Something has shifted this month. Not just in the air (though, yes — it’s been hot hot hot here in Virginia), but in me, too. June has felt like a gentle exhale and a powerful reset all at once. After years of designing for wedding creatives (a journey I’ve loved deeply), I’m stepping into a new season of Studio Gail — one that’s slower in pace, fuller in presence, and still deeply rooted in service.

There’s been so much gratitude threaded into this month. My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary this month — one year married!! While it still feels so surreal, I also feel so sweetly settled into our new life. We kept it simple and sweet with reservations on the beach, walking our beloved venue with cocktails in hand, and chatting into the night about how sweet this first year was. June also held another milestone as I hosted the sweetest shower for my sister’s first baby.

With all that grounding and gratitude, here’s a peek at what else has been blooming this month — in the work, in the design, and in the quiet in-between.

In The Studio

June brought a few beautiful projects across the finish line, and as I near the end of custom client work, I’m fully leaning into the rhythm of the template shop.

• Madelyn Grace’s website launched this month, and she’s extra dreamy. Elegant, emotive, and completely heart-led. Her brand is filled with softness and strength — a true reflection of who she is. Getting to wrap this project was such a special full-circle moment.

• ICYMI: The Monroe Collection is officially live! A full suite of HoneyBook templates made for wedding planners who want to create a seamless, elevated client experience from inquiry to “I do.” Think: automated workflows, refined touchpoints, and a whole lot less backend stress. I poured so much intention into this set, and it’s already been so warmly received — thank you.

Coming SO SO soon:
→ A HoneyBook template for doulas — nurturing, inviting, and grounded
→ A HoneyBook template for coaches — playful, confident, and chic
→ Adeline website template — dreamy and romantic, designed especially for wedding photographers and videographers who want their site to feel like a visual storybook.

Each one created to support soul-led service providers who want their backend to feel as thoughtful as their offerings.

Design Inspiration

Though my custom client work is wrapping up, the designer in me is still very much alive (and always on the lookout for beautiful things). I’m constantly gathering bits of inspiration for future template designs — fonts I’m loving, color stories I can’t stop thinking about, and details that make something feel just right.

This month’s palette is inspired by a visual I spotted from @creativeworks.dk and it’s giving coastal café meets lakeside escape:

• Whipped Pistachio – a creamy, matcha-esque green that feels both fresh and nostalgic
• Morning Mist – soft, serene, and quietly elegant
• Horizon Haze – a cool-toned blue with a grounding grey undertone

These tones feel like a breath of early summer — calming, refined, and just a little bit indulgent. Exactly the kind of mood I want to bring into upcoming designs.

Journal Prompt of the Month

As always, I’m thinking about ritual, rhythm, balance, and alignment. I’m always asking myself how I’d like to move through life and work with more care, more alignment, more ease. Lately, I’ve been asking myself: what would make this the best summer yet? Of course, I’ve made a Pinterest board as I envision the dreamy big picture. And as my project schedule slows, and my time opens, where do I want to be allocating my attention? In my life and in my studio. How do I want to spend my time? What does a summer of rest look like? A summer of joy?

If you’re asking the same questions, you’re not alone. Maybe this is the season to redefine success. To choose slower mornings, softer schedules, and stronger boundaries. Maybe “the best summer yet” isn’t about doing more but doing it differently.

Wherever this month finds you — deep in client work, dreaming up what’s next, or simply savoring a little more daylight — I hope you find what you’re needing. Permission to pause. A moment of clarity. Or just the reminder that you’re allowed to make it your own.

See you next month,

Abbey