A Note From The Editor: We are very aware that the words we publish in this space and in our print issues have power. Even more so, we’re in awe of how your words, our dear Darling readers, keep us encouraged and motivated in the mission to redefine what true beauty looks like — in the media and in culture — so that all women everywhere can feel known, loved, whole and worthy. We want to start sharing these words with you as well, because YOU are the real voice and agent of change.
From Darling reader Jessie McShane:
A few weeks ago my good friend Wynne, from La vie Charme Events, and I got together at a cozy pub in Minneapolis for what started as a casual happy hour to catch up. The evening was full of talk of exciting collaborations, wedding recap (Wynne had just gotten married in Canada), and business ventures. Wyn and I are both big fans of Darling Magazine so while on the topic of one of their more recent posts about Turning Your Passion into Your Profession we found ourselves talking about how we really wanted to get to know some of the local Minnesota women working towards their passions on a more personal level.
We decided to curate an intimate evening with others and create a space with the Darling mission in mind. Our goal was to evoke a discussion on femininity, lead women to discover beauty apart from vanity, influence apart from manipulation; all while creating beauty and embodying love. We wanted every woman to feel original and exceptional, and engage in meaningful conversations to support one another. We then went to the drawing boards and put together an enchanting evening with 10 local MN creatives.
We wanted every woman to feel original and exceptional, and engage in meaningful conversations to support one another.
It was important to have a setting away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still close enough so attendees did not have to drive too far. Wyn had the perfect idea to use her cabin and graciously offered her family’s beautiful backyard space in Mound, Minnesota. We went through all of the styling for the evening and incorporated some new Wool and Whiskey products for people to get a sneak peek of (now in the shop!). We decided to make it more of a “pot luck” style and asked each attendee to bring something to share.
Wynne and I spent the afternoon cooking and styling the dinner, complete with a whiskey bar, before guests arrived around 6pm. We started in the house with drinks and appetizers and then headed outside to take a seat around the table. As a group we introduced ourselves, toasted to the season, watched the sunset, and spent the evening discovering things about each person and learning from one another over delicious dishes each guest brought.
Matt Munson from Matthew Munson Photography beautifully captured the evening and we were so fortunate to have him there!
The evening was better than we could have hoped and we left the night feeling so empowered and grateful to have gotten to know these amazing women on a more personal level. They are all doing great things and each woman shared an important piece of their journey with all of us. I look forward to continuing the relationships that were established this night and encourage everyone to take after the Darling mission and host a collective dinner to anyone wanting to learn and grow from those in and around your community.
To see more pictures or the creative women present at this event, visit Jessie’s site!
Interested in hosting a Darling event of your own? Join our Darling Society for only $5! Get all the details, here!
Images via Matthew Munson Photography
