You took the plunge; the leap. You’re going it alone and THRIVING with your business, and I want to know about the journey: the good, the scary and the stuff that made you lie awake at 2am (we’ve all been there). Welcome to Bridal Editor’s latest interview series: Taking The Plunge, here to inspire businesses (big and small) in the wedding industry and those looking to make the leap…
Following on from the WFH Diaries (a series I launched during lockdown to support the wedding industry), I felt compelled to launch Taking The Plunge, especially as so many businesses in the wedding industry (and beyond) took the leap during those terrifying times or stumbled across a small business idea they never knew they had. And, for me, it’s a series that’s reflective of my own current situation: taking the plunge with Bridal Editor and it’s freelance offering for brands…
As always, I’ll be kickstarting the series by answering the Taking The Plunge Q&A myself, before interviewing other businesses (both big, small and in-between) and hopefully – simultaneously, – inspiring you and raising a glass to those who have taken, and will take, the plunge…
Name: Sarah Tippett
Business: Bridal Editor
Date you took the plunge: May 2022
#1 In a nutshell, describe your business/brand – what do you offer?
“Bridal Editor isa carefully curated, purely fashion-led bridal site dedicated to helping modern brides discover everything from their DREAM wedding dress (be that a cloud of elegant tulle, a tailored trouser suit or a set of cool contemporary separates) to those achingly unique accessories. Celebrated for its iconic pink Instagram feed and penchant for a wedding related meme, hopefully its somewhere brides of all kinds can feel inspired and discover that aisle-worth trouser suit or celestial crown that gets their heart pumping. Bridal Editor also offers up freelance services for brands, including website copy, monthly blog posts, newsletter copy, social media management (including Instagram and Pinterest) and much, much more.”
#2 What’s your career background? Has it always been in the wedding industry?
“Having worked in magazines for many years (I previously worked as the Fashion Editor at Wedding Magazine, and most recently, the Fashion Director and Head of Digital at Your Day Magazine, and have freelanced for the likes of Suitcase Magazine online, Wedding Style Magazine, Wedding Ideas, Hitched and more), working for a magazine – until recently – has always been at the top of my career wish list. I spent my spare time at university emailing magazine contacts and trying to bag internships, which then led to summers interning for various London-based glossies (which often consisted of running around with a London A-Z – there was no Google Maps then, people – looking lost whilst holding a shoot sample…and once even ripping my trousers bending down in a fashion cupboard). It was hard, and scary, and embarrassing at times (a reference to the trouser thing) but it was totally worth it. I loved every second of it. There was never a doubt in my mind that that was what I wanted to do.”
#3 What planted the seed of your business idea? Did it strike you suddenly?
“Bridal Editor was born when I got made redundant from my position as Fashion Editor/Digital Writer at Wedding Magazine back in 2016. I’d fallen hard for bridal – especially its edgier, more fashion-forward vibe – and didn’t want to stop. Sometimes really good things are born from what seems like – at the time – a bad thing.”
#4 Describe the moment you decided to TAKE THE PLUNGE?
“I took the plunge recently, a mere two months ago in fact. It’s funny how things can work out – how something you think you want, doesn’t turn out to be what you want. And it’s not always an easy journey to discovering that, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.”
#5 Describe how the first day of building your own business felt:
“Insane. Suddenly, there were no time limitations. I didn’t have to be at my desk by 9am or request holiday dates, it was definitely bizarre – and still is, a little bit. But it’s endlessly exciting too. The to-do list was huge (we’re talking a Mount Everest of post-it notes) and still is. It’s definitely daunting, but the fact that it was for me, for my business, is a truly wonderful feeling.”
#6 The highs – what have they been so far?
“Receiving any kind of happy feedback from the brands I work with is a real high point to be honest. Or, when a label reaches out because they want to work with you. I was also very lucky to be invited to an intimate dinner with Spectrum Collections’ founders, Sophie and Hannah in that first month too for the launch of their new bridal brush set…and they’re a very inspiring duo.”
#7 The lows – how did you move past them? What did you learn?
“As I’m only two months in, the lows – so far – have often arrived in the form of a ‘no’ to a pitch, or frustration over a low-performing Reel (which you spent two hours editing). Sometimes it can be hard working alone too, you can overthink things, but often a voice note from my favourite WhatsApp friend group or FaceTiming my best friend in Berlin can pick up a day in an instant. And coffee of course, always coffee.”
#8 If you could tell yourself three things when you first started the business – what would they be?
No.1 “Wake up early.”
No.2 “Be patient.”
No.3 “Never run out of coffee pods or milk.”
#9 Your tips for those dreaded lying-awake-at-3am times? (Counting sheep? Glass of water? Get up? Meditate? Read?)
“When I really can’t sleep, I tend to head downstairs and lie on our sofa in the living room (it’s also my napping spot, so has a good feel about it). I’ll probably try and watch something on Netflix for a bit, or put Friends on in the background and just listen to their voices, praying I drift off.”
#10 Your top organisational tip?
“I love the little tick boxes you get on Apple Notes. I have multiple, probably award-worthy-length lists, and I just love checking them off after I’ve completed something.”
#11 Who inspired you? Or inspires you in business?
There are many people who probably inspire me on a daily basis. My husband’s dedication to his own business. People in the industry: labels like Kate Halfpenny, KYHA Studios and Rime Arodaky and boutiques like Halo & Wren. This is starting to feel like an Oscar speech, isn’t it? “I want to thank…” There’s also Instagram feeds that bring joy to my eyeballs: @jasminedowling ’s creativity makes my eyes water, as does a lot of other Australian-based brands and designers.
#12 An app/piece of tech you now couldn’t live without for your business:
“My iPhone.”
#13 Your first ever job was…
“…highly glamorous. I was a forecourt assistant at a petrol station. I even cleaned the pumps.”
#14 Your top social media tip?
“Post regularly.”
#15 The brand you’d love to collaborate with and why…
“Sunnylife Australia or KYHA. Or Charlotte Mills. Or Rime Arodaky. The list goes on…”
#16 Name a business/social media account(s) – that have helped/inspired you with your business?
“I absolutely love the work @jasminedowling does. Her feed is filled with her joyous creative spirit and beautiful palettes that you just want to wrap around you and snuggle into. It’s a very chilled space, her corner of the ‘gram.”
#17 Your fav social media tool: (Pinterest? Instagram? LinkTree? Etc.)
“Instagram.”
#18 Your advice to those looking to TAKE THE PLUNGE:
“Wait for the right moment. I feel like I needed to balance out ‘the reality’ of what I was going to do when taking the plunge, and ‘the dream’. It’s always been the dream – but I needed to make sure that I could still pay my rent.”
Rapid Fire Questions:
#1 Most inspirational book you’ve read: “Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso. I’ve read it about 50 times and my copy is now battered and torn. But, I love it. I always feel motivated after reading it.”
#2 You’re in Starbucks, what do you order? “A Venti Cappuccino.”
#3 Instagram feed crush: “@jasminedowling”
#4 Your worst job was… “I’m torn between washing pumps at the petrol station and waitressing in a cafe. I was a terrible waitress.”
#5 If you didn’t do what you do…what would you do?
“I literally have no idea.“
#6 Work day pick-me-up: “Coffee and my cat, Pixie.”
Want to be part of Bridal Editor’s Taking The Plunge series? Get in touch!
Read more Taking The Plunge interviews or head back to Bridal Editor.
