At any wedding I’ve organised, I love the moments when the father of the bride and also the groom see the bride for the first time in her gown – I always feel very privileged to be in the room for this special moment and have been known to shed a tear…”
Jo Woolfe, Zev Events
INTRO. BY NICKY SUMMER: “There’s one thing I’ve always tried to do in life – surround myself with experts – experts in film, experts in photography, experts in property, experts in interiors, experts in hospitality, experts in event production – experts, experts, experts. By osmosis, you learn at the top end and being in the company of industry leaders, designers and artisans is an education in itself. And they’re very decent people too… of course, they have business in mind however most of those who are really good at what they do are driven by artistry rather than commerce alone, they have a deep love for their clients and they pour body and soul – blood, sweat and tears – into their projects. The world’s top event experts go out of their way to source unique locations, work only with the most respected suppliers in their field and create unforgettable experiences of a lifetime – which brings me to Jo Woolfe of Zev Events…”
Jo’s ’hands-on’ approach, along with her reputation for kindness, dependability and thoughtfulness, has seen her personally sewing and fixing the broken strap of a wedding dress just minutes before a ceremony, manning security during celebrity appearances and, as ever, remaining at each of her events until the last happy guest leaves the venue…”
Nicky Summer, Publisher, City & Beach Lifestyle Magazine
“At only 17 years of age, Jo planned the first ever event at DKNY’s flagship store and it was that experience of arranging every detail, the excitement of the day itself, and the buzz from seeing afterwards the incredible media coverage of the event, which gave Jo what she calls the ‘event planning bug’; a placement at Harpers & Queen Magazine followed, further immersing Jo in a world of style and luxury. While working with top event planners ’Banana Split’ (most famous recently for organising the wedding of Lionel Richie’s daughter Sofia to music entrepreneur Elliot Grainge at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc), Jo learned lifelong lessons about the importance of attention to detail and now, over 20 years later, her company remains at the forefront of event design, organising bespoke occasions ranging from intimate dinners in private homes through to huge celebrations in London’s finest ballrooms…”
Naming my own company ‘Zev’, meaning ‘Wolf’ in Hebrew, was a nod to both my surname and my heritage…”
Jo Woolfe, Zev Events
JO ON LONDON VENUES: “I currently have two favourite venues which are a) Claridges for the elegance and nostalgia; b) The Lanesborough oozes class and intimacy. Another venue I love is Battersea Arts Centre for it’s raw, unique feel and the flexibility of the space. I’m also very excited about some new London venues that are due to open – for example, I was especially impressed with The Raffles OWO in Whitehall, which is spectacular…”
As the proud mother of two sons, many of the events I organise are family orientated; I mainly plan large birthday celebrations, barmitzvahs, weddings, however I also enjoy the process of organising smaller, more intimate gatherings. I can’t imagine ever wanting to do anything else…”
Jo Woolfe, Zev Events
I love taking my clients in to the room before the guests arrive to see their reaction as they see their original vision has become reality; when I see their response – goosebumps and sometimes tears of joy – I know I’ve delivered on their dreams…”
Jo Woolfe, Zev Events
JO ON HER CLIENTS: ”I befriend my clients and love the journey we go on together; the most fulfilling part of my role is seeing the expression on their faces when they first enter the event and sharing in their happiness afterwards…”
JO ON HER TEAM: “My team is crucial to the success of my events; I only use trusted, reliable suppliers and when we all work together it’s our sole aim is to produce a successful event for our client. I’m very aware that, for the client, the journey towards the event is as important as the day itself therefore I aim to ensure the whole experience is as stress-free and enjoyable as it can be and they are left with the most wonderful of memories…”
CONTACT JO: Instagram @zevevents_by_jowoolfe
