A question we get A LOT is how to combine different styles with a partner. Honestly, it can be tricky but completely doable. I mean, it was the whole basis of Em’s HGTV show, Secrets From a Stylist, right? It’s about finding the style connections (shapes, colors, materials, etc.), incorporating both styles with pieces that have those connections, and of course, some good ole fashion compromise and understanding. That’s precisely what Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach did when designing their new family home in Southern California and were starting from scratch. Well, first I should say that this house was half designed when they bought it (go read the AD article for the scoop) but luckily they loved the cozy vibe that designer, Katie Lester, had already established. Personally, I think that was a MASSIVE blessing given that decision fatigue is very real (just ask anyone that has gone through any kind of renovation). But here’s the deal, it sounds like Glennon has much more of a love for colorful interiors than Abby. Abby even said that had it been up to her initially, she likely would have gone for way less color. Sounds tricky, right?? What do you do when one partner wants color and the other doesn’t? Well, I’m going to walk you through how Katie and Glennon (who was mostly in charge of the decisions) made this cozy home both colorful yet calm and airy so that everyone was happy.
I’m sure when you look at this photo you aren’t thinking “whoa, this is a wildly colorful room!” BUT, at the same time, it doesn’t feel like a totally white/neutral “California causal” living room either. Here’s why. First off, the room has a lot of texture and pattern which automatically makes it feel more alive. You have the brick walls, mixed with the paneling, mixed with the stone, and all of the fabric patterns. Then within those fabrics, you have that saturated indigo, hints of deep purples, reds, yellows, and other tones of blue. Also, those warm camel brown bench cushions do such an incredible job of livening up the room. Lastly, never underestimate the power of books and how they are an easy and sneaky way to bring color and personality into a room. Take the books out you have a pretty room. But with the books in? You have a personalized room.
Moving over to the dining area, the colors are classically neutral but baby do we have some texture! The chandelier, those woven chair backs and leather cushion straps, the black table to contrast and ground the space…all help to make the open concept plan feel warm but not too colorful because…
Y’all the kitchen is a beautiful bright blue. If you ask us (and DEFINITELY Emily), blue is a neutral in our book. So incorporating blue is a total no-brainer if there’s a couple that’s on different ends of the color-loving spectrum. Plus this blue, in particular, is so cheerful. Then by adding that beautiful warm-toned wood extension off the end of the island, brass pendants, and brass hardware it’s an irresistibly welcoming space. It feels both well designed but really approachable. That was their goal for the whole house and they achieve it.
Please note the mix of patterned counter stools and a solid leather cabinet bench. I think I’m into it! Also, note that they are all upholstered and have backs which is an EHD requirement for ideal comfort when sitting for a while. This kitchen was made for hanging out in:)
Now we are cookin with some “conversation piece” gas. The first things that catch your eye are those vintage chairs because A. the shape is amazing and B. they have that fun and unexpected leopard print fabric. Then for me, my eyes go right to those notched bookcases. GAH, I love them and they remind me of the CB x Lawson-Fenning bookcase that I have not been able to get out of my head. To finish it off, you see the modern and graphic pedestal table that helps make this house more “cool eclectic” than “California cool”. Oh, and see that colorful railing to your left??
Yikes, I ADORE that railing color choice. It’s subtle but so impactful! The railing equivalent to “I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom”. This may feel like a design risk but what an easy way to bring in a subtle color that will make your home feel so cozy and unique. A perfect compromise for a colorful moment that doesn’t scream “color”. Plus, again you have more books and a beautiful muted toned runner to add color in a way that feels decorative and not permanent (so less scary to the color averse if you are trying to ease them into it).
Oh, and I love a gallery wall and all of those different toned frames add a ton of dimension. Also notice that they carried the paneling throughout the house but varied the scale and orientation.
As you are about to see they really leaned into highly patterned wallpaper that’s colorful but doesn’t feel super saturated. If you can’t tell that’s how I think they balanced their differing love of color in their interiors. I don’t look at this very cute powder bath and think this is an overwhelming color. I think the wallpaper (by EHD fav Rebecca Atwood) is the perfect amount of color that’s still calming, with a pattern that’s playful but not too visually overstimulating. It’s also balanced by that beautiful warm wood vanity base, a simple white marble counter, a modern sconce, and a natural woven roman shade and floor basket.
Moving onto the primary bedroom. I really love this room. It captures the love of color and pattern but also feels like a very calming space because of the more muted tones. The choice of the tall chair rail with the pink and purple wallpaper at the top was a great way to add in a fun wallpaper but have it not take over the space. Imagine if the walls were floor-to-ceiling wallpaper…not as calming right? What I also love are those burlwood nightstand dressers! They add so much warmth and with their natural pattern, balance out the wallpaper. Are you wondering why the roman shade pattern and wallpaper pattern work right next to each other? Different pattern scales! The wallpaper is a larger scale and the roman shades are medium. That’s the secret to mixing patterns. Just mix up the scales. Lastly, the bed, bedding, and chandelier are incredible.
Their primary bathroom is definitely on the more neutral side but I think that’s ideal for this kind of space. They carried the paneling from the bedroom which nicely ties those two rooms together but then went ham on the white marble. I love the large slabs of book-matched marble on the walls and that extra-long bench! Then on the floor, you can see they chose marble tiles. This is a great way to still have marble floors but in a more cost-effective way since large slabs are pricey. I also love that the shower it totally enclosed. Both Emily and Brian are big on a fully enclosed shower as opposed to the large open-air style that’s been super popular. They like to stay warm and that other style can bring in a lot of cold air. This one is a marriage of the two! It’s large and almost looks like an open-air shower but isn’t.
This is one of their daughter’s bedrooms and that bed is so pretty! I love the contrast of delicate pieces (wallpaper, shade fabric, bed, pillows) with the more graphic ones (art, side tables, lamps, blankets). Perfect for a teenager to grow into and then a great potential guest room. The surfboard makes it even cooler.
Another dream teenage room! The color palette is similar to the rest of the home but through fabric and pattern choices feels a bit more fun and youthful. I love those pink and maroon pillows and that roman shade fabric is my favorite in that whole house. Please also note that the ceiling is painted black. I can’t get enough. Maybe this is my favorite room?
While not all of us need a podcast studio in our homes, a lot of us can relate to needing an office. This space looks like it would be a dream to work in. That built-in bookcase is incredible and I love the two-toned wood paired with those beautiful sconces and cool brass knobs. I mostly love all of the books and collectibles that really make it personal to them. However, those awesome chairs and travertine side table don’t hurt either:)
So as you can clearly see this is a home that is filled with love, family, happy but muted colors, and A LOT of great patterns that all make it the cozy, welcoming, lived-in home they were hoping for. The view also helps:)
So do you have a favorite room? Any tips on designing with a partner with a different style? Let chat xx
HI, HEY, HELLO. Happy Memorial Day, gang! Below, you’ll find a roundup of today’s best sales in a (hopefully?) new-and-improved, easy-to-navigate format. I’m usually a pretty big yammerer (“yeah, we know,” said the daily readers), but in an attempt to keep this sleek and streamlined, let’s just JUMP ON IN. Without further ado, I hereby present to you the best deals of summer 2022…
The Sale: 15% off orders over $175, 20% off orders over $250, 25% off orders over $350 through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: This flowy midi dress with sweet sleeves, a lightweight linen dress that’s perfect for summer events, and these on-trend high waisted trousers. Note: You can see a few of these in action in our affordable dress review!
The Sale: 20% off site-wide, plus free shipping on all orders through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: THE SHORTS. (And if you have a bigger butt, the Curve Love fit will change your life.) There are a ton of great affordable dress options, too – A&F has gotten SO GOOD (who saw that coming?) and it’s a great spot if you’re also at a loss of where to shop right now. (Like, why does everything either look like it’s from 2000 or like I’m about to embark on the Oregon Trail? Did brands forget there was a middle ground between crop tops and like, a shapeless gingham sack???)
The Sale: Up to 40% off select sofas, accent chairs, outdoor furniture, and more through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: You’ll find the best savings on rugs (in person, this one looks like it should cost WAY more), table lamps (this one is so chic!!!), and accent chairs.
The Sale: 20% off in-stock items through Monday, 5/30 with code MEMORIAL22. Best Deals: The rug we literally can not stop using, these cordless roller shades that won’t break the bank (I know how hard they are to find!), and this modern, textured, easy-to-clean indoor/outdoor rug with a perfect rating. Note: No joke – we literally JUST used that rug again in another room makeover. It’s that great.
The Sale: Extra 40% off all sale items through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: In order – the home selection is incredible, the accessories are VERY fun (albeit a little winter-heavy, inventory wise), and I recommend sorting the clothing by picking your sizes in the sidebar – it’s a little hit/miss, but still worth exploring.
The Sale: 15% off site-wide, 20% off orders over $2,999, and 25% off orders over $3,999 through Tuesday, 5/31. Best Deals: This streamlined (and cute!) queen-sized sleeper sofa, a comfortable velvet sectional that can ship in 3-5 days, and one of my all-time favorite upholstered beds. Note: The lead times here are pretty unbeatable, so keep this spot in mind if you’re ever in a pinch!
The Sale: Up to 15% off select chairs, lighting, sofas, and more through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: This Mouille-style plug-in sconce, Sara’s go-to sofa (case in point: her apartment, her mom’s house, her mom’s house second update, and her own house), and a great rattan daybed for those trying to recreate Birdie’s nursery look on a budget.
The Sale: 15% off site-wide through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: THE BEST ROBE. I’m telling y’all – people think I’m nuts until they try it on and then they’re like, “oh, I do feel like I stole this from a fancy hotel.” Also, the weighted comforter that transformed my sleep (way less nightmares, and I can change the duvet cover! So much better than a weighted blanket!) and Em’s all-time favorite windowpane-printed sheets. Note: We each reviewed/rounded up our Brooklinen favorites right here! (You know, in case you’re looking for more opinions. I get it.)
The Sale: Up to 25% off select coffee tables, credenzas, consoles, and WAY more through Tuesday, 5/31. Best Deals: This is truly the best-curated selection of furniture and decor on the entire internet with unbeatable sales. (Seriously. That’s my #notsponsored and #neverbeengifted opinion, too!) My current favorites: this super modern leather sofa, this ivory sofa that looks like a hug, literally all the coffee tables, this simple-meets-industrial media console…I mean, the inventory is just STACKED with great stuff, guys.
The Sale: Up to 30% off outdoor furniture and accessories, up to 20% off in-stock furniture, and up to 60% off sale items through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: This quick-ship pencil reed desk (spoiler: pencil reed is the next big thing – I’m working on a post about it now!), a chic and modern bed frame with all sizes available for $500, and this AWESOME and sculptural leather-loomed lounge chair. (Also, my brassbistro table is on sale! Still holding up great after a year outdoors.)
The Sale: Up to 20% off outdoor furniture and decor and up to 60% off sale items through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: This half-priced statement coffee table, a 2022 version of the safari chair for under $1,000, and be sure to check the decor section for great small styling pieces and affordable curtains, too.
The Sale: 25% off over 400 summer-ready styles through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: These breezy pull-on linen shorts, a super flattering sleeveless top you can grab in 16 (!!!) different colors, and this simple scoop-neck tee (great if you’re trying to show off your collarbones!).
The Sale: 20% off site-wide through Monday, 5/30 with code MDW22. Best Deals: The classic sauna blanket (of course), the newly-introduced blanket insert (so you don’t need to sweat through your pajamas anymore – you can enjoy your sauna au natural!), and the red light face mask.
Note: Emily wrote a review of her sauna blanket after using it for a year, and you can read about her experiences right here.
The Sale: 20% off everything custom, plus 15% off decor through Tuesday, 5/31. Best Deals: You’ll save the most on sectionals, but I’m currently obsessed with the new Lowen collection of channel-tufted sofas, chairs, and more.
The Sale: 30% off (almost) everything, plus an extra 60% off all sale styles through Monday, 5/30 with code SUMMER. Best Deals: The dresses! The skirts! The SWIMWEAR! Note: Broken record here, but J. Crew Factory’s inventory is also SO GOOD and SO CHEAP.
The Sale: 20% off site-wide through Monday, May 30. Best Deals: Guys, my order for this bed has officially been placed – anyone wanna match with me? Alternatively, you couuuuld grab Jess’ comfy sofa (designed by an EHD alum!) or one of these gorgeous rugs. Note: You may have already shopped this sale (gotta love when a brand kicks off their promotions early!) but if you haven’t, I rounded up a few of the best picks right here!
The Sale: 25% off site-wide plus an extra 30% off sale through Monday, 5/30 with code LONGWEEKEND. Best Deals: I recently tried on this dress in-store and was shocked that it looked SUPER cute (usually my boobs don’t play well with tent-style dresses). Also, these are the BEST alternatives to skinny jeans and this dress is SO flattering in person (if you’re between sizes, size down!).
The Sale: 15% off sitewide (excluding fine art) through Tuesday, 5/31 with code MEMORIALDAY22. Best Deals: Pro tip: this much art can be overwhelming, so the best way to search is by scrolling to “art” and then hitting “shop by style” – it gets WAY easier once you can narrow down the types of pieces you like, I promise!
Note: My whole hallway is Minted, and I STILL FREAKIN’ LOVE IT. Steal my entire professionally-designed gallery wall (because obviously, I had their art stylist help me out) if you want – dimensions are in the post!
The Sale: Up to 60% off TONS of styles through Sunday, 6/5. (It’s the Half-Yearly Sale!) Best Deals: Biggest savings are on shoes (I un-ironically love these Tevas, guys), bags (the shape of this one feels so fresh!), and swimwear (like this VERY cute striped swimsuit coverup).
The Sale: 20% off site-wide (including furniture!) through Monday, May 30. Best Deals: The nightstands are like, Architectural Digest-worthy. Also, check out the dog beds (cute!!) and the BEST extra-long bolster pillow insert (it’s the perfect finishing touch for those who don’t love a lot of clutter when they’re making the bed!)
The Sale: Up to 70% off select furniture, outdoor, bedding, and more through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: These indoor/outdoor lanterns (the shape feels a little special, right?), this minimalist upholstered bed frame with sleek little legs, and this textured rug that looks like the comfiest knit sweater.
The Sale: Up to 70% off select lighting, hardware, furniture, and more plus site-wide free shipping through Monday, 5/30 with code FREESHIP. Best Deals: The hardware is a given, but also be sure to peek at the pendant lighting, the dining furniture, and the planters – there are SO many great deals. Note: If you ever want to see Em’s Rejuvenation favorites in one place, you can check out her official partnership landing page right here!
The Sale: 20% off site-wide through Tuesday, 5/31 with code WAVES. Best Deals: Dining chairs, baby! Stay tuned for a post from Em next month – she’s eyeing some chairs from Serena & Lily for the sunroom. (Any guesses on which ones she loves?) The dressers/chests and coffee tables are worth checking out, too.
The Sale: Up to 50% off select items through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: Over 7,000 pieces are on sale! Head right here and sort by size to prevent Say Yes to the Dress syndrome (you know, like, when you fall in love with something only to realize that you can’t have it – there are TONS of cute pieces, but available sizes are ALL over the place).
The Sale: 20% off orders over $1,000 through Tuesday, 5/31 with code NATURALWONDER20. Best Deals: You can’t go wrong with the Amelia, the Neva, or the Gabriel.
The Sale: Up to 40% off patio furniture and decor, up to 30% off furniture, and up to 30% off clothing for the family through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: Check out the kitchen items – you can get an extra 10% off with code MEMORIAL10. You should also peek at the rugs and the entryway furniture/organization section – there’s a lot of deeply discounted stuff in both!
The Sale: Up to $500 off mattresses and up to 15% off bedding through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: The newly-redesigned Mint mattress, of course! (Internally, our team is split about 3:1 for the Mint vs. the Hybrid, just FYI. Both are great options!)
The Sale: Up to 50% off site-wide, plus an extra 40% off sale items through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: The home section is a veritable treasure trove of great graduation/birthday/going away gifts for Gen Z’ers. I’m also loving this cartoony dining chair (for indoors OR outdoors, honestly), Sara’ living room side table, and these awesome checkerboard taper candles.
The Sale: Up to 70% off select rugs, outdoor furniture, seating, and more through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: A sweet and simple cocktail ottoman, his glam sofa that’s nearly $2,000 off (!!!), and this jute-braided ottoman that’s perfect for adding a hit of texture to your home.
The Sale: Up to 70% off select outdoor, bedding, furniture, and more through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: A sweet and on-trend fluted end table, this organic and streamlined sectional, and this sleek and warm entryway console.
The Sale: 15% off in-store pickup orders through Monday, 5/30. Best Deals: The outdoor selection here is AWESOME. Also, check out this cabinet with a geometric brass-inlay and this upholstered swivel chair with great proportions.
As always, if you’re a small business owner, feel free to leave sale details in the comments below! Have a great day – see you back here tomorrow with your regularly scheduled design content. xx
Collectively, we all know what kind of week it’s been. It was another completely devasting one here in the US. We hope that you held your babies and your loved ones close and even in a small way, helped in the fight for sensible gun control laws. Again, Everytown is an organization we strongly stand behind if you are searching for resources. We also know how important breaks from the sadness are. We know we’ve needed them. So here we are with some links to maybe make your day a little brighter.
With this week’s home tour we are going to stay on the subject of weddings (did you read about Sara’s BEAUTIFUL wedding post yesterday?!). This week, Jess was in charge of the link up and while she was searching for a great house tour, she stumbled upon this wonderful Palm Springs boutique hotel that was originally built in the early 1900s. You should go read the article on Yellowtrace to find out how much history its got. Anyway, as Jess was scrolling through she realized that this is where her cousin is getting married this year! Needless to say, she’s PUMPED and even more excited about this wedding. Casa Cody’s incredible restoration is really something to see.
From Emily: There are few, if not just one, newsletters that I pay for and look forward to each week. Haley Nahman’s Maybe Baby is it. She has her finger on the cultural pulse in a way that I wish I did and often writes about the exact issue I’m thinking about, stringing together my thoughts but in a more clever and yet digestible way. Having removed myself from an urban life, I find that her recommendations on articles and media keep me feeling fed and balanced and dare I say “in the know”. I had coffee with her in New York a couple of weeks ago (hey, social media can be a great connector sometimes) and can report that she is as fresh, smart, and normal in person as she is in her newsletter. I’ve been following her writing since the early-ish ManRepeller days. So if you are looking for what I think is a balanced perspective on the world, written in an inviting yet subversive tone, subscribe to her newsletter (and if you like it consider supporting by paying the $5). Also as I write this I’d like to NOT recommend press on long nails that you use super glue to attach. Brian had to help me button my pants (poor choice to go with a button fly at the book signing) and it’s taken me 10 minutes to write this paragraph due to extensive finger mistakes. They can’t fall off fast enough!
From Jess: I know I’m a little late to the game but if you haven’t watched Jerrod Carmichael’s new special on HBOMax, Rothaniel, please watch it immediately. I knew he had a special out after seeing him host SNL, but it wasn’t until I listened to him on Armchair Expert that I finally sat down to watch. I can’t remember the last time I was so moved. It’s my favorite thing I’ve seen in a while. It’s so vulnerable, so intimate, so funny, so heartbreaking yet really hopeful.
Also From Jess: For the sake of staying on theme, we’ve talked about wedding ceremonies (Ryann’s future and Sara’s recent) and guest dress options but I need shoe help! I’m 99% sure this is the dress (in red) I’m buying for a wedding in Massachusetts I’m going to in July but want to find the perfect shoe. Simple and effortlessly cool is the look I want:) I LOVE these but they are sold out in the color I want currently (they have them in stock in blue if you need blue heels). These are in line with what the dress model is wearing so maybe? These are cute and like nothing I’ve worn before but I’m worried the heel is too skinny for the grass. OR I could go bold and were these silver beauties. Note I want an ankle strap for easier walking and dancing:) What do y’all think? Also open to suggestions.
From Jess: One of my favorite jewelry brands did a beautiful collaboration with Claude Home! There are 3 beautiful organic vessels that are perfect for your everyday pieces (or pieces you like to display:))
From Ryann: This week I’ve been trying to consume a healthy dose of uplifting/light media and entertainment for obvious reasons. My main go-to when I am feeling down/hopeless/depressed is the podcast Seek Treatment with comedians Pat Regan and Catherine Cohen. Listening to them is like hanging out with your hilarious friends gab about what’s going on in their lives. It really cheers me up anytime I need it and this week I’ve definitely needed it about 100 x over.
From Mallory: So while Em is clearly NOT a fan (they definitely require patience and getting used to), Ryann once told me that she used press on nails and loved them (Ryann, Caitlin, and Jess are all team long nails, here’s proof). So when I came across these on sale I knew I had to give them a shot and I was SO pleasantly surprised! I wore them to date night the other night and they were so easy to put on and looked pretty legit. Not sure how long they will last since you literally just stick them on (I’ve been wearing them for one whole day and so far so good, also I cut mine down a bit so they’re not super long) but I think they’re awesome if you have an event or special occasion and don’t want to spend the time or money getting your nails done…I have a few more events coming up that I’m planning on getting them for!! 10/10!
Remember when we featured Hopie Stockman’shome tour (co-founder of EHD favorite, Block Shop) from Cup of Jo? You may also remember some pretty beautiful wallpaper on some of her walls, right? Well, that one and more are now available to buy! Their designs are so special so even if your home is already covered in wallpaper you should at least go look.
From Caitlin: This week I’ll be attending a baby shower in the midst of a 90-degree heatwave (#blessed) so I was on the hunt for a lightweight, breezy, pretty family-friendly dress and I FOUND ANOTHER ONE! I wasn’t expecting much from the photo, but this midi dress IS SO GOOD IN PERSON. It hit all my criteria: short sleeves that hide my bigger tattoos, super comfortable, under $120, bra-friendly, doesn’t show too much boob (again, the photos were misleading -the cut is nowhere near that low on my F cups!), pockets, cinched waist, and it’s just fun to wear in general. RESOUNDING RECOMMENDATION.
Also from Caitlin: I’ve recommended it on the blog before, but earlier this year I plowed through a book called Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry That Radicalized America. I hate to recommend it again under such different circumstances, but if this author can end his 30-year career as a firearms executive (like, he was the “Shooting Industry Person of The Year” at one point) after realizing things had gone too far…well, maybe there’s still hope that Americans can come to terms with supporting more common-sense legislation, you know?
Today I’m here with a post of a very personal nature. I’m not really one to share a lot about my personal life. Sure, I’ll give you the intimate details on my cabinets or type for hours about every agonizing design decision I’ve ever made. But sharing details about the parts of my life that are non-design related? Harder (for me). And yet, so many wonderful people worked so hard to make this one beautiful day a reality. So, here it is. A blog post about my wedding.
Macauley and I met in 2008, as freshmen at Otis College of Art & Design, within two days of starting school. Second semester we ended up in the same elective class. Fast forward nine years, two cats, one chargrilled apartment, and a house renovation later, and we were on a road trip up the Oregon coast. It was August 2020, and we were looking for a safe way to do something after quarantining the past few months. We figured a road trip and some camping sounded safe enough. And after driving 14 hours the day before, and a sunset hike up a mountain, at the top of Cape Perpetua, Macauley proposed.
pre-engagement selfie | video chatting with my mom post-engagement | macauley got my engagement ring at an antique store in new orleans
It was private and wonderful, and only made better by the fact that we spent so much time at the top of the look out (the only place with service) calling our friends and family, that we both killed our phone batteries and had to walk back down the service road in absolute forest darkness.
Planning a wedding at the best of times sounds stressful. But planning a wedding during a pandemic was exhausting. And what no one tells you is that after the excitement of getting engaged, planning a wedding is homework. Very expensive homework. And as we assessed costs and safety issues, it began to feel overwhelming and near impossible. And then Macauley’s mom, who lives out in Yucca Valley (a little town right next to Joshua Tree National Park), offered her backyard as a venue. It would need some landscaping, and we’d have to bring everything in ourselves, but it was beautiful, and it was free.
our first “site” visit
So began the planning in earnest of our backyard wedding, which would take place Saturday, October 2nd, 2021.
For our invitations we turned to our good friend Brooke Granowski, who owns and runs her own printing and book binding studio in Los Angeles called Sorella Studios. We went with gold foil letterpress on a terracotta paper, to really set the desert tone for our wedding. She even designed us our own wedding logo, which we used everywhere.
Insert here exactly what you’d imagine a year of planning a largely DIY backyard wedding during a pandemic would look like, and you’ve probably got a pretty accurate idea. So, instead let’s jump to…
The day before our wedding some family and very, very good friends (including our entire wedding party) drove out to the desert and spent the whole day setting up all the decor in the backyard. We strung up hundreds of string lights (battery-powered, solar-powered, and plugin – most of which my mom had bought on sale the weekend after Christmas from Target and Home Depot), framed photos, filled lumenarias, and set up furniture. It was a long day, but our family and friends were amazing and their energy never dipped.
The vibe was immaculate all day.
only real kisses during the rehearsal
Because our dance floor and all our rental furniture were delivered the day before, we had decided to just have our rehearsal dinner there in the backyard. So after some very laidback walk-thrus, we ordered pizza from a local place, invited anyone who had gotten into town early to come hang out, and started testing out the dance floor. It was one of the most fun parts of the whole weekend, and EHDs very own Veronica was there to capture it.
Did we then go back to our Airbnb at a reasonable hour, and get a full night of sleep before the big day? No. Instead we did what any reasonable wedding party would do and went to Sonic’s for shakes, then stayed up until 1am.
my morning view
We rented an Airbnb out in Flamingo Heights for us and some of our friends to stay at through the weekend. It was a large spread-out compound, with a main house where Macauley and I stayed, two airstream trailers, and a yurt (fully insulated with power!) for our guests. Waking up on my wedding day to a beautiful, brisk desert morning was sensational. I got up early and sat outside to write my vows, with 360 views of the desert landscape around me. It was a much-needed moment of calm before a very loud, crazy, and fun storm.
We invited everyone in the wedding party to come get ready together at the compound, and once the crew arrived it was non-stop from then on.
Getting ready with Macauley, all of our friends, was one of the best parts of the day. It was just filled with so much joy and chaos – people shouting, laughing, passing around a bottle of Remy 1738, singing… It’s rare to have so many of your favorite people all in one place together, all there to support you. I was hit with a constantly overwhelming feeling of gratitude and love all morning.
Toward the end of the morning my mom came to help me get ready, and that was such a special time. I was so appreciative of every moment with her.
Right before our “first look” I got nervous. Everything was suddenly becoming very real, and it hit me that almost 10 years together, and a year and half of planning and work, were about to culminate in an event that would (hopefully) only happen once in our lives. And it was going to be over in a matter of hours. I suddenly felt like every moment was slipping by too quickly, and some anxiety started to creep in.
waiting for macauley | on his way
All of that changed the minute Macauley stood in front of me and we both opened our eyes. Literally every anxiety that had been racing through my head melted away, and I was immediately back in the moment. We had sent everyone except the photographer and my mom ahead of us to the wedding site, and having this quiet time to take photos alone together was the grounding moment I needed. Instead of feeling nervous or awkward I felt beautiful and had so much fun.
Our photographer, Anais Possami, was incredible. I had been worried about finding a photographer that would fit with us, but from the second she showed up – quietly getting started without much direction – I felt completely at ease around her. She was relaxed, and most of the time we didn’t even notice where she was. But she captured each and every moment perfectly. We also had an awesome videographer, Robert Schultze, who captured every minute of our days, and edited together a 20 minute documentary of our wedding.
Because of the pandemic, I wasn’t able to try on wedding dresses in-store. So I ordered a bunch and tried them on in my parent’s living room. And trying on dresses that are too long, too wrinkled, and too heavy, in a living room doesn’t really give you the environment conducive to “envisioning” yourself on your wedding day.
But, I fell in love with my dress the instant I put it on. It fit perfectly, and it truly felt like a cliche “aha” moment. The best part? It was the most affordable dress I ordered, coming in at only $150 from Lulus.com.
I wanted to go for a 70s look, somewhere between bohemian and Vegas. And the bell sleeves of the dress mixed with the high leg slit checked both boxes. I had the dress tailored a bit because I’m very short, but also had the seamstress add a bustle and satin buttons down the entire back. My grandma always said she imagined me wearing a dress with buttons down the back, because she thought it was the most elegant a dress could get. My shoes were “new with tags” Loeffler Randall from Poshmark, and my veil was $20 on Amazon.
My hair and make-up was done by Colette Becar from Emily Lynn & Co – and she was a magician. To say I was terrified of getting my hair and makeup done would be an understatement. To me, foundation feels heavy, lipstick always seems to make my whole mouth area look wrong, and eyeshadow makes my eyes small. But I trusted Colette, and I’ve never felt as beautiful as I did on that day. I told her natural, but better, and she delivered. And I had my beautiful lashes done by Tiina Troberg of Lash Bar By Dermacilia. I can’t recommend either of these ladies enough.
Where I saved on my wedding dress, Macauley splurged on his suit, opting for a custom velvet suit jacket and cropped slacks made by Chookhare & Sons. Which made sense, because he’s already worn his suit to another wedding, whereas I can’t really ware my wedding dress to…someone else’s wedding. And instead of wearing a traditional pressed shirt, Macauley and all of his groomsmen wore patterned silk shirts for a more casual and personal look.
After the “first look” we headed to the venue (Macauley’s mom’s house)…
The day before we had lined the pathway into the backyard from the street with lumenarias (brown paper bags filled with sand holding a candle – we opted for battery-operated tea lights), so guests would be able to see the path once it got dark. And at the entrance, we set up a table with childhood photos of both Macauley and I, as well as photos of loved ones who were no longer with us.
We had really wanted our wedding to feel warm and inviting, and avoid anything that could make it feel like it was happening at a hotel or resort. So we rented vintage furniture from Found Rentals. The final outcome was exactly what we wanted, and every piece of furniture added a little bit of soul.
We lined the aisle on the way up to the alter with vintage rugs we brought from home. And at the end stood a gold archway I bought used from a friend of a friend, who had used it for their wedding. But what really made this whole area special were the flowers, which were a wedding gift from Emily Henderson herself – someone who truly understands the power of good floral.
Not only were the flowers a gift, but all of the early morning flower market shopping, hauling out to the desert, and arranging of them were also done by some incredible EHD alumns – Emily Bowser, Erik Staalberg, and Velinda Hellen. So you could say my wedding florals were an EHD collaboration. Hot Tip: Make friends with stylists and then have them do your wedding flowers because they will look heartbreakingly beautiful. I handed over full trust to Bowser (and her team – of my very good friends, haha), and it was a huge relief to know that no matter what happened come wedding day, the flowers at least would be beautiful.
My mom made me and my dad have our own first look, which felt hilarious, but I’m so happy she did because the photos from it are some of my favorite from the day. We were pretty casual about people seeing us before the ceremony, and really just enjoyed the little bit of time we had before walking down the aisle. We had week of coordination by Jenny, from Orange Blossom Special Events, and both she and her assistant were so lovely and helped the day run very smoothly.
getting pep talks before walking down the aisle
We were played down the aisle by cellist Hitoshi Suzuki. Hiring him was one of the best decisions we made for that day. Not only did he already have a beautiful selection of both classical and contemporary songs to choose from, but we had two specific songs we really wanted to have played while we walked down the aisle – AND HE LEARNED THEM.
He played a selection of music during the pre-ceremony for our guests and played our procession in and out of the ceremony. The song we walked into was called Casadha an tSugain. He also learned “Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens. 12 out of 10, would hire again.
Instead of creating, printing, and handing out wedding programs, we just updated our wedding website to include a digital version of our wedding program. It also included a seating chart, a menu, and a link to view the live stream of our wedding. There were so many people we weren’t able to invite due to the safety concerns, as well as the size of the venue. But live-streaming the wedding at least allowed more people to be with us on our day.
Our ceremony was my absolute favorite part of the whole day.
We asked our good friend, Tones, to officiate, and he was amazing. He really blew everyone away with his thoughtful words. Our ceremony was short, personal, and beautiful.
I went first with our vows because I didn’t think I’d be able to get through them if I went second. I think in total our ceremony lasted about 15 minutes, and they were the best 15 minutes of my life.
Right after the ceremony, our photographer snuck us away for a few minutes alone and a few more photos.
Next, we grabbed our wedding party for a few quick photos, while our guests headed to enjoy a cocktail hour.
The bar was open, there were quesadillas, albondigas, and taquitos being passed around, and our photo booth was ready for use.
It was finally time for the party to start.
The reception was set up to happen just to the left of the ceremony site. We circled the tables around the dance floor, and relocated the same chairs that everyone had sat in for the ceremony (with the help of a few friends and family).
Each table was decorated with a gauze runner in a cream or rust tone, votive candles that my mom had been collecting all year, a framed QR code which guests could use to access the wedding program and dinner menu, handwritten name cards, and flowers.
6 months before the wedding I got the crazy idea in my head that I wanted vintage glassware. But it was turning out to be pretty expensive to rent. So, I decided to just…collect it myself. I scoured Etsy, thrift stores, the Rose Bowl flea, I even shipped some back from an antique store in New Orleans (where I had my bachelorette party). I ended up collecting some 180 coupes and water glasses in a rainbow of colors and styles, which we also used at my bridal shower!
My dad kicked the reception off with a speech that blew everyone (including me, his own daughter who has known him my entire life) away with his thoughtful, kind, and endearingly-awkward-in-a-classic-way-that-only-a-dad-can-be words.
Dinner was up next, and we had decided to serve our one of favorites – tacos. Both having grown up in Southern California, the taco stand or truck is a mainstay of life here. Quick lunch on the way out? Tacos. Coming home from a party or bar at 2 am? Tacos. Hungover the next morning? More tacos. No one makes tacos like Los Angeles.
Taqueria Vista Hermosa has been owned and operated by Raul in Los Angeles for years, and his family has been making al pastor for generations. You can taste that history in every bit of his food. Also, Raul is the best. We went for a tasting at his stall in Mercado La Paloma over by USC (which you can visit too!), and he personally came out to greet us, go over our vision, and customize a menu of tray-passed appetizers, tacos, drinks, and desserts.
All the tortillas were made fresh on site, all the guacamoles and salsa were house-made, and his team brought house-made mixes for specialty margaritas (like tamarind). He also provided freshly made horchata and jamaica. His staff was wonderful, the food was delicious, and the setup was beautiful.
We let the guests go through the taco line table by table, and got to spend some time saying hello to everyone. And then, while everyone finished eating, our friends Nafeesa, Nicole, and Pablo dragged all of our dirty laundry out in front of our guests with their speeches.
My brother Shade, and his two best friends (who have become our two good friends), did a live set of songs they had picked and made everyone cry.
Which was followed by a surprise duet of “I Follow You Into The Dark” by Shade and his girlfriend Natalie, which really sent us over the edge.
And then Macauley and I had our first dance to “Kissing You” from Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet”. I thought it was going to be super awkward dancing alone in front of a crowd of people, but as soon as the song started playing it was truly like we were the only people there. ROMANCE.
I had a dance with my dad, Macauley had a dance with his mom…
And then the dance floor officially opened for everyone (but mostly for Erik).
Hilariously, Erik is now a kind of legend to my entire family in Guatemala, because he danced so much with my great aunt who was visiting. She calls him “the beautiful man in blue”.
for the reception i changed into this all sequined dress i pulled from emily’s garage!
DJ Chuck Supreme, a local of Pasadena, kept the dance floor full all night and played something for everyone.
My favorite part of the reception was the vintage, black and white, real film strip photo booth, which we rented from Photomatica. We got so many good photos of our guests from it, and it made for fun party favors for the guests. The booth attendants were phenomenal, and the photo strips were unlimited.
We ended the night with a cake cutting of a cake that almost didn’t make it to the wedding.
Why? Because we all forgot to pick it up. About 20 minutes before the ceremony started someone was like “…where’s the cake?” It was 2:55, the bakery closed at 3. But between a phone call to the bakery and a hero guest who ran off to pick it up, we still had a cake for cutting.
By midnight it was time to wind things down. At the venue at least. Most of our friends headed back to our airbnb to keep the partying going. I promptly fell asleep on the sunporch couch.
Was I exhausted by the end of this night? Yes. But also overflowing with joy, gratitude, and SO MUCH FREAKING LOVE. Somehow, amidst a pandemic, our friends, family, and some amazing vendors came together to give us a wedding that was totally US. And now, almost 8 months into being married, I wouldn’t do a single thing differently.
