Sugarfina x Esselle SF
Utterly Engaged Volume 4
Launch Party Recap

Last month, with boxes full of our newest magazine, we hopped on a plane to San Francisco to celebrate the launch of Volume 4 at the most adorable candy boutique, Sugarfina. To top it off, we co-hosted it with our gal pals esselle.  We absolutely adore all these ladies and their creative entrepreneurial spirit, so just imagine how memorable it was. As I take you back through the images captured from Jennifer Young, my hope is that you get to relive it with me and experience what we all experienced. It was an amazing night. The team who helped make this happen. The music. The food. The cocktails. The decor. And especially all the guests that came out to express their love and support. This will be a night I will never ever forget.

Not only did esselle co-hosted the event with us, but they also had a pop-up shop too. If you don’t know who esselle is you need to. They are about to blow up (they just got featured by Martha Stewart)! Founders, Sherry and Sandy, created esselle with the modern hostess in mind. From very cool place card holders, to modern geometric coasters.

So much loves goes to PJ from Going Lovely who helped us with the planning, coordinating and designing of the entire event. I still can’t believe I discovered her on Instagram. She is a hidden gem that I want everyone to know about. I had this vision of a warm, cozy, modern holiday themed event, inspired  by it she ran with it and what she created was flawless!

Speaking of flawless, The Glamourist knows how to make a girl feel so beautiful. After a sleepless night, I took an early flight into SF for the party. Jane saved me. She dolled me up, did my makeup and hair and I felt like a new person! I am so thankful for her.

I cherish both of these girls so much!

Twigss Floral Studio florals were everywhere. Coming out of drawers, in between shelves, adorned as a backdrop for a photobooth – there is passion in their flowers and it makes my heart sing. It was such a blessing to have their floral designs grace our event.

Pretty Please Bakeshop, oh their pies! The best pies ever! Ever since last month, I’ve been craving their pies. Dreaming about them almost every week. I need to go back to San Francisco just so I can have more pies.

Sharpshooter made an impression with their cocktails. Serving their delicious cocktail out of a punch bowl placed on some stacked vintage steamer trunks, was an experience that I’m sure our guests will never forget. Even until this day, my friends remind me how great the cocktails were. Thank you Sharpshooter for making everyone’s spirits bright!

We couldn’t have a party without music. Boutique DJs created a playlist just for the party and I loved it. I’ve always wanted a “mixtape” for a party and they pretty much made my dream come true. If you’re curious, you can hear it here.

Our photobooth actually turned into a selfie-booth! So much fun.

Chef Stephanie and her team were incredible. From planning the menu, to greeting our guest with a flow of hors d’oeuvres, they catered to the food lover in me and all of our guests. They made the night extra special. Smoked salmon mousse cucumber chip, fresh chives | Wild mushroom crostini goat cheese | Sesame chicken salad wonton cracker | Beef & mango rolls fresh mint – yes please!

Joining in on the fun, Sugarfina also served our guests teeny, tiny tasters of their delightful candy too. Such a delight!

To thank our guests who purchased magazines that night, they were gifted with beauty products and swag from Oak & Ashland.

Our coordinator had this brilliant idea of having a little favor station for our guests to have their one wish written and then put in a bottle for a keepsake ornament. Kim of Bright Room Studio was the amazing calligrapher and she was so good. Look how adorable it turned out.

My favorite part of the night was definitely seeing all the beautiful faces that came. Some familiar, some met only through social media, some of our contributors from our magazine, some only through email, some met that night… it was a huge gathering of friends dear to Utterly Engaged and me. I wanted to hug every one of them. Seriously, we did not want the night end. We even invited everyone for an after party comedy show at Blu Bungalow.

Thank you San Francisco for always being so good to us! We will be back for sure.