By now, January 18th, you’ve probably thought back on your 2018 and reflected on your year: the ups and downs, trips, relationships, work projects and more. You’ve probably also seen most of the bloggers you follow recap their 2018 with you. Well, I’m just keeping y’all on your toes by sharing my 2018 two weeks late! 2018 was such an amazing year for Edwin and I are we are so grateful for everything the year brought us. The year didn’t go by without some true sadness but I feel blessed in so many ways as one year ends and another year opens. I compiled my top 20 most read blog posts from 2018 (in order) and there are some pretty clear patterns. Y’all loved reading about our wedding, our travels, Charleston, and our family + friends. I hope to bring you more of these topics in 2019!
Honestly, I really want to know what y’all would like to see on here. I tend to be more board about our personal lives and share outfits more than anything but I’m thinking about diving into more lifestyle and personal topics as well. We shall see! I’m really excited to share home posts with you too in the second half of the year (after we complete our renovation and move into our house)! Stay tuned!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading Rhyme & Reason in 2018! I hope 2019 is going to be even better on here!
Our Year in Review: Top 20 Posts from 2018
1. We Bought a House in Charleston
In 2018, Edwin and I became first time homeowners! It was definitely the most exciting part of our year. We were and are so proud and overjoyed! Our house is in Charleston and is a bit of a project. It’s historic so we are remodeling and preserving it and can’t wait to move in later this year!
2. The Five Best Winter Weekend Getaways Easy for Anyone on the East Coast
Inspired by two winter weekend getaways I took last winter (both included in this post!), I shared my top 5 picks for snowy destinations to escape to in order to beat the winter blues. I was surprised by how much y’all loved this post!
3. Beginner’s Guide to Charleston
Last February, I had the privilege of working with Explore Charleston to create a beginner’s guide to Charleston. I covered the three most important topics when traveling to a new city: checking in, dining out, and exploring around! It was a big hit with y’all!
4. Charleston Snow Day
On January 3rd, 2018, it snowed 6 inches in Charleston! Edwin and I both say it was our favorite day of the entire year (along with the day we closed on our house). It was pure magic in downtown Charleston – a day (a week really!) I’ll never forget. No one could get downtown or leave downtown because the bridges all closed and many people weren’t home yet from holiday travels. So, it felt like the entire city was a movie set and was ours.
5. Our Rehearsal Dinner at Magnolias
Edwin’s parents hosted the most incredible rehearsal dinner for us the night before our wedding day! It took place in downtown Charleston at Magnolias so we gave all our out of town family and friends a taste of the south. We played up a southern theme by serving fried chicken + shrimp and grits as well as by incorporating magnolia flowers and leaves wherever possible! I’m so in love with the dress and shoes I wore this night! My shoes were a huge hit with our guests.
6. A Look at our Wedding Ceremony and Reception Spaces
I shared an in-depth look at our wedding venue, Legare Waring House, in Charleston, which included our ceremony space and reception tent. I always knew I wanted to get married under live oak trees so you can see why I knew this was the venue for us!
7. Our Wedding on Southern Weddings
We were so flattered to have our wedding be featured on Southern Weddings in 2018! It was a joy to share our special weekend with all of you and all the Southern Weddings readers. I couldn’t think of a better publication to feature our big day!
8. Our Wedding Reception
Our wedding reception was a ball and a half! The band + the dance floor was more fun than I ever could have imagine. I have vidid dreams about doing it all over again! Oh what a night!
9. Your Most Frequently Asked Questions about my Friendship with Allison
I’m so lucky to have a best friend like Allison! We’ve been there for each other through thick and thin since we were five years old and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whenever we are together, I get asked about our friendship on Instagram so I rounded up your most frequently asked questions!
10. Traveling to 33 Main in the Berkshires
Annie Selke is one of my favorite home designers so it was such a treat to travel up to the Berkshires to stay at her inn, 33 Main, for a winter weekend. Neither Edwin or I had ever been to the Berkshires before so we really enjoyed exploring a new place together. P.S. 33 Main is incredible… I 100% recommend!
11. My Bridal Brunch at Cannon Green
My mom and sister, Sarah, threw me the most beautiful bridal brunch the day before my wedding at Cannon Green in Charleston. It was a dream to have all my favorite women from throughout my life in one place at one time! I will never forget this brunch for as long as I shall live.
12. Our Family and Bridal Party on our Wedding Day
I felt it impossible not to share a dedicated family and bridal party blog post from our wedding because, without them, there would be no wedding. Edwin and I were set up by mutual friends (Allison and Tim – a bridesmaid and groomsman in our wedding) and we are so fortunate to have the two absolute best families. All these people have supported us every step of the way and we are eternally grateful!
13. Our Wedding First Look
Edwin and I did a first look, which I admit wasn’t my first choice. However, what’s meant to be is meant to be and thank goodness we did because of good luck rain that fell on our wedding day. I ended up loving our first look and cherishing the opportunity to have that special time with Edwin on our wedding day!
14. Pink and White Stripes at Sugar Beach
Our honeymoon! We did a mini moon to The Cloister on Sea Island right after our wedding and then waiting until the spring to go on our honeymoon. We traveled to St. Lucia and Mustique for a Caribbean getaway! It was incredible (especially Mustique!)!
15. Quebec City and Montreal Travel Guide
I was fortunate enough to get to tag along with my sister, Sarah, on a work trip of her’s last winter to Quebec City and Montreal (she’s a travel advisor!). We had the best time and both fell head over heels in love with Canada! My travel guide to the two cities was a big hit with y’all… I get so many emails from readers asking me about this trip!
16. A Day on Balboa Island
Last spring, we spent some time in California to visit family and to attend our best friend’s engagement party. While there, Allison and I spent a lovely day wandering around Balboa Island! I shared all my suggestions for the little slice of Southern California heaven in this post.
17. Honeymooning on Mustique
As I mentioned, my sister, Sarah, is a travel advisor so she helped us plan our Caribbean honeymoon. Mustique was her so suggestions and we are beyond happy we took it because it ended up being our favorite part of our trip. The tiny island is pure magic! We talk all the time about how we hope to get back someday.
18. Hosting Friends in Charleston
One of our favorite parts about moving to Charleston is that we get to have all our loved ones come visit. We love playing host in this incredible, colorful city! Edwin and I seriously can’t wait to move into our house and have family and friends come make memories in it with us.
19. Finding Shade on St. Lucia
Another honeymoon post! Edwin surprised me with this fun statement hat for my birthday and I just knew it would be perfect on our trip. I wore it the whole time and received more compliments on it than you’d ever imagine!
20. Springing Forward with my Sister
My sister, Sarah, tries to pop into Charleston every few months to visit from Atlanta. I love when she comes to town! She came last spring and we basked in the long post-time change days and took in everything that Charleston has to offer in the springtime.
Thanks so much for reading this post as I spent time reflecting on 2018. It was the best year and I’m tickled to see what 2019 has in store! It’s so fun to see what y’all loved (lots of spring and summer and not as much fall or holiday – I’m surprised!) gravitated toward the most. Here’s to making new memories and connections in 2019! I’m grateful for each and every one of you! xx
