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"We loved with a love that was more than love" - Edgar Allan Poe.
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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!.
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1) Treat one another as the imperfect humans we all are and don't have ridiculous expectations of perfection.
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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.
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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.
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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!.
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#marriage #thoughts #love #quotes #picoftheday #happyfriday

ME AND CHRIS'S #1 PIECE OF RELATIONSHIP ADVICE 💖.
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APRIL : Treat one another like the humans you actually are and remember you're on the same team.
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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.
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CHRIS: Simply communicate.
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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.
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Photography: @jennysoifoto
Paper goods: @kellydesign.co .
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#wordstoliveby #thoughts #marriage #selflove #qotd

WHY CHRIS IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE 🤷🏻‍♀️...
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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!.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Real love isn't pretty a lot of the time... But man it's so worth it... Never give up on love.
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Photography: @jennysoifoto
Florals and Design: @aprilbaytan
Ribbon: @froufrouchic
Suit: @express .
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#goodmorning #sanfranciscowedding #love #truth #liveauthentic #bouquet #filmphotography #filmisnotdead

How I really feel about having Graves Disease... 💭.
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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) that they produce tons of beautiful and incredible work all while juggling health issues of all spectrums.
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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!.
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I share because 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.
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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.
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Wishing you all endless love, compassion and support as you all have given me. Happy Monday everyone!
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#quotes #thoughts #gravesdisease #automunedisease #hyperthyroidism #selflove

Remain open to the possibilities! ✨.
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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...
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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 !
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Real wedding featured on @stylemepretty .
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Photography: @saramweir
Planning: @jmkevents
Florals: @aprilbaytan .
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#featured #stylemepretty #sanfranciscowedding #realwedding

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!
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Featured on @stylemepretty .
Photography: @saramweir
Planning: @jmkevents
Florals: @aprilbaytan
Venue: @silvercreekvalleycc .
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#featured #stylemepretty #sanfranciscowedding #film #flashbackfriday

Such a beautiful and calming color palette to celebrate an even more beautiful friend @elizabethwarrick_ ! 🍃.
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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!
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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
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#parkwinters #wedding #weddingdesign #picoftheday #photooftheday

So excited to live it up and get inspired @parkwinters with this beauty of a person @elizabethwarrick_ tomorrow at #pwsummerland ! ☀️.
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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! .
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Photography: @honeygemcreative
Coordinator: @alluring.events
Florals: @aprilbaytan
Officiant: @tanweddingsandevents
HMUA: @sarastarr.hair
Cake: @batterupcakery
Rentals: @cprandtents @criaterentals
Linen: @latavolalinen
Signage: @shimmerandstain .
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#parkwinters #sanfranciscowedding #sanfranciscoflorist #photooftheday #picoftheday

Summer Love ❤️ 💕.
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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!.
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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 ! .
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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 .
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#aprilbaytandesigns #sanfrancisco #sanfranciscoflorist #florist #bayareaflorist #modernbride #wedding #wedinspiration #details #weddingdetails #weddingstyle #love #life #lifestyleblogger #realwedding #stylemepretty #feature #goodmorning #picoftheday #photooftheday #thatsdarling

Yesterday was Philippine Independence Day! 💛❤️💙
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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.
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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 .
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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.
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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!
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Photography: @jennysoifoto
Planning/Florals/Desugn: @aprilbaytan
Dress: @kinsleyjamescouturebridal
HMU: @csmlash
Ribbon: @silkandwillow
Model: @kianamonique .
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#iampinay #filipino #pilipino #filipinoindependenceday #knowyourroots

Accepting change and embracing a new season. 🌸
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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? .
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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.
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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.
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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. 🙏🏼
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Featured on @stylemepretty
Planning/Design/Florals: @aprilbaytan
Photography: @amandaweiphoto
Linens: @latavolalinen
Rentals: @theonicollection
Paper Goods: @theideaemporium .
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#picoftheday #photooftheday #goodmorning #wedding #thoughts

SAN FRANCISCO . NORTHERN CALIFORNIA . NAPA VALLEY

© 2017 APRIL BAYTAN DESIGNS