Lisa Marie Burton
This month Working Woman talked with the lovely Lisa Marie Burton, Director - The Bridal Consultant
What do you do?
I plan weddings in Cyprus, New York, Zakynthos and Santorini anything from a small intimate wedding for 2 in New York's Central Park to a huge Greek affair for over 100 guests. We offer a full planning service to ensure that your wedding is planned to perfection, from the colour of your table decorations to your legal paperwork to ensure the wedding is recognised back in the UK.
Where are you located i.e. work from home or business premises?
We work from a beautiful office at the Globe Works in Sheffield, a fantastic old building that used to be a cutlery factory, part of Sheffield steel works, which is now converted into business units, we've dressed it like a wedding boutique and I love going to work every day, it's any girls dream!
When did you start this role or business venture?
The Bridal Consultant started in 2004 at home in my spare bedroom, we now plan over 100 destination weddings a year.
Why did you take up this role/business venture?
I've always been quite free willed and independent and after working on cruise ships for 5 years I decided a regular job wasn't going to fulfil me, I tried a few different roles when I came home in 2000, but after a few months I was ready for a new challenge. I then had to plan my own wedding and saw a career opportunity, however rather than planning UK weddings I thought I would combine my love for travel with wedding planning and I decided to specialise in destination weddings!
How do you see your role/business venture developing during the next 12 months?
We are currently in a very exciting time in our business, on the 2nd of July 2010 we'll be opening our own travel agency in Warrington. We've found a brilliant lady to run it for us, she has over 25 years of travel experience and her attention to detail and customer service skills are second to none, this means we can now offer a first class travel service to our existing wedding clients. I also want to open a new travel agency alongside my new office in Sheffield within the next 12 months.
What have been the highlights so far?
There are so many, being my own boss makes it a pleasure to go to work every day. The first day I moved into my new office was wonderful. Getting our first national double spread of coverage in a national magazine was fabulous. The challenge of starting a new larger scale business with the travel agency is incredibly exciting!
What have been the lowlights (if any)?
When the Euro plummeted and of course the current economic situation.
What do you think makes Sheffield a good place for women in business?
Sheffield has such an amazing entrepreneurial buzz and wonderful creative vibe and I'm impressed by the funding available for new businesses, which shows how interested Sheffield is in making the city a success!
Finally, how do you switch off from your day job!?
Each morning I get up at 6am and go running and then do 30 minutes of yoga! This keeps me sane and the stress under control, I really love reading and writing, I keep a journal to diary my ups and downs in business, which I hope one day my daughter will enjoy reading!
The Bridal Consultant: www.thebridalconsultant.co.uk Tel: 0845 9000 905
See article on Manhattan Brides it's fabulous!