Southern Weddings

Each team summit is totally different from the last. Not just because we may be welcoming new team members or talking about new topics, but because each year that passes brings us into a totally new season of business. Some years bring challenging conflict, high stakes, and multiple priorities. Some years are full of fun brainstorming, unpacking new ideas, and finding new inspiration. Either way, we consider our summit to be precious time together.

Even though half of us work remotely, we don’t take it lightly that we have the great privilege of calling each other team members. Most of us have been working (read: spending most of our waking hours) together and sharing everyday life with each other for the past seven years! On top of that, we each bring our personal passions into our work, making this summit not just a business formality, but a time to gather and bring our greatest goals to life.

We got cozy at Fearrington Village’s Garden House for three days of quality time.

Lifeguard Press was so kind, and gifted us each a Kate Spade journal to take notes in. They also threw in extra dahlia-patterned tumblers, pencil pouches, napkins, and straws. All of our new supplies got put to good use during our two days together.

One of our big priorities this year is focusing on workplace health — it actually increases productivity in addition to making you a healthier person! We chatted about how to improve our daily work lives with standing meetings, posture exercises, and color theory, and then had a blast with an outdoor yoga class! (Y’all, some ladies on our team are crazy flexible! I learned that I am just as unbalanced as ever.)

Later, we were incredibly grateful to have our friend Will Ray speak to us about what makes effective teams. He also walked us through our DiSC profile results. Our entire team was solidly representing the Influence and Steadiness quadrants, which are marked by collaboration and enthusiasm, and cooperation and sincerity.

While we did get a good laugh at how skewed our results were, we weren’t at all surprised. Our office culture is marked by enthusiasm for our jobs, and we place a high value on team unity. That’s why it seemed perfectly natural to us that after a full day’s work, we were still looking forward to spending time together at dinner and then getting into our pajamas for a full-on Disney sing-a-long in our hotel room. (Thank goodness our rooms were thoughtfully isolated from other guests!)

Day Two was a game-changer. We showed up ready to get down to business in our new Birdie’s Slippers. (Y’all — they are the best way to look professional while feeling like you’re wearing PJs!) Then, we dove into heartfelt (and yes, sometimes hard) conversation.

To break things up, we scattered in some fun activities (like a scavenger hunt, a nail polish trade from Kendra Scott’s new line, and chair massages). Our favorite activity? A surprise mini baby shower for our dearest editor in chief, Kristin!

After smothering Kristin with love, baby name guessing, and fun games, we narrowed our focus back to business and creating a strategy for the future. This meant studying graphs (it’s more fascinating than it sounds!), engaging in good and healthy conflict, and stripping away the layers of routine to answer important questions with new ideas.

Needless to say, we thought we really earned some of Fearrington’s famous ice cream sandwiches after all of it, and Chef Bedford happily obliged and delivered!

So what are we up to now that the summit is over? We’re making big and small changes—some behind the scenes, and some right in front of your eyes! We’ve simplified our website navigation so it’s easier to find exactly what you’re looking for, and we’re rolling out more content that will help you prioritize what’s meaningful in your wedding. On top of all of that, we’re having fun inside and outside the office soaking in the magic of the South and living our lives with you!

Photos by Olivia of Nancy Ray Photography (and some iPhone pics by the team, too!)

Written with love by Nicole