Mansfield mum goes from saving lives to helping brides

Working seven days a week, the 39-year-old realised that something had to give, and decided to leave her much-loved career with East Midlands Ambulance Service when opening her new Touch of Charm wedding showroom in Shirebrook.

The new premises on Vernon Street is Kelly’s second major expansion in three years, as she outgrew her previous showroom at Stanton Hill, despite working full-time for the NHS.

“I really loved working for the ambulance service - I loved that every day was different, and mainly helping people in their time of need.

“The wedding business was growing so quickly, I had to make a decision.

“We already have 162 weddings and events booked this year.”

Kelly has four children, and was working all hours trying to juggle her medical career and her full diary of brides.

This led to her making the decision to leave the ambulance service to concentrate on weddings full time.

She said: “I love the excitement of weddings, knowing that I am taking a stressed bride’s vision for the most important day of her life, and making it into a reality.

“It was such a hard decision leaving the job I loved, but it was too stressful trying to manage everything, and my family takes priority.

“My last day at work was really emotional, but I am so excited now for brides to see my new showroom.”

The new premises gives brides a hint at what their wedding could look like, with a sample of the huge array of decor items Kelly has amassed over her nine years in the industry.

Opening the new showroom has also meant Kelly can take on more staff to help with bookings, which enables Kelly to focus on the finer details of each wedding, and she has plans to expand even further in the future.

“I want to make sure we have enough time for each wedding. We always say we decorate them as if they are our own, so we would never take too much on – so we will see how this year goes.”