Category Archives: Event Design

Aug 06, 2018

photos by Corbin Gurkin

We have several requests recently to share more of our tented receptions, so today is the day! The top photos shows you a bit of what we started out working with, a large white frame tent with clear plastic walls. Then, as you step inside you can see how we transformed the space. We started with white carpeting to soften the space and really give it a feel more like a living room or interior space and not a tent. Then, a romantic drapey ceiling in crisp blue and white brings the ceiling down and of course hides all of the ugly insides. We have to have pretty fabric walls too!

photo by Liz Banfield

This seaside reception tent was quite unique for a number of reasons. One, we raised the floor up several feet so that guests’ view wasn’t impaired by the sand dunes. We also left the walls open on this one so that the seabreeze could float thru throughout the night, and for the ocean views. Then, we tried something new by creating the ceiling liner out of actual woven seagrass… It was a conversation piece throughout the night for sure!

photo by Liz Banfield

In Charleston, we have only a few months out of the year that using a clear top tent is ideal. When it’s only slightly warm, the sun bearing down on the clear plastic can really heat things up acting as a “greenhouse”. For this early April wedding when temps were still mild, we didn’t want to block out the uniqueness by covering the ceiling in fabric. So, for this garden inspired fete, a woven greenery ceiling allowed for sunlight and stars to peek through.

photos by Corbin Gurkin

For this winter wedding, heavy textures like wood, suede, and greenery were used to create this space. Of course, the outside has to be as pretty as the inside. For this grand entrance we built an awning, added custom doors, and several container plants. The oversized tent, once inside, featured hardwood floors, a garden greenery trellis backdrop and garland draped ceiling, and even a huge wooden wall behind the bar.

photos by Corbin Gurkin

For this Aspen wedding, natural elements blended with tailored prettiness. Guests walked thru a lantern lit walkway to the tent at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Hardwood floors gave way to white couches and cowhide throws. The dance floor and ceiling added softness with blue and white draping and a striped showcase floor.

8.06.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Event Design, Event Planning, Reception, Weddings | Comments >>

Aug 01, 2018

Wedding Wednesday with a Vintage Touch

We were so thrilled to see this wedding feature on 100 Layer Cake this week. . Elizabeth Messina was here to shoot with us, and as you can imagine the imagery is pretty spectacular, her style was the perfect fit for this ethereal bride.

The couple was wed at the French Huguenot Church in downtown Charleston, one of my all time favorite churches (the Guerards were one of the first Huguenot families in Charleston).

We try to encourage our clients to do a “first look” when appropriate. It still allows for the moment that a groom sees his bride on their wedding day, but on a more intimate level, which some of our brides find really relieves a lot of the pressure of walking down the aisle in front of all of those guests. And, it allows for some one on one time with the photographer to really capture some great shots together and with the wedding party without missing out on your party after the ceremony!

Vintages touches throughout the stationary by Lettered Olive really set the stage for the wedding day feel. Custom antique postcards were crafted and a logo with a vintage lace border was used throughout the wedding design. We even made a custom cornhole game for guests to play during cocktail hour!

Lettered Olive also crafted a custom “Charleston” map which was printed on the guest welcome bags. All of the wedding weekend locations were noted.

Antique keys and tags engraved with guests’ names, and attached to paper cards with table numbers, adorned a moss covered board for guests to find their seats at dinner.

Large wooden bed swings hung from live oak branches overlooking the river during cocktail hour.

As a special treat for the groom and his friends, a true Southern bourbon bar was on hand.

Lush greens, pale pinks, and creams dotted all of the florals we designed.

Draping covered in green garlands helped to give a landscaped garden feel to the dining room.

Moss and ivy topiaries on longer tables were perfect accents to the floral centerpieces on the square table. I love giving a dining room a layered look by working with different sizes, shapes, heights, and textures.

Jim Smeal did his version of a naked cake decorated with champagne grapes…

What else other than a vintage Model T could be more perfect for this couples’ departure.

8.01.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Photographers, Press, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Jul 25, 2018

Down on the Farm

Fall weddings are on the horizon, so it’s perfect timing to share our Kentucky farm wedding recently featured on Carats and Cake. I loved working with these clients from the beginning. Just the fact that a hurricane (of all things) is what we had to contend with during production going into the wedding weekend, and they didn’t loose their cool, made all of the hard work even more worth it. Thank you to Melanie Mauer for the weekend photos.

What Lettered Olive designed for our clients is still one of my most favorite. The watercolor design of the antique barn on the property graced the save the dates. The invitations incorporate metallic copper ink and guinea feather accents- stunning! And, the wedding welcome box featured a custom barn emblazoned on the front and was filled with goodies perfect for a Kentucky celebration.

Our bride, owner of popular Lexington boutique, Morton James, of course stunned in a gown by Vera Wang. A gathered from the garden bouquet of garden roses, ranunculus, hellebores, and foliage was both a lush and lovely accessory.

While in the planning stages with the couple, who were making plans to build on the property and move the barn, I knew we had to use it as the backdrop to the ceremony. It’s so perfect. We created a huge greenery wreath to act as our “alter” decor. Guests walked straight into the barn for cocktail hour. A huge square shaped bar anchored the room, and guests enjoyed small bites by Apiary Fine Catering and Events. One of my favorite elements to doing destination weddings is finding new and incredible vendors to work with… They are truly one of my new favorite caterers, our vision synched up perfectly!

Because of the torrential rains all week, the ground remained pretty soggy for the wedding day. We were able to build a weathered wooden boardwalk for guests to make their way from the barn to the dinner and reception tent without getting too bogged down.

The sailcloth tent was breathtaking with greenery draping, oatmeal linen, and wildflower bouquets anchoring wooden lamps. We found super fabulous feather candles so perfect for this event. Copper table top details included hand painted table numbers, copper foil printed menus, and even copper water cups. The place setting featured menus tied with twine and imprinted leather place cards… oh and a little guinea feather for good measure.

The simply stunning four tired cake by Martine’s Pastries was embellished with fresh blooms used throughout the wedding. Since the rent of wedding decor fell in line with the rustic feel, we wanted the lounge to be more on the feminine and airy side.

Of course, being in Kentucky there had to be a bourbon and cigar lounge for after dinner.. Guests enjoyed our dessert cart with a variety of treats passed throughout the dance lounge.

The couple was sent off by fireworks as they enjoyed S’mores by the the fire pit with friends late into the night.

7.25.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Event Design, Flowers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Weddings | Comments >>