soy, tofu and lactaid ice cream is pretty amazing. However, the flavors are still limited so I am just happy to get a scoop of anything that won’t make me sick afterward.

If there was more time in the day you would: Do more. I have a bucket list. Doesn’t everyone? And I have barely done anything on it. I think we need to take the lead of Europe and take more vacations, longer lunches and enjoy life a bit more.

Favourite social network: I will admit it, I used to be slightly addicted to Facebook, but now I only access it through my phone and do not log on through a computer for personal use, otherwise I might get sucked back in.

Favourite Blog: Ours, haha … but before we had ours, when I was planning my wedding I had a few, although I am still mainly a sucker for reading a magazine. After studying journalism and graphic design in college, nothing beats flipping those pages while sipping on some hot tea or coffee and I am proud to say that 95% of my wedding was planned via Wedding Style.

Last song you downloaded: I don’t even know, but artists I love include Florence and The Machine, Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon, Moss Def, Robin Thicke, old school Madonna, anything 80s and so on.

"We have been having lots of round-table discussions and really trying to bring the brand to another level. Although I curse the time social media takes up, without it I don’t think companies would be as widely accessible. From Facebook, to Twitter, to our blog, websites, the magazines, Grace’s new book, and other marketing projects there is always something new."

Thank you Jessica for being part of our #FF Friday Favourite Blog Post! We love to be inspired by our favourite people in the industry and you are most definitely one of them. To learn more about Grace Ormonde and their beautiful brand, visit http://www.weddingstylemagazine.com/