Meet the Heart Behind Gather & Bloom

My name is Julia. I started my event planning journey as a teenager, working alongside some of the best women in the business. I was incredibly fortunate to have strong role models who taught me the true ins and outs of creating and running a successful event. From Hager Hall to Musket Ridge Golf Course, I was learning early on that there is so much more to an unforgettable event than what guests see on the surface.

Fast forward a few years, and I took my first leap into entrepreneurship with Awe the Difference Weddings & Events. It was my first passion project and, for the first time, I had the opportunity to run the show on my own. It was exciting. It was terrifying. And it was exactly the leap I was ready to make after years of learning from some of the very best.

Through those years, I had the absolute privilege of working with incredible couples and bringing their wedding visions to life. I planned celebrations at some of the most beautiful venues in the area, including Breaux Vineyards, Shadow Creek, Richland Golf Club, and The Grant Street Loft. And some of my favorite celebrations weren't at a venue at all — they were the unforgettable backyard weddings filled with personality, love, and all the little details that made them uniquely theirs.

But, as we all know, seasons of life change.

For the past several years, my focus shifted to raising my two boys. I dissolved my business and fully embraced my favorite role yet: Mom. And I am so incredibly thankful for those years. For the weekends spent with family. The baseball games and sporting events. The busy schedules, the late nights, and all the little moments in between.

Baseball moms, you know exactly what I mean. 😉

But still… old habits die hard.

Because the truth is, my love for all things event planning never really went away.

I could still walk into a room and immediately start thinking about how I would transform it. I still noticed the little details. I still loved hearing about someone's vision and imagining how all the pieces could come together. And somewhere along the way, I realized something:

That chapter of my life wasn't over.

So here we are.

2026.

With more than 12 years of event planning experience under my belt, I am stepping back into this work with more experience, more perspective, and a very clear vision for what I want every celebration to feel like.

I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to celebrate and truly enjoy the moments that matter.

My goal is to create events that feel magical, meaningful, and completely yours — without the stress that so often comes with making them happen.

Because you shouldn't spend your wedding day worrying about timelines, vendors, details, or whether everything is going according to plan.

That's my job.

Your job is to be present.

To soak it all in. To laugh until your cheeks hurt. To dance. To hug your people a little tighter. To notice the little moments you might otherwise miss.

Because when the day is over, I want you to remember how it felt, not how stressed you were trying to make it happen.

And that is the heart behind everything I do.

Allow me to introduce Gather & Bloom.

A new chapter built from years of experience, a whole lot of heart, and a deep belief that life is meant to be celebrated.

I can't wait to celebrate with you.