From Provence to What’s Next: A Love Letter to 2025 & the Dreams Carrying Us Into 2026

There’s a quiet moment that happens at the end of every year, usually when the inbox slows, the suitcases are unpacked, and the photos finally make it out of my camera roll. It’s the moment when I stop moving long enough to see what actually happened.

2025 was that kind of year.

Not flashy. Not rushed. But deeply grounding.

This year taught me that growth doesn’t always look like expansion. Sometimes it looks like trust (in my vision and in myself). It looks like taking a minute to look around me at the people who continue to lift me up and celebrate that I'm creating something pretty special with Maison d'Amies.

What 2025 Gave Me

2025 gave me deeper conversations at the table. It gave me guests who arrived as strangers and left as friends. It gave me partners who continued to show up, not because they had to, but because they believed in what Maison d’Amies is becoming.

It reminded me why I started this in the first place.

Because Maison d’Amies was never about checking destinations off a list. It was about creating space for women to feel supported, curious, nourished, and fully themselves while traveling. This year affirmed that when you lead with care, the right people find you.

Returning to What I Love

Some of the most exciting moments of 2025 weren’t about discovering something new, they were about returning. Returning to cities I fell in love with years ago, now seeing them through a different lens. Returning to collaborators who’ve been part of this story since year one. There’s something powerful about revisiting a place when you know who you are and exactly who you’re building this for.

Looking Ahead to 2026

2025 asked us to slow down and listen. Now 2026 feels full of possibility.

Next year, Maison d’Amies will expand into two new regions of France, each with its own rhythm and history. These aren’t destinations chosen for novelty. They’re places that have been quietly calling for years and are places that invite us to slow down and embrace travel on our own terms.

2026 is also about collaboration. I’m especially excited to continue growing alongside partners like The Cultured Somm, whose approach to food, wine, and storytelling aligns so naturally with our values. These partnerships aren’t add-ons, they’re part of the fabric of what makes each retreat feel thoughtful and immersive.

Friends of the House

And as we look a little further ahead, we’re also beginning to thoughtfully explore something new. Starting in 2027, Maison d’Amies will host one annual “Friends of the House” gathering: a co-ed retreat designed for longtime guests, partners, and collaborators. This wasn’t a casual decision. Women-only retreats will always remain the foundation of Maison d’Amies, they are not changing. Friends of the House is simply an extension of our table. A once-a-year opportunity to open our doors to the wider community that has grown alongside us. A chance for me to share the same care, culture, and intentional travel that has defined Maison d’Amies from the beginning. It’s less about expansion, and more about hospitality.

Carrying This Forward

Moving into 2026, I’m carrying forward what matters most:

• Small groups that feel intentional

• Experiences that prioritize ease and connection

• Travel that meets women exactly where they are

If you’ve been watching from afar, saving posts, or quietly imagining yourself at the table I invite you to consider this your sign. What we’re building next is rooted in everything that’s come before. And I can’t wait to share it with you.

Gros bisous mes amies!

Stephanie