So happy to spend this little time off before Christmas blogging the rest of my 2015 events! I had such a wild, quick, busy, but FUN {first} year doing wedding florals/planning/styling and at times I felt on top of the world! And others, so low that I didn't think I would ever get back up. It's all part of learning, failing, growing. With that being said, Kaylie + Cory's wedding was one I was so proud to be a small part of. It is mirrored in my 2016 goals because of it's authenticity, intimacy, simplicity, and gorgeousness. The bride and groom, and all their guests and loved ones were there for exactly the right reason… to witness Cory marry Kaylie in front of God.
Kaylie chose the FABULOUS Jennifer Blair Photography to capture her wedding day and I don't know how that little blondie is able to capture every special moment so flawlessly, but she does! Can't wait to work with her again! Thank you to the lovely Sarah Bretz for assisting with this wedding!

Victoria Austin Designs Wedding | Jennifer Blair Photography | Kaylie + Cory

I love reliving this special day through these perfect photos! Kaylie was a stunning bride, and their day just radiates joy! She has become such a good friend of mine and I can't wait to see where their marriage journey takes them. She's also a kickass photographer herself and I can't wait for more fun weddings together. All the best wishes to this sweet couple!
This wedding can also be seen in Style Me Pretty.

How is it already March? I am so excited to have just finished my first event of the season, and two more to go this month! April + May are completely booked and then Summer brings a few more boat days + husband time. I hope to recap my time at SEE Sessions on the blog this week and give y'all a little "behind the scenes" look at some recent projects!

After much consideration, I am looking forward to reworking my services + team so 2016 dates are reserved only for full-service clients! This means, VAD will be your designer, through-and-through. You can add florals and/or stationery to this package or I can point you to someone fit for the job! I am only taking on one client per month at the most and a few creative projects that I curate, style and execute. After only two years of business, I've learned so much about myself. I invest SO much time, energy, money and emotion into each of my clients and projects. I am an open book, totally transparent and wouldn't change that for the world. However, that leaves plenty of room to go above and beyond without getting the credit or appreciation one deserves. I know others with similar personality traits, in any industry, who go through the same thing. Here's to saying "no" more!

So thankful for Ashely Upchurch Photography for capturing some shots of me working on a recent collaboration for Cottage Hill Magazine.

Victoria Austin Designs Ashley Upchurch Photography Wedding Styling Fairhope AL

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” -Ira Glass

Victoria Austin Designs Wedding Stationer Stylist Florist South Alabama, Gulfcoast

Victoria Austin Designs Wedding Stationer, Florist, Stylist South Alabama Fairhope Gulf Coast

That amazing quote was shared at SEE Sessions last month in Nashville and really spoke to me. I am sure other vendors can relate to getting "stuck", especially while trying too hard to create, make a living and stay busy. It's a tricky slope but we've got to stick with it!

xo,