FRIDAY Q&A: STAYING MOTIVATED WHEN STARTING A BLOG, SARAH SEVEN WEDDING DRESSES, THE BEST THING MY SISTER DID AS MY MAID OF HONOR, AND MORE

Happy Friday! I’m so excited to be HOME this weekend. I plan to sleep in as late as possible and knock off a few projects on our house to do list. (I hate when things pile up after going out of town for a few days!) We were graced with amazing weather in Connecticut early in the week so I spent lots of time outside with Rory and the fresh air and sunshine did wonders for my spirits. I cannot wait until spring is here for good! I also went into the city on Wednesday for girl time with Ashley and Carly and dinner with the Vineyard Vines team and it was so nice to catch up with all of them. We went to Loring Place for dinner and everything was to die for — definitely worth a visit if you’re in NYC!

design darling friday q&a

1. How did you stay motivated during the beginning stages of starting your blog?

I started blogging in 2009 because I was obsessed with reading blogs and craving a creative outlet outside of my French courses in college and I stuck with it because I loved it! I loved (and still love!) finding new products and places to share and connecting with other people who love some of the same things I do. It didn’t matter to me that it was just my family reading for the first year or that I didn’t make a single penny for at least as long. When you’re excited about what you’re doing, over time other people will pick up on that excitement and it’s that genuine enthusiasm and sense of community that’s kept me going for almost ten years now!

2. What do you wear on a daily basis? I also work from home and would love to know!

I wish I could say I get dolled up on a daily basis but that’s just not the case! If I don’t have a lunch or meeting, there’s a 99% chance I’m in a sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers. On days I have plans outside the house, I’m usually in a button-down shirt or cable-knit sweater and jeans. 

3. How many guests did you have at your wedding?

130! Most wedding venues on Nantucket are pretty intimate and I was adamant about not meeting anyone for the first time on our wedding day. 130 wound up being the perfect number for us!

4. What’s your favorite activity for date night?

We honestly go on more double dates than date nights just the two of us (probably something we should work on!) but I like getting out of the house, ordering a glass of wine, and getting to catch up over dinner without any distractions. Pretty standard but something we should definitely make time for more often! 

5. What does a maid of honor do? What did your maid of honor do to make you feel special?

My sister Reilly was my maid of honor and she did an amazing job! She planned my bachelorette party, made a list of everything I received at my bridal shower, and just stuck by my side throughout our wedding weekend. My favorite thing she did as my maid of honor was ask all my bridesmaids and girlfriends on my bachelorette weekend to write a letter about our friendship — everyone wrote the funniest, loveliest, most heartfelt notes and Reilly put them in a box to give to me at the end of the weekend. I will treasure those letters (and Reilly’s thoughtfulness) forever!

6. I have a question for you about your experience with the fit of a Sarah Seven gown. I am interested in trying the Kir gown for my upcoming wedding. I have been on an epic search for a gown and I have yet to find the right one. Before I start setting my heart on one of her gowns I wanted to know if you had an opinion on the fit of the bust. I am a small cup size (A) and I wonder if the gown allows for padding or adjustments based on the open back and crepe fabric. Any insight is appreciated and I will of course ask these questions at my appointment as well. I just wondered about your experience with fit.

I had my heart set on a Sarah Seven dress from the moment I discovered her line (years before getting engaged!) and I was asking a lot of the same questions before trying on and falling in love with the Sullivan gown that I wore on our wedding day. I’m not familiar with the Kir gown but my dress was relatively unstructured compared to other dresses I tried on (no boning or stiff fabric to keep everything in place) and I had unpadded cups sewn into the front of the dress by an alterations specialist. Ideally you’ll be able to have alterations done at the same place you purchase the gown as they’ll have answered all these questions before!

7. We just booked a trip to Anguilla and I have a bachelorette to attend in Miami. Any fave resort pieces?

That will be so fun! I have my eye on this bag, this dressthis dress, this one-piece, and this sweater. And I always take this time of year to stock up on a couple fresh pairs of white jeans (these and these are my all-time faves). 

8. Hostess gifts when meeting the parents! We have to fly and aren’t visiting during the holidays.

I would bring a coffee table book! The first time I visited Will’s parents in Dallas, I brought them a copy of the Humans of New York book as a little memento from where Will and I were living at the time.

9. In your opinion, east coast vs. west coast pros and cons?

I only lived in San Francisco for one summer after college so I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer! For me, the biggest pros of the east coast are proximity to my family, proximity to Nantucket, and getting to experience all four seasons (although February isn’t exactly my favorite time of year here!). I love New England architecture and New England beaches just because that’s what I grew up around, but I’m sure if I’d grown up on the west coast I’d have different preferences! I think my favorite thing about the west coast would be having more healthy food options and getting to spend more time outside thanks to the more mild weather.

welcome party napkins

10. Where did you order your cocktail napkins with your wedding hashtag? So cute!

I ordered the napkins for our welcome party from For Your Party!

P.S. Browse more Friday Q&A posts here!