Five Years Ago Today...

I was a bride!

I got to marry my best friend and have the best party of my life.

A fun time was had by all.

My husband and I really tried to plan our wedding based on the guests' experience.  We had a lot of help though.  Everyone made our wedding the most memorable experience in every possible way.

Dress: Priscilla of Boston | Bridesmaids: J. Crew

Venue: Orange County Museum of Art | DJ: KC from Vox DJs

Wedding Planners and Catering: Posh Productions

 Event Design and Florist: Inviting Occasion 

Last but NEVER least...

Photographer: Dana Grant Photography

Decisions, Decisions... Featuring SPRUCE Stationery & Design

We'd like to introduce you to a very talented custom stationer who's gorgeous work has been featured by Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty, among others.  Meet Brittany of SPRUCE Stationery & Design, who Paula had the pleasure of working with when designing her wedding stationery last year and when creating the logo for her design firm recently.

Brittany recently decided to make the courageous, inspiring, and totally rad decision to open her own store where she will continue to work with clients on custom stationery in addition to selling all sorts of gorgeousness in the way of paper products and party supplies.  

Today, she's telling us about her fabulous new store (you absolutely must see the custom moss-covered chandelier she made) and the best design decision she made while designing it...

Embracing Vertical Space!

"When I first toured the location that was going to become SPRUCE it was a thrift store. A very small thrift store. It was dark and overflowing with merchandise so it felt very small. At just around 1,000 SF it IS a modest size retail shop, but with its small footprint it boasted 14 foot tall ceilings and I saw potential."

"I picked a slate gray for the ceiling and brought the color down four feet where it meets the big traditional white crown moulding we installed. I got to crafting a statement piece chandelier and and we took a lot of the shelving and built-ins up nearly the full 10 feet."

"The results are bright and airy. The crown moulding divides the height but makes the space feel larger than it is. The chandelier is eye catching and always yields some fun comments. The white walls make the papers pop and, yes, some items are out of customer reach but it gives us a great reason to interact with our clientele and be helpful."

Look at that chandelier!!  Amazing, right?  Yes, she created that from a $50 Craigslist find! See more photos of SPRUCE here, including some stellar before and afters.  

These gorgeous photos were taken by Michéle M. Waite Photography.

Thank you Brittany for participating in our Decisions, Decisions... series!  We both dream of opening our own boutiques some day and we can only hope they'd be as beautiful as Spruce!  

And y'all, if you're in the market for some custom stationery, call her! Seriously, she's good! I mean, even Martha thinks so!

Happy Wednesday, and cheers to good decisions!

One Year Ago...

...I married my best friend.  Well, 363 days really, but why not start celebrating now?!

It feels like it was just a few weeks ago that we were surrounded by our closest friends and family for what was truly the most wonderful celebration on a glorious Seattle summer day. I could (and will) relive that day over and over and over...

Thank you to everyone who supported us on that wonderful day, and everyday since! Especially our families who made the weekend of celebration possible.

I can't imagine spending the past year, or the rest of my life, with anyone else.  Happy anniversary Tim!

To many, many more years, and many, many more celebrations...

Thank you also to all of the talented vendors who helped us make that day so fabulous!

Stationery: Spruce  |  Floral Design: Zest

Venue, Catering, Cake:  Four Seasons Seattle

Dress:  Lazaro  |  Bow:  Vera Wang  |  Bridesmaid Dresses:  J.Crew

Bow Ties:  Ben Silver  |  Hair:  Madison Walker, Burnt District

Band:  Rhythm Nation  |  Donuts:  Top Pot

And these amazing photos:  The Popes  

B is for Bows

While Paula may be more of the "bow aficionado" than I am (check out the end of this post), lately I have been drawn to the increasing number of bows perched perfectly at the nape of a womans neck.  

Pictures via Pinterest 

It is really amazing what a difference moving the bow up from ones behind - hello 80's wedding or prom dress - can really do for a girl!

Meanwhile, look at the gorgeous Vera Wang bow that Paula wore on her wedding day!

 Picture via Rebecca June

Perfectly Paula.