We’re sharing from the archives today!  Back when Charleston Magazine Editor, Darcy Shankland married her beau, we hopped right in to help her design an intimate, fun, and romantic fall party full of candlelight and seasonal decor.  The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation provided the perfect rustic setting (the same venue for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ wedding) and the large hearth with a roaring fire couldn’t make for a better backdrop. We wrapped the beams in trees and branches full of leaves painted golds and reds, and hung out candle chandelier which helps drench the room in a glow. Benches for a small ceremony in the round were easy to relocate and open up the room for the reception.

We adopted the burgundy dahlia as a main focal point throughout the wedding design. The Bride’s single bloom bouquet was a standout against her ivory silk gown.

A spiced cranberry cocktail served in stemless glasses and adorned with the dahlia tags were offered to guests at the end of the ceremony.

Jim Smeal‘s knock down amazing ruffled dahlia cake was seriously almost too awesome to cut. Miniature cranberry and glazed raspberry pies were displayed as well for a beautiful bounty of sweets!

In lieu of ceremony programs, mirrors framing the fireplace were hand written with the pertinent people and information.

Long tables full of burlap wrapped glass candle cylinders and single stemmed vases with burgundy dahlias made for luxurious centerpieces on a budget! We tied with hemp twine little dahlia tags to the candle cylinders for extra color and detail.

In order to give the bride a grand entrance to the ceremony, swaths of sheer fabric in gold and burgundy were strategically hung so that we could position her and open as needed.  Thank you to Squire Fox for all of the beautiful photos.