Meet Jackie Donovan | Wedding Décor Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Donovan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued an artistic career because I’ve always felt a deep connection to creativity—it’s been a part of me for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was always drawing, painting, writing poems, or making something. Art was my way of seeing the world and expressing what I saw, and it was pure joy for me. But as I got older, I felt the pressure to follow a more “practical” path, one that fit societal norms—something more stable, like a traditional 9-to-5 career. So, I put my art on the back burner for a while. But deep down, I always knew I couldn’t ignore that creative spark for long.

Over time, I realized that art isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am at my core. When I finally embraced it again, I found a way to combine my love for creativity with a career that could bring joy to others. I create custom wedding décor, and when it comes to weddings, I love that my work can be a part of someone’s most meaningful moments. It’s not just about making beautiful work; it’s about creating pieces that hold emotional value and help people celebrate their love. Art is everywhere again for me. It’s in the weddings, but it’s also in my day-to-day, and in the ordinary. My life is better for it. I guess you could say art chose me—I just decided to follow the spark.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a wedding décor artist, my art is about celebrating love, fun, and those little moments that make life special. What sets me apart is how much I love making art personalized—I’m all about weaving the couple into every piece. I think my friends and family would agree that I’m the type of person who wants to hear your life story over a drink (and I don’t want you to leave anything out!) Whether that story results in a quirky design, a sentimental touch, a pet feature, or a fun play on words, I make sure the décor is as one-of-a-kind as the love story.

What excites me the most is how my art can make people feel. I’ve had moments where couples get teary-eyed over something I created, and that’s when I know I’m on the right track.

Getting to where I am today definitely hasn’t been easy, and the journey is ongoing. It’s been a wild ride full of trial and error, learning curves, and a lot of late-night creativity! I’ve had my doubts and faced challenges like juggling projects or figuring out the business side of things, but my love for what I do keeps me going. Having a solid support system from family and couples who believe in me has made all the difference.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way? First, stay true to myself—don’t try to be anything other than the creative, loving soul that I am. Second, don’t rush the process. Building something meaningful takes time, and every step, even the bumps along the way, is part of the journey. Third, lean on community. I am fortunate to have met so many mentors and creative partners throughout this process. The amazing photographers who capture my art in the most beautiful way are just one example of where I draw inspiration from. And lastly, manifest. Being an artist has been a dream of mine since I was eight years old. I owe it all to that little girl who was manifesting this for me all along!

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that I’m all about making life’s most important moments extra special with art that speaks from the heart. Every piece I create is stencil-free and totally custom. I also want the world to know that I truly mean it when I say that being involved in your wedding day is a privilege. Whether I’m creating a wedding welcome or a fun cocktail sign, my goal is to bring joy and a personal touch to every wedding I am part of. And trust me, if you work with me, you’re getting not just a piece of art, but a little piece of my heart and soul, too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Santa Monica has a special place in my heart. It’s the first place I ever saw and touched the Pacific Ocean! As a foodie, a couple of favorite spots are Society Kitchen and Jon & Vinny’s, and a perfect weekend would have to end with King Trivia at Bodega Wine Bar – my best friend Dani is the trivia host on Sundays! Speaking of Dani, she and her wife Bethany just had the most gorgeous, intimate wedding in Malibu. The ceremony overlooked Point Dume Beach, and you can’t beat those views! Most stunning wedding I’ve ever been to, hands down.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
YES, I absolutely would not be here without my family. In August 2023, I created all the wedding décor for my cousin Erin and her husband Ben. It was the first time anyone trusted me to play such a large role in their wedding. I was also the officiant!

Erin’s mother-in-law, Kim, was so touched by the décor I made that she was moved to tears. On the day of Erin and Ben’s wedding, Kim pulled me aside and told me that I need to pursue art as a career. It’s something I’ve always known deep down, but in the most loving, motherly way, she gave me the push I needed. The rest is history. A week later, I started my small business, Creations by Jack. My cousin Erin made my logo.

So, this shoutout is dedicated to my family, but especially to Kim, who is now my family, too.

Instagram: @creations_byjack

Other: Email: hello.creationsbyjack@gmail.com

Image Credits
Hannah Pinto Photography
Michaela Hession Photography
Cara Sandford Studios
Ashley Rose Mahoney