Sunday, November 22, 2020

11.21.18 - A Glimpse Inside Our Wedding Day


November 21st, 2018

I can hardly believe that two years have passed since our wedding day! I meant to post this yesterday, but was enjoying the day offline celebrating and spending time with Adam.  

I've never shared many photos or details about our big day, so I thought now would be a great time to do so. After our wedding, I did an interview with my wedding dress designer, David Peck, that he featured on his blog. Our wedding was also featured in a spread in Modern Luxury, and the two interviews covered everything from my dress, to the menu, event planning and all about the venue. I figured sharing the Q & A's with you would be a great way to tell you the story of our big day. 

Everything was truly perfect, and thinking about it puts the biggest smile on my face. My only regret is that I can't relive this day over and over again!

Enjoy! 







Where did you get married?

We got married at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco in their Penthouse Suite. 

What did you like about your venue?

The Penthouse Suite is known for its expansive 6,000 square foot space, stunning terrace overlooking downtown San Francisco, and most importantly, its notable guest. Some of the guests have included President Obama, President Truman, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Prince Charles, and King Hussein to name a few. John F. Kennedy also frequented the suite, and it is rumored that the trap door located on the second floor of the two story library was where he would whisk Marilyn Monroe in and out of while he was there. The location helped set the scene for what I wanted for our wedding - glamorous, picturesque, over-the-top, and very timeless - in a modern sense of the word! 

Adam and I met in San Francisco (where we both lived at the time), before we moved to Houston five (now seven) years ago. For this reason, it was important to us to return to the City by the Bay for our wedding. No only had we meet at the Fairmont, but the hotel also holds many personal, lifelong memories for both of us.

Bride’s Gown 

My dress was custom-made by a local atelier/designer, David Peck. From the moment we started sketching out ideas for my gown, I knew it was going to be a one-of-a-kind beauty that I would cherish forever. I also knew that I didn't want my wedding dress to be the traditional white, but instead blush pale pink. Having always been my favorite color, it was not only fitting of my personality, but also our relationship. 

 The cap sleeves on the dress were originally part of my mother's wedding dress, and had to be dip-dyed the perfect shade of blush over 10 times. Creating movement, a statement piece, and something that could be worn again and again, was an important part of my wedding dress "design story." Creating something that is made to measure that truly no one else on earth has, was only the beginning of our unique wedding. The feathers and beading added an effortless whimsical touch.



What did you like about your wedding planner?

I planned everything myself, with the help of the Caterings Sale/Event Manager at the Fairmont. Any of the decor used - napkins, tablecloths, candles, place settings, etc. I ordered and designed. I also orchestrated and planned the wedding in its entirety in less than two months. That being said, the gown had been being made for nearly a year, we just didn't have a date picked yet!!

Although they weren’t my wedding planner per se, I loved working with the Fairmont. They were incredibly responsive, and met all my expectations and exceeded them. Being an out of town bride (although I was familiar with the venue), I had lots of major and minor requests, and questions. They made me feel confident and at ease, and did everything they could to make our day extra special. 

 Describe your vision/inspiration for your wedding day. Did you have a specific theme? 

I wanted something that was old-Hollywood glam. Very classy, timeless, but also with flair. I wanted to make sure we added to our space in the Penthouse Suite, and compliment it in the best way possible. I knew pink had to play a big part, and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful setting and day. 











 What was your favorite part of your wedding day? 

I loved that our day was truly about us – from start to finish. After the ceremony, we had a little break before dinner/’the reception’ and we went into the billiard room, and I kicked off my wedding shoes and traded them for slippers. I watched shoot Adam and I attempted and failed multiple times, but we laughed - it was really fun and special. We got to truly enjoy and take in that special moment after saying “I do” in an incredibly unique way. 

What was your color scheme? 

Pale pinks, cream and gold. 

Were there any new trends that you incorporated, or did you decide to go more traditional? 

I think we kept it very traditional. When I describe our wedding to others, I say that it was a full blown wedding, just without the people! From start to finish, it was important to us to not overlook any details. For example, documenting us getting ready, cards to one another we read before the wedding, first look, music, first dance, cake cutting – we didn’t miss a beat. What made it “trendy” if you will, was that we did all this just for the two of us. I have heard countless brides and friends tell me that their biggest regret of their wedding was not getting to spend more time with their husband – I can’t imagine having had it any other way. 




How would you describe your personal style and fashion (wedding dress/tux)? 

Being a self-proclaimed fashionista and fashion lover, having my personal style shine through on my big day was undoubtedly a priority for me. For this reason, that is why I chose to costume make my dress and be involved every step of the way. Clothing not only is a form of self-expression, but it also tells a story. I wanted my wedding dress to be something that was outside the box and extra special, but also something that I could wear again in the future. While the silhouette was traditional, all the details, including the color were more fun and edgy. Glam, classy with a touch of trendy is how I’d describe my everyday style, which I think shone through in my dress, as well. Adam’s tuxedo was timeless, and I loved getting to add a little silliness to it by giving him a pair of fun socks to wear down the aisle (be sure to check them out in the pictures)! 





What kind of flowers did you pick for your centerpieces and bouquet?

I loved being able to work with Ornamento – not only are their creations stunning, but they are incredibly unique. When I was planning the wedding, I told them the color scheme I was working with and said I wanted arrangements to be bold, beautiful, over the top, and one-of-a-kind. Since we were in the Penthouse Suite, I really wanted the flowers to be as glamourous (if not more so), as our venue. Surprisingly enough, the flowers were the one thing I didn’t have a hand in – yes, I told them my color scheme and showed them inspiration pieces and that I wanted to have peonies, but besides that, I let Ornamento take full creative control. 

What kind of food did you serve?

We had a delicious five course dinner. Since it was just the two of us, we were able to pick some of our very favorite foods, which was really fun. Our first course was caprese salad, followed by French onion soup, gnocchi, filet mignon and then wedding cake for dessert. 

What flavor(s) did you pick for your cake? 

We had a beautiful two-tier cake with his/her’s flavors. The bottom tier was “his” – and was chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and buttercream frosting, and “her” tier was lemon cake with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting. 




What was the most memorable moment of your reception? 

We had a pianist perform during our dinner/”reception,” and in between courses, we loved going to talk to the pianist and requesting some of our favorite songs. 

Where did you go for your honeymoon?

We went to India and Nepal for three weeks. In Nepal, we had the opportunity in Kathmandu to base camp at Mt. Everest which is over 17,000 feet.

I loved creating the most memorable day of our lives, and being involved in the entire process every step of the way. The day uniquely ours – from my pink wedding dress, to our 6,000 square foot venue for two, it was a traditional wedding in the most untraditional sense, which is just like us. If you have any specific questions, let me know!


Bride’s Shoes Jimmy Choo

Groom's Shoes | Ferragamo

Rings | Custom made by Kaira

Music & Entertainment | Entire Productions

Flowers | Ornamento

Cake | Kelly Zubal of Inticing Creations

Food and Drink | The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco 

Photographer | Jean-Baptiste Jacqout of JBJ Pictures

Videographer | Brittany Jacquot of JBJ Pictures 

Officiant | Tom Wolfe

Custom Made Isle Runner |  The Original Runner Co

Stationary | Minted 

Beauty | Adelina Eidelman 

His Fashion |Custom Made Tux by J.Hilburn; Shirt from Hamilton Shirts; Custom cufflinks by Kaira

Friday, November 6, 2020

Gender Reveal - It's a .....

 

Since we found out I was pregnant, we knew right away that we wanted to find out the gender of the baby. I love it when I see people wait until the baby is born to find out the sex, but I'm just not one of those people. Even though we've known, we've kept it a secret and only told our family and very close friends. 

Like our pregnancy, we really wanted to soak everything in before sharing the good news. So, without further ado....little baby is a.....

BOY!!! 

We are so thrilled to be having a baby boy. I'm so excited, and definitely a bit nervous for all that comes with being a 'boy mom.' Since I only grew up with a sister, this will be unchartered territory for me. From everything I hear though, mama's boys are the sweetest. 

We snapped these pictures a few weeks ago when we took our announcement photos. We already knew what we were having at the time, but I thought it would be fun and memorable to do a 'reveal.' I love any excuse for balloons or props, and had so much fun with these blue confetti cannons. 

The amusement rides made for the perfect backdrop too. It certainly made us feel nostalgic and like kids again (go figure). I can’t wait to put them up in baby boy's nursery. Speaking of nursery, we're working swiftly on putting his special space together. I really can't wait to share more with you! :)







Sunday, November 1, 2020

Pregnancy Q & A



How far along are you? 

I will be 28 weeks on Tuesday, which means I'll officially be in my third trimester! 

When is your due date?

January 26th. Baby may arrive right before my birthday, which is January 28th.

Do you what you're having?

Yes eeek! We will be sharing soon.

Do you have a name picked out?

Not yet. Choosing a name is hard. We do have a list of about a dozen names that we love, but we probably won't decide until their arrival. 

How many kids do you want?

Maybe two. I'm just looking forward to one, and we'll do whatever feels right and makes us happy down the road. 



How much weight have you put on?

I debated answering this question, but thought it was important to be transparent for a few reasons. Prior to getting pregnant or even trying to for that matter, I would read pregnancy Q & A's, as well as birth stories online. One of the reasons I did was so that I could mentally prepare myself (ha), but also so I could compare and contrast other's experiences to make my own educated decision. Majority of the time I would see bloggers opt not to discuss how much weight they gained, which I completely support and understand. That being said, I feel like prior to getting pregnant, I would have liked to know/see this discussed more - mainly just for a point of reference/out of curiosity. I preface my answer by saying that everybody and every body is completely different. As of last week at my 27th week visit, I'd gained 14 pounds, 11 ounces. 

 Were you trying or was it a surprise? If you had been trying, how long did it take?

This pregnancy was definitely planned. We'd been trying for about 8 months. 

How has it been being pregnant with Covid? 

Like life for everyone else right now, it hasn't been ideal. It is tough not being able to see anyone and not having family near us right now. To be honest, it's also been a challenge to wonder if I'll get a baby shower, and if Adam will be able to go to XYZ with me. He has been able to go to the 'big appointments,' which has been really nice and I am thankful for that. I continue to try to put everything in perspective. We're healthy and so is our family, and we have a roof over our head and food on the table. We've been given this special gift, and we're getting extra time together that we wouldn't have had otherwise. Adam used to travel weekly for work, so it's been nice to have him by my side every step of the way. Personally for us, Covid/quarantine has strengthened our relationship, which I feel like has prepared us even more for the journey to come. 



What pregnancy symptoms did you/have you had?

Honestly I basically had zero symptoms. I know I am one of the rare women who faired well in the first trimester, and even the second for that matter, and I don't take it for granted. I had no nausea, etc., unless you count mood swings, but I always have those. HA! The only symptom I've really dealt with is tiredness. The exhaustion is real. Some days when I'd wake up all I'd literally want to do is go back to sleep. I lose a lot of 'speed' after 3pm and typically 'schedule' a 20 min to an hour nap in the late afternoon. 

Have you had any cravings/aversions? Have you changed your diet?

I've been craving sweets. Lots of them. I am a big salt over sweet person, but literally MUST have dessert every night now. Besides that, I've been eating a ton of oranges and peanut butter (not together, but I wouldn't be opposed)! As far as aversions, there aren't any I can think of besides the typical food that I avoid all the time. 

My diet has remained pretty much the same. I try to eat a healthy balanced diet, and although I've added in some cake and candy here and there, I really am trying to be as mindful as possible not to get carried away. I've read that the baby's taste buds are formed based off things you eat, and I consciously want those to be {mainly} good things. 

Favorite and least favorite thing(s) about being pregnant?

I feel like my least favorite and favorite thing are kind of intertwined. It has been incredible to see how my body is changing during this special time and is adapting to 'creating' a human. On the flip side, its also been hard to see my body change and look different than what I'm used to. 

Another thing I have loved is feeling the baby kick. It really puts things in perspective and is a really fun thing to experience with Adam. 

How has your arthritis affected your pregnancy?

My arthritic condition primarily affects my hips and lower back, so I'm not sure what the third trimester will hold, but up until now my symptoms have basically stayed the same. I haven't experienced any flare-ups, which has been a godsend. I also have been able to continue on my medication, which I know has helped. I've also stayed as active as possible, even on days I didn't want to. 



What's your current fitness routine?

I've stuck with the workouts I did prior to becoming pregnant. I've been walking, doing barre classes at home (highly recommend), as well as biking and Peloton. I've been working out anywhere from 4-6 days a week, sometimes twice a day if I'm up for it (usually combining barre class and a walk). I'm trying to stay as active as possible during this time because I've heard it not only aids you during labor, but also postpartum. I also know from having arthritis that even if I don't want to move and am hurting, I always feel better if I do a little something, even if its 10-20 minutes. 

Why did you keep your pregnancy a secret so long?

I talked a little bit about this in my pregnancy announcement post, but for those of you that didn't catch it, here's the answer. This is about us. Neither of us felt the need to scream it from the rooftops and share with everyone immediately. We really wanted to savor and soak in this sacred and special moment in our lives. It isn't everyday that you have a baby, nor is it everyday that you're officially starting a new incredible, albeit scary, chapter in your life. Keeping it to ourselves not only felt like 'our little secret' but has been intimate moment in time that has brought us closer together. Also, Adam, and the baby for that matter, didn't "sign up" to share their lives online, and it is important for me to be mindful of that, as well. I am a big proponent of "to each their own" and feel like everyone's decision and opinion should be respected.

How do you not look pregnant in any of your photos/how did you hide the bump?

I can't say I was trying to hide the bump, but I also wasn't showcasing it either. It's fairly easy to not show your belly/bump in photos if you don't want to - it's all about the angles. Facing the camera, consciously holding your purse/coffee/etc. in front of your stomach, as well as sitting down, or taking photos with your back turned can easily help you 'not show' as much. 

Personally I felt as though I really didn't start to show until week 22-23. Prior to that, I feel like if I saw someone that they'd figure I may have just put on a few pounds during Covid.....or ate a burrito for lunch;) My stomach really hadn't popped, so I wasn't trying to hide it as much as it wasn't really there.

Have you purchased any maternity clothes?

With Covid going on, I really haven't had a ton of places to go or needed maternity wear. My wardrobe nowadays consists of workout clothes and comfy t-shirt dresses (I miss my high heels and cocktail dresses). For now, I have stayed the same size in those items, or have sized up if necessary. I basically have been wearing stretchy pieces to accommodate growth/weight gain, so it goes without saying that most, if not all, my form fitting clothes don't fit. Last week when the temps dropped I did order my first item of  'maternity wear' - a pair of maternity jeans. 

Will this change the blog?

I mean hasn't it already?! Here we are talking about babies! Joking aside, I would expect to see some changes around here. Motherhood is now going to be a big part of my life, and I hope you stick around and join me on this new journey. I will still be doing fashion, lifestyle and hopefully travel again (if that ever returns), but like all of us, the blog will be changing and evolving. In my opinion for the better;) 

 

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