Smashing the Glass | Jewish Wedding Blog

Inspired Jewish Weddings

Home > Chitter Chatter > Page 2

Chitter Chatter with Anna MacDougall, Wedding Planner and your ‘Go-to Girl’ for all things weddings

by

Anna-MacDougall
With the latest addition to our family there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks while I’m adjusting to life with our new baby.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest real Jewish weddings every week, but there’ll also be a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom I greatly admire. These women successfully combine running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering to Anna MacDougall, the ‘Go-to Girl’ for all things weddings. Simply put, she plans, preps, and provides the sense of calm you need if planning your wedding day becomes a little stormy. She’s one of the UK’s best wedding co-ordinators and I’m proud to also call her a guest writer for Smashing The Glass.

Anna lives in a small and crumbling (former) Chapel in Buckinghamshire with her husband Calum, and two dogs, Barley and Rufus. She runs her business full time from home, where the doors are always open for visitors.

What was your first job?

I guess my very first job was helping out at my granddad’s apple orchard during harvest. My first ‘real’ job was with an advertising agency.

Tell me more about your career before launching Bride & Glory

I worked in marketing and events for a London agency, mainly in and around Formula One. Lucky me, that also meant living overseas for a while.

What made you start Bride & Glory?

The realisation that today, couples plan their own weddings but have no one to hand over to so they don’t have to project manage the day itself.

What inspires you to keep growing and developing your business?

I can’t say this less cornily: the unwavering belief in the value my service offers and the sheer love I have for my job and my couples.

What obstacles have you overcome along the way?

Launching and running my own business has been the scariest thing I’ve done but what I’ve learnt through it is literally priceless.

Anna Macdougall
Image: CP Photography

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Chitter Chatter with Nova Reid, editor and founder of Nu Bride

by

Nova-Reid
Image:  David H Photography

With  the latest addition to our family there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks  while I’m adjusting to life with our new baby.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest  real Jewish weddings  every week, but  there’ll also be  a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom  I greatly admire. These women successfully combine  running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions  in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering to the super  amazing  Nova Reid of  Nu Bride. Nova is very special to me – we are BBFs (Best Blogging Friends) and I was literally beaming  with pride when she won her  Wedding Blog Award last year for recognition of her  work to inspire and encourage a more visually inclusive UK wedding industry.

Nu Bride, often described as more than just a wedding blog, was launched in 2012 during Nova’s own wedding planning  and  is a beautifully curated resource that  is informative and inclusive, whilst offering advice and guidance for the modern bride. She lives in London with her husband, David.

What was your first job?

Retail Assistant at Dolcis shoes. Paid £2.40 an hour. (See, I always had a thing for shoes!)

Tell me more about your career before launching Nu Bride

Busy, varied and eclectic! From professional singer and actress to a holistic therapist

What made you start Nu Bride ?

Inspired by my own wedding planning and the lack of inspiration for women who looked like me in wedding magazines.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Chitter Chatter with Aleisha McCormack, founder and hostess of the Save The Date Wedding Podcast

by

Aleisha McCormack
Image:  Louisa Bailey Photography

With  the latest addition to our family there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks  while I’m adjusting to life with our new baby.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest  real Jewish weddings  every week, but  there’ll also be  a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom  I greatly admire. These women successfully combine  running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions  in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering  with Aleisha McCormack, the brains and voice  behind the  Save the Date Wedding Podcast. I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest on Aleisha’s podcasts twice and you can hear the episodes here and here!

Aleisha has travelled the globe interviewing fascinating people including Richard Branson, Spice Girls and Prime Ministers, and with over a decade of experience on radio, screen and stage under her belt, Aleisha brings wit and game to the world of podcasting. Her hit wedding planning book Smart Wedding  will have a second print run in 2015. She  lives in London with her husband, Rich.

What was your first job?

I was 16 and selling home wares. I didn’t have a clue. I got really creative when it came to making stuff up at about crockery, if Wedgwood knew what I was promising their customers…

Tell me more about your career before launching the Save The Date podcast

How long have you got?! Lot’s of TV work both on camera and off, writing for panel shows and stand up comedy. The podcast is a perfect mesh of all of my skills.

What made you start  the Save The Date podcast?

I wrote a book  Smart Wedding  and after doing some promo for it, I realised just how much I love talking to people about weddings. I love listening to podcasts so it felt like it was meant to be.

Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Chitter Chatter with Kat Williams, the brains behind Rock n Roll Bride, one of the biggest wedding blogs in the world

by

Kat-Williams-Rock-N-Roll-Bride
Image: Shell de Mar

With the latest addition to our family there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks while I’m adjusting to life with our new baby.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest real Jewish weddings every week, but there’ll also be a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom I greatly admire. These women successfully combine running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering to one of the world’s most influential wedding bloggers, Kat Williams of the almighty Rock N Roll Bride. Back in 2007 Kat saw a niche for alternative wedding inspiration and ran with it! Kat now works on the blog, and the ever growing Rock n Roll Bride brand, full-time alongside her husband Gareth, and is also one of the headmistresses at The Blogcademy, a two-day blogging workshop that she co-founded and runs with prolific US bloggers Gala Darling and Shauna Haider.

What was your first job?

Sales assistant in Holland and Barrett.

Tell me more about your career before launching Rock N Roll Bride

I was a shopping TV producer for Bid TV (RIP!)

How do you cope with running two growing businesses: Rock N Roll Bride and The Blogcademy?

Its a lot of work, BUT I LOVE IT. Genuinely. It doesn’t feel like I ever have to ‘cope’ with it because I just love doing it all so much.

What inspires you to keep growing and developing both your businesses ?

I’m fiercely competitive! Ha!

What obstacles have you overcome along the way?

The usual – people letting you down, long hours, trolls, lack of social life… It’s all worth it though.

Kat Williams Rock N Roll Bride_0002
Image: Madeline Kate Photography
Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Chitter Chatter with Charlotte O’Shea, Blog Queen and founder of Rock My Wedding

by

Charlotte-OShea
Image:  Anna Clarke Photography

With  the upcoming  addition to our family (our due date is Saturday, same as the  Duchess of Cambridge’s no less!) there’ll be a few subtle changes to the schedule of the blog for the coming weeks  while I’m adjusting to life as a mama of  two.

I’ll still be posting the very coolest  real Jewish weddings  every week, but  there’ll also be  a brand new feature running where I interview all sorts of inspirational women in the wedding industry whom  I greatly admire. These women successfully combine  running their own business with married life and in a lot of cases, raising a young family.

The series is called Chitter Chatter and the twist is is they have to answer my questions  in just 140 characters or less….

Today I’m chitter chattering  to  a doyenne… a ‘queen bee’ wedding bloggess, and superstar creative mama. It’s the  one and only  Charlotte O’Shea, founder and MD of Rock My Wedding, the phenomenally  successful UK wedding blog that launched in  2009.  A few years later, the ‘Rock My’ empire grew when Charlotte launched  the hugely  popular  Rock My Style, a lifestyle blog for women  covering beauty, fashion, travel, food, interiors and family.

Charlotte lives in the West Midlands with her husband James, and their one year old daughter, Mabel Rose.

What was your first job?

My first job was in retail with House Of Fraser – I was a Morgan Girl! Think lycra boob tubes and chain mail crop tops (actually don’t – tragic doesn’t even cover it.)

Tell me more about your career before launching Rock My Wedding and Rock My Style

I was an Account Manager for a small yet very successful technology and web design company, I learnt a hell of a lot about everything to do with running a business and then some.

How do you cope with running two growing businesses:  Rock My Wedding and Rock My Style?

I employ a very VERY talented bunch of folks. And endeavour to be as organised as feasibly possible. Oh and biscuits – essential brain fuel.

What inspires you to keep growing and developing your businesses?

My dedicated team and our loyal stylish readers are a constant inspiration, as is my daughter Mabel. No two days are the same – the diversity of what we do generates constant creativity.

Charlotte O Shea
Image:  Little Beanies
Continue ReadingContinue Reading