The Prelude

Calling all coffee lovers to take a trip with me to Angel’s Island Coffee! Not only are we going to grab a cup of “Joe”, but I’m also going to give you the inside scoop on how to dress so you can match the vibe and sip in style (just like me!). Even though our primary focus will be on fashion and style, I know you’ll get curious about how the drinks taste and what the atmosphere is like, so I’ll share some details on those as well. I’ve been wanting to add this “Sipping/Eating In Style” series to my blog lineup for a long time, so I’m super excited to finally make it a reality. So without further ado, let’s head to Huntsville, Alabama and sip on some coffee!

The Inspiration

The end of last month was super busy for me and as a result I got a little bit behind on writing. I usually plan what I’m going to write about in advance, but the topic that I had chosen for this month didn’t really interest me anymore so I put it back on my draft list. The first few days of this month seemed to be breezing by and unfortunately I still had nothing to write about.

One day my husband and I were talking about his upcoming work trip to Alabama and he asked me a question that would spark my creativity. He asked, “are you still planning to visit your friend?” First and foremost, he thinks everyone is my friend so I had to explain to him that it wasn’t one of my friends that I was planning to visit. Instead, I was planning to visit a really nice lady that I met at a masterclass that I taught (update: Angel is now my beloved client and we’re most definitely friends!).

When I taught the masterclass, I learned that Angel had owned a coffee shop for 16 years (amazing right?!) and that she was located in the Huntsville area which wasn’t too far away from where we were travelling. So I made a mental note of her coffee shop and worked it into our plans for the trip. Initially, I planned to stop by, say hello, and support her coffee shop by purchasing two coffees for us. However, when my husband asked me that question, the idea of finally launching this series had made its way to the forefront of my mind.

I immediately started telling him the details about the segment and how I thought that her coffee shop would be the perfect fit. He agreed with me and just like that I had an interesting topic to write about. Unfortunately, everything didn’t go according to plan when we were there for his work trip so we didn’t get to visit Angel’s coffee shop.

However, everything ended up working out in the end because I am now Angel’s wardrobe stylist and our first project is a brand photoshoot at her coffee shop (look at God!).

Now instead of just highlighting suggested outfits, the atmosphere, and the drinks, I’ll be giving you a behind the scenes look of our photoshoot as well. Plus I get to give her the recognition she deserves (so it’s a win-win!). Let’s get into it!!

The Atmosphere

It goes without saying that the boho aesthetic is my thing! I love it so much that I’m remodeling my house into a boho/modern farmhouse aesthetic. So when I walked into Angel’s Island Coffee I immediately resonated with the atmosphere. I loved the soft, boho colors, the island vibes the menu gave me, and the immaculate attention to detail (she has boho themed plates, fun drinks, and unique activities such as a kid’s art wall and a board where customers can share their favorite drinks to help other customers decide what to order!).

I spent a good chunk of my day at the coffee shop so it was nice to see how everyone seemed confident in their orders and how they enjoyed the atmosphere (in some weird way it felt like we were all connected and when I think about it I barely saw anyone sitting alone).

Even though there were quite a few customers both inside and in drive through, it didn’t feel chaotic like other coffee shops tend to feel when there’s a steady flow of traffic. In fact, the vibes we’re at an all time high and the staff was pleasant and efficient.

This is definitely an ideal spot to visit if you love chatting and meeting new people at coffee shops. For the first time in life, I was able to chat with three people that I didn’t know at a coffee shop. They were helpful, welcoming, and they actually took the time to get to know me. I’m certain that this is not outside of the norm for this setting.

The Outfit

I’m not going to lie, since it was photoshoot day I didn’t put too much thought into my outfit. On photoshoot day I always try to opt for an elevated casual look since I know I’ll be bending over and moving around a lot. So for this shoot I went with my Kelsey Olive Green jumpsuit and I styled it in a way that I never have before…. with a vest and a solid white tee underneath. The idea of the outfit was cute, but I wish I could’ve spent more time styling it the way I wanted to (I thought of the idea the morning of the shoot…can you imagine how chaotic that was?).

Even though the outfit didn’t fully turn out the way that I envisioned it, I felt like it was the perfect outfit for the coffee shop. It had boho vibes which matched the aesthetic of the photoshoot and coffee shop, it was comfortable thanks to the sneakers and faux suede material on the jumpsuit, and it was casual enough to blend in with the customers.

Overall, if you are heading to this coffee shop for a casual cup of joe I recommend dressing casual. Angel has a lot of regulars that come in there (more on that in the next section) so they show up on the scene pretty comfy. However, if you are a content creator or a fashionista like me, then I recommend wearing something island/boho themed. The reason I suggest an outfit like this is because this shop is great for content.

Some of my favorite areas to capture content are as follows: in front of the Angel’s Island Coffee logo (pictured above), in front of the “coffee, community, and connection wall” (located towards the back of the coffee shop to the left), the nice seating area on the left side of the entrance, and of course in the gorgeous chairs in the center of the coffee shop (each of these areas will make your boho themed outfit shine bright!).

The Experience

Unbiasedly speaking, I had the BEST experience at Angel’s Island Coffee. Upon arrival to the coffee shop I noticed that the drive through was filling up quickly (which usually means that the food and/or service is amazing!). So seeing that got me pumped! Before I walked into the shop I couldn’t help but notice Angel’s logo on the building. It reminded me of the many murals we have in Nashville so I just knew I had to get a picture in front of it (see the solo photo of me above).

After about five pictures or so, I headed into the coffee shop and a smile took over my entire face. I saw customers in every corner softly talking to one another enjoying their coffee, the boho and island aesthetic was in full effect, and the baristas were friendly yet focused on providing quality food and service (I could tell!).

I came in with the intention to purchase a strawberry smoothie (yes they have options other than coffee. Amazing right?!), but after taking in the menu I started to rethink my decision (it was so many mouthwatering options to choose from!). So I stepped over to the side for a bit so I could think. While I was thinking about what to choose, I pulled out my camera and started recording the coffee shop, snapping pictures of every possible item, and taking in the details and scenery (check out my Instagram profile for the video).

While I was gathering content an older couple approached me and the wife asked me if it was my first time there. I smiled and told her yes and that I was thinking about getting a smoothie, but with all the wonderful options I was having a hard time choosing. She immediately recommended the Dingo drink and her husband agreed (the Dingo is an ice cream drink with coffee in it). She told me that they had been coming to the coffee shop for years and that the Dingo was one of her favorites.

Shortly after sharing that information with me the barista had called their order so they went to pick it up. However, what happened next surprised me. They came back over and made an effort to get to know me. They asked about what I did for a living, if I lived in the area, what brought me to the coffee shop/Alabama, etc. I was so amazed because I never had an interaction like this in a coffee shop. I love a good conversation so I started asking them questions and getting to know them too. We talked and laughed for about ten minutes and then we said our goodbyes. It was at that moment where Angel’s tagline echoed in my mind: coffee, community, and connection. I was definitely feeling connected and little did that couple know that their short conversation gave me more of a boost than the smoothie I would eventually purchase.

Once I wrapped up the conversation with the wonderful couple I finally knew what I wanted….a strawberry smoothie (don’t judge!). I placed my order and the barista immediately complimented my earrings (from that moment on I knew I belonged in Alabama!). I gave her a heartfelt thank you, paid, and waited for my order. A few minutes later another barista called out my order and when my eyes connected with the strawberry smoothie I just knew it was good (I drink a lot of smoothies so I can tell almost immediately). I grabbed it with anticipation and went to sit down in the seating area in middle of the coffee shop.

Y’all…. the first sip was magical! In fact it was so magical that I took a picture with my drink before I took another sip (I haven’t posted the photo yet but I think I will soon). The smoothie was frozen to perfection yet easy to sip and the strawberries tasted like they were freshly handpicked and then grinded up in the blender (I’m not kidding!). Unfortunately, I couldn’t savor it like I wanted to because I had to start prepping for the shoot but I can assure you that smoothie put me in a VERY good mood.

Behind The Scenes of The Brand Photoshoot

Working on this photo shoot was so much fun! Angel did a wonderful job putting our team together. We all executed perfectly on Angel’s vision for the brand and each person involved was such a pleasure to work with. During the shoot we shared laughs, ideas, and entrepreneurial stories, but my favorite part was learning how everyone stumbled upon their chosen career path.

In terms of the brand photoshoot, me and Angel wanted to create something that nailed the aesthetic of her coffee shop yet showed her customers exactly who she was and what to expect when they walk in. I also wanted to bring awareness to her beautiful sweatshirts (which in my opinion are a staple of the coffee shop!). As a professional wardrobe stylist that has a keen eye for style, I knew that they would sell well off of their looks alone, it was just a matter of styling them in a way that was eye catching and cohesive with the AIC brand.

Once we wrapped up the first half of our shoot we took a little break and decided to grab a snack from Angel’s menu (fun fact: this coffee shop sells salads, wraps, and sandwiches both singularly and in a combo. Can you believe that?!). I ordered a turkey wrap with lettuce and mayonnaise. I’m not going to lie…I was a little nervous about having mayonnaise on my wrap because I’ve never eaten it that way. However when I took the first bite I couldn’t believe how well it paired with the wrap.

Speaking of wraps, that was the BEST turkey wrap I’ve ever tasted to date (and I have eaten a lot of wraps!). Angel laughed at me, but I was so serious when I told her that it’s as if they took the flour tortilla and made it from scratch right then and there. That’s how fresh it was. It’s actually insane when I think about it. I’m usually a slow eater but I didn’t give that poor little wrap a chance. In fact, ever since I came back to Nashville, I have been craving that turkey wrap like crazy. So the next time I visit the shop I’m probably going to order like two of them to make up for lost time.

As I was finishing up my wrap, Larsen, our wonderful photographer recommended two drinks to me. The first one that she recommended was a Blonde Americano with lavender in it and the second one was just a regular Blonde Americano. I tried them both. Out of both of them my favorite was the regular Blonde Americano which was shocking because that style of coffee was a bit outside of my comfort zone. Not to mention, Angel put an extra shot of espresso in it and surprisingly I liked it. That extra shot gave me an instant boost of energy and had me feeling like I could lift up the entire building.

While I was in the middle of trying different foods and drinks a very sweet woman came up to me and said “I just wanted to say that I think you’re beautiful.” Guys…. I’ve heard that comment before but this one was different from all of those other times. I can’t put my finger on why but it was the best compliment I ever received in my life. I stood there in disbelief for a few moments because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry, hug her tightly, or give her my biggest most genuine smile. At that moment all I managed to do was give her my most heartfelt thank you. She told me that she really meant it and tears started to fill her eyes. I immediately asked if it was okay to hug her and I hugged her tightly with as much love that I could possibly give. She then introduced herself and told me that her middle name was Joy and that’s what she liked to give to people (I’m tearing up as I write this).

At that moment I knew that it was only fitting to call her Joy because that’s exactly what she brought into my life…in a way that no one ever has. I introduced myself as well and then I told her that her name is very fitting for her and that I appreciated her kind words. We talked for a about a minute or so longer and honestly I felt like it went by way too fast. She will never know this, but I cherished every second that we spent together and having her in my presence was an honor. I literally felt like I had met an angel. Her presence was so positive and light. After some time had passed we ended the conversation and we had a knowing that we would see each other again (no one can tell me otherwise). Her final words were that she loved me and I loved her too so I let her know it (before she left we took a picture together as well. I decided not to post it but I will hold on to it forever!). And once again Angel’s tagline echoed in my mind: coffee, community, and connection. And what a divine connection that was.

Everyone who witnessed me and Joy’s interaction was in awe and Angel was absolutely ecstatic to have seen such a thing happen in the shop. Shortly after me and Joy’s encounter, we finished the second part of the shoot (which was filled with a lot of laughs and bloopers) and then sadly it was time to go home (but I grabbed a Tradewinds drink first! Best. Drink. Ever!).

So if you can’t already tell I had an amazing experience at Angel’s Island Coffee shop. Between the amazing food, the amazing drinks, and the amazing customers/staff I truly couldn’t ask for more (it was enough to make me consider moving to Huntsville!). So if you’re looking for a new coffee shop to try out or you want to switch coffee shops I definitely recommend coming here. They truly have something for everyone and as you can see they live up to their mission statement coffee, community, and connection. Thank you Angel, thank you customers, and thank you Angel’s Island coffee team for a premium experience. I am now a regular.

Did Angel’s Island Coffee Pass The Vibe Check?

It’s no secret that Angel’s Island Coffee is a boho and island themed oasis that effortlessly sets itself apart from every other coffee shop. Will you be adding it to your list of must try coffee shops? And if so, do you now know what you’re going to wear after reading this blog? Let me know in the comment section below.