They share our happiest moments and they are there for our darkest days, which is why, this month, we’re celebrating the power of female friendships. We’ve collaborated with Polo Ralph Lauren, known for its timeless and enduring style, to interview eight inspiring women about their most enduring friendships. See Part Two here.
“We’ve come a long way together”
Eleanor Pendleton, the founder of Gritty Pretty, and Morgan Tait, Gritty Pretty‘s creative director, first met at school. In the past year, they have both been celebrants at the other’s wedding.
Eleanor: “When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we wanted our celebrant to be someone who knew us both – and for us that was Morgs. We’ve been friends since we were 13, and since then she’s always been part of my life.
On our wedding day, I remember walking down the aisle and all I could see was Mat. But when I reached the end, Morgan was there, and having her next to us made me feel so much more at ease. It was such a special moment.
When I started Gritty Pretty, Morgan was one of the first people I called. She is talented, creative and funny, and she and I have the same work ethic, which is relentless.
In the early days of the magazine, we would work till 2, 3, 4 in the morning, just glued to our screens, and then we’d wake up at 6am and send it live. I don’t know anyone else who shares that level of stamina and perfectionism.
Morgan and I come from very similar backgrounds – both our parents have had small businesses – and we’ve come a long way together.
I’ll never forget flying to LA to shoot Miranda Kerr for the cover of Gritty Pretty magazine. It was our first international shoot, and I remember sitting in the back of an Uber on the way to Miranda’s house thinking: How did we get here? Two girls from the Central Coast, who have never had a leg up, photographing one of the biggest supermodels in the world. It was such a special moment to share with Morgan.
I have a beautiful family, but my friends are the family I choose. Morgan is funny – she has the driest sense of humour – and she has always been there, that person I can talk to when things aren’t great, even though it mightn’t appear that way on social media. When I’m around Morgan, I just feel like myself – without the professional career side, without the media profile; she just makes me feel like me. We lift each other up.”
Morgan: “I remember the moment Eleanor asked me to be the celebrant at her wedding. We were having coffee and El got quite emotional and nervous.
On her wedding day, as El walked down the aisle, you could see that she was radiating happiness. I was standing so close to them, I could see every movement on their faces. It was so intimate and I’ll never forget it.
Then, last week, Eleanor was the celebrant at my wedding in New Zealand. I was really nervous walking down the aisle, but El gave me a big beautiful smile and it was amazing to be walking towards two people I know really care about me.
I was really nervous walking down the aisle, but El gave me a big beautiful smile
Friends often ask if it’s strange working for El, but it’s not because we have known each other for such a long time, and our friendship has such a great foundation. We grew up together – our childhood was fun and typically coastal – no shoes, that sort of thing.
El and I are extremely honest with each other and we also both work really hard. We are the same in that way. I know that if I have a question and it’s 2am the night before the magazine is about to be published, I can email El and she’ll be awake. There is a constant communication flow between us. We talk on every platform possible – gchat, texting, email.
El is loyal, kind and honest, and I do lean on her. Recently, my husband was deployed to the Middle East for nine months. He was in a war zone and I wouldn’t hear from him for two weeks at a time. El was so thoughtful, always checking in with me. I would be stuck in a work hole and she’d say, come on let’s go for a coffee. She is extremely kind and she always thinks about other people.”
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