You may notice in the URL of today’s post that it’s the second post I’ve written called “The Next Chapter.” The first was when I graduated from college and was offered my dream job at Southern Weddings Magazine, and was taking some time off of blogging to move to North Carolina and settle into post-college life. It seems like a lifetime ago. Dave and I were just a few months into dating, all my belongings fit into my Honda Accord, and I had no idea what the coming years would hold…only that I was excited and grateful to have a job right out of college, let alone the job I had wanted so badly. I had blogged five times a week for two years in order to create a portfolio of sorts, in the hopes that it would get me into the door at a wedding magazine, and it had worked! You can read more about that journey here.

For the next almost-four years, I experienced so many incredible things as an editor–I worked on 15 photo shoots, traveled on 14 business trips, covered Bridal Market in NYC twice, attended the Making Things Happen Conference six times, spoke at the Bliss and Bespoke and Trouvaille workshops, co-wrote a wedding planner, and wrote almost 1000 blog posts and probably close to 100 magazine features. More importantly, I had SO much fun. I believed wholeheartedly in the work I was doing, and the girls I worked with became like family to me.

As y’all know, a lot happened outside of work during these years too. Dave and I got engaged. He moved to North Carolina. We got married and shared an incredible first year of marriage. We bought a house. We became parents to our precious baby boy. And while each of these life changes affected me in big ways, nothing could have prepared me for the experience of becoming a mother.

In my 2017 goals post, I wrote that my number one goal was to be open to what God had for me this year, even if it didn’t fit what I had pictured, and I feel as though I was given the opportunity to walk the walk of that right away. Through many prayers and tears, I made the very personal decision that my time with Southern Weddings had come to an end.

It’s humbling to leave the magazine during a time when I so badly want to be involved (the 10th anniversary issue comes out this year!), but I feel such a deep peace about this decision, and truly feel it’s best for both the company and for my family, for many reasons. I’ll be in the front row of Southern Weddings’ cheering squad as they move forward into an incredible season!

So what now? Well, my main focus is Charlie and Dave–they have always come first, and will continue to do so. I’ll also be dedicating a little more time to Something Pretty–it’s my favorite hobby, after all. In bits and pieces now, and hopefully more regularly down the road, I’m planning to pursue freelance writing, and I am looking forward to pushing myself as a a writer in new and different ways.

Sweet friends, thank you for your support. It’s hard and humbling to give up my dream job, but like my dad said when I told him about my decision, it’s okay to have new dreams. I’m excited to continue sharing those with you in this new season! xo

Photos from the V9 team shoot by Jake + Heather