Wedding Planning for the Modern Rebel

At Jillicious Foods, we cater weddings for same-sex couples, activists, trendsetters, designers, artists, vegans and anyone in New York City (and Upstate New York) who doesn’t want their parents’ wedding. Our mission is to tell their story with food — and no two menus are ever the same.

This is why we love Modern Rebel, the go-to NYC wedding planner for pairs who want to rewrite the rules about weddings.

There’s a reason Modern Rebel’s caught the attention of Refinery29 and Rock N Roll Bride, and their weddings have been featured in VOGUE and The New York Times. Wedding’s don’t have to be fussy or frilly, and six-plus years and more than 250 events later, Modern Rebel has proven not only that weddings should be “total love parties” but that the wedding planning process itself can be enjoyable and rewarding.

Like Jillicious Foods, Modern Rebel is dedicated to building relationships, inclusivity, and giving back. Like Jillicious Foods, Modern Rebel’s clients are “down to earth, fun, and focused on the important stuff” — and, like our menus, no two Modern Rebel weddings are the same.

For our Vendor Spotlight Series, we spoke with Modern Rebel Founder and Lead Planner Amy Shack Egan about rewriting the rules, Modern Rebel’s unique wedding planning process, the new era of virtual weddings, and her advice for new brides and grooms.

10 Questions with Modern Rebel’s Amy Shack Egan

1. What is Modern Rebel?

Modern Rebel is your go-to wedding planning company for the modern couple in NYC and virtually.

2. And you’ve become the go to by rewriting the rules. What does this mean?

It means to not just accept everything for the way it has always been! Want to have a space disco cowboy wedding theme? Go for it! Want to skip having an aisle? Do it! There are so many wedding traditions and expectations that just don't feel quite right for everybody, so it's important to write the wedding rules for yourselves. Keep what works, and throw out the rest!

3. Love it! What do you think is lacking for modern couples in the traditional wedding?

The traditional wedding is totally right for some folks; it’s not that the traditional wedding lacks anything, it's just not giving enough wiggle room for couples who doesn't feel fully celebrated by some of its traditions or expectations — and that's not cool!

4. Agreed. Is that what inspired you to create Modern Rebel?

I was wedding planning for a friend six years ago, and I found myself really enjoying it. She was like, "You could do this!" I was like, "Do what?" She said, "Be a wedding planner!" And I had an almost gag-reflex reaction — no way was I going to be a wedding planner. The wedding industry was so frilly, fussy… and just not me. But a few weeks went by, and I still couldn't shake the reality that it was sort of messed up that an entire industry that's supposed to be about love had not only turned me off but has turned off so many others. So, I thought, maybe I can do this — just differently!

5. And do this you have. What other experiences have you had that enable you to provide this unique service?

With more than 200 weddings under my belt, I've had ample experience to learn on the job! Whenever entrepreneurs ask, "When should I start my company?" My answer is always the same: yesterday. Just start learning, making connections, helping people… That's what I did, and I'm still learning! In addition, I had multiple service jobs and worked for a startup prior to launching Modern Rebel. That, and a great life resumé of meeting interesting people and becoming a well rounded human, have definitely helped on the entrepreneurial and wedding planner journey.

6. So what distinguishes Modern Rebel weddings from those planned by other Brooklyn and NYC wedding planners?

There are so many amazing wedding planners out there — all totally awesome in their own ways! What sets us apart are three major pieces:

1. We aren't afraid to break the rules, and take a no-assumptions approach to the planning process. We're not going to judge you for making a totally out-of-the-box choice, and we're going to make sure that the choices you make reflect you, so we ask a lot of questions!

2. We really believe in the partnership. So, we've found ways in our planning process to make sure that's nourished, too. The wedding should reflect the real highlight: the relationship; if the relationship isn't thriving, what's the point?

3. We give back through every event. When I started Modern Rebel we partnered with the Center of Domestic Violence in Brooklyn, and now we have five non-profit partners. So, after each couple gets married, the first decision they make as a married couple is: "Which non-profit should we donate to?"

7. That is amazing. How does your wedding planning process work?

We have three packages:

1. Full planning (planner with you every step of the way)

2. Partial planning (consultant based)

3. Coordination (a month-of coordinator)

We're also offering some a la carte options, as well as digital downloads if those packages don't exactly fit a couple's needs.

8. Yeah, we saw those digital downloads — how cool!… And we also noticed you added Jillicious Foods to your preferred vendor list. First off, thank you! Secondly, what is your process for selecting vendors for this honor, and how do you connect specific brides and grooms with specific vendors and venues?

Usually it comes down to:

• Are they talented at what they do?

• Are they kind?

• Are they running an ethical business that's creating a safe space for our clients?

These are the nuts and bolts, and of course we want to make sure that our vendor favorites list, like our couples, reflects the amazing diversity of New York City and includes a wire array of options, like film photography, vegan food, and various price points.

When it comes to matching couples with vendors, we take this super seriously and really get to know our couples and their needs; there's no one size fits all — it's all custom recommendations.

9. Well, we’re honored to have made the list, and thrilled to be working with you. Now, walk us through a virtual wedding planned by Modern Rebel.

We pivoted to virtual wedding coordination in April 2020, and we've done over 30 since then! Our virtual weddings are as unique as our in-person events, and we've been able to work with couples all over the world. We help couples navigate the flow, what they want to include or not, any vendor add-ons, and handle the silent stage management behind the scenes, so they can just show up and enjoy.

10. That sounds pretty exceptional. What is the most important piece of advice you could give a bride or groom planning their wedding, whether virtual or in person?

During the wedding planning process, if a decision is damaging the relationship, it’s not that important. Pause, take deep breaths, and take a break. We want to get you to the finish line for a kick-ass love party, but the finish line is really a starting line for the rest of your lives! So, investing in the relationship is key.

* All photos sourced from the Modern Rebel website, which contains proper photographer credits.