Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Elizabeth.
Jacqueline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I actually found my way into the wedding industry by accident. My background in theatre led me to doing character work, hair, and makeup design in high school, which eventually turned into styling friends for prom and homecoming. After college, those casual beginnings blossomed into requests for weddings and special events, and I quickly realized there was an opportunity to grow and offer services even beyond beauty in the wedding space.
That realization became Ascendance Productions, which has since grown into a full-service wedding planning, design, and beauty company dedicated to creating seamless, luxury experiences. As my team and client base expanded, I took the opportunity to have a venue of our own—Le Fête Royale in New Prague—a historic building reimagined as a warm and elegant gathering space.
Today, I lead multiple businesses, but the heart of my work remains the same: helping people celebrate life’s most meaningful milestones with beauty, intention, and joy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve had to navigate a lot of challenges while figuring out how to grow my businesses in a sustainable way. In the early days, I was doing everything myself – beauty services, planning details, managing clients, and handling the behind-the-scenes operations – which left me stretched thin and on the edge of burnout having reached my maximum capacity.
As the company has grown, the struggles shifted to scaling: learning how to delegate effectively, finding and training staff I can trust, and creating systems so the client experience stays consistent no matter who was involved. On top of that, taking on a venue came with a whole new layer of responsibility – acquisitions, contracts, licensing, and financial risks that were completely different from what I knew in the service side of the industry.
It’s been far from easy, but each struggle has pushed me to grow as a leader. I’ve learned to embrace challenges as opportunities to strengthen my vision and build businesses that don’t just depend on me, but can thrive through empowered teams and strong foundations.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Ascendance Productions, we specialize in full-service wedding planning, design, and on-site beauty services. Our goal is to create seamless, luxury experiences for couples from the very first consultation all the way through the last dance of the night – so you can ride off into the sunset and we can take care of the mess. What sets us apart is that we don’t just focus on one piece of the puzzle. We bring everything together under one roof, which means our clients don’t have to juggle multiple vendors for planning, design, and beauty. We’ve built a team that handles it all with excellence and care.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the reputation we’ve built for luxury and professionalism without losing warmth and personal connection. We work with clients who want more than a cookie-cutter event. You want us to come in and create a viking and fairy-queen look for your Renaissance themed wedding? We’re there. You’re looking for someone who will quite literally jump into your grand march and push you down the aisle because you forgot to charge the battery-powered car? (True story…) Say less. We are in the business of making dreams come true and for that I am so grateful.
Alongside Ascendance, I also own Le Fête Royale, a historic event venue in New Prague. It’s a space that blends old-world charm with modern elegance, featuring original tin ceilings and brick walls. It has become a beautiful setting for weddings, showers, and milestone celebrations. Together, the two brands allow us to serve clients at every stage, whether they’re looking for full planning support, design and beauty services, or a stunning venue to host their celebration.
At the end of the day, what I most want readers to know is that my businesses exist to celebrate people. Every system we build, every design we create, and every event we host is rooted in the belief that life’s most meaningful milestones deserve to be honored beautifully and stress-free.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality that has been most important to my success is resilience paired with adaptability. This industry is constantly evolving, and running multiple businesses means challenges come at me from every angle. Being able to stay grounded, problem-solve quickly, and pivot when needed has been essential.
I also believe in the power of vision and follow-through. I’ve always been able to see the bigger picture of what something could become, whether that’s a business idea, a venue transformation, or a client’s wedding day vision. But dreaming is only half of it. The ability to put systems, people, and processes in place to actually bring that vision to life has been the real driver of success.
At the core, I’d say my determination to keep moving forward, even when things are messy or uncertain, has shaped the growth of my companies. I don’t shy away from challenges. I see them as stepping stones to building something stronger and more sustainable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ascendanceproductions.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascendanceproductionsmn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AscendanceProductionsMN
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascendance-productions-llc
