The Wedding Advent Calendar is Taking Off

If you’ve followed The Down Lo for a while, you know I live for a good story. Whether it’s a flight halfway across the world or a weekend road trip, I’ve always believed it’s the journey as much as the destination, and the anticipation, planning, the moments in between—that make travel magical. Turns out, the same is true for life’s biggest milestones.

From Miles to Milestones

So after a decade of helping you plan epic adventures across the globe, I have a new departure of my own and its finally time to hard launch my new baby. I’m so excited to introduce you to my new brand, Anything But Christmas Advent Calendars, a startup dedicated to celebrating all the other countdowns in life that deserve just as much excitement.

The idea came to me in the midst planning my own wedding—somewhere between the personal parade, champagne skirts, tea leaf reading, flip cup, and pool party (it’s a little hazy), in a multi-day New Orleans extravaganza that felt more like a festival than a formality that was anything but demure. After some not so subtle hinting at a TikTok I’d seen, my MOH gifted me a DIY wedding advent calendar counting down to the aisle.

Unwrapping a special surprise each day quickly became one of my favorite parts of the whole experience. It was like having my squad there with me in spirit, even when they were scattered across the globe. It helped turn nervous jitters into moments of joy. And as a couple who didn’t need much and had everything already, it was fun. Just like that, a new idea took flight, and our first product was born: the Wedding Advent Calendar.

A chic, curated, 12-day countdown for brides, packed with surprises that go beyond the boring registry. Think: pampering, joy-sparking, practical-but-playful gifts that help the bride-to-be feel loved every single day leading up to her “I do.” Because you’ve probably known your besties long enough that they deserve something a little more meaningful than cookware and a little more personal than cash.

This isn’t a departure from travel (don’t worry, the blog’s not going anywhere)—it’s an expansion of it. Life’s biggest milestones are journeys. Weddings. Anniversaries. Graduation. Retirement. They all come with their own itineraries and excitement. And they deserve more than a card and a cake for one day that’s over far too fast.

So here’s to celebrating the buildup, not just the big day. To wrapping the anticipation in a bow. Because life’s little moments deserve big magic.

I’d love for you to check it out and share with any brides to be.

To the next chapter.

xo,

Lo
And don’t worry—baby countdowns, birthdays, and more are coming soon. We all evolve as life does.