2024 Board of Directors
Erica Jacobs is a wedding and portrait photographer and owns a full-service portrait studio with her husband in Spokane Valley, WA. She grew up in North Idaho and has spent most of her life in the Inland Northwest. She discovered photography in January 2011 as a means to document the beauty in our diverse landscapes, and this influence carries over into her portrait work. She loves to spend her free time crafting or outdoors exploring the Northwest with her husband, Bob, little boy, Timothy, and sweet pup, Penny.
She studied art and business management in college and earned her BA in Business Administration at Eastern Washington University. Taking a job in the FinTech industry, photography became her creative outlet during her free time and eventually became a business on its own when Bob joined in on the endeavor. She pursued this business full time when they opened their studio in 2018 to better serve their wedding, portrait and commercial clients.
Erica has been a member of WED’NI since the Fall of 2020 and is excited to take on the role of Vice President, fostering collaboration and professional development in the association while celebrating the beauty of our region.
With the legal name of Lily Garland, it’s no wonder she became a florist.
Lily has a long history of merging creative and business skill sets, so becoming a floral designer was a perfect fit! Lily graduated from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania with degrees in Economics and Studio Art. After graduating, she attended the Long Beach City College Floral Design program to perfect her skill set. In 2018, she started her business in Southern California through friends, family, and word-of-mouth doing everyday deliveries. She quickly found her passion for the events business. Lily has a unique ability to help people’s vision come to life, creating lifelong memories.
Prior to starting Flowers by Lily Garland, Lily has an established history of entrepreneurial endeavors and working in sales management positions for startups. Lily started her career working in marketing for large brands like Disney and Belkin.
Like many of her former clients, Lily is recently married and is happily raising her Goldendoodle, Huckleberry (named for a popular floral greenery in the pacific northwest). Lily caught the travel bug at an early age and jokes that she was raised on an airplane. In her spare time, you can find Lily traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest and internationally, playing volleyball, attending workout classes, or gardening in Coeur d’Alene Idaho.
Gee is a passionate self-taught baker, known for her ability to craft confectionery creations that leave a lasting impression. Since 2016, she has specialized in 3-D fondant cakes and figurines, transitioning to focus on exquisite wedding cakes since 2020. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for adding the perfect touch or flair, Gee takes pride in elevating each couple's special day with her delectable creations.
Beyond her culinary pursuits, Gee enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and cherishing moments with loved ones. As the Secreatry of the WEDNI board, she is committed to fostering collaboration, networking, and advancing the wedding industry alongside fellow industry leaders.
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Tori is one of the owners of Smokin Glory BBQ & Catering. LLC - a locally owned and family operated mobile food company specializing in smoked and barbecued meats! She moved to the area with her husband and in-laws in the summer of 2021 and together they quickly launched Smokin Glory BBQ. Though personally new to the industry, her in-laws have 20+ years of experience cooking for friends and family, mastering the recipes that you have come to know here in Idaho!
Tori and her husband Daniel met in high school and got married 4 years later here in Northern Idaho. With Tori's love for people and marketing, Daniel's ability to do practically everything, her father-in-law's mastery of the barbecues, and her mother-in-law's keen business sense have made this journey possible. What started as a short-term solution for the winter has become a full-time job. They bought their food truck for simplifying mobile catering, but realized how great it would be to get their name out their to the community. Not only have they found immense joy in being mobile to different events, they've gotten to cross paths with so many amazing people they would have never met!
When Tori isn't working in the food truck, updating the websites, or on the phone, she enjoys spending time with her husband and friends watching movies, trying new foods, and being out on the lake!
Tori has been a member of Wed’NI since 2022 when she launched her business with her family. In early 2023, she voluntarily took over the website position with the hopes of further growing WED'NI as well as her own business!
As owner and head designer of Sage Tree Design LLC, Rebekah Shepherd is constantly planning amazing things for amazing people. With her deep knowledge in plant science & horticulture, she is a skilled & experienced landscape designer, floral designer, & interior plant designer. She thrives on creating beautiful spaces - ones that will evoke positive thinking, promote belonging, and ensure peaceful moments. As part of her membership in Wed'Ni, Rebekah is a professionally trained wedding and event florist servicing North Idaho and Eastern Washington.
She's a wife and mommy of a little boy. She enjoys watching movies, writing poetry, reading, and eating really good food in her time off!