It never feels like the right time to give up full time employment and start your own business. I had made an attempt five years previously but was soon working for a venue that demanded too much of my time to be classed as ‘self employed’. I reluctantly became an employee, but the upside was I really enjoyed the job and having worked in corporate entertainment, this was the start of my ‘wedding’ career.
The best thing about the job was I discovered Thaxted where we now live. I was on the hunt for B&B’s to recommend to clients and I had arranged to visit ‘Crossways’ http://www.crosswaysthaxted.co.uk/. After looking at the rooms, the owners Michael and Beppe offered me a drink and whilst we chatted over coffee, I thought ‘I want to live here’. I was soon trawling the internet looking for properties, much to my husbands horror as we had just spent the last eight years renovating our previous home. I quickly found the perfect house and much to everyone’s surprise, we moved in 12 weeks later!
I then went on to work in Saffron Walden organising weddings, christenings, funerals, birthday celebrations, Christmas parties – even working for Jamie Oliver at his home in Clavering and on the set of his TV shows. It was when I was asked by Michaela Doherty to organise her wedding to Jimmy on their farm in
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| With Jimmy & Michaela |
After their wedding I soon realised I should go it alone, as I really enjoyed working so closely with them to organise every detail. Working for a venue is great fun, but you don’t get to offer creative advice to the couples and to work with them on colour schemes and styling ideas, something I am most interested in.
It was a big step to take as we were used to the security employment brings, but I had spent such a long time putting my energies into other people’s businesses, I thought now was the perfect time to put them into my own.
It is the best decision I have ever made and whilst every month varies financially, there is nothing more rewarding than working for yourself.
