Who is behind Beard & Bloom?
Hello! We’re Aly Hess and Jeremy Weiks, a wife and husband living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with our sweet miniature dachshund, Rosie.
What is the Beard & Bloom website all about?
Beard & Bloom is a lifestyle blog inspired by simple, Midwestern living and our own personal interests, including travel, home renovation and DIY projects, gardening, food, beer, current events, and more. Our blog shares our stories and viewpoints as we embark on new travels, life stages, and experiences.
If you like what you see here, Aly offers her photography services and baking services to residents of Northeast Indiana! You can also browse our online shop, with links to some of our favorite products.
Why is it called Beard & Bloom?
Good question! We played around with a lot of names, but when this one came up, it really stuck. The “Beard” part is pretty self-explanatory. Jeremy is known around town as “the guy with the awesome beard” and has been for years. The “Bloom” half, geared more toward Aly, is symbolic in several ways: growth and new starts (from which this blog was born), her love of gardening and houseplant parenting, and of course, it incorporates our dog, Rosie.
What’s your story?
We’ve been together since 2011, and a lot has happened in that time! Check out our story here.
Where are you from?
We currently reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jeremy was born and raised in our beloved city, while Aly grew up living about an hour southwest, in the countryside of Andrews, Indiana.
Are you married?
Yes! We got hitched on October 9, 2021, after ten years of being together.
What do you two do for a living?
Aly works at a local credit union as a marketing content manager, where she oversees the organization’s overall content process and strategy, online advertising, social media, blog, financial education efforts, and community partnerships, and acts as the primary copywriter and editor of the credit union’s in-house marketing agency. Jeremy has a few gigs, and you can find him slinging beers at some of our city’s most-loved establishments!
Please note that all opinions shared by us via Beard & Bloom are our own and do not reflect on the companies we work for.
What kind of camera equipment and editing tools do you use?
Most blog photos and videos are taken with a Canon Rebel T3i or our phones. Our most-used editing tools are Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Premiere, and VSCO Cam and Snapseed for phone photos.
What kind of dog is Rosie?
She’s a long-haired miniature dachshund! We adopted her from a local pet rescue, so we don’t have her extensive history. Her foster mom thought she might be a mix, but we’re pretty convinced she’s all weenie!
I’m coming to Fort Wayne! Where do you suggest I visit?
There is so much to experience in Fort Wayne! We’re excited for you to visit. Here are some of our favorite establishments.
- Dining: JK O’Donnell’s, Ophelia’s, Three Rivers Distilling, Dash-In, Junk Ditch, Tolon, Proximo, Mercado, Nawa, Acme by Full Circle, Mad Anthony’s, Bravas, The Friendly Fox, 800 Degrees, Club Soda, Henry’s, Loving Cafe, B. Antonios, The Italian Connection, Las Lomas, The Lucky Moose, The Deck, Big Apple Pizza
- Drinks: Deer Park Irish Pub, Dot & Line Brewing, 2Toms Brewing, Copper Spoon, Kekionga Cider Company, Hop River Brewing, Three Rivers Distilling Company, Welch’s Ale House, Park Place on Main, Henry’s, The Hoppy Gnome, Summit City Brewerks, Trubble Brewing, Club Soda, Trion Tavern, Old Crown, Pedal City
- Coffeeshops: Conjure Coffee, Fortezza, Mocha Lounge, Firefly Coffee House, Old Crown Coffee Roasters, The Friendly Fox, Dash-In
- Entertainment: The Cinema Center, Arena Dinner Theatre, Wunderkammer, The Embassy, Botanical Conservatory, Parkview Field, Clyde Theatre, Foellinger Theatre, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, The Rivergreenway, Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation, The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Pedal City, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Artlink, The History Center, Science Central, Fort Wayne Ballet
- Shopping: Fort Wayne’s Farmers Market, YLNI Farmers Market, Neat Neat Neat Record & Music, Fancy & Staple, Outer Grace Boutique, Hyde Brothers Books, Mercantile on Main, Fort Wayne Outfitters, Maisie & Maude, Emily’s Haute Cottage, Saving Grace Vintage, Third World Shoppe, Creative Women of the World, Vintage Treasures Antique Mall, Finders Keepers, Nature’s Corner Antique Mall, Antiques on Broadway
- Places to Stay: The Bradley, The LaSalle Bed and Breakfast, The Courtyard Downtown
- Annual Events: Middle Waves Music Festival, Three Rivers Festival, Taste of the Arts, Fright Night, Fort Wayne Veg & Brew, Germanfest, Le Tour de Fort, Night of Lights, Greek Fest, Arab Fest, RibFest, Weather the Fort, Winterval
There are some wonderful local sites that constantly update what’s happening in our city. Be sure to check out Living Fort Wayne, Visit Fort Wayne, and WhatzUp before you come to town!
How can I get in touch with you?
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re looking for more detail about something we’ve shared, are interested in partnering with us, or just want to say “hey,” you can reach us at contact@beardandbloom.com.