Married Waukesha Couple Creates Sweet Business Together

WAUKESHA, WI—Jessie Bowen of Waukesha grew up watching her mom, Julie Wolski, create wedding cakes, chocolates and other treats.

"She taught me everything I know," Bowen said.

Last year, Bowen made a Mickey Mouse cake for her nephew's birthday party, and it was a smash hit. "People at the party said the cake was so good and that I should go into business for myself," she told Patch.

A few months later, Bowen and her husband, Aaron, did just that: They opened a bakery business of their own. "We started on Dec. 4, 2020, on my birthday," she said. "It was a great birthday present to myself."

Jessie and Aaron Bowen own The Lovebug Co., which makes and sells chocolates, cakes and other treats. She named the business after a nickname her mom gave her as a kid after she was adopted at age 5. "Ever since, I was called love bug," she said. "Unless I was in trouble; then I was called Jessie."

Wolski still gives her daughter things covered with ladybugs printed on them and cards addressed with her nickname.

About the business

The Lovebug Co. sells cupcakes, chocolate woven strawberry cake, caramel clusters, cheesecake waffle cones and more.

One popular items is the stuffed cupcakes, such as the German chocolate-filled cupcake with Nutella, topped with homemade chocolate buttercream made with Ghirardelli cocoa powder.

Bowen also makes birthday and wedding cakes. She and Aaron have plans to redo their website to feature the wedding cake service more.

The couple also makes specialty cakes for baby showers, bachelorette and bachelor parties and other events.

The Lovebug Co. doesn't have a storefront. The couple makes their goodies in a professional kitchen they rent in downtown Waukesha. They make everything personally. They also sell coffee and some merchandise.

They deliver orders directly to customers and will also let people pick things up, taking COVID-19 precautions. "Whatever they [customers] are comfortable with, that is what I will do," Bowen said.

They are starting to experiment with shipping chocolates. Bowen said they have shipped down to Florida and Mississippi.

Jessie's sweetie

Jessie and Aaron met online and married in 2015. She described her husband as the "biggest blessing."

They tag team when they are working on Lovebug Co. items. She referred to Aaron as "dish master" because she loads up the sink, and he cleans up for her. The proud wife also complimented his buttercream frosting and cheesecake filling techniques.

Aaron also runs the business' online presence and social media accounts. He recently posted a photo of the cream cheese-filled waffle cones that had people drooling. "I can make the stuff and make it look pretty, but he knows how to angle things," Bowen said.

Married couples can become irritated with each other, but that it isn't the case for the Bowen family, Jessie said. Both work other jobs in addition to their business. "When we are both in the kitchen, it is usually very late at night to early morning," Bowen said.

She considers her deliveries a mini-road trip with her husband.

Their big goal is eventually to expand into a brick-and-mortar store to offer more services. Bowen said she would love to locate in downtown Waukesha or somewhere in the surrounding area.

Bowen's day job is office manager, but she wants eventually to work for herself. "It is one of those things of saying, 'I started this from start to finish, and this is what I did,'" Bowen said.

For more information on The Lovebug Co., visit their Facebook page or official website.