It's often been said that, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." If you've ever interviewed for a job, gone out on a date or thrown a party, you know just how true this statement is. When all you've got is one shot at making an impression, you want it to have impact. Julie Preston understands perfectly. As a highly successful event planner and proud owner of Preston Events, Julie has built her reputation on helping people create a one-of-a-kind experience for an impression that lasts a lifetime.

A Welcoming Approach
You might say that event planning is in Julie's blood. As a little girl, she remembers attending elaborate dinner parties hosted by her grandmother. Those soirees made quite an impression on this budding event planner, with their gold platters, stunning crystal candelabras and gourmet middle-eastern menus. But what always stood out to Julie was how her grandmother made everyone feel special. From creating custom place cards to whipping up her signature cream puffs for dessert, Julie saw the impression her grandmother left on her guests. "You could see how people felt she cared about them and went out of her way to make them feel right at home," she said.

The Business of Fun
Taking a cue from her grandmother as well as her mother, who hosted several functions herself as a minister's wife, Julie pursued both her event planning certification as well as her bachelor's degree from Salem State College and her master's degree from Boston University. She started out coordinating events and special projects for banks and hospitals, working her way up to assistant coordinator for BU's Anna Howard Shaw Center. With her impeccable attention to detail, genuine enthusiasm and seamless execution, Julie successfully organized several fundraisers as well as student retreats, lectures, conferences and other social events.

Julie and her husband, Andrew, love spending a quiet evening reading to their children, Rachel and Charlie.

That Special Touch
From a graduation party to a trade show, Julie knows the secret to creating a lasting impression is to make people feel special and more importantly, to make sure they have fun. As one of the North Shore's leading event planners and the owner of Preston Events, Julie has earned a sterling reputation for helping people create unforgettable experiences. From her industry expertise and keen insight to her wealth of resources and solid rapport with local vendors, Julie is skilled at pulling together all the details that create an affair that's sure to be talked about for years to come.