Welcome to our “Day in the Life” series! We feature wedding and event planners from around the world with many different levels of experience. If you would like to be featured, download our questionnaire here and email your responses and photo to info@plannerslounge.com. We are excited to feature Elaine Jaques today!

Name: Elaine Jaques

Business Name & Location: Bride Beautiful Limited in Elsham Hall, Lincolnshire

Years Working in the Event Industry: 9 ½ years

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 4 years

Website: www.elshamhallevents.co.uk

Twitter: @bridebeautifull

What is your typical day like?

I don’t have a typical day. Each day is different and brings with it varying challenges. I start my day around 8am with checking email messages, Facebook and Twitter. I respond to anything urgent then move to parental mode, shower, breakfast, school and lunches for what feels like 3 children (1 is my partner ☺).

I head to my office/studio at Elsham Hall next (called the Bridal Studio). I am lucky enough now to employ assistance which keeps me regimented on working hours. We start in the office at 9:30am. We respond to emails and check our schedule for the day. Appointments for the day can include couples visiting for viewing the venue, existing clients checking in for updates, consultations, meetings with various suppliers/vendors and consultations about improvements or maintenance to do with the Barn which is the venue where my studio is located.

I use the time between meetings to get organized for consultations. For example, if I know a couple is coming in for their 3 month consultation, I will set out a table with a design I feel suits their requirements based on email conversations and previous chats.  Between meetings, I may also be creating planning schedules for my staff to prepare for our next wedding, working on itineraries, checklists and vendor reports.

My staff and I try to have lunch together while chatting in the office. It is usually still about work but we try to have a joke and relax.

Towards the end of my day, I package up any parcels such as stationary samples and letters to send and usually close up around 3:30pm. I drop the parcels off and head home for round 2 with the children.

I continue working after the children are in bed with researching, blogging, social networking, buying or even making stationery for an up and coming wedding, which I can comfortably do on my sofa in front of a warm fire. I sometimes end up responding to emails until I fall asleep!

How did you get started in the industry?

I had always organized work events and parties, but it all changed when planning my sister’s wedding in 2005. My parents and I pulled out all the stops, hired a working barn and transformed it into a gorgeous marquee feeling wedding venue. We had a tight budget but purchased rolls and rolls or organza, made chair covers and made stationery. It was amazing.

I took a course with a UK wedding planners association in 2006 and opened a one stop wedding shop. Due to personal circumstances changing, I moved to Lincolnshire in 2007.

I started Bride Beautiful Exhibitions 2009 to get to know the local suppliers/vendors and get a feel for the wedding market. I wanted to learn from the inside how local suppliers treated brides and competitors.

Bride Beautiful Limited then came into force and I then leased the Barn at Elsham Hall in 2010 and opened “The Bridal Studio” offering a unique service of wedding planning exclusive to Elsham Hall. My first year, I planned 6 weddings, my 2nd year 14 weddings, this year has seen 40 weddings.

Where do you find design inspiration?

Design inspiration comes from an array of avenues such as getting to know my couples, where they met and their likes and dislikes. I also use Pinterest, wedding blogs , Google images, David Tutera and magazines for inspiration.

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

Planner’s Lounge, Rock My Wedding, Style Me Pretty

Elaine, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and a day in your life. If you are an event planner and would like to be featured, download our questionnaire today and email it to us along with a photo. If you aren’t sure about being featured, take a few minutes to read how it can help your business.