Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Juliana Lewis

Juliana Lewis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Juliana, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I am an early bird, so I absolutely cherish the early hours where the whole house is still asleep. I love looking out from our window and simply watch nature waking up before the sun shines. My first hour and half is quite and chaotic. I normally wake up right before 5am because my kids wake up at 5:45am for school. My first couple hours are getting breakfast for my kids and driving them to multiple schools. First and foremost, I am a mother and that is how my day starts every single day, and honestly I enjoy and love it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Juliana Lewis and I am the owner and designer of J Lewis Bridal (JLB), where I hand-make limited wedding headpieces, veils, bridal jewelry, bridal accessories, reconstruct passed on heirloom pieces, and custom headpieces. I started JLB on May of 2019 (right before COVID) in San Diego, California, and now I am in Nashville, TN!

What makes JLB special is the insurance of knowing that the bridal headpieces I make are very limited quantity – usually less than 10 pieces – and the custom pieces I make for brides are one-of-its-kind! It’s the ultimate exclusivity, the craftmanship, and the love I pore in every piece I make is what I offer to my customers. Just like the pieces I make, my customers are special and loved.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Here I go again talking about my children. Before having my children I was confident that I was able to accomplish anything under pressure. After having my children, I realized that I have to have a plan in place in order to accomplish my to-do list. After having children, I no longer have the privilege and the leisure of wasting my time away that does not work towards a task. My children, unbeknown to them, have taught me a whole different level of hard work, ethics, and time management that I didn’t even fathom it existed before them.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could go back in time and say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be “you are enough the way you are.” I think for a lot of us, myself included, we grew up thinking that we are unlovable or that we are not enough and that there is something wrong with us. After having daughters myself, I cannot imagine neglecting my daughters to the point where they feel like they are not perfect the way they are. I would tell my younger self that I will discover my worth, love myself, and that I would shower my loved ones with love and kindness so they truly know that they are perfect the way they are.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is Respect, Commitment, & Understanding among couples. I believe couples should pull their weight in the relationship and have to bring a tremendous amount of value to the relationship so that way their personal and career paths can thrive equally with the most integrity, commitment, and a moral responsibility to the communities they live in.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I took a break with my business for a little over one year, and during that year, I received countless of messages asking when I was going to the at the next bridal expos. During that time, my customers missed the in-person interaction and trying on the headpieces/jewelry.

I would like to think that if I retired tomorrow, that my customers would miss our in-person interactions during bridal shows, since I am primarily online. I truly love talking to engaged couples, hearing their love story, hearing about their wedding plans, and just observing the body language among the couples – I am certain that I would miss the in-person interactions if I retired tomorrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jlewisbridal.com/
• Instagram: @jlewisbridal