05/11/2026
I want to introduce myself to all the new people here today with my background.
My name is Joyce Lee and I am originally from Malaysia. Although I have lived in Atlanta for more than 30 years, most people can tell from my English accent that I am from South East Asia.
As a Chinese Malaysian, my first language is actually Hokkien, which is a Chinese dialect but now I don't really get to use it that often except to surprise any Taiwanese clients!
Growing up in a household where English, Mandarin Chinese, Hokkien, and Foochow(another Chinese dialect) were used simultaneously on the dining table, I guess I am used to mixing cultures from the very beginning (yes the Chinese dialects are as different as French vs. English) ! Later on I also learned to understand Cantonese by watching TVB shows from Hong Kong but I don't have the courage to speak it after my husband made fun of my spoken Cantonese when we got married 16 years ago! 🤣
I came to the US to pursue a degree in Finance because I wanted to make sure I could land a job as soon as I graduate (no such thing as gap year back then!) and I did end up starting a corporate job within 1 week of graduation. The job gave me a chance to see the world as I got standby flight benefits and I am glad I get to learn about other cultures and countries.
Growing up I never knew I would become a wedding planner who specializes in multicultural celebrations but God paved the path for me to take that leap of faith to go full time with my wedding planning career in 2023 after working part time for 13 years in this business.
Wedding planner maybe my job title but it is more than a job for me. It is a passion and also a call to serve my clients with humility and to show support to my fellow vendors as we go through each wedding together!
Photo credit: my husband