This is Forty

We celebrated my fortieth birthday with a small and intimate dinner party for twenty-two of our closest friends. It was a night that combined all of my favorite things: we wore bow ties, ate burgers, sipped champagne, cut into six of the best cakes ever baked, enjoyed intentional conversations and laughed the night away. Did I mention that Jamie surprised me with a gospel choir that serenaded me… for what felt like an extended period of time? Even my kids got to be part of the night and were there at the beginning to help me blow my candles out! I wanted this party to be more than just about my birthday… I wanted it to be a night to celebrate meaningful friendships and a way to say thank you to the people who have had the biggest impact on my life over the last decade. I wrote letters to each guest and had the opportunity to go around the table and tell each person what they meant to me and the significance they have played in my life. It was a beautiful evening that I will never forget.

If I learned anything over the last ten years, it is that ANYTHING is possible. My thirties were a decade of significant changes and growth for me. I met Jamie, fell in love and asked her to be my wife. We got married and Jamie joined my business. We renamed Steven Moore Designs to Sinclair & Moore and made it our business. We relocated to Seattle, made a baby, bought a house and then made two more babies. I went from planning and designing small local weddings to creating weddings all over the world, working with clients and companies that I use to only dream of working with. I’ve had good years. I’ve had bad years. I’ve taken risks, made mistakes, grown from challenges and continued to dream for big things. I’ve had to learn all kinds of new roles…including how to be a good husband, father and boss to the employees in our company. My faith has increased and I’ve seen mountains move before me. I’ve met some of the greatest humans I’ve ever known and cultivated intentional friendships I know I’ll walk the rest of my life with.

I started my thirties alone, and I closed out the decade with a full house, a full life and a full heart. ANYTHING is possible… ANYTHING can come to fruition.

As we start a new year and a new decade, my heart is full and my mind is racing. My heart is full of gratitude for what has already come to pass and the blessings that surround me every day. Simultaneously, my mind is racing with the possibilities that lie ahead and await me in the years to come. I feel consumed with answering the probing question in my mind… “what if….?” There are exciting changes on the horizon, including some that will require a huge leap of faith. While nervous and anxious at times, I’ve learned not to live in fear of the future. Instead I eagerly await the peeks and valleys that lie ahead, being stretched into something new, the lessons that will be learned and the relationships I get to walk through these next years with.

I think my forties and the twenty-twenties might be the best decade yet and I am truly believing that the best is yet to come. Lets do this!

To see behind the scenes video of putting this event together, and hear the gospel choir singing you can view my archived instagram stories here!

So grateful to all of my friends and vendors who contributed to making this such a special celebration:

photography: Kristen,  Kristen Marie Photography

venue: Canlis  (Thank you for indulging my request to go outside of your norm and creating the perfect craft burger for us to enjoy!)

hotel: Fairmont Olympic  (thank you Andrew for spoiling our family and taking such good care of us)

cake collection: Chef Jamie, Deru Market 

monogrammed cake: Morgan, Midori Bakery

flowers: Gracie and Ryan, Grace Rose Farms 

stationery: Ashley, Floraison Design Co

calligraphy: Chantelle, Bespoke Strokes

attire: Nordstrom – and a shout out to Donita, an amazing personal stylist at the Flagship in Downtown Seattle. I can not say enough good things about Donita and her attention to detail and the level of care in everything she does!

 

Wellsley’s First Christmas

Christmas came and went in a blink of an eye! This year felt extra special with it being Wellsley’s first Christmas! We decked the halls, baked cookies, decorated gingerbread houses and did all the things that have become rich traditions in our home for the holidays.

From our family to yours, Merry (be-lated) Christmas, and Happy New Year! We hope your days have been filled with the magic of the season.

photographer: Kristen Honeycutt Photo

When London Turned One

This week London turns two! We are going to celebrate with a tiny little party at our house with our family and a few close friends. Last year we celebrated big with a Laduree themed party for her first birthday. We love going big for first birthdays; some of you might remember back to Grey’s cardboard castle party!

I’ve hesitated in sharing these photos before now because of a few hurtful comments that were sent to us on Instagram about her party. A year later, I simply just don’t care what people say or think. So I’m sharing this celebration as it was a special day for our family and brought us so much joy- both in creating the details and the time we spent with those that mean the most to us.

We hand painted the little Laduree stand and filled it with desserts that were also hand made from felt. Our friend Andrew at the Olympic Fairmont Hotel opened up a small gathering space for us to use. Another friend, Brittany, created the invitation, napkins and that balloon arch. And yet another friend, Morgan, baked and decorated all of the incredible cakes, macarons and small sweet bites! All of it was beautifully captured by another dear friend, Kristen. I know some people will think we are crazy and this party was too over the top. Thats fine… everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But this party was a labor of love, created by friends, to be enjoyed by friends and it still brings me so much joy. I have no regrets, wouldn’t change a thing and would do it all over again!

These images are in no way insinuating that every parent should throw parties like this for their kids. Remember… this is what we do for a living. I’ve spent my entire adult life planning celebrations for other people, so of course I want to put effort and energy into the celebrations for my own children. And… most importantly… it brings us joy to be able to do it.

So with that disclaimer, I hope you enjoy this peek into London’s party! 

13/40