The excitement between co-owners and sisters Gretchen and Melanie has been building as they prepare for the unveiling of their creation, the “Two Hearts - A Love Story” journal. Melanie had the brilliant idea to incorporate their journal into a style shoot she was organizing at the luxurious Mira Vista Estate in Paso Robles, surrounded by 82 acres of lush vineyards.
Gretchen traveled from Ohio to join Melanie at this grand event. The journal, the culmination of six months of meticulous design and planning, arrived just three days before the shoot. Despite being the masterminds behind it, Gretchen and Melanie had yet to see the finished product in person. Their anticipation peaked as they opened the packaging, layer by layer, revealing the exquisite details they had carefully curated: soft textured vegan leather, gold embossing, shimmering gold gilded edges, and pearlized paper. This unboxing was a moment of pure satisfaction, all captured on video to preserve the memory forever.
On the morning of May 13th, they arrived early at Mira Vista Estate. None of the top-tier vendors participating in the styled shoot knew about the journal, adding to the excitement of the reveal. Each vendor, including Rachell, a custom stationery artist, and Lindsey, an eleven-time Spectrum Award-winning jewelry designer, was introduced to the love journal. Gretchen and Melanie eagerly awaited their reactions, valuing their feedback and critiques.
As they meandered around the estate, Gretchen and Melanie shared the story behind their journal. It was inspired by their desire to know the love stories of their parents and grandparents—details often lost over time. They wanted to create a way to capture these emotions and memories, leading them to develop the “Two Hearts” journal as a family heirloom to be cherished for generations.
The day was filled with joy, warmth, and beautiful interactions with the vendors. During the shoot, another love story unfolded. Patrick, one of the photographers, planned to propose to his girlfriend Christina at the end of the day. This added a layer of excitement and a tight timeline for the shoot. Derrick, the other photographer, took over the flat lays for the journal while Patrick prepared for his proposal. Gretchen, with her background in design, styled the book beautifully, creating lasting images that evoked a feeling of love.
As the day came to a close, Patrick’s proposal to Christina was a heartwarming surprise, captured in a moment of genuine shock and joy. It was the perfect ending to a day dedicated to love stories, marking the beginning of a new chapter for both the couple and the “Two Hearts - A Love Story” journal.
And so, another love story is created.
Photos by Elevatd Media