Category Archives: Cakes

Sep 13, 2017

I’m thrilled to share this vintage Charleston wedding we did several years ago, because the bride was personal to me. Not only did I babysit her years and years ago, but we’d also done her big sister’s wedding in the early days of Soiree. The wedding was a simple and lovely garden party with lots of personal details. The bride wore her great great grandmothers dress which remained nearly intact from her wedding day! Photographs are by Gayle Brooker…

Food stations were scattered and seating vignettes created throughout the garden to keep the guests moving and offer a change of scenery.

September and October while still very popular and seasonably warm in Charleston, are the months when a slight chill can creep in at night. We draped soft blankets over the lounge sofas to keep guests cozy as the air chilled after the sun went down.

Lanterns and string lights are lovely during the day and give a glowing ambience into the evening. Behind the bars, calligraphied mirrors listed the cocktail offerings.

A bountiful and textured mix of flowers created the ladies’ bouquets. The bridesmaids’ gowns took a note from the one shoulder design of the bridal gown.

One of my favorite items by Lettered Olive are our champagne collars. The bride and groom’s silhouettes were used throughout many of the printed items. Custom wine labels were printed and used to create a pretty bar display.

Each food station offered lovely and composed dishes to allow for easy guest movement and conversation like this Lowcountry seafood trio…

Smaller tiers of the bride’s favorite coconut cake from Peninsula Grill was built onto custom stands. Guests received crafted rose petal bags for the send off at the end of the evening.

A party in the garden can still be lovely even in the evening with great lighting… String cafe lights and glowing candle lanterns gave the perfect night time ambience.

The bride and groom departed in a fabulous vintage Jaguar convertible…We always like to do something a little fun with our Just Married signs so using the couple’s silhouettes we had used throughout the rest of the wedding printing seemed like the perfect vintage touch for this wedding.

9.13.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Weddings | Comments >>

Sep 06, 2017

All Fore Love

We couldn’t think of a better way to spend Wedding Wednesday than with this pink and white floral affair that celebrated the couples’ love of golf. After a wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church in downtown Charleston, the couple welcomed friends and family (including her cousin, who is a former bride of ours) at Runnymede Plantation outside of town and Adrienne Page photographed the day. Dress is by Vera Wang

paper materials

Lettered Olive designed a letterpress suite of wedding papers using coordinating die cut shapes, envelope liners and backings.

Guest bag

Guest welcome bags were canvas shoe (golf shoe specifically of course) bags filled with local goodies and custom printed packaging.

Wreath at churh

A sweet ceremony was held at First Baptist Church…Lush pink arrangements adorned the doors and gates of the church, while the aisle was dressed with a custom aisle runner, an archway, and candelabras running the length of the aisle.

The bride and groom rode together from the ceremony to the reception. A great way for the two of them to reflect on the marriage and ceremony before joining all of the guests at the reception.

Floral Collage

In contrary to the traditionally masculine golf aspect, the bride added her romantic girly touch with an abundance of pink and pink flowers!

Cocktail hour Collage

Once onsite at Runnymede Plantation, guests enjoyed an al fresco cocktail hour on the lawn overlooking the Ashley River.

Golf Collage

Because of the family business, golf is huge with this couple. The groom was gifted a rare vintage golf photo from the bride, the table numbers mimicked greens flags, guests’ seating arrangements were embroidered golf flags, and a chipping green and equipment was set up so that guests could hit balls off of the river banks.

Food Collage

Cru Catering provided the delicious spread and cocktail hour bites were all about elegant display..

Tent Collage

Guests enjoyed dinner and dancing in a tent with flowing drapery and full of lush pink flowers. One of my favorite features we did were the floral cornices framing the chandeliers hanging over the dinner tables.

A lovely flower wall was the perfect backdrop for Jim Smeal’s wedding cake.

A glam “back porch” set up was built off of the back of the tent overlooking the river… Guests enjoyed a S’mores station and fire pit of course under the glow of soft pink lighting.

Going away Collage

The bride and groom bid their guests farewell by the glow of fireworks.

9.06.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Aug 30, 2017

Something Tiffany Blue

Sorry, I just can’t help sharing all of our fun older weddings from the archives as I’m finding them. It’s been so fun to relive these! Today, we share another one shot by Liz Banfield, which took place at the French Huguenot Church and William Aiken House. Whites and creams were paired with the bolder Tiffany Blue for a feminine yet formal affair.

The streets and building of downtown Charleston make fabulous backdrops for our photographers… The Dock Street Theater is directly across the street from the French Huguenot Church so Liz was able to get some pretty candid shots of the couple before the ceremony.

A pretty pretty bridal bouquet included lily of the valley and it’s greens, along with tulips and gardenias… to add a bit of color to the wreaths on the church gates, little ribbon bows in Tiffany blue were tucked in.

An overflowering guest welcome box included cheese and crackers, bottled waters, and Chattanooga thumbprint cookies (a throw back to the bride’s home town). Later, guests received beautifully packaged “S” soaps as take home favors. I loved this idea, because it was something so simple that you wouldn’t necessarily think about but would be happy to get… especially when packaged so thoughtfully.

Gates at the William Aiken House were gussied up with fabric curtains and a chandelier, which also made for pretty ambience at the end during the send off. Since Tiffany blue isn’t a naturally occurring color in flowers, we wrapped vases in coordinating fabric so that the lush white centerpieces popped. Guests lounged on sofas accented with our shadow box tables housing fresh gardenia blooms.

After cake, champagne, and dancing with guests into the wee hours, our couple departed to guests waving ribbon wands….. these were adorable in the photos and didn’t leave a mess. Luckily, this bride’s younger sister married several years later and we got to work with this awesome family again on that wedding!

8.30.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Flowers, Food and Drink, Gifts, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | 2 Comments