When Emily told me we were considering an editorial shoot for our tenth-anniversary issue in Mobile, Alabama, I knew I simply HAD to be there! You see, I grew up in Mobile, and it will always hold such a special place in my heart. And when I found out we would be staying at Fort Condé Inn, I was even more excited.
Fort Condé Inn is located in a secluded enclave of brick-paved streets in the heart of downtown Mobile (just a couple blocks from the church I grew up attending!) and could not have been a more perfect way to introduce my fellow SW gals to the history and beauty of my hometown. Mobile’s second-oldest home, Fort Condé Inn was built in 1836 and then meticulously restored in 2011 to a boutique hotel. It now serves as the centerpiece of Fort Conde Village which includes two courtyards, a veranda, and adorable cottages — including the Blakely, where we had the pleasure of staying.
Y’all, the Blakely cottage was everything I had hoped for when imagining our trip! It was spacious, including three beautifully decorated bedrooms with large wood armoires, high ceilings, and perfectly restored original character. I was in Southern heaven! Especially when I walked past the sweetest smell from my childhood, the honeysuckle bushes that flanked the walk from our cottage to the front of the Inn. And let me tell you, with all the back-and-forth we do on shoot days, I walked by the bushes a LOT.
Oh, and breakfast! This was so fun, y’all! Each morning, we were greeted in the main dining room by the kindest gentleman who would bring us fresh fruit, biscuits, muffins, and our choice of coffee or juice while we waited for our breakfast. We were then served some of the yummiest Southern food made fresh just for each of us based on their daily menu at a large estate table. Let’s just say that there may have been double orders of the pecan pancakes, cheese grits, and crispy bacon!
Throughout our entire stay, we continually spoke about how much fun the cottage would be for a girls’ weekend, or as a getting ready spot for a bridal party. Though you WILL need a few brave gals in your squad, as rumor has it the Inn and cottages are haunted ;) And I’ll be the first to say that I absolutely believe it – but eek, that’s a whole other story!
And of course, we couldn’t share a post about our trip for an editorial shoot without a little behind-the-scenes goodness. Can you spot the never-before-seen photo below?
That’s my favorite honeysuckle wall right there behind our darling Emily. I wish you could smell it right now!
On a scale from 1 to 10, how excited are you for our tenth-anniversary issue? I’ll go first: 12!!
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