happy holidays!

Happy holidays to all of you, with some moments captured from our Ugly Sweater Party to get you in the spirit!  BTW, please don't mind our bitty little tree--part of just moving in!  Haha.  :-)

a new adventure!

Kyle and I just embarked on a big step in our adult lives--we bought our first house!  The sellers are a super sweet couple who chose us over another offer because they liked that we are also a young couple starting out--how amazing is that?!  They even left us a bottle of wine with their best wishes to help us celebrate our new home.  :-)

a vintage picnic engagement

Long Ago Love was so excited to style this engagement shoot on a warm afternoon somewhere between summer and fall.  The feel for this shoot was natural and rustic, with some fun vintage touches.  The idea was to create the real essence of spending the afternoon in the park with the love of your life--not just posing while dressed your best, but capturing the things you love to do together.

We incorporated a cruiser bike, an old family quilt, a kite, and a few family heirlooms to create this full-of-fun, carefree afternoon filled with lots of love.  :-)

Photos by:  Cassidy Brooke Photography

--chalk love--

Okay, I have a chalkboard obsession.  It is an art form that is so basic, yet I love how it can have a beautiful and rustic sophistication.  There are a million ways to incorporate chalkboards into home decor and events--holiday sayings, signs, announcements to guests, a playful prop for a photobooth... you get the idea.  

Chalk tips:  

I have started to play with writing in chalk (you can see my first attempt in the picture above!) and I've discovered the most important part is starting at the middle of the word and working outward.  It helped me a ton with keeping my letters straight and my words centered.  Chalk is very forgiving--if you mess something up, you can simply erase and try again.  :-)

Word to the wise: chalk markers can make your writing and art really pop, but it is MUCH more difficult to erase and can even ruin the chalkboard.  I prefer using traditional chalk (chalk markers just don't have the same effect) and then taping parchment paper (the kind you can buy on a roll to wrap food in) over the board so the chalk doesn't smudge before you're ready to display it.  This also allows you to make your boards pretty in advance, so you're not scrambling on the day of a special occasion.  :-)

i love....

Over the past year, I decided to take a risk and follow a dream I have been harboring for a long time.  Taking a long look at myself, I  finally figured out what makes me truly happy (besides the love of my life, Kyle, of course!)--I love celebrations.  Weddings, birthdays, showers, holiday parties....you get the idea.  When people gather together to share love and support and excitement--these are the best moments to me.  I love making these gatherings a reality. 

For reasons I can't explain, I derive joy from the spreadsheets, the budgeting, the research, the discussions with vendors, and those last frantic moments of pulling all of the details together.  I love finding ways to incorporate unique elements into each event using the vintage, the rustic, and the handmade.  More than anything, I love working with clients--translating their ideas and excitement into something beautiful, just for them.  I love watching their faces light up when I have succeeded in capturing their vision.

So for a little while now, I've been piecing together my dream--setting goals, choosing a name, building a website, gaining experience, filling out my portfolio, and scouring forgotten places for the treasures that will form the foundation of my business.  The name of my dream is Long Ago Love Vintage Rentals & Event Planning. 

This blog is meant to serve as a creative space where you and I can share ideas and dreams.  I want to to capture both the start of this fledgling business and the challenges and victories of life in general, because you can't have one without the other.  I look forward to your comments and insight as we go.

For Long Ago Love, there is still so much work to be done, because I want to provide my clients with a fantastic inventory of vintage pieces (it's a never-ending treasure hunt!) and I want them to be able to see evidence of my experience, dedication, and love for putting it all together.  My dream is becoming a reality--I think that's cause for celebration, don't you?  :-)