Welcome to The Monthly Edit, a new series where I share some of the recommendations that I’d share with friends and family. You can consider yourself part of my group chat.
1. Out and About
Places I’ve been and experiences worth sharing.
Upstate Weekend: We went to one of our favorite hotels, Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter, New York for a fall getaway. We usually go in the winter when we go skiing at Hunter or Windham and it was fun to go back for fall activities. One of the highlights of the trip was going to Hunter Mountain’s Colors of the Catskills event and riding the chairlift to admire all the fall foliage. If you’re in the area, we highly recommend eating at Prospect at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, Fellow Mountain Cafe, Babblers, and Phoenicia Pizza 28. Phoenicia Pizza 28 has one of the best gluten-free pizzas I’ve ever had. It was so fluffy that I had to double-check that it was gluten free.
2. Consumed
A few things I’ve been reading, watching, or listening to.
Nobody Wants This: I just finished Nobody Wants This. Spoiler alert: As a people-pleaser planning a small wedding, it absolutely resonated with me. I really enjoyed this season, especially the ending. It was definitely a tear-jerker.
War: I just started watching War on HBO Max. The show is about a tech billionaire and famous movie star going through a messy divorce and protesting a prenup. It’s not exactly the most appropriate thing to watch during my “Engagement Era,” but I love legal dramas and this is no exception.
3. Loved
Three things that made my month better.
Recipes: It is officially soup season! I’ve slowly been going through all of the Cookie and Kate soup recipes on her blog and her cookbook, “Love Real Food.” The Chickpea Noodle Soup, Tortilla Soup, and Lentil Minestrone are on repeat.
Beauty: I have sensitive skin and a lot of cosmetic allergies. I recently switch to the CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Shampoo and Gentle Hydrating Conditioner and my hair feels shinier and healthier, which is much appreciated before my wedding!
Fashion: I bought the Quince 100% Cotton Rollneck Sweater in light blue and liked it so much that I bought it in a second color. I like them more than my J. Crew Rollneck Sweaters. They are heavy enough for chilly days, soft, wash well, and more affordable. I find myself reaching for them more than any of my other cotton sweaters.
4. Asked and Answered
Answering questions with actionable advice.
How did you choose your wedding vendors?
Once we decided to get married in New York City, we chose the first venue we toured: The Lotos Club, where my parents got married 40 years ago. We loved the family connection and the fact that it’s one of the oldest literary and arts clubs in America.
We started by contacting some of The Lotos Club’s recommended vendors and asking friends and family for recommendations. We also discovered vendors through the Zola Wedding Vendor Database, Google searches, and even Instagram. We also wanted to introduce wedding guests to some of our favorite things: Our wedding cake and favors are from two of our favorite neighborhood bakeries, By The Way and Levain.
If you’re newly engaged (congrats!), I recommend starting by asking your venue if it has a required vendor list, which can take some of the guesswork out of choosing your team. If not, it may have a preferred vendor list of professionals it has worked with and recommends. From there, we emailed and scheduled calls with potential vendors to learn more about their work and approach before making our decisions. I also put together a list of questions to ask wedding vendors to help you find the right team for your big day.
I’m so excited to see it all come together!
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