I snapped this photo during the final walkthrough of our wedding venue just a few weeks before Jason and I tied the knot. I'm so thrilled that I had the opportunity to work on my wedding with this talented group — a.k.a. my dream team! For the record, when I say "dream team" I mean that literally and figuratively — each of these people not only does phenomenal work that I love and respect, each was also just an absolute dream to work with! As Jason and I pieced together our vision for the Big Day, they lent their expertise and guidance, assembled the ingredients and then made it happen with grace, style and conviviality!

Now that you know the players and you've seen some pictures from the resulting wedding in the current issue of The Knot (still swooning about that!!!), I'm taking things wayyyyyyyyyyy back to the very beginning. In the coming months, I'm going to blog about all of the oooh's and ahhhh's of the planning and design process for our wedding — from engagement to "I do" and everything in between! Andiamo!

Pictured above, left to right: Megan Grey - Honey & Poppies, Amber Cowell - The Love Riot, Jesi Haack - Jesi Haack Design, Daniel November - Heirloom LA, Nicole - Classic Party Rentals, Talmadge Lowe - Pharmacie, AnnaMarie Kostura - Villa at Sunstone Winery. Not pictured but still very much a part of the Dream Team: Annie McElwain - Annie McElwain Photography, Max Cutrone & Molly Jenson - Max & Molly Films, Erica Buekelman & Katie Mueller - 10.11 Makeup, Keith Brunsmann & Jonathan Wolper - The Lighter Side

A few weeks ago my instagram feed was flooded with photos from a fabulous party announcing the grand opening of Oh, Hello Friend‘s brick & mortar store in Fullerton. On more than one occasion I was one of the gaggle gathered around their booth at craft fairs cooing over the well-curated vintage-style wares that were always displayed with originality and effortless flair. I knew their store would have the same flair and well-curated product with the only difference being I won’t have to wait until the next craft fair to pay them a visit!

Flash forward to the monthly Potluck Dinner/Craft Night that I do with a few friends who I met when I worked at Paper Source. When it was suggested to swap the craft portion of our March meet-up for a field trip to Oh, Hello Friend’s store — to say I was excited is an understatement!! Here are some photos from our field trip:

Gorgeous, big channel letters are lit up and welcome you into the store. Something about the style of this sign says “Bob Fosse” to me… anyone with me?

The store is set up in such a way that you feel this sense of discovery as you peek at every nook and cranny full of vintage finds. Needless to say, this feast for the eyes took quite awhile for our field trip crew to devour!

Not only is the merchandise impeccably curated, but the displays are effortless and sweet. I love how simple everyday things — clipboards, loafpans, berry baskets, muffin tins, etc. — are repurposed to display product.

The mini cupcake stands (left image, 2nd row, 2nd from left) kept taunting me! I picked them up and put it down about 20 times. I may have to go back and get them! These adorable handmade dolls by Imaginary Friend (right image) were displayed on a daybed surrounded by pillows and handmade tassel garland.

1. Heart-shaped sparklers — I’m thinking this might be part of a fun photo op at some point this (wedding!) year!

2. Mesh wire baskets popped up in several places around the store. With a few sizes to choose from, it was difficult to decide! I ended up with this one measuring approximately 9″ x 5-1/2″ x 3″.

3. A dala horse is a traditional carved, painted wooden horse that originates from Sweden. It reminds me of Solvang, a small town near where I’m getting married later this year. This dala horse is a magnet, perhaps we will get a real one when we are up there for our wedding weekend.

Here is our field trip crew posing with the incredibly sweet shop owner, Danni! From left to right: Ji of Blooms in the Air, Robert of Mahar Craft, Danni of Oh, Hello Friend, Me, and Rebecca of RebeccaBraverman.com.

Whether you hail from the O.C. or you make a field trip out of it like we did, here are the stats:
Oh, Hello Friend
122 North Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton, California