Hola hump day! You guessed it - I’m back on the blog with my next guest on my ‘Working from Home - The Journals’ series and I am very excited to introduce you to Anna-Lee. With a background as a Quantity Surveyor, Anna-Lee has recently taken the plunge into the world of weddings and is now ready and raring to plan love stories.

I’ve been working with Weddings by Anna-Lee over the last couple of months to help launch her brand and her new website actually went live on Monday - you can check it out here, go go go! Anna-Lee’s lockdown story has seen her change direction in career AND start a new business. Keep reading to find out more…

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1 So, let’s talk about life in lockdown. What time do you get up? What’s your morning routine? Has this changed since working from home / being in lockdown?

When Lockdown happened in April, I was beyond excited to be working from home. Having all the extra time, become a domestic goddess or something like that, but I slowly realised that the time gets filled up and the workouts still don’t happen. My day does however start at 7 and end when I get hungry for dinner so still long working days. Lockdown has however forced me to get on with the tasks that I had been procrastinating about such as sorting the office out so that its usable which has been a safe haven to work in during lock down.

2 How do you remain motivated while working from home?

Setting timings throughout the day. A Wedding Planner loves a timeline and that’s how I set out my day, even pencil in coffee breaks otherwise I end up drinking far too much coffee throughout the day.

3 Do you listen to any podcasts while working from home?

I am a big fan on Ferne Cottons Happy Place Podcasts. Started at the beginning of the first lockdown and now waiting for new ones.

4 Lockdown has impacted businesses all over the world. How can people support you? E.g. #ShopSmallBusiness, sharing a post on FB, commenting on an Instagram post etc.

The best way I can suggest for people to support me is to enquire as I will be able to settle all the nerves that newly engaged couples are having during the pandemic. The enquiries in my emails are what keeps me going in the industry as it means that love outweighs it all.

“The enquiries in my emails are what keeps me going in the industry as it means that love outweighs it all.”

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5 Tell me one local business that you’ve decided to support during lockdown. It could be your local coffee shop, someone who hand-makes masks etc.

I’ve recently joined back at my old dance school (Dancewise Studios) to support them with Zoom Classes. I’m slightly biased as my sister is the teacher but it’s so nice to connect with old class mates who are going through the exact same lockdown and have a little community one evening a week.

6 Tell me your favourite isolation cocktail / snack / treat?

Giant Wotsits, when someone questions whether they are an essential item to go to a shop for my answer is always yes.

7 What’s your go-to ‘pick me up’ during lockdown life / working from home?

Getting Alexa to play my favourite hits of 2020 so it doesn’t feel as lonely in the house. Lighting the hundreds of candles that I’ve got to make it a little calmer and making a good cuppa to sit with.

8 How are you keeping in touch with friends and family?

Facetime is a favourite, usually make a coffee and pretend we’re in a coffee shop. We tried a family Zoom and I think I spent most of the time on the phone to my parents explaining to them how to take themselves off mute - we haven’t tried since. We all luckily have stayed safe and have daily check ins with each other, we have found a new appreciation for technology during lockdown. Unfortunately due to the distance doing socially distanced exercise isn’t an option so we are heavily reliant on technology.

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9 Name one lockdown pet peeve

Being the designated food shopper. No one wants to do it so I drew the short straw!

10 Name one lockdown love

Having the additional time in the house gave me a reason to get a new kitten as I could spend unlimited time with her while she was still little. Still do this day is the best lockdown company and time waster that I have,

11 What do you have in store for your business? What’s got you feeling inspired?

Being a new business, I have everything to look forward to. Planning weddings of people dreams, being part of their most important day and networking in the most incredible industry.

12 What’s one thing you want to do after lockdown restrictions are lifted?

Go out for dinner. I am dying to have a little bit of normality and to me dinner and drinks is a little normal. I’m slightly jealous of America still being able to do that!

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13 What has been your favourite Netflix series to binge on during lockdown?

I’d be lying if I said Bridgerton wasn’t one of my tops but also Schitts Creek was a golden to find in April.

14 Are there any books on your shelf you’d recommend reading during lockdown?

I am actually making my way through ‘The Secret’ Series by Rhonda Byrne. After watching the Netflix film with Katie Holmes I was hooked to learn more about the underlying story line which came from the books she wrote.

15 What will you take from lockdown? Is there anything you’re grateful for or that you’ll do differently going forward?

To take more time for the people that have truly made the effort for me during lock down. Lockdown highlighted to many who wanted to be in your life and who was in your life because it was ‘convenient’ And to have the mindset of nothing is impossible.

16 Describe lockdown for you in three words. (E.g. life-changing, emotional, challenging).

Needed, mentally-challenging, opportunely