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Annie Castenson

@anniecastenson

267

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2.2K

followers

1505

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/ mama of cal
/ wife of @curtcastenson
/ co-founder of @kalonbridalstudio + @two_dsm
/ cup half-fuller

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My best guys 🤎Captured by the sweetest friend @laurawillsphotography by @anniecastenson

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2 years ago

The moment we’ve been waiting for … 🥹...Our sweet, sweet BOY! 🩵 Cal David has officially joined the Cast Crew and filled our world with nothing but pure joy and absolute bliss! We are over the moon, and feeling incredibly blessed that we were chosen to be this guy’s mom and dad. 🎉 September 17🕗 8:47am#️⃣ 7lb 9oz📏 19 1/4 in#genderreveal #genderannouncement #baby #babyannouncement #babyboy by @anniecastenson

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3 years ago

Over the past couple years, our studio has changed quite a bit. And with every change, we’ve grown to love her even more. Swipe through to see some of our favorite little corners around here... 🤎Every veil deserves to be on full display… so of course we had to create a space dedicated to them. What once was a small rack of a few things has transformed into an entire wall of tulle perfection.🪽“Where your wildest dreams come true” isn’t just our go-to phrase around here… We took this to a whole new meaning with our friends from @wildflowerdsm and added wildly natural florals all around the shop. 🏹The space where so many brides have wandered… searching for their dream gown. As our inventory grows, our gallery evolves with it. 🤍The finishing touch to your wedding day look and to all of our dressing room suites - carefully curated and ready for our brides to try on. 🦢Our historical location comes with perks. The exposed brick arches make for the perfect contrast against all of our gowns. So moody & so Kalon - beautiful from in the inside out. 🥀How else would we want to great our guests? With of our favorite photos from the amazing @laurawillsphotography of course! The perfect touch to greet guests as they enter our space. 🤎When opening Kalon, bringing a private + luxury experience to our brides was always at the top of our list. Hence why every bridal suite is fully yours - so you can have the most special experience with your stylist + group. 🕊️Our seating from @indiehousedesign is ready to make your mother, future MIL, sister, cousin, best friend, AND grandma spaciously comfortable whenever, and wherever they want. 💌From the beginning, our space has been a place for people to gather. Our historic tile flooring was something we knew we wanted to keep around. In our largest suite, you can even see where the diner’s barstools used to be. What some may see as a flaw… kind of makes our hearts soar. 🤎 Can’t wait to see what new corners we come to love as we continue building the dream space together. @anniecastenson @pait16 🥹 by @anniecastenson

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3 days ago

MEET TWO. We are over-the-moon to unveil Two. and share her heart and soul with the world. What started as a daydream quickly turned into a passion project that we couldn’t stop talking about and it demanded to be poured into. And here she is… 🩵Two. was created from a simple belief: bridal fashion deserves more than one moment.Founded by Paiton Hoover and Annie Castenson, the duo behind Kalon Bridal Studio, Two. offers our brides a thoughtfully curated collection of pre-owned bridal looks sourced for every celebration beyond the aisle. From engagement parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and second looks, we are here to connect brides with beautiful pieces that have been loved before and are ready to be loved again… because the best stories don’t end after one wear.With our shared experience in the industry, a gap in the market for our brides became clear - and we just couldn’t help ourselves to want to help. Two. will give brides a place to land for all their white looks at approachable prices while also extending the life of garments that deserve another celebration. 🪡Your bridal wardrobes next chapter: Thoughtfully Curated. Intentionally Reworn. More details and exciting announcements coming soon… In the meantime, thanks for being part of this new chapter with us.——All photos courtesy of Cosmos and Pinterest#iowabride #bridalfashion #bridalera #bridalconsignment #midwestbride by @anniecastenson

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a month ago

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE 😭💌🥂A second trip around the sun for Kalon has come and gone, and boy do the days, weeks, months and YEARS just keep getting sweeter. Two years ago, we opened our doors for the first time. Just two young women with big dreams and bigger hopes that Des Moines would be receptive to the ideas we had in our heads and the experiences we wanted to provide. We can still remember the nerves and doubts that would occasionally creep in, but those things always melted away when we reminded ourselves of why we started in the first place:+ We dreamed of creating a space that others would want to come in and hang out. A place you wouldn’t want to leave because it felt like home and the people there reminded you of your friends and family… Achieved. 🤎+ We dreamed of brides who would come to our front door and not only find a beautiful gown, but find a garment that felt like an extension of themselves. A reflection of their external beauty, but the gown that helped their inner Kalon shine… Achieved. 🥹+ We dreamed of a team that would pour themselves into the work they love, but more importantly, feel as though they were given the room to grow and the opportunities to succeed… Achieved. 😭+ And we dreamed of a community that showed up for us the way we feel we show up for everyone who walks through our doors. And showed up you have - it truly leaves us speechless… Achieved. 💌Every day that we get to do this “work” is an opportunity for us to do something bigger and better. It’s a chance to create a space for connection and form meaningful relationships that last far longer than the time you book your appointment to finding your dream wedding dress. While basic functions and descriptions would tell you we are a retail store that sells wedding dress, we sure hope you know how much we mean it when we say… it’s SO much more than that.Happy birthday to the place we say “is where the wildest dreams come true” for our brides… and happy freakin’ birthday to the place who has allowed our wildest dreams to come true too. 🤎With so much love, A, P, P & H by @anniecastenson

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3 months ago

business or girls trip? absolutely both 🤭AN NYC RECAP:- phone in one hand, bubbly in the other- diet included : caffeine & bagels- the tightest squeezes with our design teams- two sore feet- a veryyyyyy full camera roll- many, many, MANY pretty dresses coming home with us for future KBS brides- the best team in all the land by @anniecastenson

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3 months ago

His little smiles are absolutely nice list coded… 💌If you didn’t get a card in the mail, it’s because no one did… better luck next year. 😅 Happiest holiday wishes from your favorite Castenson crew! by @anniecastenson

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7 months ago

You’re the only friend I need… 🤎And just like that, Cal’s second trip around the sun came and went - possibly faster than the first. This little boy lights up every room he enters. We joke we have the class clown on our hands, and I can only pray that he will always have the confidence to continue to show up as himself - no matter the situation. Buddy, you are funny, sweet, competitive, goofy, strong-willed, curious, and oh-so smart! I don’t know much, but I do know the world needs more Cals.We are so lucky you are ours, and we can’t wait to see all you grow to be. In the meantime, don’t grow too fast and never outgrow those hugs for your mama… 🫶🏼 by @anniecastenson

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10 months ago

Cal’s mama is my favorite title… 🩵To all the beauty, joy and chaos this role brings us… Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mamas and mother figures out there!S/O to the sweetest friend for photos we will love forever : @jasontcrocker 🫶🏼 by @anniecastenson

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a year ago

365 / KBS 🤎One. Whole. Year. A year of the place where the wildest dreams come true. Had you told us where we’d be 365 days later, we would be thrilled, but also might giggle a little. Like WHAT? Truly? Ok. 🥹Words cannot even express how grateful we are to be standing here celebrating one whole YEAR of Kalon Bridal Studio. Crazy to even say that phrase! This year has been filled with the highest of highs, lots of happy (and a few sad) tears, opportunities to grow and learn, old friends and new friends, and SO. MANY. MORE. AMAZING. HUMANS. From brides, to their best people that join them, to wedding vendors, to KBS cheerleaders across the country, and everyone else in between - the community that has been built for the Kal Gals is something we can’t even put into words. Y’all have truly blown us away, and if we could squeeze every single one of you, please know that we would. Consider this post one big, giant, virtual group hug!When it came time to plan our birthday shoot with the absolutely magical @laurawillsphotography, we knew we wanted to somehow commemorate all the work that had been done in the past 365 days. While we could have incorporated a cute “1” balloon or candle, the single digit didn’t feel like it was enough. Instead, we landed on an epic concept that encapsulated the year as whole, the boldness we have created with LWP, and the exclamation point KBS has made on the Midwest bridal space. A wall full of the art you have given us the chance to create? Sigh. We say it every time, but this one might be the best one yet. 🫶🏼Grab your popcorn, get settled in your seats, and let the second chapter begin! This is going to be one you don’t want to miss… Browns and gowns til the day we die. 🤎———@laurawillsphotography @ivyboydmakeup @locksbylaurenashley @chachashilandbakery by @anniecastenson

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a year ago

THANKFUL, GRATEFUL, AND OH-SO BLESSED. 🤎The Kal Gals have spent the week soaking up the news of KBS being voted Best Local Bridal Shop and Best New Local Store in CITYVIEW’s 2025 Best of Des Moines! Things like this don’t happen without people like you, and we can’t begin to tell you how deep in our feels you guys have us. It truly means the most to us to be surrounded and supported by the best community, clients, family and friends! Thank you for allowing us to do what we do, and sharing this space with us. It’s more than just pretty dresses to us. Our little slice of bridal heaven continues to grow, and we just can’t wait to keep welcoming you all to the studio! Browns and gowns until the day we die, y’all. 🤟🏼 by @anniecastenson

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a year ago

The one where Cal goes to the pumpkin patch… 🎃 by @anniecastenson

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2 years ago