I’m back from Paris and having withdrawals already!! If you follow me on Instagram, you may have kept up with my trip. I ended up not posting as much compared to my trip from earlier in the year but am totally ok with that.
As I mentioned last week, this trip was all about my best friend who was getting married in Paris! I wasn’t sure how I felt about a destination wedding prior to the trip but I have to admit – I’m totally onboard for a destination wedding. Sorry, Mom and Dad! Dina and Jason had 30 of their closest friends and family make the trip. I loved how small and intimate the group was and how much time we got to spend with the bride and groom.
Three of my very close friends from college also made the trip which made the adventure 10x more fun. The best part about this trip is that we didn’t feel pressure to visit every major restaurant or tourist destination – it was more about eating, drinking and spending time doing whatever we felt like each day.
Below are some of my favorite pictures from the long wedding weekend. Dina wore Vera Wang on her wedding day and it was stunning! Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend!! Xo. Lauren
P.s. one thing that is a MUST is seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at midnight. Such a great way to end our trip! We all look so tired but so worth it. <3
I’m soooo excited for this week as I’m headed back to Paris! This summer has been such a whirlwind I haven’t really thought much about this next trip. If you remember, I was in Paris earlier in the year with Jess and my friend Carly from college. That was my first time back to Paris in five years and can’t believe I get to go back so soon (let alone in the same year). In case you are wondering, one of my best friends from college is getting married!
I never did end up sharing my favorite things to do in Paris after my first trip (you can see my must-do activities in London here) but I will be sure to do one in a few weeks once I’m back and settled.
Anywho, I took this weekend to do absolutely nothing. This was my first weekend back in the city since MAY. Not sure how that even happened but luckily I was able to start packing for Paris. So today I’m rounding up a few key items I will be packing like off the shoulder tops (duh), statement earings, sandals for daytime activities, a chic sun hat and you know I can’t forget my eye cream and face masks. I didn’t have time to purchase but how CUTE is this Clare Viver Oui bag?
Are you familiar with Haven In Paris? They are a luxury apartment rental company with numerous locations in Paris, London, Provence, Tuscany and more.
I first came across there website when a friend referred me and I couldn’t stop perusing their listings! I knew I had to reach out regarding a few of their apartment rentals in Paris.
As you know, planning a trip abroad can be a tiny bit overwhelming. Am I right?! Finding just the right hotel or apartment rental is half the battle in my mind. You want something comfortable, cozy, clean and will meet your needs while abroad. The other stressful part is picking the location. When you’ve never been to a certain city before (or for a super short period of time), it can be hard to nail down a location or neighborhood that’s just the right fit.
For this trip in particular, we had already established that we wanted a hotel for London and an apartment rental for Paris, per friends recommendations! Luckily the hotel was easy. We discovered the Langham London so that part of the trip was planned in no time! Paris on the other hand was a little more difficult. Because so many friends recommended renting an apartment in Paris, I can’t tell you how many listings I looked at on Airbandb none of which came close to the type of listings we came across on Haven In Paris! Seriously, you guys. Haven In Paris rentals are everything you would imagine / would want when you are traveling to locations like Tuscany, Provence and Paris.
As soon as we discovered Haven In Paris, we were on our way to the cutest Parisian apartment in no time.
This was the view we had from our living room balcony. A girl could get used to this – that’s for sure. Side note: there was a little antique furniture store right across the street called Lawren’s where I picked up a blue and white ginger jar that I will instagram soon. I mean is this FATE or what?!
Here’s the view of our mantel. Note to self: need a gold parisian mirror in future home. Done.
Here’s me and my BFF Carly from Dayton enjoying a glass of rose on the balcony. Did you know that rose is so cheap in Europe? 4 Euro a glass. Again, a girl could seriously get used to this.
Below are a few shots of our living room. <3
The apartment was located in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood of Paris. Little did we know before picking this apartment that Saint Germain is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris. We seriously LOVED this neighborhood and I would definitely stay here again. There were flower shops on every corner, cafes filled with people drinking espresso outside (even in 50 degree weather and yes, there were heat lamps), and we were a 5 minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral and the Le Seine which has beautiful views of Paris.
Renting through Haven In Paris made traveling to this magical city so worthwhile and EASY. One thing that I loved about working with them is that they have a personal greeter for when you arrive and depart the city. The greeters were very helpful especially when we first arrived – making restaurant and tourist recommendations, letting us know certain nuances about the apartment, how things worked like the dishwasher, washer and dryer, and even how to lock the door! Little things I didn’t even think about when beginning the process of renting an apartment that made our stay so much easier. Who knew Paris doors could be such a pain-in-the-ass to lock?
Last but not least, they take down your travel information (flight or train number and arrival time) and you’re able to call them if you run into any trouble or have a hard time finding the apartment which can be scary when arriving in a new city where you don’t speak the language.
All in all, our experience with Haven In Paris was nothing short of amazing which is why I’m personally recommending them to you, my lovely readers, and my friends (who are also lovely!) for future Parisian adventures.
For more information and apartment listings in Paris, Provence, London or Tuscany, head on over to Haveninparis.com.
*A media rate was offered by Haven In Paris for our stay.
