WFH Diary | With Lianne Tucker of Blonde Army

“Music!! Old school RnB or a 90s playlist (no judgement please!) A little desk boogie always helps.” Lianne Tucker, Blonde Army on her most recommended quarantine pick-me-up

Lianne Tucker welcomes you to the army, the Blonde Army to be specific. A creative event studio with a knack for curating jaw-droppingly cool concepts for “life-loving souls” and “modern couples and brands“, Blonde army is all about making the wedding planning (every teeny weeny detail in particular) stress- (and predictable) free. Specialising in hire and styling, Blonde Army is celebrated for its achingly cool concepts, easy elegance and distinctive hire collection, making them first choice on a lot of brides’ wedding wishlists. To be honest – and in Lianne’s exact words – “basically – if you love detail, design and a damn good party, we are going to get along just fine!” I caught up with Lianne (digitally, of course) to get the lowdown 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: “Sorry Corona who?! (I was definitely in denial).”

After: “Calm. Grateful. Inspired.”

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

“Between 6-7am. I’m much more productive in the morning and I’m used to working from my home office so that feels no different to me. I’d love to say life has slowed down but it has probably gone the other way! For the first few weeks I was in constant contact with my couples to help them with postponements etc. No one knew just how Corona was going to impact everyone and so as a small and relatively new business I had to spend some time thinking clearly about the brand, the direction I wanted to go and how that progression would look in these limitations. So, its been busy, but I finally feel calm and excited about the future. I am also looking forward to slowing the pace a little and allowing things take shape.”

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

“So, literally three days before the official ‘lockdown’ I launched my Hire Collection and had planned an editorial to demonstrate how each piece can be styled and incorporated into your wedding design…. well, Corona had other ideas! I still decided to launch and have produced a catalogue which has been really well received. I am currently offering 10% off the total hire plus a reduced deposit of 30% to ease financial outlay at this time. Cash flow is important to a business and so if there are any couples wanting to hire my decor it would be lovely to hear from them before all my remaining available dates get booked :).”

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

No.1 “@315press – wedding stationer.”

No.2 “@wheretheribbonends – cake and desserts.”

No.3 “@cicelyandmay – handmade soy candles.”

“I recently had an idea of how I can support couples who have had to postpone their weddings and support local businesses so we have a little collaboration project coming soon…”

#5 What’s your favourite isolation snack?

“I’m not much of a snacker, but my coffee intake has tripled!”

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

“Music!! Old school RnB or a 90s playlist (no judgement please!) A little desk boogie always helps. I’m loving podcasts at the moment too. But I’m a big believer in fresh air and exercise so a walk, a bike ride or….. wine. Malbec has been my medicine!”

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

“Funnily enough….mild cheddar… what’s that about?!”

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

“Crazy dreams.”

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

“Zoom. Weekly family quizzes and girlie socials are keeping me sane.”

#10 Name your lockdown hate:

“Not seeing family and friends or being able to meet my brand new niece…”

#11 Name your lockdown love:

“Yoga, podcasts, loungewear!”

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

“My parents, my nephew, my niece and my bestie. I will literally squeeze them!”

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

“There’s been so many. My boyfriend and I have had a few things thrown our way during lockdown and the kindness and thoughtful gifts we have been sent has literally blown me away. I’ve cried a lot (happy tears) at peoples’ generosity and kindness. It really is the little things and people taking the time to check in on you.”

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

“So, a few things. Obviously I mentioned the launch of the Hire Collection which I’m really excited for and I’m already working with some amazing couples who have given me the best briefs to work on! It offers something very modern to the industry so I cannot wait to get out and about with it and share the styling possibilities.

Then during this ‘hiatus’ I’ve had the time (and need) to explore other avenues within the business.

I’m really proud of a partnership with Emma Ryan Photography where we offer stylish elopements across Yorkshire and The Lake District, to help couples marry now and party later. There is a possibility that weddings could look quite different this year, and as the legal ceremony is important to a lot of couples to progress with other areas of their life, we wanted to help create an opportunity where that can still be an occasion and celebration of it’s own.” Discover more about the partnership by clicking here.

I’ve also launched brand workshops and content creation for the wedding industry called ‘CHAPTERS’ which I hope to go live with in July once it’s safe to meet in small groups. I have a new ‘gift’ experience launching soon too. And finally, I’ll be opening an online store where you can purchase bespoke acrylic signage for weddings and events which is all handmade in-house by me. So, yep, it’s been busy at Blonde HQ!”

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

No.1 “Family, friends and our NHS and care system. I really hope after this the country values them so much more.”

No.2 “The outdoors.”

No.3 “The little things.”

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

“Not a restaurant, but my parent’s garden for a good old family BBQ. All the food and drink, good tunes and just talking and having a laugh. Best. Thing. Ever.”

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

“Ozark – literally obsessed.

Dead To Me – 1st series great, 2nd series meh.

Normal People – yet to finish.”

#18 What would be your quarantine book list?

“Current read: Thrive by Arianna Huffington. It’s all about redefining success and our attitude to work. Another fave which I’ve previously read is Emma Gannon’s The Multi-Hyphen Method: Work Less, Create More: How To Make Your Side Hustle Work For You. Which may be of interest to a lot of people coming out of this lockdown situation.”

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

“G&T. 1 x cube of ice (not that I’m particular – ha!). Grapefruit wedge. Cheers.”

Want to discover more about Blonde Army? Click here.

To read more WFH Diary entries on Bridal Editor from your favourite bridal brands (big and small) and designers, click here.