Lesley Traynor being interviewed

Oh my goodness. I’m so glad you decided to do this. It’s been- So many people have asked me to do it. and I’m just like, “There’s no need,” but if that’s what they want, then that’s what we’ll give them. Absolutely. I’m going to be interviewing you today. I know. Which is- It’s actually quite terrifying being in this side.

Oh, really? Well, but surely- But I’m in good hands with you. we’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. Yeah, I’m in good hands with you, so let’s- So let’s just jump straight in. Absolutely, go for it. Okay, so- Go for it. I want you to take me back to the beginning. Oh. So. How far back are we going? ‘Cause I’m 53. Well, I mean the beginning of Your Scottish Wedding.

So we’re going back to where did the idea for Your Scottish Wedding come from then? Let’s take it back, your story, to the beginning. And what made you believe the Scottish market needed it? Yeah, so, I worked for a company for 17 years in publishing, and it was a very successful title. and a massive company owned it or took it over, and then unfortunately we all got made redundant, during COVID, because we weren’t bringing money in, which was a real shame.

Like everybody. I know, but, they closed a few titles down that day, so it was a real shame. But, you know, it then sort of gave me an idea as to, well, you know, the industry needs it. They loved the magazine that I worked with. So somebody who’s got the passion, the drive, the determination, and I thought, “Why not?”

You know, I’d get a good redundancy. Ted and I were financially very stable, ’cause we knew it was going to cost a lot of pennies- and it did, and it still does. but yeah, we just thought, “Go for it.” Like, you know, what’s the worst-case scenario that could happen, you know? Like, and we opened obviously during COVID, which wa- wasn’t ideal, wasn’t ideal.

No. But, you know, it sort of, at that, I’m actually glad now that we opened when we did, because it gave us time to take a breath. It gave us time to understand what the industry needed after COVID, because we were still obviously very much in it and very much going through it. So yeah, I think- Certainly with me, if anybody knows me, like I’m so passionate about this industry.

so passionate about it. I just can’t see that there is another industry that I’d ever want to be working in. So it just made sense that I would sort of hold the gauntlet and sort of take us forward, and that’s us now five and I can’t believe it, honestly. It’s been incredible. What an incredible journey.

It’s amazing. And you’ve, you said that you’re passionate, Lesley, like without a doubt, you’re one of the most passionate people I’ve met. Honest to goodness. Like, and you amaze me all the time at how much you know about this industry. It’s wild. Well, it’s, it’s been a lot of years. Yeah It’s 34 years.

Definitely. But hey, it’s just a number. It’s just a number. Don’t know how that’s possible. You’re only 30, Lesley. Yeah. Plus 23. Plus 23. Here listen, plus that, we’re all good. I know. So you made a huge decision, you and Ted, right? It really was. but there’s a lot that went on behind the scenes at that point.

Yeah. So you’ve, you’ve made a lot of sacrifices to make Your Scottish Wedding work, and what a magazine it is today, Lesley. Oh, thank you. You should be so proud of it. Thank you. I really am And everything else that goes around it. and that’s all to do with you a lot. You know, I know you say about the team and everything else- I was gonna say, it takes a village

but I want to congratulate you for that. It does take a village, but it needs a, it needs a captain of the ship, and that’s definitely you. Yeah. And you do so well, Lesley. Aw, thank you.

But the thing about you is you’ve opened up to me about the sacrifices that you made- to, to, to invest in this. So for people that don’t know, what’s some of the, the things that you’ve sacrificed-. and what you’ve had to do to make this work? So it’s funny. I don’t see it as a sacrifice. I just see it as the something that I had to do.

So, Ted and I had a beautiful house, down in Glasgow, and we were there for a lot of years and we’d plowed a lot of money into it. We were nearly mortgage free. And, I kinda went to Mr. Ted and

said, “So we’ve gone through the redundancy, we’ve gone through our savings.” “We kinda need another wee helping hand here. So how do you fancy a move?” And, and it kinda came at the right time, if I’m being brutally honest, because we’ve got a holiday home up in St. Andrews, and, from there- We wanted to be closer to that anyway.

So we thought, “We’ll sell the house. We’ll put some pennies into the business,” which we absolutely did. and we lived in our holiday home for a year and a half, which was a caravan. And I love that. Honestly, when you first told me that, I think it just shows your passion behind it all. I think everybody must think that I’m absolutely bonkers, and a lot of people have said I’m brave.

I don’t see it as bravery. Like- honestly, like Ted, bless him, was like, “I’ll give you the money.” And I went, “If I can’t do this myself- I’m not doing it. I’m just not doing it.” So, I’m very strong-willed, and I’m a very determined lady, very resourceful. So yeah, I just. That wasn’t a sacrifice for me.

It was just something that needed to happen. I love that, Lesley. And again, it just shows like what people just see the polished magazine, don’t they? And they don’t always be talking about this. Yeah. They don’t always see what goes on behind the scenes. -huh. The late nights that I now know that you have- Oh, I know.

I am so sorry. and everything else behind it. Oh, no, it’s all. No, I’m up as well. We’re all good. We’re all good. But I want you to tell me about, so you’ve made all these changes, and- Do you remember holding the first magazine that you printed in your hand? Oh, God, yeah. See, as soon as the pallet started coming off this-

massive, massive truck- like a big lorry appeared in the-. up at the farm. And, I was like, ” can I swear?” Like I just thought, “Holy hell, like, what’s in that?” And then obviously all these magazines were coming off, and I just couldn’t wait to open up. So Ted was like, “Just wait. Just wait until they’re all off.”

So the big truck went away, and then I opened it up. And honestly, I bawled my eyes out. Oh, Lesley. And actually, see, today though, like see now, like every time the pallets- come off the truck, I always open it, and I always cry. Aw. I just always have a wee tear because I know the efforts that have gone in.

Like, we don’t work Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00. We’re,. I’m up at 7:00, 7:00 o’clock in the morning, sometimes 5:00 in the morning- if that’s what it takes to, to get things over the line. So yes, and then as you rightly said, like how it takes the team at like, could be 11:00 o’clock, it could be 1:00 o’clock in the morning.

Yeah. It could be 2:00 o’clock in the morning. But, and that’s fine, but I think it just shows what goes into it. In fact, that one that’s just gone to print- you text our group chat, and it was, like, 3:00 in the morning. No, in fact, it was 4:00. And you were like, “Right guys, I’m away to bed.” And I’m like. And you were like, “I might be offline for a couple of hours.”

And then bing, there she was, 8:00 o’clock morning. Yeah. And we’re like, “Lesley, what are you doing?” I know. “Go to sleep.” I know. But that’s just the passion behind it and the drive and everything that goes on behind the scenes. Yeah, I’m very determined. Yeah. I’m very determined, and I don’t want anybody to, to think that I’m not driven, I’m not determined, I’m not working hard for them because honestly, like, I work hard for every single person that’s with us.

Some people don’t want us to do very much for them, and that’s totally fine. Other people contact us like every week, “Hiya, how you doing? Like, can you do this for me?” That’s absolutely fine. Like, we’re here. Like, we’ve got a few customers just now who are going through, like, wee personal challenges.

And so we’re not just a magazine. Like, I’m here as your friend, as your confidant, as a shoulder. Like, I’m just here, like for- for anything and everything. Like, it’s not just the magazine. Like, as I say, I’ve known these people for a long, long time. So- yeah, it’s, and that, that for me- That for me is everything.

And I think, like, you’ve, you’ve exactly just shown that, Lesley. Like, I think once you’re part of Your Scottish Wedding, you’re very much under your wing. Yeah. Do you know? And like, I’ve seen it firsthand in the h- couple of months we’ve been kinda- doing this partnership together. And I feel when you’re in, you’re in that wee nook of Lesley’s arm.

Yeah, yeah. And you’re just, you’re a protector, you’re a connector- and you’re everything else in between. And I’ve seen it with my own eyes of- how much you go and give extra over and above. It’s more than an advert in the magazine. Yeah. There’s so much more- that goes into all of that. Yeah, no, 100%.

And it’s from maybe steering people with that advert of what to put in- what not to put in, but the connection is huge that I’ve seen. Yeah, yeah. You just connect in so many other ways. I think that’s really important, though. Like, if I, if somebody comes to me and says, “Oh, Les, I’m really struggling for-

X, Y, and Z.” Like, if I know an X, Y, and Z, then absolutely- I’m gonna connect them. Why would I not? Yeah. Like, as I say, like, we’re not a, a sort of bog standard, run-of-the-mill magazine or brand. Like, we are very much. And because I’m at the helm, I don’t have other people to ask permission anymore. I don’t have to get a yes or a no.

We can just sometimes fly by the seat of our pants- and go, “Do you know what? This is a great opportunity. Why don’t we do it?” Yeah. And then we can just say right there and then, “Yes, let’s do this,” or like, “No, that’s just not for us.” Like, but I mean, nine times out of 10 we’ll always say yes because-

a lot of opportunities that do come our way are, are incredible, and I’m very, very, you know, grateful for every opportunity that, that comes our way. And we’ve not just got a magazine, do we, Les? Oh, hell no.

So what else is under the Your Scottish Wedding umbrella then? Oh, my God. Okay. Tell us. so- I know. I know. I know. So, there’s Your Scottish Wedding, obviously the magazine. and we’ve obviously launched the podcast this year. we’ve got our, obviously our social media, our website. we’re also just about to launch the secret society private members club, for wedding couples, which- Excited.

I’m excited. oh, like honestly, we have, we have droves and droves of incredible offers- and events lined up. So- I’m really, really excited about this. Really excited about this. so this is our new thing for, sort of this month I feel like. I feel as if we’ve launched quite a lot this year, and things that we’ve done.

– We’ve also just done a, a beautiful, the magazine, the September issue’s just

out, which- Oh, it’s a goodie. Oh, it’s a goodie. Oh my God. She is incredible. Like at, like every issue I kind of go, “I’m really proud of that one.” And then the last issue I’m like, “Yeah, really proud.” And then this one I’m just like, “Gosh, like how, how do we keep just knocking it out the park?” and the next one already, I’m so excited about the January issue as well.

Yeah. Like, yeah, we have, we have loads, absolutely loads, and obviously we’ve got your Scottish Wedding Awards, which- Da, da, da. I know. Very exciting. So the shortlist is out for that as well now. So yeah, if you’ve been shortlisted, please, honestly, hand on heart, like if you’ve been shortlisted, that’s an incredible accolade for your business because not everybody does.

Like, we had thousands and thousands and thousands of

nominations this year. And honestly, see when she’d dwindle all down, and not everybody gets through, and that’s a real shame. But the, we do have a very strict criteria. but yeah, so the shortlist is out now. Tick, tick, tock. And I know. I know. I know, I’m- And tell us about the awards though- Oh, I was just about to say

because I feel it’s like next level. I know. I know. – So who have we got and what’s happening at this year’s awards? So it’s the 22nd of, November. It’s at the DoubleTree by Hilton again. and our hosts are the incredible Gary and Gary and Gail. Oh. Love them. I do. I just love that pair. They’re, oh, they’re beautiful human beings.

Yeah. Honestly, like when I first met them, like the kindness that they showed me- was incredible, absolutely incredible. just really good, good human beings, which is lovely. So they’ll be hosting again, so they’ll be bringing all their banter and pattern. They’re so funny. It just comes so naturally to them.

So they are. I know. I know. It’s incredible. Honestly. They’re great. They’re great. Yeah. Yeah. And they make such a good duo, don’t they? Oh, they do. Yeah. Yeah, they do. They do. and then we’ve got, we’ve got- We’ve got Calum Beattie. We’ve got Calum Beattie, and we’ve also got Sandy Thom. Like, honestly-

like it’s a pinch, it’s a genuinely, like it’s definitely a pinch me moment. Like I just, I can’t believe that that’s the lineup this year. And we’ve got a few other wee surprises, in the loop as well, which I’m not going to tell everybody about. But, More still to come. More, more still to come.

More still to come. 100%. So yeah, I’m really excited. I really am. And November seems like a wee bit far away, but it’s really not. Oh, it literally- It’s literally around the corner now. went really quick. I know. Isn’t it? -huh. But, – ‘Cause from closing down the nominations I always go, “Oh, we’ve got loads of time until the 1st of September.”

And then that’s just obviously come and gone, and I’m like, “I can’t believe it.” It’s wild. -huh. Time flies. It’s crazy we’re in September already. Better get your dress ready, Lesley. Better get your dress ready. Oh, God, I’m always a lastminute. com- Are you?. with that. Yeah. You always look stunning though. I’ve seen the photos from last year.

Last year was just a wee quickie. It was like, “Right, what can I order and what’s arriving tomorrow?” Oh, it’s like- What can we do? I’m panicking, ’cause it’s not about me, it’s about everybody else. It’s their night. It is, but a- you keep, you always say that, and it’s something that you’re so. You just never give yourself credit for what you’ve done.

You never give yourself credit for what you’ve done, for what you’ve achieved- Because I only think-. amazing. I’m in this position because people allow me to be in this position. Like, you know, and I’m very, very, aware of that, and if people didn’t support us as a brand- there wouldn’t be that brand, you know?

Like, Your Scottish Wedding just wouldn’t be here. and Your Scottish Wedding Awards wouldn’t be here. But the fact that people still love what we’re doing and, you know, like, more and more people are coming to us now, like, I’m so delighted that they see, like, the drive, the passion, the- the quality.

Yeah. ’cause we’re certainly quality over quantity. and just all the new features and everything that are gonna be in, like, this issue and the coming issues, like, it’s really exciting, yeah. I love it. So let’s lean into that a wee bit. So has there been one person or a supplier, an advertiser or a reader, is, that along the way it’s, it’s one moment that’s just felt right for you that’s, that’s, that’s just the times have aligned for me?

Gosh, there’s been, there’s been loads of things. ’cause we haven’t had an easy ride of it, like- No. you know, like, sort of four years. certainly our fourth year was quite a difficult year for a number of different reasons. this year I just feel as if I’ve met really incredible human beings. and I think, I mean, it had to happen at some time, to be fair-

because you can’t, I don’t believe that you can work that hard For it, for good things not to happen. Yeah. So, I feel that this year, like certainly January, February time this year, things just started turning- and, you know, the tides were just like, everything, every phone call, every email- it was just positive.

It was just, like, good humans, like, coming to me and, and I thought, “This is it. This is our moment now. This is, this we’ve been through, we’ve been through the crap – of what businesses go through.” Yeah. So it’s not just us though, I mean, it’s- all businesses go through- good times and bad times-

and great times and terrible times. Like, they do. Yeah. And if they say that they don’t, then that’s just, that’s not true. Yeah. but yeah, so you know, we’ve worked through a lot of different challenges- and, but this year I genuinely feel that this year’s our year. Yeah. It definitely is. Everything- We talk about that, don’t we?

You and I. Oh, 100%. We do. -huh. But I usually cry about it. I, I usually- And then I cry. We’re all good. We’re all good. I’m like, “We got there, we got there.” Yeah. but you always do. If you’ve got. If you’re resourceful, if you’re determined, if you’re, h- just if you’re, if you’re lots of these sort of like, I’m very driven.

Like, it’ll take a lot for me to, you know, to get run over, like, you know, so So please don’t. No. No. No, absolutely. But, it does, it takes, it’ll take a lot for me to- to, for me to ever feel defeated or- you know, like, so yeah. I just get up in the morning and I’m just like, “Right, okay.

Another day, great. So if you’ve had a bad day yesterday, tough.” And that, but that- That was yesterday. but that’s the hardest thing to do, isn’t it, in business when you’ve got your own, is just kinda, you know, swallow down the bad days. ‘Cause they happen, whatever- Of course they do. business you’re in. Yeah, yeah.

-huh. but it is on to better days, isn’t it? So- But I do feel, honestly, that this whole year has just been incredible. Good. Like, we’ve met incredible companies. Like, we’ve had big brands coming to us, which, like, honestly, I just, I can’t believe it. Yeah. Like, I genuinely can’t believe this year. Yeah.

Yeah. It’s been an incredible year for us. I mean, even this issue that’s just out just now, there’s Vieve in there. I know. Vieve, we both love a bit of Vieve. Well, Dr. Callie Jaffe. Yeah. Like, House of Dentistry, Vieve. Yeah. We’ve got Ishka. Oh, there’s like, we’ve just got incredible- like, all the companies that are with us.

Yeah. Like, not just the big hitters, but- like, oh, and Each Beauty actually. Yeah. We should say that as well. Yeah. so yeah- But take it away from the big hitters. Yeah. Like, every single business that’s with us- like, we have either worked with them for a long, long time- or, like, we’ve done our research on them.

So you’re guaranteed that everybody that’s in our magazine is gonna give every wedding couple the most incredible journey, planning journey. Yeah, yeah. They’re gonna get replies back. They’re gonna get incredible service. And a lot of these companies are up for nomination as well. And that’s not, that’s not just by chance.

That’s because they work so hard. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, oh, it’s. Yeah. It’s. Again, that’s just the, the, you know, everything’s aligning as well for them. So- yeah, it’s, it’s incredible. And ’cause, I mean, we talked about this, you know, when couples first get married. Yes. Right? And you’re in that, “Oh my God.”

And you’ve let it settle down for a couple of weeks, ’cause you’re looking at the ring and you’re thinking actually- -huh. but couples still don’t know. They don’t. Where do you go? I know. Do you know what? It’s like an industry that you’ve maybe, maybe you’ll know a hairdresser that does a wee bit of wedding- -huh

or makeup or whatever. Where do you go for dresses? How do you start looking at venues? Yeah. What kind of venue do you want? Yeah. Pe- there’s still a need. And God, I remember when I got engaged, you want that magazine to be like, “” I know, I know. And I remember it was my mom that bought it. Like, there’s still such a buzz about a wedding magazine when you’re engaged to look through it.

And I think, 100%. It’s so exciting. And I think a printed magazine, like, oh, for the last, like, I’m gonna say 15, 20 years- like, everybody’s been like, you know, “Print’s dead.” And do you know, print in a lot of different areas has declined. It’s not dead, but it has declined. But see in the wedding market, like, see your niche markets, like your food magazines, your, like, home magazines, – Yeah

wedding magazines, they’re thriving. Yeah, yeah. They’re absolutely thriving. Yeah. And we’ve actually just done a bit of market research, through Glasgow University, and the stats that came back from that was that the younger generation, so sort of like between 21 to 34, they’re loving having a magazine.

Love that. Absolutely love having a magazine. So we obviously gave them a copy, and we asked for feedback on it. Like, one, are you, do you want to get married? Is that in your future? Like, so we’ve done massive of, you know, massive amounts of research, which we will share with the industry on- Can’t wait for that

once we get five minutes. But we’ve got it all set in there, so yeah, we will share that, ’cause it makes for a really, really interesting reading. But, yeah, so a wedding magazine, like- People, I think also, like, people do a lot of doom scrolling, don’t they? Yeah. And they’ll see a lot of things and they’ll go, “Where can I get this?”

And I’m like, “That’s not arrived in Scotland yet.” “It’s not here yet.” Things are coming, you know, the pace of this industry- is fast. But, yeah, like certainly our editorial is invaluable. It gives you so many hints and tips. when we first launched five years ago, there wasn’t a, a wedding journey.

So we thought, “Let’s do a wedding journey.” “Let’s actually do, before the real life wedding, let’s speak about the journey. Let’s speak about the trials and tribulations.” And we, we do that, and that’s a very successful section within our magazine. And also, that goes onto the website, and then we push it out through our socials as well.

so it, it gets great coverage, and people love that. And then, right obviously, right up until their, their wedding day- which is, is incredible. It’s great. Yeah. ‘Cause you just, you want to hear from real life people as well, don’t you? 100%. And what it’s, what they’re going through- -huh. and how they’ve done their journey.

They want to hear the stresses and- Just, the pains and the- Yeah. Or maybe- But also the highlights and- The highlights, yeah Yeah. ‘Cause it’s not all about the high veil all the time. No. It’s like you do go through peaks and troughs- You certainly do. how’d you pick your wedding venue- and things like that- I know

from so many lovely ones. I know. so what are you most proud of, Lesley? And I’m not talking-. money circulation figures or anything like that. I’m talking about business success. What are you most proud of over the last five years? I’m really proud that I’m an owner of an incredible magazine.

Like, I genuinely am so proud of that. Oh, I’m gonna get emotional. Oh, no tears. I, I’m very proud of that. I’m very proud of the team that we’ve built up. I’m very proud of just, you know, like people trying to knock us down. Like, as I said, it’ll take a lot for people to knock me down. So yeah, I’m just gonna keep going and keep at it and keep, thinking out the box, ’cause that’s what I do very well.

Yeah. I’ve got a very. I don’t know whether my brain’s a bit different. I’ve said this to you before. Yeah. I think I’ve got a different brain. Like, it just, it just seems to work differently. so yeah, I’m just gonna keep on thinking about new things to do- Love it. different ways to inspire, not only this industry, but also wedding couples as well.

Yeah. So we’ll just keep going with it all. Your brain amazes me. Your brain amazes me. And it’s like these wild card ideas. I know. And I love it. And just- But you guys are good at going, “Lesley, no.”

We just do a wee bit different Yeah, yeah, yeah But you know what? We’ve just done something very exciting for this issue -huh And it was a dream of yours for three years plus- Oh, was it? Wasn’t it? It was three years in the making. Yeah -huh And we got to finally do it, didn’t we? I know. So what did we get to do, Lesley?

Tell us. So, my, again, ano- another off the wall, like, Lesley thought was-. like I just wanted to get like a wedding dress in the water- and just have a drone sort of lift up from like the stomach coming up and then just, you know, she was then just floating in the water. I just wanted always to do that as like an advert for Your Scottish Wedding, because we- we’ve never really done that before, but we’re, it’s definitely something we’re gonna start doing and we are always gonna do that now.

Not always that thing, but so yeah, so we, we did it. We went to Aberdour right onto the beach. What a beautiful beach as well. So yeah, so we had, the beautiful Callie, running through, running through the castle, and she’s just an incredible human as well. I mean- Like, what a lady. we’ve spoke about that.

What a lady. Like, literally sh- not one moan did she have on the day- Nope. of how co- I mean- Nope. Scottish water even on a sunny day is going to be freezing. I know. Yeah, and bless her, she was. She, she was great. She was full of the scumps. Yeah. and then we’d said, “If you could just sort of walk into the water, get used to the temperature.”

And she was just, like, diving right in there. And we’re going, “All right, okay.” And then she was in there for 45 minutes. 45 minutes. Like, she’d, she did have, like, bless her- She- She was freezing. -huh. She- She was absolutely freezing. and obviously I kept on running into the water to, sort of shoosh up the dress and all the rest of it.

Yeah. As you do. To get the perfect shot. Yeah, I kept laughing at you because you had the trousers on. We were at the castle. And then I just took them off. Then the next thing-. you whip out this jacket. I know. Puts it on. You’re like, “Watch this.” I’m like, ” what is she up to?” Off came the trousers. On came the shorts.

I’m like, “All right. I’m with you.” “I know what you’re doing.” But that’s because you want. You were, you were in the water there, weren’t you? I know, I know. You were, like, fixing the veil and stuff. And that’s funny though because all you guys are like, “You shouldn’t be doing that.” And I’m like, “Why shouldn’t I be doing that?”

I’m, just because I own the magazine, that doesn’t mean that I don’t get my hands, you know, dirty. I’m not that person. I’m very much- No. hands-on. Like, if I see something that, that I want to, to look, you know, like, then I’m gonna fix that. Yeah. I’m gonna get right in there and get stuck in. Like, I’m on every single photo shoot.

Wow. Because that’s really important for me ’cause that’s our brand. Like- so that’s really important for me. So yeah. So and over and above that, I’ve still got the day-to-day runnings of the business. Yeah, yeah. So I do that when I get back home and, you know- you’ll know yourself, like, shoots are, they’re tiring.

They are, but they’re fun. But they’re great. Oh, I love- They’re great fun. oh, I love a photo shoot. Love a photo shoot. They’re great fun. But that is something about you, Lesley. Do you know? You’ve got your finger in every pulse, and not in an overstep the mark way for any of your team or anything. Oh, no.

What a team. But you’ve got. You know, you just, you’ve got so many hats, and there’s not many companies like that for the size of what Your Scottish Wedding is now. Yeah. Let’s be fair. I know. you know, you do. You’ve got a team. You don’t need to be on the shoots. We love you on the shoots, but you still wanna be there.

Yeah, yeah. And you bring such a flair, and you bring these crazy ideas- I know.. that are just works. Do you know? And you’ll be like, “We’ll just try this, and we’ll just

try this.” Top hats. Yeah. Plastic top hats and- But how good did those pictures come out? They looked great. There was, – So-. top hats and, birdcages. Yes. But that’s what you do. I’m like, “Just try it.” You just try it. If it looks rubbish, we’ll not, we’ll not use it. But I think it worked really well. It did.

And with this w- this edition especially- we had an awful whale of weather, didn’t we? Yeah. For the shoot. We were so lucky. We were so good. So lucky. So good. So an incredible five years you’ve had. What does the next five years look like, Lesley- Oh, gosh. for Your Scottish Wedding? Again, we need this lift.

I know. H- so poof. we do have big plans. we do have big plans, – Some that are not relevant to Scotland, I have to say. So, but yeah, I don’t really want to share too much just now. Too much. Yeah. But, we do have big plans, certainly for, like, next year, the year after. certainly 2008, 8.

Sorry, 2028- for us is gonna be a huge year- Yeah. with what we’ve got planned. So yeah, watch this space. Watch this space. And it’s something that you don’t do, like with, you know, a couple of weeks ago when we just got that addition to print- which is a stressful time, right? Yeah. It doesn’t matter how much it’s planned.

Absolutely. The last couple of days- Yeah, yeah, are always stressful, but you don’t stop. No. You’re literally then thinking about the January issue- Oh, 100%. straight away. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Straight away. Yeah. So hats off to you. Yeah. But I think it’s just important, you know, you don’t stop, Lesley. No. And that shows through the magazine, ’cause when you do, like, get the additions or you go to the awards- Yeah

you can see it. Yeah. It just shines through. I just love it. It’s like, it’s like, people have always sort of said over the years like, you know, “If you love what you do, you’ll never. If you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Day in your life. And that’s so true for me. Like, this isn’t a job for me.

It genuinely, this isn’t a job. This isn’t a Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00, you know, I clock off at 5:00 o’clock- and go, “Yay.” Yeah. Like, I’ll go and sit and watch the television. That, no. Yeah, it just doesn’t work, does it- No. like that? No. No. I’m just, I’ll just continue working. And it’s not that I’m working, I’m just doing what I love.

So it doesn’t feel like work to me. It just feels exciting and, ooh, what’s the next thing? And yeah, it’s just- But it shows. And you shared with me last week something that a supplier said to you about each edition that comes out. What did that supplier say to you? So I’ve got a few people that say this to me every issue.

I mean, bless them, they phone or they’ll email and they’ll, they’ll sort of say- Like I never thought you could do another incredible issue, but you’ve done it. And I don’t know how you’ve done it. But it’s, it’s, you’ve knocked it out the park, Lesley. Every single issue. Like, I’ve got two or three companies that, that just say that to me and.

But he always makes a conscious effort just to phone me as soon as he gets his copies- and he’ll always go, “I don’t know how you’re doing this- but this is an incredible issue. Like, we thought you couldn’t do any better because that issue is incredible, but now you’ve brought it out.” And I, I.

That, see that for me, oh, that just, that means the world. Yeah. But that same person in question speaks like that behind your back as well. Well, I hope, I hope everybody that, that talks about me behind my back. They, they do. You know? Because we’ve got incredible people- around us, as we’ve talked about.

so yeah, so I think, I do, it, it does feel as if all the stars have aligned. Good. You know, the suppliers that we’ve got, they are, they’re all beautiful. They’re beautiful, beautiful people. and you know, like, they’ll, they’ll contact me and say, “Lesley, we’re working on this, but you know, would you do, would you do it any differently or how can you guys get involved?”

That to me, like, that’s a win for me- when people are asking for my advice. Like that’s- honestly, like that makes everything worthwhile for me. Yeah, definitely. ‘Cause it tells me that we’re more than just a brand. We’re, you know, people can find in us, they trust us. yeah. And it shows integrity as well for me as a, a person.

And, yeah, got loads of integrity. – you know, always try and do the right thing. I don’t, I’ve not always done the right thing, but that’s not through, you know, like, trying. We’re only human. We’re only human. You know? And I think that that’s what I, I think, like definitely I said it earlier, was like you’re more than just somebody that’s got a wedding company and a magazine- Yeah

and awards and a podcast. Oh, we’re so much more than that. Yeah. So much more. It’s all with heart- is what I see from the outset- and what I hear from people. You know, we meet at shoots or- you know, some of the suppliers that- I know as well know too. Yeah. And it’s just that it’s all done with heart and it’s just- Yeah

this way if I was to describe, you know. It’s passionate, done with heart, and when you’re under Lesley’s wing, you’re under Lesley’s wing. Yeah. That’s really kind. And you literally just give so much to so many people- that goes under the radar that nobody talks about. And that’s okay. You don’t- I don’t, I don’t need- And it’s just- I don’t need- And I know that.

Yeah, yeah. But you just do so much more than people even see a smidgen of- in my eyes. Yeah. And it’s just gorgeous. That’s very kind. And you never give yourself enough credit for it. Well, that’s very kind. That’s very kind. Thank you. So I guess finally, Lesley, if the Lesley that could see herself five years ago- Of course

could see yourself now- what advice would you give yourself, Lesley? And would you do it all again? Oh. So- I’m a great believer that things happen for a reason. Would I have opened up seven years ago? No, because I had the dream job. So that was my dream job. This opportunity just came about just because, you know, another company didn’t see the value in what the wedding industry needed or required.

So for me, having worked in this industry, knowing what the industry needs, knows how it works, it just made sense to me to do it. So I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve made some huge mistakes just because I’m not a, a business owner. or I’ve never been a business owner. I’m now a business owner, so, you know, I’ve learned mistakes.

I’ve probably learned a lot the, the hard way. Which is okay. That’s fine. but on the back of that, I’ve learned lots. Yeah. so will not repeat a, a lot of the things that have happened in the early days. and yeah, just- I wouldn’t change anything basically is the short answer to that.

Like, I just wouldn’t- because it’s got us to where we’re at today. Yeah, definitely. And we can only build on, on the, this incredible foundation now that we’ve, that we’ve laid out, so- yeah. Well, I think- I’m excited. you should be so proud of yourself, Lesley. Thanks. And you always all, every time we talk about this, you always say the team are the team.

No, it- It is. It’s a village. It’s not- It is a village. it’s not like- It is a village. one person can. Because our, we’ve got a small team- as you know, but we’re a massive, massive brand. This has just grown arms and legs- this year. So yeah, so for me to be sitting here, like so proud, like on our own podcast-

like how crazy. I know we, we did one back in 2022. It didn’t quite hit what I was looking for that to achieve. So we- Well, we were still very much in COVID then, weren’t we? We closed it down. Yeah. Yeah, so it was a different time. So we closed that down, and that was fine. and again, that was another learning curve for us.

So again, when something doesn’t work and it doesn’t feel right for me- I’m fine. I don’t look at that as a failure. I just look at that as in it’s not the right time or- you know, maybe the industry didn’t want it or for whatever reason. But, you know, we’ve launched it again now, and this is thriving.

Like, people are loving the podcast. It’s crazy. They are. They are. and, and I think now we’re, obviously we’re in the studio, and it’s incredible. So, and as I say, we’ve got the awards. We’ve got, we’re just about to launch, or sorry, we have launched, the Secret Society private members club as well. So yeah, we’re doing incredible things with incredible people.

When do you sleep, Lesley? Do you sleep? Do you sleep? I do sleep. And I actually sleep really well. That’s good. That’s good. ‘Cause once I’m out, honestly, like Tess will be like, “I don’t know how you can sleep through. Did you not hear that noise last night?” And I’m like, “Nope. When I’m out, I’m out.” So obviously just go into a really deep sleep, but no, I sleep well.

– Okay. Yeah. Well, I think you should be so proud of yourself. Thank you very much. And I know it takes the village, but you’ve done so incredibly well in the last five years. And I see behind the scenes- and you never stop. Yeah. And it just shows time and time again through the awards, through the magazine, through the podcast- And I honestly, I know some of the things you want to achieve over the next few years- Yeah

and I can’t wait to see you achieve them because you- But we’ll achieve them. We’ll achieve them. We’ll achieve them. But you as well. Yeah. Because I think it’s just you’re g- you make it happen. Yeah. Yeah. I’m the visionary I think- and then it takes, it takes the village to orchestrate- It takes a village

it all. Yeah. Yeah. But exciting things are coming, but you should be so proud, Lesley, because- Thank you so much. what a business. Thanks.

And to all our suppliers as well, honestly, just a massive thank you to them. Because again, if we didn’t have them, there wouldn’t mo- there wouldn’t be a brand. Yeah, exactly. It’s like anybody. If, if you, if you open up a, a wedding venue, for example, if nobody comes then pfft- you could have, you know, you could have the best thing in the world, but if nobody comes and uses it, then, you know.

But, I’m just so glad that wedding couples love us and- and our suppliers love us as well. So yeah. Love that. Yeah. It’s amazing. I’m thrilled. Yeah. Thank you, Lesley, for being so awesome- Thank you.. and letting me sit in your chair. It’s been fab. Thank you so much, honestly. But I’ll give you the tea back next week, right?

Thanks. You can have it back. Thanks very much. I’m so glad you did this ’cause you were putting up a lot of resistance to do it. but I think it was about time people knew a bit about you. Thank you. Thank you very much. So thank you for doing it. Thank you, Jacqui.