Carly is Inspired: Celebrating Launch Day & A Giveaway!

Y’all. I’m so excited for today. And let’s get real, I’m all kinds of nervous too. But, I think the combination is exactly how I should feel when launching a website (what?!). However, before I introduce you to my pretty new home, let’s backtrack for a second.

Two years ago (almost to the day!), I decided to launch Carly is Inspired. I wanted to start a blog (again) because I wanted to create a space where I could share everything that inspires me from weddings and fashion to business professionals and lessons I’ve learned along the way. My blog has become one of my happiest places. It’s propelled me forward, and it’s acted as one of my very favorite creative outlets. It’s allowed me to have opportunities to work with industry professionals, learn the ins and outs of social media, challenge myself to write authentic posts, create floral arrangements, style photo shoots, and meet some of the very best people who act as constant sources of inspiration.

When I first started my blog, I really wanted it to become well known. I became hyper aware of viewership, and at one point I felt pressured to only write posts that I thought would get the most views. I started to lose the heart behind why I created my site in the first place. So, I changed course. I dug deeper, and I refocused on the fact that I created my site to be creative and to share things I love with you with the hope that you might love them too. Along the way, I discovered my passion for authenticity. And I discovered that Carly is Inspired was never meant to only be a blog (though that will continue!).

Carly is Inspired is a brand.

Photo by Dana Cubbage Weddings

I’m a writer and a marketing professional. I love learning the authentic reasons behind why a creative loves their industry and their work. Pulling those pieces of inspiration together for about pages and website content copy brings me tremendous joy. I also love designing marketing plans that allow businesses to build their following on social media through sending newsletters, sharing their own behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram, delving into their personal aesthetic on Pinterest, and interacting with their community on Facebook. I’ve discovered a passion within an industry where I can help others excel.

I’m a virtual wedding stylist. As a Certified Wedding Planner, I love coordinating events. However, styling weddings is what I adore most. Whether you’ve been collecting your favorite images for years and saving them onto Pinterest or you’re just starting to think about pieces you love, I want to help you determine your wedding’s style. As your virtual wedding stylist, we’ll look through your Pinterest boards together (or you’ll explain what you love!), and then I’ll create an inspiration board for you that defines your style and is perfect to save and send to your vendors (they’ll definitely ask you for your photos that inspire you!). It will be cohesive, but most importantly, it will represent you and your love.

And, I’m an (in person :) floral stylist. I grew up surrounded by grandparents who adored gardening and flowers, and they instilled that same passion in me. I begged my parents to let me plant the biggest sunflowers when I was little, and I had to have a few of the same flowers in my garden that my Gammie grew in hers. My love for flowers has only expanded, and now arrangements are my favorite detail at any event. As a result, I love creating florals – bouquets, centerpieces, floral crowns – for bridal showers, bridesmaids’ brunches, and weddings. You’ll find examples of my work here, here, and here.

To my friends and family who have always cheered me on, readers who have been with me from the beginning or who are just joining, wedding professionals I’m privileged to work with, and Sarah from dodeline design who designed my site…twice, thank you to the moon and back again. My blog turned into a business along the way, and I cannot wait to work with creative business professionals and brides alike. Welcome to the new Carly is Inspired!

AND…

To celebrate today’s launch, I’m thrilled to giveaway a bundle of a few of my favorite things: an Ashley Brooke Designs tumbler to sip all day long and a May Designs gift card so you can personalized your own May Book to fill with notes or turn into the perfect wedding planner. To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me how you will use your tumbler and May Book. You can earn additional entries by pinning the image above, liking Carly is Inspired on Facebook, following along on Instagram, or tweeting about the giveaway on Twitter! If you share the post on social media, please leave an additional comment letting me know how and where you’ve shared. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will close on Wednesday, April 15.

*Note: This giveaway is solely sponsored by Carly is Inspired, and both products have been purchased by Carly is Inspired. I adore ABD and May Designs, but neither brand personally donated their products.