APRIL BAYTAN

SIMPLY ASPIRED

[aprilbaytan]

PAPER GOODS have FEELINGS too! 💕. . From your save the date, invitation, wedding website, anything and everything evokes some sort of feeling and communicates to guests the tone of your wedding day. . Considering this, use this first form of communication as a great opportunity to share your personal style! Fancier isn't always better, what's best is something true to you, which is something you'll love looking at as a keepsake for years to come!. . Chris and I really like neautral colors, clean lines and negative space. In our own lives, we try our best to declutter whenever possible and love spaces that feel open and breathable. @kellydesign.co did a fantastic job working with me to translate this into our vows renewal invitations! I couldn't have been happier with the outcome and working with Kelly in general was so easy!. . Taking your own personal style and taste into consideration, what would your paper goods look like?. . #weddingdesign #weddingdetails #flatlay #sanfranciscowedding #invitations (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Q4uSaD7SZ/?igshid=n1a2y1emavu6

[aprilbaytan]

#MCM . . You'll be seeing a lot more of him... So get used to it! That is all 😉. . #myhusband #mancrushmonday #sanfranciscowedding #vowrenewal #happyanniversary #tacori (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0PnLx8D1la/?igshid=lx6cjmn62dks

[aprilbaytan]

THANK YOU for all the heartfelt love, support, and wedding anniversary greetings! If you missed our images and video we shared yesterday you can view them on our HIGHLIGHT - LOVE - A+C 💖. . We had so many people reach out about how beautiful everything was so I just want to make sure you all get the vendor list here!. I'm seriously passionate about helping people create the wedding of THEIR dreams, so feel free to reach out 💕. . Photography: @jennysoifoto Videographer: @hitmakerfilms Event Design + Flowers: @aprilbaytan Hair + Makeup: @csmlash Dress: @azeeza Earrings: @hathorway Suit: @express Ribbon: @froufrouchic Venue: @hotelvitale @prospectsf . . #thankyou #sanfrancisco #sanfranciscowedding #goodmorning #vowrenewal #happyanniversary #filipinowedding (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0L5tshDas0/?igshid=pktu4ucd7a82

[aprilbaytan]

HAPPY 5 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TO US! And guess what, WE RENEWED OUR VOWS! 💖 . Exactly three months ago, Chris and I had the most perfect day renewing our vows with a select intimate group of ten people who have been there for us through so much. . It has always been a desire of mine to renew our vows intimately after we had a huge traditional Filipino wedding (250 ish guests) five years ago. I had doubts about whether or not we should go through with it since my hyperthyroidism symptoms were getting challenging with my medication change, but I'm so glad Chris @tophbacon convinced me we should still do it and that everything would be fine. . Our vow renewal was the best day of my life... It was exactly us, and our close loved ones ensured we were well taken care of. I've never smiled and laughed so much!... All the love and talent gifted to us by our close family and friends left us feeling filled with so much freaking joy and gratitude... I can't thank you all enough for simply being you... . Check out my stories for some beautiful images by our incredibly talented and amazing good friends @jennysoifoto and video by @hitmakerfilms . (And yes, I'm ugly crying... 😭💕). . #goodmorning #sanfranciscowedding #vowrenewal #happyanniversary #photooftheday #picoftheday (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0JJjobjhBW/?igshid=8f986he23lcv

[aprilbaytan]

"We loved with a love that was more than love" - Edgar Allan Poe. . Chris and I totally wrote an initial post together... Then Instagram was acting funny and now it's gone... 🤷🏻‍♀️ Embracing it and not going to try to rewrite our whole essay of marriage advice... Instead, I'll summarize!. . 1) Treat one another as the imperfect humans we all are and don't have ridiculous expectations of perfection. . 2) Remember you are a team! Get over egos and work together towards your common goal of being happy together... Don't fight against each other. . 3) Practice healthy communication every chance you get and have a voice. Stop telling yourselves stories about the other person and welcome healthy communication without ego creating a safe environment. . We're not relationship experts lol, simply sharing what has helped us grow and fall more in love with one another over the course of 12 ish years!. . #marriage #thoughts #love #quotes #picoftheday #happyfriday (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HD3DKDfBD/?igshid=1x6p79uvrznkv

[aprilbaytan]

ME AND CHRIS'S #1 PIECE OF RELATIONSHIP ADVICE 💖. . APRIL : Treat one another like the humans you actually are and remember you're on the same team. . Easier said than done, I know, but too often do we enter relationships expecting our significant other to be perfect or superhuman. Yes, we love them like crazy and they make us feel all kinds of wonderful but they have their own journeys and imperfections too... When we accept they're a complete person and realize they're not your half or missing puzzle piece ... We can then respect and love each other enough to forgive, heal, and truly experience joy and appreciation with each other... It's all about EGOs... It's never you against me, it's us, it's we. When you truly accept that and embrace that the end goal is to be happy together... You'll focus less energy on keeping tabs on who messed up and what they need to do to make it better and more energy on wanting to make it work as a team, both putting in their parts to be the best versions of themselves and also the best WE they can be. . CHRIS: Simply communicate. . It's helpful to always voice your feelings and concerns to each other because if you don't, you'll end up making up stories about the other which may or may not be true. It takes a lot of courage to share your feelings and put yourself out there. But more often than not, if you don't you're probably making assumptions about how the other person is feeling ... Practice enough communication so that sharing feelings feels easier and more natural. It takes a lot of time to develop a flow that feels safe and free of defensiveness ... Truly try to hear one another for what the actual feelings are are, versus what we're telling ourselves they are or mean. Try to take things less personal and be more objective... Healthy communication is key. . Photography: @jennysoifoto Paper goods: @kellydesign.co . . #wordstoliveby #thoughts #marriage #selflove #qotd (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Gx5wdjtZW/?igshid=2g4sc5bdsi3t

[aprilbaytan]

WHY CHRIS IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE 🤷🏻‍♀️... . I'm sure it'll surprise you to find out that Chris and I actually started off not liking each other. I'm sure it'll surprise you even more to find out that I REALLY disliked him... Cuz I mean, how could anyone not like @tophbacon ? Anyone will tell you he is probably the most well liked person they know - even my boss sticks up for him!. . Truth is we REALLY didn't... Heck, I don't think we really knew if we truly liked each other even after we started "dating." We dated FOR YEARS, and in a really sad way became boyfriend and girlfriend... and to be perfectly honest, didn't truly realize just how much we loved each other and how deep that love was until a few years AFTER marriage. . The truth is, Chris and I almost 12 years ago were completely opposite of one another, and completely different people as individuals still trying to find our own way to our own true selves. Our adolescence, our child pains, our egos were all in the way of us finding and feeling the wonderful relationship we have now. . So without all the romance and heavenly courtship, why Chris? Despite how "incompatible" we were (that's seriously how we described ourselves) there was such a strong pull between us. After this one weird, awkward, yet unforgettable moment we let each other in, I couldn't pull myself away no matter how hard the both of us tried. Chris has the biggest heart of any man I know, and has showed up for me from the very start. His heart is undeniable, his care and commitment like no other and with even just that... He'd be more than enough to be the love of my life... . Real love isn't pretty a lot of the time... But man it's so worth it... Never give up on love.. . Photography: @jennysoifoto Florals and Design: @aprilbaytan Ribbon: @froufrouchic Suit: @express . #goodmorning #sanfranciscowedding #love #truth #liveauthentic #bouquet (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0BcshtDHOx/?igshid=1oxyo54xpu8ar

[aprilbaytan]

WHY CHRIS IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE 🤷🏻‍♀️... . I'm sure it'll surprise you to find out that Chris and I actually started off not liking each other. I'm sure it'll surprise you even more to find out that I REALLY disliked him... Cuz I mean, how could anyone not like @tophbacon ? Anyone will tell you he is probably the most well liked person they know - even my boss sticks up for him!. . Truth is we REALLY didn't... Heck, I don't think we really knew if we truly liked each other even after we started "dating." We dated FOR YEARS, and in a really sad way became boyfriend and girlfriend... and to be perfectly honest, didn't truly realize just how much we loved each other and how deep that love was until a few years AFTER marriage. . The truth is, Chris and I almost 12 years ago were completely opposite of one another, and completely different people as individuals still trying to find our own way to our own true selves. Our adolescence, our child pains, our egos were all in the way of us finding and feeling the wonderful relationship we have now. . So without all the romance and heavenly courtship, why Chris? Despite how "incompatible" we were (that's seriously how we described ourselves) there was such a strong pull between us. After this one weird, awkward, yet unforgettable moment we let each other in, I couldn't pull myself away no matter how hard the both of us tried. Chris has the biggest heart of any man I know, and has showed up for me from the very start. His heart is undeniable, his care and commitment like no other and with even just that... He'd be more than enough to be the love of my life... . Real love isn't pretty a lot of the time... But man it's so worth it... Never give up on love.. . Photography: @jennysoifoto Florals and Design: @aprilbaytan Ribbon: @froufrouchic Suit: @express . #goodmorning #sanfranciscowedding #love #truth #liveauthentic #bouquet (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0BcshtDHOx/?igshid=1oxyo54xpu8ar

[aprilbaytan]

Getting ready to celebrate and share something big with a couple of my most favorite things 💖... . Authentic and Intentional Design Tip: A beautiful flatlay image is exactly just that, a pretty detail image. You can sprinkle it with flowers, embelish it with expensive perfume and even top it with designer shoes but if it all means nothing real ... It's just a pretty photo ... And years after it'll still be just a pretty photo. . Instead, share your story... Here's mine. . My wedding rings are by @tacoriofficial , I had the craziest experience finding a good set for my small fingers, my ring size is a 3.5 or something crazy like that... A kids size!. Chris's favorite high end brand is @burberry it makes him think of his mom, I gifted him a Burberry watch when we got married. When Chris got his first nursing job, we went to New York where we celebrated all our hard work and sacrifices up to that moment, he bought me a @catbirdnyc ring the day we went through our finances at a cute coffee shop in Brookly where we realized we'd be more than okay, I stack the ring with my wedding rings. I loooooove earrings from @hathorway she is one of the nicest female entrepreneurs I've ever come across and so inspiring! Can't go wrong with @jeffreycampbell shoes! They're not only cool, fearless and chic (what I try to be lol), but super comfortable too!. . @photosurfaces is a Filipina entrepreneur referred to me by my other Pinay sister @rezelkealoha both of which who are local inspiring Filipina entrepreneurs. And last but certainly not least @layoutcollection @joyproctor is the REMARKABLE wedding planner and designer who taught me intentional wedding design who has given me so much emotional support. In addition my awesome galpal @jennysoifoto has been such a great friend of mine and ABD from the very very start and has become one of my most cherished friendships in the industry 🙏🏼. . Tell your story... On your wedding day, one of the most important days of your life, every little detail should matter. . #sanfranciscowedding #details #flatlay #weddingdesign #liveauthentic (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0AMUsijTJU/?igshid=anztu1wfdf0v

[aprilbaytan]

How I really feel about having Graves Disease... 💭. . I used to be worried that opening up about having an autoimmune disease would turn people away from my business... That they'd take my transparency about symptoms as reasonable proof that I'm incapable of fulfilling a job... But you'd be surprised how many creative entrepreneur's I know who are so badass in what they do (me included) and produce tons of beautiful and incredible work all while juggling health issues of all spectrums. . I've been diagnosed for almost two years now... Last year I managed to produce nearly 20 weddings and events all while working a full time day job, on top of additional portfolio work... If that isn't a testimony to what I'm capable of than I honestly don't know what is... If there's a will there's a way!. . I'd rather exude honesty and give others courage to be real and transparent themselves. The abundance of people who reach out with compassion and gain hope are more valued than those possibly turned away. I can't tell you how many people express how they're tired of only seeing filtered posts and only the good parts of people's life... Or how they got rid of instagram all together because they hated how it made them feel... comparing themselves to people they didn't even know. . As challenging as it can be sometimes I'm so thankful for my Grave's Disease journey, it's given me so much. I've grown in so much love and gratitude, I've stopped caring for small minds and I've learned I'm capable of even more than I thought! Graves Disease has taught me to prioritize health and to live my best life now... I used to work tirelessly trying to achieve happiness and success... It's when I was forced to slow down that I was finally able to see that I already am and already have these things. . Wishing you all endless love, compassion and support as you all have given me. Happy Monday everyone! . #quotes #thoughts #gravesdisease #automunedisease #hyperthyroidism #selflove (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzqR-NhjcrS/?igshid=1y16cc7n10k98

[aprilbaytan]

Remain open to the possibilities! ✨. . So much work goes into creating the beauty for a couple's wedding day! So much time, energy and thought goes into every detail of every project! Unfortunately, it's very normal for things to not turn out as originally hoped or planned, it sucks when clients reach out just days before the wedding with broken hearts over having to make a change of plans... . As the professionals and experts they hired I sincerely believe it's our job to put clients worries to rest.. Sometimes a wedding has to be taken inside or an installation needs to be changed. Often, these curve balIs become amongst my favorite works and even fonder memories - like this ceremony setup for @jmkevents ! . Real wedding featured on @stylemepretty . . Photography: @saramweir Planning: @jmkevents Florals: @aprilbaytan . #featured #stylemepretty #sanfranciscowedding #realwedding (at Silver Creek Valley Country Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzZXY8gjLwc/?igshid=pq292o6vxtrn

[aprilbaytan]

Flashback to our very first wedding of last year where we were graced with the amazing opportunity to work with the incredibly talented @saramweir and celebrate sweet @jmkevents and her hubz! . . Featured on @stylemepretty . Photography: @saramweir Planning: @jmkevents Florals: @aprilbaytan Venue: @silvercreekvalleycc . . #featured #stylemepretty #sanfranciscowedding #film #flashbackfriday (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzRBe3HjEdt/?igshid=ngkk95qqncdh

[aprilbaytan]

Such a beautiful and calming color palette to celebrate an even more beautiful friend @elizabethwarrick_ ! 🍃. . Park Winters has seriously before one of my favorite wedding venues! It's about an hour away from home but so much more pleasing to drive to than Napa with all it's traffic - such also takes about an hour! . Everytime I go to Park Winters I think of the inspiring landscape and awesome people who work there... I'm seriously thinking to go back soon with the hubs just to enjoy some time away! If you haven't already, you've gotta check @parkwinters out! . Photography: @honeygemcreative Venue & Catering: @parkwinters Coordination: @alluring.events Florals: @aprilbaytan Officiant: @tanweddingsandevents HMUA: @sarastarr.hair Cake: @batterupcakery Rentals: @cprandtents @criaterentals Signage: @shimmerandstain Linens: @latavolalinen . . #parkwinters #wedding #weddingdesign #picoftheday #photooftheday (at Park Winters) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzOjRgwjjwz/?igshid=clzmbvh3ol7n

[aprilbaytan]

So excited to live it up and get inspired @parkwinters with this beauty of a person @elizabethwarrick_ tomorrow at #pwsummerland ! ☀️. . Seriously, one of my favorite weddings to date at one of my favorite venues! So thankful to get to work with and celebrate such beautiful people like Wendy and her team of friendors, especially at such a magical venue like @parkwinters ! Stay tuned for a fun IG story tomorrow! . . Photography: @honeygemcreative Coordinator: @alluring.events Florals: @aprilbaytan Officiant: @tanweddingsandevents HMUA: @sarastarr.hair Cake: @batterupcakery Rentals: @cprandtents @criaterentals Linen: @latavolalinen Signage: @shimmerandstain . #parkwinters #sanfranciscowedding #sanfranciscoflorist #photooftheday #picoftheday (at Park Winters) https://www.instagram.com/p/By75PBQjiiL/?igshid=t37jzh1pdk1g

[aprilbaytan]

Summer Love ❤️ 💕. . It's been heating up here in the Bay Area and technically it's not even summer yet! The summer heat, for many of us in the wedding industry means it's wedding season ... Which means while most people are out vacationing and enjoying the sun, we're working under it, and trying to survive several full days of work!. . Flowers and heat can be very challenging but it's so worth it when the outcome is as pretty as this! Loved this wave of Florals and greenery imagined by @mannasunevents for us to create on a beautiful summer day at @montalvospecialevents ! . Featured on @stylemepretty Planning/Design: @mannasunevents Photography: @sallypineraphoto Videographer: @love_unique_studios Florals: @aprilbaytan HMU: @yibridal Rentals: @latavolalinen @brighteventrentals @hensleyeventresources Lighting: @jl_imagination Cake: @studiocakedesign Paper Goods/Calligraphy: @blushtype . . . #aprilbaytandesigns #sanfrancisco #sanfranciscoflorist #florist #bayareaflorist #modernbride #wedding #wedinspiration #details #weddingdetails #weddingstyle #love #life #lifestyleblogger #realwedding #stylemepretty #feature #goodmorning #picoftheday #photooftheday #thatsdarling (at Montalvo Arts Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByseH-bjaI0/?igshid=139bkh9xe4tbq

[aprilbaytan]

Yesterday was Philippine Independence Day! 💛❤️💙 . As a Filipino American like many immigrant families I take great pride in the culture my families roots stem from. I wasn't born in the Philippines, but I kid you not, every time I go to the Philippines it feels like home. . My husband @tophbacon and I actually met in college through our Fil-Am Organization @pasaofcsueb so I'm blessed to have a husband who loves our Fil-Am culture just as much as I do. I love to dance traditional cultural dances, sing songs in Tagalog and Ilocano handed down to me, and cook Filipino Food on a regular basis. Chris practices Filipino martial arts when he can with mentor @visayaneskrima and takes pride in his participation and upbringing with Fil-Am theatre and arts community @bindlestiff_sf . . I am so proud to be Filipino American, and wish to see more of my culture and overall being represented in the work that I do especially in the wedding industry. Takes me back to my very first styled shoot that I designed for @thesketchbookseries which was inspired by my grandmother who raised me and my Filipino culture. . Thank you @magnoliarouge for featuring it and picking this up. This feature validated that I have so much to share that people actually want to see! . Happy Independence Day to my fellow Filipino brothers and sisters! . Photography: @jennysoifoto Planning/Florals/Desugn: @aprilbaytan Dress: @kinsleyjamescouturebridal HMU: @csmlash Ribbon: @silkandwillow Model: @kianamonique . . #iampinay #filipino #pilipino #filipinoindependenceday #knowyourroots (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Byp9X6pjsV-/?igshid=ukapvtlftskv

[aprilbaytan]

Accepting change and embracing a new season. 🌸 . Learning to give up control isn't easy, especially when you're a planner or a designer that's very detail oriented. You plan for a specific vision and when the actual day comes and things don't go quite as planned it can get disheartening... Similar to life right? . . Sure, things may not turn out the way you had originally hoped, but with flexibility and choosing a different perspective, the experience and outcome can become just as perfect, if not more. . For me, life has been a crazy whirlwind of occurrences I hadn't planned for or originally visioned for my life... But I'm so happy that the universe and God has brought me here. Life is so good. . Brings me back to this day where the seasons were still changing and the wind was against us. But this day, designing with the most incredible person I could have ever had the opportunity to learn from and now actually call friend @joyproctor ... And working alongside @amandaweiphoto who literally supported me and ABD from the start will forever go down as one of my most favorite days in my life. 🙏🏼 . Featured on @stylemepretty Planning/Design/Florals: @aprilbaytan Photography: @amandaweiphoto Linens: @latavolalinen Rentals: @theonicollection Paper Goods: @theideaemporium . #picoftheday #photooftheday #goodmorning #wedding #thoughts (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BynSvTIjjtg/?igshid=1mfcykh0wjg7q