‘I’ve sewn brides into dresses and mended heels!’
Isobel Lamplough, 36, is the founder of Isobel Weddings, a wedding-planning business. She lives in Oxford with her husband, Richard, 38, and children Oliver, seven, Max, four, and three-year-old twins Arabella and Freddie.
‘Iwas midway through training as a lawyer when I began helping friends organise their weddings in my spare time. At one, in the New Forest, I herded horses away from the marquee; at another, I played waitress when the caterers didn’t show. I loved the thrill of seeing everything come together, and it soon became clear that a legal career wasn’t for me.
Rather than giving up my job straight away, I shadowed wedding planners and carried on helping friends organise their weddings in my free time. I’d tour venues for them, help with choosing dresses, and co-ordinate suppliers – everything I do now, but unpaid.
I saw it as an investment in my future and learned so much – the importance of supplier relationships, timing, and how to be adaptable. I also completed the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners training, a weekend course on which I learned about contracts, marketing and pricing. Finally, in 2008, I gave up law, cashed in an ISA and invested £5,000 in designing my brand and a website.
My first full planning job was an
Oxford wedding in November for a lady called Carolyn. I co-ordinated every element, from the florist to the bridesmaids’ dresses. Seeing everything come together gave me such a buzz.
Every wedding planner needs great relationships with suppliers. I built my network by cold-calling florists and caterers and asking to meet for coffee. A florist I met 10 years ago is now godmother to one of my twins!
After the first year, I had made back my initial investment, plus a small profit. Three years in, Katie joined on a freelance basis, and a year later I took on Becky, who works for me full time. Some of our weddings are logistically impossible without two or three people.
I’ve planned some amazing weddings. We once lifted a marquee into a historic quad in Oxford by crane, and set up a glass marquee in the gardens of Raymond Blanc’s restaurant Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’saisons.
Of course, it’s not always plain sailing, but it’s my job to ensure the bride and groom don’t stress when things go wrong. I’ve sewn brides into dresses, mended heels – at a recent wedding, the suit suppliers hadn’t included any cufflinks, so I made nine pairs from ribbon minutes before the ceremony!
Wedding planners need to be able to think on their feet and control a situation without being patronising. Getting the best from suppliers and keeping clients happy is a balancing act. Ultimately, it’s a logistics job. We work on 10 to 15 weddings a year, and I have about eight meetings with a couple, who’ll spend anywhere from £8,000 to £25,000.
With four young children, it’s a constant juggle, but flexibility is the best part of being my own boss.
I love the wedding industry because it’s so goal-oriented. I like pulling the pieces together and creating an occasion. The fact everyone’s blissfully happy on the day is a bonus.’
• isobelweddings.com