Making It

3 years ago this month I was getting ready to launch Engaged & Inspired. I had been engaged for a month and I was over the moon about starting this venture of mine. At that time my concept of "made it" was to be running this blog full time, doing what I love.

Fast forward 3 years. I'm in a place where I do this full time, yet I feel so far from "making it". Hence this little gem of a quote resounding so much with me I feel the urge to write an entire post about it. Truth be told, so many parts of Engaged & Inspired aren't what I want them to be. They were great at one time but as I continue to move forward and grow as a person and a brand, the only word I feel properly describes my felling is "stodgy". Which, yes, is the worst feeling to have about something you worked so hard to create. No one gets that as much as I.

I feel there will always be different levels of "making it" and that is what makes companies so great. There is always a new challenge, a new level and if your work is great, you will always look back on the earlier stuff cringing. And that is growth.

I haven't had very much time in this new year to reflect & set goals just yet. (Thanks to The Lab & speaking at Alt Summit....so believe me, I'm not complaining!) Despite all the work and long hours I have been putting in this month, this quote and the future of Engaged & Inspired have taken up every free second I can possibly muster.

Since I am not one of those people that dwells in the woes of life, or writes posts to collect sympathy, I won't leave on such a note. The new site design is coming soon, and with that comes some major changes, additions, and of course work to be done. The fact that this place isn't exactly what I want it to be pushes me even harder and drives me even more every single day because it will become (very soon in fact) the most perfect place for me and the most perfect place to cultivate and grow this brand of mine.

Despite it all I have seen tremendous growth in the past year and I send out my sincerest thank you to each and every one of you.  Thanks for finding something to love and finding something to come back for.

I'm extremely excited for the future, the possibilities and for the opportunity to call myself a full-time blogger. Not many people have the luxury to do so, and even more people can't even begin to understand everything that a title like that means. I will say it with pride and never again think that such a title isn't good enough. It is.

Dressing up the Aisle

One of my favorite things about our venue are the huge oak trees around the grounds. They add so much to the space and I can't imagine the place without them. There's one tree in particular that acts as the ceremony focus point. We will be getting married under the tree in June! Since the space around the tree is very plain and rustic, think dirt and leaves, I've been looking for ways to dress up the aisle without taking away from the beautiful tree. Here are a few ideas I keep getting drawn to.

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I love the idea of shepherds hooks with mason jars. They go perfectly with my venue and look beautiful down the aisle. Or the cultural idea of 1000 cranes. I absolutely love how these are displayed between two oak trees.  And drapping on beautiful linen between the branches, so gorgeous and romantic.

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These are the trees we'll be getting married under this summer. It's such a blank slate to work with, I can't wait to decide on the look. I'm in love with the rose petals down the aisle and the gorgeous dahlia tied to the chairs is soft and pretty.

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Other ideas might be petal designs down the aisle, a lace runner to walk down on, petals all the way down acting as a runner, or little tins holding flowers to add some pretty to the space.

Saying Yes to the Dress {again}

Okay, I'm just gonna say it - I'm guilty of buying two dresses. I've heard of women doing this and thought - that would never happen to me! Well, last week I bought dress #2. And I couldn't be happier!

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I bought my first dress a few months back and I loved it. But a couple weeks ago I was surfing wedding blogs and came across an amazing dress...a couple clicks later, I realized it was one of the dresses I tried on that was over my budget, but that I loved. So, I thought, instead of regretting not trying just because I already have a dress, I'll do a little searching for used/second hand options. I thought, if I don't find it, it's not meant to be and I'll be perfectly happy with the dress I already have.

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Well, after coming back to my search a week later, one popped up. And it was in San Francisco. And it seemed to be in my measurements. And it was listed for almost 70% off the retail price. So of course I had to go look. It was just too good to be true. But it wasn't. It fit almost exactly and was in near-perfect condition. So here I am today with two dresses. Luckily I also bought my first dress at a discount, so I'm confident I can sell it and not lose much money.

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Moral of the story for me was to plan, but then just let things happen. Control to a point, but then trust that it will work out. I would have been happy with the first option, but I sure am glad it worked out the way it did. I think this holds true for other wedding planning things...missed out on that venue you had your heart set on? Bridesmaid dresses you wanted are discontinued? Trust that the right thing will come along. And keep looking. It will all fall together just right.

Did you have second thoughts on your dress? Did you see a dress that caught your eye after you already had your dress?

Big thanks to Julie from Encore Bridal!

First Taste

Tomorrow we are going to our first (and hopefully last) catering tasting! My fiance Derek and I are big foodies so naturally we want to serve the best wedding food on the planet. Derek took the lead on researching caters and has convinced me that Heirloom LA is the way to go. I am so looking forward to trying their signature Lasagna cupcakes.

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Their tray passed appetizers look unreal.

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Stay tuned next week to hear how the tasting goes! Have you done your catering tastings yet? Any tips on what to look out for?

Taking It All In {Wedding Week}

It's here! Our wedding week is here! At this point, it doesn't seem real! The event that we have been talking and planning for months is now here and I am just supposed to be relaxed and "take in every moment"?!  My family and friends will know how hard this will be for me but I am going to try!

Obviously, the most exciting part is marrying my best friend and the person who makes me laugh on a daily basis, Eric! I can't wait for our first look to see how handsome and happy he looks!

I thought I'd post some of my favorite inspiration photos through the wedding planning process!

Chevron Touches:

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Outdoor Ceremony:

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Grey Bridesmaid Dresses:

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Romantic and Soft Flowers:

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It's been a blast posting on Engaged and Inspired and I can't wait to share all my wedding day photos with all of you!

xoxo

Jess

Let's hear it for the girls! {over-the-top flower girl dresses}

Warning: this blog post involves not one, but two humble-brags. 1) I have two ridiculously adorable flower girls: the daughters of our close friends. And they are at just that perfect age of ALL PRINCESS EVERYTHING, so no flower girl dress is too over-the-top. Sequins? Duh. Feathers? You betcha! Tulle? Obviously.

2) My previously mentioned crafty mother has graciously accepted the task of hand-making these flower girl dresses! So, we get to design them together!! My mom is an incredible seamstress, and while regular school play costumes were de rigueur around my house, my mom also tackled more substantial projects like my kick-ass prom dress. So, yeah...she's pretty legit.

Humble brags aside (fine...they were mostly just brags!), my mom and I are on the hunt for adorable and inspirational flower girl dresses that are unique, fantastical, and totally over-the-top. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

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DIY Wedding by Anita Martin Photography

This wedding is a DIY bride's dream. It is filled with countless details each an infusion of the couple's style. Get those pin buttons ready to go as you are going to need them for this fabulous DIY California wedding!

"Charming, rustic, and very DIY backyard wedding in Orangevale California, at the groom's childhood home! Beautiful fall details and color in this perfectly intimate wedding. Ashlynn and Charlie met in San Diego. They planned a backyard wedding at the home of Charlie's parents. The couple had a first look under Willow trees that Charlie remembers planting when he was young. Ashlynn incorporated many family heirlooms/personal details into her wedding day: The maid of honor, bride's mom, aunt and future mother in law and bride spent a few days working together to make batches and batches of homemade jam for our wedding favors. Charlie and Ashlynn handmade all of the nail and yarn table numbers, wooden signs, bunting, vases...most of the decor. Ashlynn's grandmother made them a wedding quilt that has events in our lives and relationship on it and also sewed the bunting banners, the bridesmaid's purses, and personalized hankerchiefs for each girl! The couple had a type writer as their guest book, which belonged to Charlie's grandpa's who passed away a few years ago."

Photographer:  Anita Martin Photography

Floral Designer:  Ambience Floral Design

Steps to Sample Sale Success

Ohh check that alliteration in the title. Snazzy, right?Gosh I think I'm clever. Ok, ok time to get down to business. You've probably heard it all before but one of the easiest places to save some money when wedding planning is on the dress. But how? If you're anything like me, you've watched just about every episode of Say Yes to the Dress and have drooled over all the beautiful, high priced gowns they showcase. I had heard a few success stories from girls who had chosen to go the Sample Sale route but honestly, I was very weary of that. My initial thoughts were the limited options, lots of people, and the thought of settling based on a good deal. But even with those negative thoughts running through my head I decided to give it a shot and I'm so glad did!

These 6 steps are why I think I was successful at finding my dream dress at a sample sale and I hope they'll help you too:

1. Attend sample sales that takes appointments

2. Go to stores that carry dresses you like and may normally be out of your budget

3. Make your appointment on the first day of the sale (if possible)

4. Go in with a clear budget in mind

5. Have a good idea of what you're looking for

6. Be ready to buy

Shopping for a wedding dress is such a fun and exciting time. Enjoy yourself and if you're looking to save a little money know that there are options out there for you to do just that!

Did you attend a sample sale? What was your experience?

Showering the Bride {themes}

When I was home over the holidays my cousin offered to host a bridal shower for me! I am beyond excited that I will get to have a shower in my home state and get to see so many of the ladies who will be at my wedding a few months later. The next thing she asked me was what kind of shower I wanted to have, themes, etc. And to tell the truth, I had never thought of this before...I mean I know showers have themes and their own unique flair, but I had never thought about how mine would be. I will be happy with some great ladies around me, a fun game or two, and something to eat and sip on. But, of course, I started some searching to get inspiration. Whether you are planning a shower for someone or looking forward to your own, it is fun to look at all the creative ideas.

Being a lover of perfume, I think this Coco Chanel, French-themed shower is pretty darn cute. And before you start thinking that this is way too over the top - Yes, it is a 'shoot' (not a real shower), but adorable nonetheless.

Guests could mix their own scents.

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I don't think I was a Girl Scout long enough to be qualified for this shower, but wow, so awesome!

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How about this tiki-themed shower. So fun!

These ladies did flower arranging.

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Love the how they took the traditional pink flamingos and turned them gold!

And here we have a 60's-inspired fete.

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Are you having a 'themed' bridal shower? Did you do something related to your wedding?

{DIY} Getting Crafty With Wooden Flatware

It is so easy and totally fun to get creative with this wooden flatware. The options are endless depending on your color palette or feel for a given event. I originally made these for dessert takeaway boxes but have since used them in a few different places. Thanks to Kara Miller Photography for photographing this lovely DIY.

Step 1: Tape in any pattern you like. Then spray!

These were even easier, if that is possible! I used stamps to stamp the pattern on. Seconds later, you are done!

Enjoy :)