photographed by lauren pennington photography
“We are laying the foundation for a company that I dream will grow into a thriving, beautiful community of people in pursuit of a life well-lived.”
Name & Position at Season Journals
Hi! I’m Annette Furio and I am the Founder and Creative Director at Season.
What led you to starting Season?
Prior to launching Season, I co-owned a wedding stationery company for five years. Through that experience, I had the privilege of working closely with engaged couples, their families and wedding vendors across disciplines. I loved serving this audience and I knew I wanted to create something they could use.
Combining my love for design, tangible things, and the stories told by our couples, I landed on the concept of writing a guided journal that helped them create their most authentic version of their wedding day and document the engagement process at the same time. We launched The Engagement Journal in January 2020!
What is the vision for Season?
When I decided on the name “Season,” I knew we would grow to include many seasons of life in our product collection, serving a wide variety of individuals through this journey of the human experience we share.
My goal is to provide an outlet for anyone who wants to document their story, grow deeper in their relationships (including relationship with themselves), and live a full and authentic life.
We’ll do that through the products and content we create for you.
We’ll be your guiding voice through many seasons, asking the questions that result in personal discovery, growth, and clarity.
What season of life are you in at the moment?
I’m finding myself in a season of learning and building, which takes a lot of patience. We launched Season Journals at the beginning of this year, and with any new business comes daily challenges, insights, disappointments and victories. We are laying the foundation for a company I dream will grow into a thriving, beautiful community of people in pursuit of a life well-lived. The vision of the future excites me and drives me to keep going!
What do you hope to learn the rest of this year?
I am learning how to take things day by day and to truly be present in this process. It’s been a challenging year for many people and businesses alike, but that doesn’t mean we have to lose sight of the long-term vision. Alternatively, that’s what can keep us going. Year one of a business is a lot different than year three or year five. I am finding a balance between our stretch goals and short term duties – pushing us forward each day, closer and closer to our big-picture vision. It sounds cliche, but I feel like I learn something new every day. And sometimes that is exhausting. Sometimes you just want to do the thing you know how to do best. There’s so much to learn. So much to try, revise, and try again. But it’s also an incredible privilege to do this work, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity.
What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
My favorite thing this summer has been a little Friday night tradition with my husband and our neighbors – you can find us on our downtown Columbus rooftop with good food, a rotating selection of drinks, and a sunset over the city. (Unless we get rained out. In that case, no sunset.) It’s simple, relaxing, and a time where I feel most myself.
Any new quarantine hobbies?
Trying new recipes, reading, and educating myself about the vast world of wine!
What do you like to do to slow down and be in the moment?
I like to ditch my phone whenever possible. I’ve made it a priority to leave my phone in my bag, in the car, or even at home. It is the single most noticeable thing I’ve done to become more present in the moment and with the people I am around. I people-watch in the park instead of looking down. Ideas pop up that normally wouldn’t. If I am on my phone, I've made it a new habit to open the Kindle app and read (see what I’m reading here). My screen time has lowered, and because of it, I am noticing that I’m so much more present in my own life. I recommend reading the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport to read what inspired my decision to do this.
What’s your wedding style? Boho, modern, classic, etc?
When my husband and I got married in 2015, my style was much more classic. Think soft, whimsical, garden party vibes. Our color palette was white, blush, dusty blue and navy. If I were planning my wedding right now, it would be super minimal and modern with black, white and a dark rich green palette.
What’s your favorite way to document important moments in your life?
I love whenever I get a chance to get out my camera and shoot some photos. I think photography is an extremely meaningful and beautiful form of documentation. If you can hire a photographer for your event or milestone (even if it's not a wedding) – do it!
You might expect me to say writing – and you aren’t far off. I’ve recently rediscovered journaling for myself in this season of life. I’m happy to report I’ve been documenting life through writing after taking a bit of a hiatus. I discover so much more about myself through writing than any other form of documentation. And I know you will, too.
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