I must have rewritten this post about 15 times and erased every last one of them....... Words like "Grateful, Blessed, Overwhelmed, Excited, and Nervous are all understatements of how I really feel. I had no idea 2 years ago how people would react to this little business venture of renting my favorite finds, but the response has been more then what I could have ever imagined. Starting out storing furniture in my shed, my house and storage units was not my ideal vision, but everybody has to start somewhere right? My ideal vision/goal for myself was to someday have one big store full of my hand picked favorites and pretty French furniture (I just had set those goals for 5-10 years from now), and before I knew it everything was happening faster then I could blink.
I had been looking for the perfect space for 2 years, and I wasn't budging on my checklist of requirements until I found "the one." The space was everything I was looking for, industrial ceilings, dark hardwood floors, lots of space, and on York Rd. Believe me when I tell you I had nothing to lose but a little bit of time to see if I could actually pull this off. I reminded myself of one thing each day.....I have some special people looking out for me from above that will not let me fail if I try with every ounce of effort inside of me. I know what they mean now when they say "blood, sweat and tears".......there was plenty of each to go around! Not long ago someone told me (in nice words) I would never be anything, and then some.......it's amazing the amount of motivation and drive something like that will give someone.
My family, friends, and vendors have all been so helpful and it means a lot to have so much support. The response I've received in just being open for a month is the best feeling in the world to know that I'm doing what I love every single day and that everyone else loves it too.
Moving Day; Not that much fun when your unloading a trailer in the pouring rain....... and did I mention I moved into my house that same week too???
The Big Night; So much preparation went into this and so many wonderful sponsors were involved. It literally felt like I planned my own wedding within 2 months. I'm not sorry to say I'm glad it's over with.
Flavor Cupcakery sponsored the event with gorgeous mini cupcakes and macaroons. I laugh when people tell me they stalk my FB page....I stalk Flavor! My family knows every holiday/get together is an excuse for me to go there. Two weeks ago on my birthday, my boyfriend surprised me with a 9 layer Black Bottom cake, it weighed nothing less then 12 lbs literally! Best cake I've had and enough to last me for a year.....or 2 weeks.
The display was beautiful with different tiers displayed on vintage perfume trays, cake stands and Florentine nesting tables.....elleDesigns has everyone still telling me how much they loved her presentation.
Flavor even managed to make my favorite Black Bottom cupcakes look vintage!!!! Amazing! ...........and now they make beautiful Wedding cakes too!
Dudley's Desserts provided a delicious variety of dairy-free and vegan desserts......doughnuts, cake pops, and cookies! They were a huge hit!
Anchor B. is a fresh new talented vendor providing beautiful hand lettering and chalk board art. You could spot her work throughout the party, and I still will not erase any of it, because Bride's need to know about her!
Nope, no coincidence that my boyfriends name is Matt, and unless the invisible rock on my hand is so big that it's blinding me, we did not get married on 12-12-12. I sure did manage to get a lot of questions about this all night long though......as if I would be the type of person to plan a big "Surprise I'm getting married party!"
The Haute Hanger even sent me some of those popular hangers everyone wants! I love them, but sometimes I wonder with all the orders she pushes out how she still has fingers!!? She was even sweet enough to make me a few that say "Rusty Love"........that one I had to put on display in the window of course!
Carla David Designs is responsible for all the great little details added to a lot of the decor in the showroom that could be seen throughout the party. From banners and invitations to photo booth props, she always adds a perfect finishing touch. This image was my favorite, so simple and pretty, and on my fav chairs!
Some of my "good junk"..........
........and some of the retail, aka where I want to live when I grow up........
Over 200 people showed up!!!!! I was so overwhelmed with trying to talk to every single person and take it all in at the same time that I'm sure I managed to make myself look like a complete crazy person. The turnout was a perfect mix of family, friends, bride's, vendors, and curiosity seekers....what a night!Lots of friends showed up to see where I've been hiding for the last few months!
Below; Janelle from Baltimore Bride Magazine, Carla David of Carla David Designs, and Jennifer of Love Life Images.
In the middle, Anne from Anne Herbert Photography and her husband Matt, (the one who does all my amazing inventory pics), and Jess chatting it up!
My great friends, I love them, they have supported me through everything!
My amazing boyfriend Matt, he is awesome at moving furniture...... and the best brother in law ever, he makes me sooooo much cool stuff!!!!!
Elle and I.......aka elleDesigns
My sisters, myself and my nephew Justino......always have to have one of these shots!
Hope you enjoyed looking at all the pics! Thank you to everyone that came out that night, it meant so much to me to have such a large response and the sweet words made everything so worth it!
Thank you to all the vendors that participated and a huge thank you to Alana from Vanity's Edge Design for all the great images. I will forever treasure these as keepsakes of my beginning! XOXO,
Angela
Sponsors: Vanity's Edge Design, Anne Herbert Photography, My Flower Box, elleDesigns, The Haute Hanger, Party Plus, Flavor Cupcakery, Dudley's Desserts, Carla David Designs, Drape Kings, Garnish Boutique, Jewels at Ruxton, Anchor B.
