spring bridal shower

Take a peek at the beautiful bridal shower details put together by my very own sweet and talented Maid of Honor, Michelle Bradley!  She captured the essence of spring with hand-painted vases full of blooms, pastel treats, and a fun way to re-purpose a gold bar cart.  Enjoy!

seeing red....

What are you doing for Valentine's Day?  A fancy dinner with your someone special or a slasher movie with your besties?  However you are spending the day, know that I love you guys!

Banner made by my incredibly crafty mother-in-law Kay.  :-)

long ago love feature

Today Long Ago Love has the honor of being featured on (fabulous) photographer Cassidy Brooke's blog.  Head this way to check it out!

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.  :-)