Hi, I’m Rhian, the founder of Virtually Rhian, a virtual assistant business tailored specifically for the wedding industry. At Virtually Rhian, I offer a wide range of services, from content creation and blog writing to designing, social media management, Pinterest, email management—basically anything admin or social media-related! My passion lies in crafting beautifully designed and written content that truly resonates with newly engaged couples, the ideal audience for wedding suppliers.
My journey into the wedding industry began somewhat accidentally, and it might be a story that others find familiar. I studied costume design at university and initially worked as a seamstress in a bridal boutique, where I quickly fell in love with the world of weddings. As I connected with wedding planners, I noticed they were juggling multiple roles and needed some extra support. That’s when I saw an opportunity to combine my love for social media, design, and copywriting to create Virtually Rhian—a business where I could be creative, flexible, and make a meaningful impact in the wedding industry.
Who or what inspired you to become a VA?
I was looking for a job that I would genuinely love—a role where I could have control over my work, my hours, and enjoy flexibility rather than sticking to the constraints of a traditional 9-to-5 job. I wanted to be in a creative field where I felt passionate about my work and could connect with clients I truly enjoy working with. During the lockdown, I spent a lot of time researching online jobs and stumbled upon the idea of becoming a virtual assistant, a role that perfectly matched my skill set and could be done remotely.
Have you had any support starting up as a VA?
Starting out as a virtual assistant, I had no formal support or mentorship—I was entirely self-taught. I took numerous online courses, workshops, and training sessions to build my skills and knowledge. I also joined Facebook groups and wedding industry networking groups to learn more about the field. Looking back on my journey over the past four years, I’m often surprised at how far I’ve come, considering I started from scratch.
What has been your highlight since starting your business?
One of the biggest highlights since starting Virtually Rhian has been gaining new clients through word-of-mouth recommendations. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my clients trust and value my work enough to refer me to their industry friends, who often become my clients as well.
What was your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been avoiding the temptation to compare myself to others. It's easy to get caught up in comparing my work or skills against other virtual assistants, especially when I see the impressive content they produce or how much they earn. However, I’ve learned to focus on my unique skills and continue growing my business at my own pace.
What advice would you offer other new or aspiring VAs?
My advice to new or aspiring VAs? Keep going! If you're passionate and dedicated to achieving your dream career as a VA, nothing can stop you. When I first started, I worked 3-4 hours each night after my day job. I invested all the extra hours and took every course I could find because I believed that with hard work, I could turn this into my full-time career.
What tools/apps/software can’t you live without?
I have a few go-to tools that I rely on daily. Metricool is my favourite social media scheduling tool, and I use it with all my clients because it’s the best free tool on the market right now. Asana helps me stay organised with clients' tasks and keeps everything in one place, while CapCut is essential for creating videos, stories, and reels.
What is next for you and your business?
I’m excited about the next step for my business, which involves expanding and hiring a VA to help manage some of the admin tasks, especially during the busy summer months. This will allow me to continue growing Virtually Rhian while ensuring I maintain a high level of service for my clients.
What is the ultimate goal for your business?
My ultimate goal for Virtually Rhian is to support as many wedding business owners as possible by helping them with tasks they don’t enjoy or don’t have time for, in an authentic and organic way. I also hope to build a community of wedding suppliers in my local area, The Cotswolds, where we can support each other, collaborate creatively, and share ideas in a relaxed environment.
What has surprised you about becoming a VA?Â
One thing that has surprised me about becoming a VA is just how easy it is to work 12-hour days! When you love your job, it’s easy to get immersed in the work and lose track of time. But I’ve found that planning holidays and taking regular breaks is essential for maintaining balance.
Is there anything you would change about your VA journey?
If I could change anything about my journey, I would have invested in a professional web and brand designer from the start. I spent countless hours learning how to do these things myself, and looking back, hiring an expert would have saved me so much time and stress.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I love to travel! Having a digital nomad lifestyle means I can take my laptop and work from anywhere in the world. I prefer slow travel, spending a few weeks to a month in each location to truly experience the local culture while balancing work and exploration.
What business book / podcast have you read / listened to most recently? Would you recommend it?
I’m always on the lookout for inspiration, and I frequently listen to several podcasts, including The Wedding Business Podcast by Faye Cornhill, Big Deal by Codie Sanchez, Wedding Pros Who Are Ready to Grow by Becca Poutney, the Social Media Marketing Talk Show, and the I Do Wedding Marketing Podcast. All of these are excellent resources for anyone in the wedding industry or interested in social media marketing.
Instagram: @virtually_rhian
TikTok: @virtuallyrhianÂ
Website: www.virtuallyrhian.co.ukÂ
This blog was prepared or accomplished by Rhian Beavis in their personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Kayleigh Johnstone or COZ PR.
Comments