Amanda Jean Amanda Jean

A year end review…

Gathered Here Designs’ year-end review is a heartfelt look back at an exciting year of growth and creativity! From helping newly engaged couples with tons of free wedding planning tools to hitting 63k+ monthly Pinterest views, Amanda Jean shares how 2024 was a year to remember. She reflects on milestones like moving into a charming 1937 cottage, designing close to 200 custom pins, and launching dozens of free wedding planning resources. Plus, there’s a sneak peek at what’s next: a brand-new virtual wedding planning course for all the DIY couples out there. It’s inspiring, relatable, and full of love for weddings and community! 💕🎉

The end of the year brings up all kinds of feelings of nostalgia for me. There’s something about the end that makes you think of the beginning. For me 2024 has been a restart for Gathered Here Designs. 

I know I’m bias, but I love the glitter detail on the GHD logo!

Originally GHD launched in 2019, then that beloved 2020 came and kicked all our butts. From 2021-2023, GHD was basically “on pause”. During the engagement season of last year, I was inspired to renew Gathered Here Designs with the goal of providing oodles or helpful FREE content to newly engaged couples online. By the end of the year, my goal was to complete building out a virtual wedding planning course to help support those newly engaged DIY couples who need just a little extra support with the planning process. 

While my course recording is temporarily on pause due to this sore throat that just won’t quit, I’m confident I’ll be able to finish recording before that clock strikes midnight on 12/31.

Looking back on the year, I feel excited about what I have been able to create with Gathered Here Designs - SO. MUCH. CONTENT. It’s one of my favorite parts of the business is creating things that are helpful to those planning their wedding. I consider myself a content queen of sorts..

As we look forward to the New Year and all that 2025 has to bring, I wanted to share all the data and favorites from 2024.

GHD 2024 Data

Here are a few of my favorite things from 2024…

My favorite quiz is the first one I made all about finding your wedding style, though the wedding season quiz is a close second.

Take the wedding style quiz today!

My favorite landing page is this one, which is all about mood boards.

Mood boards are a great way to visualize your wedding design.

My favorite email I sent was is a tie between this one (April) and this one (November).

My mom, sister, and I at my cousin’s wedding in April.

PS if you’re not on my email list, be sure to sign up here. I share all kinds of personal details and photos that I do not include on the blog.

DON’T MISS OUT - SIGN UP FOR WEDDING WEDNESDAY EMAILS!!!

Somewhere in the midst of all that I was working full time until October 2024, raising 2 children, moving from a rental into a 1937 cottage, and began renovating said cottage. Looking at the all this makes me realize why I’m probably so tired haha.

Now while we’re on the nostalgia train, we may as well go waaaaayyyyy back to when I first fell in love with weddings, I was 5. Now talk about nostalgia…

Fun fact: I’ve only been in 2 weddings - one at age 5 and one at 26!

My 5 year old self is the one who keeps the passion of creativity alive, while my 20 year old DIY bride self helps know what tips and tricks are most helpful to share with newly engaged couples, and my current 30-something self is the one who makes it all come together.

Since next week is Christmas, you won’t be hearing from me. While I believe in hardwork, I also believe in rest and boundaries. I’ll be spending next week with my little family in Boise, doing things like a Christmas movie at the Egyptian Theatre and soaking in the hot springs.

As I reflect on the year and all it brought to be (both things I sought and a few surprises like buying a house and walking away from my full time job), I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be here with you to chat about all things weddings. Thank you for making this a year to remember!

In case you’re wondering what’s next…

A sneak peak into 2025

  • Switching email platforms

  • Launching wedding design course (more on that here)

  • Possibly offering 1:1 design sessions (we shall see!)


Don’t forget to watch my favorite go to New Year’s Eve movie that I talked about here. There’s so much New York in this movie, I could just BURST!!!

Happy holidays to you and yours, however you may choose to celebrate - I’ll see you back here in the New Year!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase a product through my link I can earn a small commission. This helps allow me the ability to keep providing you free weekly content (yay!).

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Amanda Jean Amanda Jean

3 Summer Wedding Warnings

Summer wedding season is here! Here are 3 things to keep in mind when planning your summer wedding.

Wedding season is nearly upon us and it had me thinking about some heat-specific things to keep in mind when throwing your summer wedding.

Summer weddings can be stunning or they can be sweltering…I think mine was a little bit of both (circa July 2010).

Below are 3 things to keep in mind so you don’t end up like I did on my wedding: overheated with bugs up my dress.

Summer weddings can involve bugs, sun, and dehydration…OH MY!

Summer Wedding Warning #1: Bugs

As you can see in the photo below, bugs can cause some mishaps at a summer wedding. During our summer wedding, the bugs kept flying up in between my multiple layers of tulle and getting stuck. I bet Lesley Margaret Webster aka Maggie Sottero did know their wedding dress design doubled as a very expensive mosquito net. Thankfully, my cousin was there to save the day (and the bugs) by picking them out one by one. A wedding I went to last July was also outdoors and there were so many mosquitos. I remember the photographer coming into the reception hall with giant welts on her legs from all the bites. It makes me itch just thinking about it!

Be more prepared for bugs than I was by offering guests mini bug spays, inquiring if your venue can spray for mosquitos prior to your event, and/or considering placing natural bug repellent oils or candles around your event.

Summer Wedding Warning #2: Sun

In addition to my own (which was in the 90+ degree heat, outdoor ceremony in direct sun in July), I’ve been to some other really hot weddings. One wedding I attended was outdoors in direct sun. The ceremony felt long and I remember standing up and my dress was stuck to my legs from all the sweat…#notcute. For one wedding I went to they had their wedding program printed on fans which was a very clever idea.

To help reduce the heat at your summer wedding consider having the ceremony in a shaded area and the reception in an air conditioned space. It can be hard (especially for young and elder guests) if there is no break from the heat. Provide fans for your guests, mini-sunscreens, and/or even sun hats (you can purchase in bulk for relatively low cost). You can also consider setting up misters around your space if you’re wanting to keep the whole wedding outdoors.

Summer Wedding Warning #3: Dehydration

This might be one of the most important summer wedding warnings. Heat stroke and dehydration can easily happen for guests who get so caught up in the happenings of the event that they don’t realize how hot it is and they forget to drink enough water. To help prevent your guests from overheating and becoming dehydrated keep plenty of water out at your event.

Consider placing water stations around your event (the dance floor, by the dessert table, near the food, at the bathroom, etc.). Provide bandanas or small towels your guests can cool in water and wrap around their head or neck (inspired by my father-in-law, Alonzo DuPont, who did this exact thing at our wedding - see below).

My father-in-law, Alonzo

Looking for more ideas on what to include in your summer wedding?

Check out my “don’t forget” Pinterest board here.

Wishing you a joyous start wedding season!

~Amanda Jean

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