WFH Diaries | With Lavelle Bridal Couture

“I try to spend the afternoon tackling bigger project pieces, which sometimes works, and sometimes I just get lost in an Instagram/Pinterest/TikTok hole.” Becky Lavelle of Lavelle Bridal Couture on her new lockdown daily routine

Lavelle Bridal Couture – run and founded by Becky Lavelle – lies enveloped in the picturesque market town of Warwick. Beckoning brides-to-be with her sumptuous array of designers stocked in-store since February 2019 (you’ll discover the dreamy creations of Hayley Paige, Dando London, Kenneth Winston and Casablanca Bridal within her pretty boutique walls) Becky is dedicated to helping brides discover their dream of a wedding dress. With a fashion background (Becky attended the London College of Fashion) and an innate understanding of a wedding gown’s construction, you’re in safe hands with Lavelle Bridal Couture. I caught up with Becky to get the low-down on her lockdown…

#1 Provide us with three words that sum-up how you were feeling about lockdown when it first started, and then three words about how you feel now:

Before: “Scared, overwhelmed and worried.”
After: “Excited, positive – whilst a little nervous.”

#2 What time do you get up? Has this changed? Is life a little slower? Talk to us about your new daily routine…

“It was lot slower to begin with but now I try and get up around 8:30am, do a work out with Joe Wicks, spend the morning pottering, doing admin bits and booking brides in for when I re-open on 16th June. I break for lunch and usually watch an episode of whatever series we’re watching that week, (currently White Lines). Then I try to spend the afternoon tackling bigger project pieces, which sometimes works, and sometimes I just get lost in an Instagram/Pinterest/TikTok hole. I try to switch off about 5:30/6pm
and take myself out for a cycle which has become one of my new favourite things. There are so many lovely routes around by where I live and it’s so peaceful. Then dinner followed by more episodes, which is why we’re getting through multiple shows a week!”

#3 How is lockdown impacting your business, and how can people support you?

“Yes. I have a bridal boutique and had to shut down in the middle of March when everything started. I’ve had lots of brides who’ve had to postpone their weddings which is heartbreaking. Now I’m planning to re-open on 16th June which is super exciting/a little bit scary. My brides have been amazing and so supportive and now I can’t wait to meet all of the new brides that are booking in. Appointments are being snapped up quickly and with the new procedures that I’ve had to put in place I can’t see as many brides in a day as I have to allow time to clean inbetween. So, if you’d like an appointment this summer, get in touch asap (simply click here), June/July/August are extremely busy already.

I’ve also had so much support from other businesses sharing content, which has been amazing and so lovely to see.”

#4 Name three local businesses you are supporting or would like to support more…

No.1 “Mrs Social – a business pal of mine that I met at a networking event about a year ago now who has been smashing it with her business through these uncertain times. She’s really risen up but also been a huge support and friend for me through this.”

No.2 “Jack’s Shack – a small coffee shop which have done an amazing job of keeping their business going through all of this with doorstep deliveries (and they sell the most amazing Nutella brownie cupcakes!)”

No.3 “Junie Poonie – an industry friend and all round incredible human being. She’s done an amazing job of bringing positive vibes through all of this and works incredibly hard.”

#5 What’s your favourite isolation snack?

“Paprika Pringles all the way! It’s true, once you pop…”

#6 What’s your most recommended quarantine pick-me-up when you’re feeling down?

“Pump up the tunes and have a stupid dance around the lounge – dance like no one is watching, because no one is and it makes you feel great!”

#7 What’s the item you can now NEVER find in the supermarket (and consequently dream continuously about)…

“Paprika Pringles!! Sainsburys keep substituting them for BBQ flavour – it’s not the same!”

#8 What’s the strangest thing that’s happened during your lockdown period…

“I’ve had a few mad moments but the strangest has to be when I wore a hoodie for trousers and my joggers on my arms and danced through the flat pretending I was walking on my hands. It made my boyfriend and I laugh and it’s these small stupid things that have been getting us through.”

#9 Favourite app for keeping in touch digitally with friends and family?

“FaceTime all the time and all the memes being shared on my friendship groups in WhatsApp.”

#10 Name your lockdown hate:

“Washing up – it NEVER ends!!”

#11 Name your lockdown love:

“The community spirit and I’m probably one of the only people still loving a Zoom quiz!”

#12 The person(s) you will hug first when social distancing is no longer in place?

“The list is so long but first will be my Mum, Dad and Sister.”

#13 An act of kindness towards you that you’ve really appreciated?

“My seamstress delivered mini chocolate cupcakes and gin and tonic handwash to my front door – love her!”

#14 Talk to us about what’s new at your brand?

“I can’t give too much away at the moment as it’s all happening in the background but I’m looking at bringing a new designer to the shop very soon which I’m super excited about! Also, I’m just so excited to be able to re-open the shop to all my new brides who have been busy planning their wedding. There are some new dresses in the shop that came in in February/March that haven’t even been tried on yet.”

#15 Name three things the lockdown has made you grateful for:

No.1 “Family and friends.”

No.2 “Health and happiness.”

No.3 “Where I live.”

#16 Which restaurant will you dine at first once restrictions are lifted?

“This list is longer than the people I want to hug. My fave has to be a seafood restaurant in Brighton. It’s called The Regency and it’s on the seafront. My boyfriend introduced it to me years ago when he took me to Brighton for the weekend. It’s nothing fancy inside but the seafood is to die for. Garlic prawns, moules mariniere with plenty of bread to mop up all the sauce, and then seafood linguine. It’s making me salivate thinking about it!”

#17 What series have you now completed on Netflix? Any recommendations?

“All of them! Newest fave – Selling Sunset, it’s like The Hills meets Cribs! Also, Money Heist, Workin’ Moms, After Life, White Lines.”

#18 What would be your quarantine book list?

“I’ve recently finished Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty and Never Greener by Ruth Jones. At the moment I’m reading Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker and How Do You Like Me Now by Holly Bourne.”

#19 And, finally, your quarantine cocktail/tipple of choice?

“It has to be a G&T. I have a gin cabinet that has deteriorated over the past 12 weeks!”

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