Q&A: The Inspiring Sara Duckett

As I mentioned in my post yesteday, I love the style of the online boutique Sadie Olive. I was really curious about this lady who has taken a passion for shopping and design and done what many of us dream about- started her own successful business. That by itself is inspiring for me but I had a feeling that she would have an amazingly beautiful wedding... and wow, it was simply stunning. I am so excited to share this Q&A with Sara Duckett... enjoy!


Q: How would you describe the style and inspiration for your wedding?
A: I wanted a very rustic feel. Before I was even engaged I had a magazine saved for several years of a wedding that took place in an old barn. I loved the small town feel of it and the rustic elegance. Since Josh is a big wine lover, we looked at several venues in wine country. Firestone Winery offered the best of what we both wanted (a large barn structure and an open field of wine grapes). We both feel in love with it decided location was one of the most important details of the wedding.


Q: What or Who inspired your ‘bridal look?’
A: Hmmm, this one is tough. I don’t think it was a particular person or feature who inspired my style. I mainly wanted a dress that felt unique and felt like it suited me. There was one item I did see in a magazine that I fell in love with and just HAD to have. It was a purse by Moo Roo (now Mary Norton). I made sure my dress went with the bag since I think I bought the bag BEFORE the dress.


Q: What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?
A: My maternal grandparents died shortly before my wedding day, and there was a moment when I was alone with the photographer taking pictures outside and I felt the wind pick up really heavy and swirl the fabric hanging from the pole barn around me. I knew for some reason it was my grandmother telling me they were there. My sisters were somewhat close by and they felt it too. It was such a small moment, but it meant a lot to me.


Q: What details did you incorporate to truly make the day reflect the two of you as a couple?
A: Well there were a lot of small details we had incorporated that day, like the wine bottle used as our guest book, and the wine corks used to hold our place cards. But the thing that probably most describes us as a couple, were the small rubber ducky’s we used as favors. Josh’s last name is “Duckett” and his whole family collects ducks in honor of that. I thought it added a touch of humor to an otherwise elegant event. I had small tags made that were tied around their necks that said “Quack to see the Duckett’s Kiss”.


Q: What words you say describe your style?
A: Vintage Inspired, Crisp, Clean, Elegant and Casual.


Q: What experiences or who do you think has influence your style?
A: My husband Josh and I honeymooned in France and Italy. It was my first time out of the country, and the history and sights overwhelmed me. We stayed in Naples, Italy, a little volcanic island off the coast of Italy called Ischia, Venice, and Paris, France. We also got to visit Pompeii. I remember that trip very fondly and I try to find pieces to surround me that evoke that feeling of history and beauty. I tend to be drawn toward items and décor that are European influenced.


Q: You mention on your blog that your love for shopping and interest in interior design is what led you to create your online boutique, Sadie Olive; do you still have a passion for shopping or has that passion changed?
A:I think I will always LOVE to shop and decorate. I think my Mom instilled that in me. Even when we weren’t moving from house to house (which we did a lot) we rearranged the furniture to freshen things up a bit. I do those same things now in my adult life.

Q: Where do you find inspiration for your design projects?
A:All over! Magazines, vintage labels, other websites, even clothing.


Q: What are your favorite stores to drool over?
A: I am mostly a home body, so I do most of my shopping these days by catalog or internet. Some of my favorites are Pottery Barn, CS Post and Co, Wisteria, Posh Chicago, Regalo and Blessings.

Q: Who would you most want to go shopping with and where?
A:I actually LOVE to shop with my sister Morgan. We probably have the most in common when it comes to style and the love of shopping. As for the where…. I think Paris would be my first choice.

Q: What do you find most challenging about running your own business?
A:This is probably going to sound terrible… but I would have to say patience. There will be times that I have had no sleep, or I am fighting with Josh, or I am just plain old moody… and I have to remember to put on a happy face for my customers. It’s tough sometimes having to work long hours and six or seven days a week. But I am doing what I love and that makes it all worth it.


Q: Where does the name Sadie Olive come from?
A:It is actually the name Josh and I picked out for our future daughter; Sadie, because it is a nickname for Sara and it means “a little princess”, and Olive because I adore “old lady names” (as I like to call them) and Josh LOVES olives. We were also married in “Los Olivos.”



Thanks for playing and doing the interview Sara!