For Freya Croisdale (nee Crocker), no two days look quite the same and that is exactly how she likes it!

One day might involve venue visits and client meetings, another could be spent refining design concepts, reviewing supplier contracts or overseeing the final details of a major event. More recently, her growing business, Freya Croisdale Weddings, has expanded beyond weddings to include private celebrations, corporate events and charity fundraising occasions.

It is a career built on creativity, organisation and working closely with people; three things Freya has always known mattered to her.

After leaving Trent in 2013, Freya studied Geography at the University of Leeds before completing a master’s degree, with Distinction, in Risk at Durham University, which included a placement in Washington DC. She later completed her PGCE and spent six years working as a Geography teacher.

“Teaching felt like a natural career choice at the time”

Freya loved Geography and enjoyed helping young people develop confidence in the classroom, which was something first sparked during her own time at Trent College when she supported younger pupils through tutoring opportunities as a school prefect.

But over time, Freya began to realise she was craving a more creative career path: “I just knew there was something missing. I missed being creative and wanted a career that could combine my creativity with my hyper-organisation, whilst still having a job that was primarily about people.”

In 2023, Freya took the leap and launched her own wedding planning business, combining creativity with the organisational precision needed to manage complex events.

What began as a wedding-focused business has since evolved. Following the recent rebrand, Freya now offers full event design and planning for private celebrations, corporate events, charity dinners and brand launches.

She identified an opportunity to bring a more thoughtful, design-led approach to events beyond weddings: “I don’t see why luxury event design should be limited to just weddings.”

Among her recent projects is the planning of a charity ball for the charity Cystic Fibrosis Care, a very different brief from a wedding, but one she has found equally rewarding.

For Freya, the most fulfilling part of her work is seeing months of planning come together in a meaningful way for her clients: “Seeing my clients’ faces on their special day makes the hundreds of hours of planning totally worth it.”

Although she now works in a very different industry, Freya credits teaching with equipping her with many of the skills she uses every day.

“I have taken so many skills I learnt from teaching into my business”

Managing competing priorities, communicating clearly, staying calm under pressure and navigating challenging situations all remain central to her work.

“I have taken so many skills I learnt from teaching into my business: working with different people, dealing with challenging situations, organisation, time management and staying calm under pressure.”

Even lessons from her school days continue to influence her approach. Freya recalls a phrase often shared by former teacher Mr Wood during hockey training: “Do the simple things well, all the time.”  It is advice she still applies in business today.

During her time at Trent, Freya embraced a wide range of opportunities. Music played a major role in school life, while she was equally committed to sport, serving as Vice Captain of 1st XI Hockey and playing netball. She was also a Senior Prefect and mentored younger pupils, experiences that helped strengthen her confidence and leadership skills.

She also laughs when reflecting on nearly taking a very different creative route: “I am still sad I couldn’t take Art A Level, only because there weren’t enough options!”

That creative passion now plays a central role in her business, particularly through collaboration with her family.

Freya works closely with her older sister Sophie Crocker (Class of 2009), who creates bespoke hand-painted stationery for clients, while her younger sister Grace (Class of 2020) supported the business during its early stages: “I feel very lucky that I get to work regularly with my big sister. It means the overall wedding and event design feels completely cohesive.”

Freya has also had the opportunity to plan weddings for friends, a responsibility she describes as both rewarding and deeply personal. Most recently, she worked closely with a former school friend, Olivia McDonnell and her fiancé Joe on their wedding celebrations, supporting the couple throughout the entire planning process, from budget management and supplier coordination to design, styling and creating the overall vision for the day.

The wedding itself brought together a large number of Old Tridents, with many members of their year group attending and playing key roles in the celebrations, which Freya says is a true reflection of the strength of friendships formed during their time at school. For Freya, it was particularly meaningful to help bring such an important milestone to life for someone she has known since Year 7, while balancing the role of trusted friend and professional planner.

“Being asked to be anyone’s wedding planner is an honour, but being asked to plan a close friend’s wedding felt especially meaningful.”

For current pupils who may feel uncertain about their future career path, Freya offers reassuring advice: “If you are reading this thinking, ‘I don’t know what I want to do when I’m older,’ just know that is absolutely okay and totally normal.”

She encourages young people to stay open-minded and follow what genuinely interests them.

“My biggest piece of advice is to follow your passion. Doing something you love makes work so much more enjoyable.”

Freya’s career journey is a strong reminder that success does not always follow a straight path. Sometimes the most rewarding opportunities emerge when you are willing to embrace change, trust your instincts and build something that reflects who you are.

Wedding photography credit: Sarah Ellis, Weddings from Sarah