Hey ya’ll! It’s been a bit since I’ve done a post on this not so little place I call home and wanted to showcase some of Kollin and I’s favorite summertime activities in the city. Chicago truly comes alive in the Summer and reminds everyone who lives here why they just stuck out 9 months of winter! Now on our 4th summer in the city, we’ve come to really love certain annual events and activities. I’ve rounded up 10 fun things to do in Chicago in the summertime below with a little bit on why we love them!

Millennium Park Summer Film Series

Tuesdays at 6:30PM June - August | Free Admission

Every summer, Millennium Park hosts a film series and releases the schedule in June of what movies will be shown each Tuesday at 6:30PM. While the timing of this is not ideal for tourists, it’s a really fun and unique experience if you’re able to make one! Kollin and I usually go right from work and bring a little picnic to snack on while we’re watching. Hosted in the Pritzker Pavillion that features a huge lawn, big screen and amazing sound system, people bring blankets, chairs and all the food and wine. Movies range from comedies, classics, fan-favorite cult movies and even some horror films. So grab a blanket, some vino and snacks and enjoy! You can view the movie schedule here.

Lollapolooza

August 1 -4 | Grant Park | $$-$$$

Opinions on this event vary as the age of attendees seems to be dropping every year and the lineups have been hit or miss the last couple years. While Kollin and I have never been, people flock to the city for this huge music festival that seems to draw some big names in the industry. You can buy tickets for one day of the four day festival or buy packages for all four. See the lineup and tickets here.

Chicago Air & Water Show

August 18-19 | Free Admission

This weekend brings in one of the most crowded times in Chicago summertime. Millions (yes, literally) of people flood to North Avenue Beach and the lake front to watch the air show of fighter jets, planes, and the Blue Angels fly over the city. My best tip for this weekend? If you have friends in the city with a rooftop or your hotel has one, hang out there rather than the beaches. Some of the best views are from several stories up! If you do head to the beach be sure to get there early to get a spot. See more about the show here.

Spend a Day at the Beach

Beaches in Chicago | Free Admission

Offering 26 miles of shoreline, one of the most unique parts of Chicago is how close the beaches are to the city. Whether you’re looking for more of a party vibe on North Avenue Beach at Castaways Bar and Grill or wanting to take your dog to Montrose Beach, there are many to choose from. We love packing a bag and drinks and heading to one of the beaches for the day. While it definitely gets hot here and you’ll want to take a dip in the lake, be sure to check the temperatures as Lake Michigan takes a while to heat up. It’s the middle of July as I’m writing this and the water is still only about 57 degrees so swim if you’re brave!

We love the beaches that are further north so we can escape the large crowds. Foster Avenue Beach and even some beaches up into Evanston are quieter and to be totally honest, a lot cleaner.

Neighborhood Festivals

Various Locations | Free Admission - $$

Sometimes deciding how to spend your time in the city can be hard. There are so many options to choose from every single weekend here. One of the best parts about Chicago is the many different neighborhoods that make up the city. Each neighborhood has it's own vibe, culture and food scene. To celebrate this there are usually anywhere from 3-15 festivals happening a weekend, if not more. Ranging from Taco & Tequila in Lincoln Park to Roscoe Village Burger Fest, there is something for everyone. The majority are food and drink focused, but also include art festivals, culture festivals and block parties. Find the best festival for you here.

Our Favorites:

• Gold Coast Art Fair (June)

• Clark After Dark (August)

• Taste of Randolph (June)

• Taste of Chicago (July)

• Windy City Smokeout (July)

Head to a Museum

Various Locations | Free Admission - $ - $$

Chicago is full of some of the most amazing museums in the world. From world-renowned art at The Art Institute of Chicago, to getting lost in the huge Field Museum of Natural History, you could spend your entire trip in these buildings. While the city does offer a “City Pass” where you can spend $100 and get access to some great tourist options for the entire weekend, we suggest breaking them up unless you want sore feet and exhaustion to hit pretty quickly. A museum can be a great way to escape the heat and if you’re here on some weekends there could be events at them as well.

Our favorite museums:

• The Art Institute of Chicago: the largest and oldest art museum in the United States houses amazing works by Monet, Pollock, Van Gogh, Manet, Georgia O’Keefe, Grant Wood, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and more.

• The Field Museum: Chicago’s museum of natural history is a big one.I personally wouldn’t recommend trying to see the whole thing in one day unless you’ve got some serious time on your hands. But there are some pretty amazing exhibits there including the largest dinosaur ever found, Ancient Egypt, and a hall of gems.

• The Shedd Aquarium: boasting one of the largest tanks in the US, the aquarium is a really fun spot. With tons of wildlife, a range of shows and animal encounters, this is a great way to spend some time especially with kids. If you happen to be here during the week on a Wednesday, check out Jazzin at The Shedd.

• Museum of Science and Industry: I’ve personally never been here, but Kollin and his brother have visited and loved it! Ranging from engineering, physics, manufacturing and space, this museum dives deeper into the space of innovation and invention. Truly one of the most unique museums, you’ll learn a lot here in an interactive space.

See Hamilton

We were a little late to this train, but if you haven’t already, seeing Hamilton in Chicago is a fun experience. Back in the early 20th century, going to the theater was quite the event and it feels like that in the city too. Hosted in the CIBC Theater downtown, the production is magical, funny, sometimes sad and overall fun. Kollin and I saw it back in May and loved it. We saw a matinee show which was not only cheaper, but let out at the perfect time to grab dinner! Find more and tickets here.

See a Cubs Game at Wrigley Field

Wrigleyville | $-$$$

One of the most Chicago things I’ve experienced (and loved) was eating a Chicago dog in Wrigley Field watching the Cubs play. My family has been Cubs fans since I was little so to see the iconic stadium (the second oldest in the US behind Fenway Park) was really cool. It still features its original structure and architecture that brings some real charm to the stadium. Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, visiting the stadium and surrounding neighborhood of Wrigleyville is great. There are fun bars, restaurants, and a definite party scene at night. Since the Cubs won the World Series, ticket prices have gone way up and go quickly for big games so be sure to try and find tickets well in advance.

Have a rooftop drink(s)

One of my favorite things that Chicago offers is the option to drink beverages several stories up. There are so many rooftop bars, cocktail rooms, eateries and even clubs on rooftops. If you haven’t experienced a Chicago rooftop, to drink or not drink, I highly suggest doing so! Some of the best views I’ve seen are from rooftops and it’s not like any other regular bar on ground level. With a variety of options and several neighborhoods to choose from, you’ll be sure to find something! I’ve rounded up some of our favorites:

• Cindy’s

• LH Rooftop in the LondonHouse Hotel

• Cabra

• The J.. Parker at The Lincoln Hotel

• Apogee

• The Signature Room in the John Hancock Building (96 floors up, FYI)

• Upstairs at The Gwen Hotel

• Z Bar at the Peninsula Hotel

• Streeterville Social in the Loews Hotel

Chicago Architecture Tour

Kollin and I did this the first summer we moved here and loved it. We’ve been on one since and it varied slightly so each tour company is going to be different on what they offer and cover. Our first trip we booked through the Chicago Architecture Association and it focused much more on the history and features of the buildings (which we nerded out on and really enjoyed). The second tour we took a few weeks ago was more pop-culture and random facts related than the true Chicago history, but still really enjoyable! In both cases we saw amazing views, great weather and had a memorable time. I think this also definitely depends on your tour guide and their approach to the tour. Either way, we highly recommend as it’s only 1.5 hours and there are several departure times!

Summertime Chi is the best time to visit this bustling city. The temperature is finally above freezing (lol), there are endless events happening, and the city comes alive with energy. I hope this post was helpful, but as always if you are planning a trip to Chicago and want some more details or ideas I’d love to hear from you! Check out my first Chicago Edit: Part One here for some of our favorite restaurants and activities from 2017 (still great options!).

Have a great week everyone and thank you so much for reading!

For the past few months I have been on the hunt for all the bridal event dresses and to be honest, it was a bit of a struggle. Everything I was finding had felt like every girl I’d ever known to get married had the same dress or it was so expensive I couldn’t fathom spending that on a dress I would maybe wear again.

The biggest problem I was running into? So many white dresses are eyelet or have a beach vibe to them. While very cute and summery, I wanted something a little different. I want to look back at pictures and think what I had on was chic and classic, but had a fun pop of fashion to it. I couldn’t find this perfect combination until I remembered to look on a site I’ve been shopping on for a while, Red Dress Boutique!

I jumped on their dress page and filtered to the color white and immediately found so many dresses! I’ve linked my favorites (along with some other brands) below - dresses and jumpsuits (because why not mix it up?)

SHOP THE LOOK | WHITE DRESSES

SHOP THE LOOK | WHITE JUMPSUITS

I had my first bridal shower this past weekend and was so amazing! My life-long best friend, Lindsey, threw it with her mom and sisters and it was such a fun time! I always feel so special at events that are thrown in your honor because my friends and family nail capturing me in a party every time. She helped with my engagement party with our moms and had peonies, champagne and a wedding planner gift waiting for my arrival. I guess that’s what 26 years of friendship will get you!

Anyways, back to the shower! She didn’t disappoint again with peonies, my favorite donuts, a cake from my favorite bakery and lots of lots of Prosecco! 🥂 it was the perfect shower!

Next up on the wedding event train? The bachelorette party! I’m really excited to shop for this trip because we are headed somewhere warm (cannot wait to escape the still chilly Chicago weather) and that means all the white bathing suites, sandals, two piece sets and accessories. It’s going to be so fun! But, wearing all that white means I’m going to have to work on my tan… thanks so much for reading! xx

If there is one thing that this year includes it’s travel! Kollin and I are so fortunate to be able to jet off to friend’s weddings, family visits and wedding planning meetings in Kentucky and in September, our honeymoon. With all this travel in place, I asked for a travel set birthday present last year and my mom did not disappoint!

Through college and even a few years past graduating, I was using travel cases, makeup bags and toiletry bags from ages ago. Whatever I could find at Target in the sale bin or whatever had come in my Lilly Pulitzer gift with purchase. I wanted something that would last and create a chic, cohesive look with my travel set.

When we travel I am definitely the organized one of the family ha. I have my suitcase (Kollin and I usually pack separately – it has saved us in many ways), a carry on tote and all the pouches inside needed to for cords, papers and IDs, corgi needs (he usually travels with us!) and anything we need for the plane ride. Any other girls become a pack mule for their significant other when traveling? I’m not sure why men are so against man purses – it really would help them out!

Anyways, back to the travel set that I’ve been loving. It’s from Cuyana and while it is a bit pricey, it is so gorgeous and the perfect size and quality for traveling. The two piece set has smaller pouch – that I use for makeup – and a larger pouch that can hold hair products, skincare, etc. You can also Monogram them which was another selling point for me! As Reese Witherspoon famously said, “if it isn’t moving, monogram it!”

While I love the chic and sophisticated look of the Cuyana bags, I also love a more fun moment too. A couple years ago I discovered Stoney Clover Lane and thought their line of pouches, bags, totes and packing essentials was so cute and fun! With their interactive site and tons of options, I spent a couple hours designing a few different pouches. Perfect for travel and thematic situations (bachelorette party, traveling to the beach and more), there is something for everyone. The cutest feature? They have patches that you can add to any product – letters, numbers, destinations, cute animals and symbols – you can completely customize your travel needs!

My last travel piece is one that can obviously be used outside of travel but having a great carry-all bag creates a seamless travel experience. I’m linking a few below that I have used and love but want to take a moment to talk about the I Love Jewelry Coco Bag. I first found this bag when I was deeply falling in love with the Chanel Deauville tote, but obviously my dreams were crushed when I saw the price tag. When I saw this bag, that takes inspiration from the Chanel version, I thought it was a no-brainer! Well below the designer price, available in a variety of colors and the option to monogram make it really accessible and personalized. I have this bag in the beige and all black version and love them! They are great for travel because they hold a ton, but I also love them for the work week as a carry all of my computer, change of flats and you know all the girly stuff we always carry around. And everything I mentioned above for travel sets and pouches fits in the bag! The pink or gray is next up on my wish list!

Are you headed a trip soon? I would love to hear where and what your must-have travel essentials are! Thanks so much for reading! xx

It’s taken me some time to put this post together because to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to write about. I was looking for these big, impactful moments that happened in year 26, but then I started thinking about what I’ve actually learned. What has truly impacted me and made me stop in my tracks and it wasn’t all big moments. A lot of them were actually small. I don’t write this post as an advice post or what you should know or do or be at 26, but rather to share my story of what I’ve learned about myself and my journey thus far. And if one person reads this and resonates with it then that’s the goal.  

To be totally honest with y’all, 25 was a tough year for me. I won’t be getting too specific with details, but I want to share the harder points because that’s life and no one’s everyday is all corgis and Prosecco (I wish! 😉), so this will be a long one, but I hope you stick around and share some of your learnings in the comments no matter your age.  We all keep learning, right?

SPREADING LOVE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN WALLOWING IN ENVY

In 2018, things started to pick up with the blog, most of which was behind the scenes, but still very exciting. I was getting partnerships more often, making a little money and actually getting into the whole “blogger” thing. But the more I was gaining in confidence, the comparison game would hit right on queue and it all felt like a drop in the giant “influencer” bucket. 

“She just started and has 5.000 followers. What am I doing wrong?” or “how did she get that partnership, why aren’t I good enough for that?” 

This isn’t just a blogger thing. We enter this everyday no matter our hobby or occupation. But one day I read a post on Instagram and decided to take it to heart. It said “Over the last few months I’ve implemented a new habit to shift negative energy. If I feel myself getting jealous of a woman for her success, I squash that jealousy and reach out and congratulate her instead. Spreading love is more powerful than wallowing in envy.” 

THE MOMENT YOU AREN’T HAPPY, LEAVE.  

You don’t owe anyone anything that outweighs your happiness. Sure, we all have times where things don’t go our way or we have a tough couple days. But if you are consistently unhappy and you know it, make a change. For me, it was a scary step at first, but then I truly realized how much it was really impacting my happiness.  

APPRECIATE BEAUTY WITH YOUR EYES, NOT YOUR CAMERA  

Anyone else instantly reach for your phone to capture the beautiful moment you’re witnessing? I’m so guilty of this and it took a lot for me to realize how much I was living through my camera rather than truly living in that moment of beauty. I can still appreciate it even if Instagram never saw it. 

ACCEPT HELP

You can do anything, but you can’t do it all. Year 25 I took on a lot. Working full time, blog, wedding planning, traveling and the day to day of life catching up with it all. We sometimes feel helpless or inadequate when asking for help, when in reality, people want to help and it takes a strong person to let go and accept that help.  One of the areas that I was so set on being 100% involved in was the wedding. It got to be a lot and stopped being fun because I was trying to do it all from 3 states away. I then realized through conversations with our moms that it’s ok to not do everything. My mom and Kollin’s mom have been God sends in this department and so gracious with their time and efforts during wedding planning.

KNOW YOUR VALUE  

Always be aware of your worth and value to those you are contributing to. What are you giving and is it being reciprocated or even appreciated? Spend your time where your ideas are heard, your voice is valued and you can support the lifestyle you want or have a path to get there in place.  Without those things what are you working toward? I had to learn that even if I loved something, it wasn’t giving me back what I needed and I needed to reevaluate what I was accepting as my worth.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP ISN’T 50/50

There’s a common saying that marriage is 50/50. You each give equal parts to the relationship and there’s an even playing field. While I believe that is somewhat true, I think there is more to the picture. There are times in life where your partner can’t give you 50, or even 20, and not because they don’t want to but because life gets in the way and things happen. Sometimes you pick up the slack. Sometimes you need help reaching 50 and sometimes you both only get to 35. Something that Kollin and I have experienced in this last year of engagement is that yes, respect and love should always be at 100%. If you can’t give me more, at least respect and love me. But other times you might need to provide your partner with more than 50 or vice versa.

IT’S NOT WORTH THE HANGOVER

For my new year’s resolution this year I decided I wanted make healthier choices. One of these was cutting out the majority of alcohol. While I haven’t really been much of a drinker anyways since college (GO CATS), I was noticing that even after only a couple drinks, I was not ok the next day. Sure, everyone is entitled to go out and have a crazy night now and again, but I wanted to see what it would be like to give it a change.  

I cut out all hard alcohol and when I drank it was only wine or champagne. I would have at most 2 glasses and restrain myself from the party bug or opt be the DD that night. While sometimes it was a total buzzkill or I felt FOMO, I quickly learned that it was actually working. I felt better, my migraines were decreasing and I was keeping off the extra 2-4 pounds that were previously there from sugary mixed drinks. Oh, and the best part? I didn’t wake up feeling horrible from a night out. This is something I’ve been doing since January and I’ve really seen a difference. I’ll indulge in a margarita here and there, but I’m liking this new rule for myself!

SPEAK UP

We all have situations where we bite our tongue. We rethink it before we say anything, if we say anything at all. Sometimes being silent is easier than confronting the issue and sometimes that’s the right choice. But year 25 taught me a lot about the situations where you do speak up, even if the words don’t come out in the most eloquent way. I had gotten comfortable staying silent because it was easier than the argument that was to come if I did, but it was digging a deeper hole. If they don’t hear your voice, they may think you don’t have one. And if you do use it, they may not appreciate it by that time because in their mind it’s too late. 

BE WHO YOU WANT  

Growing up, we might hide parts of ourselves or make decisions based on what others would think. I definitely did and still do, but throughout the last year I’ve really become more comfortable just doing me. For example, for our engagement pictures, I had a vision and did not want to do anything else. I wanted to be me. The me that wore a formal dress in 90 degree heat in a park in the dirt and grass. I wanted to be the weird mix of myself that loves fashion and is a little extra because it’s fun, while also staying true to my roots. Being comfortable with my choices of expressing who I am has been one of my favorite learnings this year. 

MENTAL HEALTH IS REAL. EVEN IF YOU DON’T NOTICE IT AT FIRST.  

I’ve always been a pretty “balanced” person. I know my feelings and what to do when I feel certain ways. But like I mentioned, 25 was a tough year and I started experiencing things I hadn’t dealt with before. Anxiety, burn out, anger, and not giving things my all. Certain aspects of life were really taking a toll on me and I didn’t pay attention to them until others brought them to light or I couldn’t ignore them anymore. Taking care of your mental health and what is best for you is a top priority. No matter how small or silly it might seem.  

LET OTHERS PUSH YOU TO BE A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF

Kollin gets all the credit for this one. I’m a creature of habit and am completely comfortable not pushing the boundaries on much. Enter Kollin Edmund Nava. God sure knew what I needed when he put him in my life lol. He is always wanting me to experience new things or push me out of my comfort zone because he knows it’ll open a new side of me. And the majority of the time, he is right. The only time I will not give him credit for? Pushing me to try uni. Still not over it.  

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TRUST YOUR HEART EVEN IF IT BREAKS THE “RULES” 

This year I was faced with a pretty tough decision. Going through with what I wanted to do was taking longer than I expected and my head kept telling me to wait for the right time. But the more I listened to my head, the unhappier I became. My dad is one of my best friends and I knew he’d be totally honest with me, but also be my dad and give me advice that could be hard to hear, but that I needed to hear. I was fully expecting his response to go one way and to my surprise, he told me to go through with the plan. I knew that if my dad, the most responsible and “do what is right” person I know, was telling me to do it then I knew I had to do it. The best part, the second I made the decision, I instantly felt better and knew it was right.

YOU SHOULD NEVER BE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM

One of the best pieces of business advice I’d ever received was to never be the smartest person in the room. Whether that be the board room, your department, or even just the people you hang out with, always surround yourself with people you can learn and grow from. Having those people will not only develop you, but push you to gain knowledge and insight into whatever it is they provide you.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD TIMES, PRAY ABOUT IT AND MANIFEST IT.

2018 was a hard year for some other people in my life too and last year and this year I did a lot of praying about it. I recently read a quote that said “If you pray for flowers, God will send you rain,” and I loved this perspective. Things take time to grow and mature. Instant gratification is rare and even through the rain we have to remember that the end result will be beautiful and work out. I also started manifesting what I wanted to happen and while this is a bit out there for me, I would basically just pray about what I wanted to be, where I wanted to be and accomplish. And the more I did that, the more I motivated myself, opened up to new things and it started happening. One of the tools I use to do this is called The Morning Pages - it’s a writing exercise that transform the way you start your day and approach creative work. A blogger I love, The Skinny Confidential, did a post about it here. It’s great!

WINE & WHINE

To round out this very long post (bless you if you are still here) I wanted to share a trick my bestie Taylor and I do from time to time. When work or life or whatever it is was getting us down we would schedule a wine and whine. It is exactly what it sounds like. We’d pour ourselves a nice champagne (for me) and pinot (for her) and jump on FaceTime (she’s in NY) and just talk. We’d start complaining about things that annoyed us or something that happened, but we’d eventually just start laughing and talking about life. It is such a great way to unwind. While it sounds like any other girl time, the point was that it was either scheduled or completely random and one person would call see the glass of wine on the phone and stop what they were doing to listen. It has really kept our friendship great and can obviously be done in person if you aren’t long distance besties!

The last time I did this kind of post was year 24 and I read it the other day thankful that I documented part of what was happening with me. So while I do use this as somewhat of a journal, I hope that some of you got something out of it or at least got a good wine idea! Thank you so much for reading and sharing this journey with me. Here’s to 26 - I think it will be the best year yet!

SHOP THE POST

Happy long weekend, y’all! We’re headed to Denver this weekend for our friend’s wedding and we couldn’t be more excited for some time away in one of our favorite cities with some of our favorite people! This weekend is a great one to get some of your favorite brands and items on sale! I’ve rounded up my favorite stores, the best sales and a bunch of different categories to choose from. From home, to shoes and jewelry, this weekend is the perfect time to stock up on summer styles & get some splurge items on sale. Happy shopping!

ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH: 50% OFF EVERYTHING

AMERICAN EAGLE: 25-60% OFF EVERYTHING

ANTHROPOLOGIE: EXTRA 40% OFF SALE ITEMS

ASOS: UP TO 40% OFF

ATHLETA: 20% OFF SWIM AND AN EXTRA 20% OFF ON SALE ITEMS

BAUBLEBAR: 20-60% OFF

DSW: UP TO 60% OFF CLEARANCE

EXPRESS: 40% OFF EVERYTHING

FABLETICS: UP TO 50% OFF ITEMS

FREE PEOPLE: 40% OFF SELECT ITEMS

FOREVER21: EXTRA 30% OFF SALE USING CODE EXTRA30

GAP: 40% OFF & AND EXTRA 10% OFF WITH CODE COOL

GOOD AMERICAN: UP TO 60% OFF & FREE SHIPPING

GOODNIGHT MACAROON: UP TO 40% OFF SITEWIDE | 40% OFF CASUAL STYLE USING CODE CUTE 40 | 50% OFF FINAL SALE USING CODE HURRY50

INTERMIX: UP TO 60% OFF

JCREW: 40% OFF FULL PRICE ITEMS & EXTRA 50% OFF SALE STYLES USING CODE WEEKEND

LOFT: 40% OFF USING CODE FINALLY

MACY’S: USE CODE MEMDAY FOR 20% OFF PLUS FREE SHIPPING ON $75+ ORDERS

MADEWELL: 20% OFF DRESSES AND SHOES USING CODE PERFECTMATCH / 20% OFF SHIRTS & SHORTS WITH CODE SUNNY20

MARC FISHER: ADDITIONAL 20% OFF SELECT ITEMS USING CODE MDW19

NET-A-PORTER: UP TO 50% OFF

NORDSTROM: HALF YEARLY SALE - UP TO 50% OFF

NORDSTROM RACK: CLEAR THE RACK SALE - EXTRA 25% OFF RED TAG CLEARANCE

REVOLVE: UP TO 65% OFF

SAM EDELMAN: UP TO 50% OFF (ALMOST EVERYTHING) USING CODE HISUMMER30

SHOPBOP: UP TO 40% OFF INCLUDING DESIGNER BOUTIQUE!

TARGET: UP TO 30% OFF HOME USING CODE HOME

TED BAKER: 40% OFF SELECT LINES

WAYFAIR: SAVE UP TO 70%

Happy Wednesday, y’all! I’m so excited to be writing the second part of the wedding planning Q&A! Y’all sent in so many great questions and also decided you wanted to hear more about our flowers and that process. So, let’s start there!

WHAT WAS THE FLORAL PROCESS LIKE & WHAT DID YOU DECIDE ON?

While I don’t want to share our exact choices, I’ve added some inspiration pictures we used when planning with our florist! The wedding’s theme is “garden party.” We initially wanted to have an outdoor wedding and truly be in a garden, but through several decisions and factors we changed our venue indoors and I’m so glad we did! Once we had decided on indoors, we had to come up with a way to bring the garden inside. See some of the pictures below!

The overall process was amazing! We met with a few florists and some of them just couldn’t capture my vision and bring it to life. Everything was beautiful, but wasn’t quite right. We then met with Wayne (I’ll be sharing vendors and everything after the wedding!) and he instantly knew what I wanted and made it even better! First, we chatted about color scheme (we’re doing mainly white flowers with greenery and touches of navy and gold), and Wayne helped identify the flowers that fit this scheme and then the shape we were looking for. I am so excited about what we picked out and how it is all going to come together!

Hot tip: some of the flowers I chose don’t do the best in warm weather and can start to wilt pretty quickly. Wayne suggested using some silk flowers of those species so they would last all day. Y’all, I couldn’t even tell they weren’t real. And this is a good way to save on the budget since silk flowers can be much cheaper than real!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST STRESS SO FAR?

I think the hardest thing so far is planning from afar. We’ve been traveling to Kentucky every so often to get details planned, meet with vendors and get everything accomplished. While the planning itself hasn’t been to bad (blessed for my mother and mother in law for helping so much in Louisville), whenever we go to Louisville it has been wedding. wedding. wedding. Our weekends there are jam packed with meetings and planning that we’ve been missing out on family time and honestly, just relaxing. We then head back to Chicago and get back into work mode so there hasn’t been much down time.

Other than that I would say just keeping track of all your vendors and details. Cannot recommend a planner and wedding binder enough. Two of my bridesmaids were kind enough to gift me those when we got engaged and they’ve been so helpful!

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO FIND YOUR DRESS?

Not too long! I first went shopping in Louisville and found a dress I liked, but wanted to shop in Chicago since the selection here is so much larger. We made a day of it and my mom and Kollin’s mom came up for a weekend. We started out at the first appointment and found a dress that we all loved, but for some reason I just didn’t feel like me. The dress was beautiful and honestly exactly what I had described that I wanted, but something felt off. We had another appointment later that day at Bella Bianca Bridal Couture so I thought maybe we’ll find something else there.

We were nearing the end of the second appointment and I had tried on some beautiful dresses, but the saying of you’ll know when you know couldn’t be more true. At this point I had probably tried on 12-15 dresses total. One of the sales associates had been listening to me describe what I was looking for and with only 10 minutes left in our appointment (they were busy!) he said, “I know the dress!” He disappeared for a few minutes and came back with the most beautiful dress.

I tried it on and went out to show my mom and Kollin’s mom. Inside I knew this was the one, but my mom had a few reservations about the top. We talked through alterations with the associates and they could do the changes we wanted and I thought, ok this is the one! Since we didn’t have much time left, I said we’d think it over and come back. The associate said, “Just one more thing! Come over here,” and led me to the front of the salon. She came back with a bouquet and veil. As soon as I turned around and looked into the mirror the tears started flowing from everyone and we knew we found it. It was such a special moment!

ARE YOU DOING A FIRST LOOK?

We are! At first, Kollin wanted to see me for the first time at the church as I walked down the aisle and the more we talked about it with our photographers and family, the more we wanted to do one. Not only is it such a special moment to capture on camera, but every bride I’ve talked to has said to find time to spend with your husband that day. We both can get pretty emotional and know we will be on that day, so we knew that we wanted that private moment.

This also helps get so many pictures out of the way ahead of the wedding so we can truly enjoy our time with family and guests.

FAVORITE PART OF THE PROCESS SO FAR?

Tough question! It’s been fun and stressful and a lot of other adjectives, but I’d say the cake tasting was one of my favorite experiences! Even though it was one of the simpler meetings we’ve been in, Kollin was so excited for it and that made me so excited. He LOVES food and the menu and cake were some of the only things he requested to be particular about. We met with the bakery and they created the cutest little tier of cakes and frosting for us to try. We sat there with our moms and just talked about flavors, laughed and completely enjoyed the moment.

I think every bride thinks about their favorite part of planning and there are the material things of the dress or shoes or flowers, but it has been the experience for us. Our entire family is SO EXCITED about this (we are both the first of our siblings to get married) and sharing those moments has been amazing.

WHAT DID YOU REGISTER FOR AND WHERE?

Kollin and I have lived together for four years now so we have accumulated a lot since moving in together. Most of our registry is for updating what we already have or finding pieces that will last us for years to come. We registered at Crate and Barrel, Williams & Sonoma, Bed Bath and Beyond and Pampered Chef. I personally loved registering and building the aesthetic and list of items we wanted! I’d say the majority of our items are kitchen, dining and bedding / bath products.

ARE YOU TAKING A HONEYMOON?

Yes! Kollin and I are so excited to be heading somewhere in Europe a few days after the wedding! I’ll share once we get there, but it is a place that we have both wanted to travel for so long!

Hot tip: if you can use a travel agent! This made our planning so much easier! We did some research on our own of what cities and towns we wanted to travel to and what sites we wanted to see and then shared that with the travel agent. She then put together an itinerary for us with all the travel and lodging details. Happy to share our agent if you’re looking, just send me an email!

WHAT DO YOU HAVE LEFT TO DO?

We are 108 days out (ahhh!) and we have pretty much everything accomplished! All of the big details regarding the venue, catering, rentals and vendors is done and we are just planning some smaller details. We’re finalizing our DJ, transportation, day of timeline and sending out invitations in the next few weeks. From there, we are meeting with our coordinator and vendors for a walk through of the venue and to tie up and loose ends. I then have my bridal fittings, bachelorette and bachelor parties, showers, and hair and makeup trials. Typing it out sounds like a lot haha, but my list of to-dos is definitely decreasing!

Thank y’all so much for sending in questions and sharing this journey with us! If you have further questions or are a bride wanting to chat, I’d be happy to help!

SHOP THE LOOK

I’m so excited to bring you another look from Ever-Pretty! This gorgeous jumpsuit arrived and I couldn’t wait for Chicago to get it's act together weather wise so I could take it for a spin. We joined our family out in the suburbs this weekend for a Mother’s Day celebration (Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers out there!) and I knew this would be the perfect outfit! I paired it with my favorite Chanel flats for comfort, but it also looks great with heels because of its wide leg shape.

With a fun polka-dot pattern, amazing fit and the cutest ruffle sleeve, this jumpsuit is a great option for any celebration, a date night look or even a wedding or to the race track! for my Kentucky girls Wear it more formal with heels and a cute clutch or style it down with a white pair of sneakers and a cross body. No matter how you style it you’ll be reaching for this jumpsuit time and time again. It is so comfortable and easy to get in and out of unlike some other jumpsuits I own. For reference, I’m wearing a size small and am about 5’6. In flats the pants do drag a bit, so I’d recommend heels for any rainy or outdoor soirees!

I can’t recommend Ever-Pretty enough! Their sweet staff was so great to work with and the quality of the clothes I received from them are amazing for the price! Be sure to head to their site to shop their dresses, great for any age or celebration like graduation, prom, wedding guests and even just a fun night out! Thanks so much for reading! xx

SHOP THE LOOK

Dress | Shoes | Jacket | Similar Bag

I am so excited to introduce y’all to a new online boutique, Ever-Pretty! Filled with gorgeous dresses, jumpsuits and the perfect looks for any occasion, I know y’all will love them as much as I do! I immediately wanted this leopard maxi when I saw it. I paired it with a jean jacket since it is still a bit cool in Chicago and a metallic sandal, but I’m really excited to wear this on our honeymoon too! After our first gorgeous day in Chicago this Spring, I was so ready to get a little dressed up in a dress, even if it was just to hang out with some friends and watch Game of Thrones ha! Anyone else watching?!

Lined to mid-calf, featuring an a-line skirt and very soft material, this dress is perfect for summer barbecues, date night or a beach vacation! The quality of the dresses I received from Ever-Pretty are great. They are really well made, use great fabrics and have such great fashionable options! I personally think leopard is a great pattern to add to any look - with a pop of color, a chic all black outfit with an accent of leopard or something fully patterned like this dress. It’s very versatile and works in any season as well!

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite looks from Ever-Pretty below, but stay tuned for a fun jumpsuit next week!

Thank you to Ever-Pretty for sponsoring this post. It is brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible. All opinions are my own.