Here are my top 10 amazing photos of 2020 for Marti & Company. And I’m so excited to have the opportunity to share these with you. This has been the year of years! Read on to see why these photos made the list.

Model Ashten Leinhard | Black Hat Marti & Company | Photo by Nick Chill
I took this photo for a product photography class. I love, love macarons! Kelli, our daughter had brought me macarons from a shop at the Paris airport when she & Charbel flew home for Christmas last year. So, this photo made the “Top 10 Amazing Photos Your Sure to Love” list just because it’s macarons!
The tagline here says it all: Embellishments … step into the magic. I was in Chicago last Jan. 4 with our daughter, Kelli & her husband, Charbel. Kelli was leaving the next day to return to work in Gore, Chad, Africa. They went sightseeing, and I went shopping (after having the best pizza ever). Soutache Ribbons has been a supplier of rhinestone trims for headbands, headpieces, and belts for my business since 2011. I’m so thankful I was able to visit Soutache in January since Covid-19 has stopped most travel and especially international travel at this time. This photo made the list because I love to shop for embellishments and materials for my designs and I also love to travel.

Photo credits: Ray Riscassi with Ray, Charlottesville, VA. | Wedding cape available at Marti & Company
This lovely bride contacted me on Etsy in late February to order a couture cape veil for her wedding dress. Her wedding date was March 28th. I first thought this is going to be really a close one. Luckily, I was in-between wedding shows and I had a new design idea that just happened to be a cape veil. So, I’m always up to make something work, so I was all in. This bride was so easy to work with and because of her lightning-quick responses to my design questions, I was able to finish and mail her cape veil to her 2 weeks before her wedding. 5 days later the Covid-19 safety precautions brought about shutdowns of nonessential businesses and large gatherings like weddings. As I think back over the year I feel very thankful how this last-minute wedding cape came together and was so happy that I took the chance I did and helped this Bride have her dream wedding. Keep reading to find another reason why the wedding cape made the “My Top 10 Amazing Photos Your Sure to Love” list.
With the necessary precautions related to the pandemic, I needed to change my boutique location from a room inside our house to our enclosed vintage porch with a separate entrance to provide a safe shopping experience for my customers. This process was both time-consuming and exhilarating of equal amounts because it meant that I could stay in business. On July 13th, I was finished and ready to open with all the COVID-19 precautions in place. I’m so grateful to my friends Pam & Eileen, they came over for a “soft opening” to work out any kinks. Also, to Pam for taking pictures.
For the last 5 years, I make a trip to Karen Morris’s Millinery Studio in Mpls., MN. We spend 2 fabulous days making hats and sharing biz stories. It’s like a self-care retreat though it’s long days and tired hands. Karen is awesomely talented and a resourceful designer and instructor. I’m hoping to return this year when it’s safe to travel and take classes indoors. This photo made the list because it brought light and comfort to me as we continued through this pandemic year.

Veils & Headpieces by Marti & Company | Photo by Mara
With all the challenges of 2020, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to a trunk show at Mara’s. One of my dreams came true. Mara’s is located in Charles City, Iowa. Tiffany and staff are highly trained in bridal styling and provide an exquisite experience complete with a glass of bubbly. It’s probably pretty obvious why this photo made the list, but just in case it’s not I got to cross this dream off my bucket list!

Model – Ashten Leinhard | Gown – Mara’s | Photo by Marti, Marti & Company | Location The Old Stone Church, Ridgeway, Iowa
2020 marked our first collaborative photoshoot. Mara’s from Charles City generously lent a stunning wedding gown for the photoshoot. Love, love the back of this gown! Our team: Nick Chill, photographer, Ashley Eileen at Artistry by Ashley Eileen for hair and makeup, and Tiffany at Mara’s for your inspiration & this gown. The gown paired beautifully with a hat from the Collection. And it was so fun to discover this shoutout on Mara’s Instagram. Reason enough to make my “Top 10 Amazing Photos Your Sure to Love” list. See the first photo in this post and for additional details see this Etsy listing, Madeline Hat

Model Ashten Leinhard | Photo by Nick Chill
My first new design for 2020 turned out to be our best-seller this year earning its spot on My Top 10 Amazing Photo list. This cape veil comes customized to the Bride’s unique style and is available in silk white, ivory, blush (shown), black, and most other colors. More details here: Francesca Cape
I spent a bit of time in late March finding a face mask pattern that fit comfortably and was stylish. After making several samples, I finally found the one that met that criteria. Our son Curt and his girlfriend, Jen, modeled the face masks and created keywords for listing descriptions on Etsy. This photo made the top 10Â amazing photo list just because of the sheer amount of time it took to accomplish and also, I loved making the masks not only for my Etsy Shop and family members but also for children with special needs.

Garters by Marti & Company | Photo by Nick Chill
This photo made My Top 10 Amazing Photos Your Sure to Love list because of how Nick, our photographer captured the luxe essence of the garters in this photo. The stretch lace for the solo rose gold garter is from Soutache in Chicago. A find from my trip there last January. These garters are available at The Dress by Morgan Lynn or in my Etsy Shop
That’s a wrap for 2020!
All of this happened safely during a pandemic. Moreover, your support by taking the time to write a comment, stop by the boutique or sharing Facebook/Instagram or Pinterest posts all made this possible. Each of these actions adds up to a huge impact for a small business. Thank you!
It’s with heartfelt gratitude that I close this year and start a new year at Marti & Company. So many thank you’s to my family and you, my wonderful stylish customers. Thank you for sharing your light with me throughout 2020. Cheers to 2021! 💖