About the Innovation

VirtuallyHitched.com is a user-friendly, interactive wedding planner on the internet that gives couples personalized, step-by-step instructions for planning their wedding. Once they sign up, the system generates directions, budgets, task lists, worksheets, guest database, RSVP area, a personal web page with customized content, and numerous other useful tools. The founder likens it to a "dress rehearsal" and says her site helps bridal couples "see" their wedding before it happens. It helps couples save time and money, and helps them avoid costly mistakes.

About the Innovator

Jackie Howell was only nineteen years old, still going to school, living at home, and scraping by with savings from a small, part-time job. But she knew what she wanted. She wanted to start her own business – even though she had no idea what that business should be.

She approached the Y Enterprise Centre, a business counseling service in her hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland, with her first idea – for a childcare service – but was turned down. They told her it would never work. She was disappointed, but she didn't give up. She was determined to find a fresh idea.

She spent months researching and evaluating. At the same time, she continued her education. In the evenings she took additional courses, hoping inspiration would strike. Weeks went by... months went by... two years went by... and then, one day, it happened! She found herself at home, sick with the flu, watching the Oprah Winfrey Show on TV. Oprah was interviewing a wedding consultant. Like a true entrepreneur, Jackie Howell recognized an opportunity– becoming a better wedding consultant was her big idea!

Armed with her new plan, Jackie returned to the business centre which had turned her down two years earlier. This time, they were encouraging. They offered Jackie the services of a business consultant who would help her with business plan development and feasibility studies. However, there were two big obstacles: Jackie had no wedding planning experience and she had no financing! The year was 1991, Jackie was only 21 years old, just finishing school, and still living at home. She still had her part-time job but only $1000 in savings. Still, she focused on what she did have: supportive family and friends, belief in her own abilities, belief in this new idea, and the ongoing support and encouragement of Keelin O'Leary – the business consultant assigned to guide her by the Y Enterprise Centre.

She met with Keelin O'Leary at least once a week for almost a year, fine-tuning her business plan. At the time, she couldn't even afford a computer - three nights a week, she borrowed her sister's. During this time, she set about learning everything she could about the wedding business. She met with every wedding-related vendor she could find, asking questions and collecting data. She read every book she could find on the subject, and even wrote an extensive 30-page workbook herself. Now all she needed was funding! She needed at least $4000. With an air of confidence, she approached the three biggest banks in her community. They turned her down flat. She approached Youth Ventures, a program, which provides financing to young people who are starting a small business. That didn't work either.

Jackie almost gave up. But she had already made the most important investments - investments which don't need money - hard work, attention to detail, and perseverance - so, when she least expected it, success began to find her.

Months earlier, she had arranged to be listed in her local Yellow Pages™ directory. Calls started to come in. That first summer, she only got four. The second summer, she got twelve. The third summer, she got twenty-two and in 1999, she had seventy-seven! She never did need that original financing - she was able to fund growth herself, through ongoing sales. And, like a true innovator, she never stopped thinking of fresh ideas!

By 1997, Keelin O'Leary, who had been her first mentor, had now become manager of the Genesis Centre, at Memorial University of Newfoundland, a technology based incubator for companies with high growth potential. Keelin remembered Jackie as someone to watch, and invited her to make a presentation to their board of directors. This time, Jackie came with industry experience, money to invest in her new venture, a big vision and more determination than ever! The Genesis Centre not only accepted her, they matched her with a world class mentor - a managing partner of The BrainYard - located in Los Angeles, California.

Together, they began working with computer programmers to design VirtuallyHitched.com. The beta version was uploaded on the Internet in February, 1999. It is presently available to use online and is completely free. Revenues are generated through advertising, a gift registry, and honeymoon planning. Jackie is also negotiating partnerships with several large Canadian firms and the site will be marketed across Canada. Jackie is a true innovator who is always ready to take advantage of the next opportunity. All of her hard work and perseverance is paying off and she says her future never looked brighter!