Category Archives: Event Design

Invitation set

Fall is a very popular wedding time for us here in Charleston, so if you are working to get your invitations off to guests, we have step by step instructions for you here. And, if you haven’t seen our latest episode of Life is a Party with Page Palmer, we talk more about etiquette there as well.  We do this service for our clients all the time, but realize this is the first time many of you are doing this, so here is all you need to know.  P.S. that tissue paper that comes with your invitations, you don’t need to include that in the mailed set- it was introduced to make sure any ink that may still be wet wouldn’t transfer onto other invitations!

Step 1

Step 1- Tuck the RSVP card into the upper lid of the reply envelope as shown.

Step 2

Step 2- Place the Reception card on top of the invitation on the left hand side (this will eventually become the bottom edge of the set). If you don’t have a reception card and only have a reply card- the same would apply.

Step 3

Step 3- Place the reply card and envelope on top of the reception card. Make sure your reply card envelope is pre stamped for your guests’ convenience.

Step 5

Step 6

Step 4- The stack then slides into the inner envelope- reply card in envelope on top, reception card next, then invitation card on bottom.

Step 7

Step 5- Insert the inner envelope into the outer envelope. The inner envelope should be addressed to the guests you are inviting using just a Prefix and last name. If you are including a couples’ children, they should be separately listed in the same manner using the proper prefix. Also, the inner envelope is not sealed.

Step 8

Your package is complete and ready to be mailed! We also take one of these completed envelopes to the post office to make sure we have sufficient postage. If it’s oversized or weighs more than  a birthday card, you’ll need more! We also like to use a wet envelope sealer to make the job go by much faster.

Thank you to Lettered Olive for the beautiful designs and make sure to see our step by step video below.

9.04.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Etiquette, Event Design, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Videos, Weddings | Comments >>
Aug 30, 2017

claire_jake

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.

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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.

Floral Collage

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.

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Str_b6_soap

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.

Reception Collage

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.

claire_jake3

 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
Aug 23, 2017

Ste_a1_veil

I’m so excited to share another one wedding from way back when (can you tell Liz Banfield and I have been going through our archives?).  This was a smaller more intimate wedding here in Charleston, but we got to have fun with the design , and even though we had some rain that day, it didn’t damper any plans!

Ste_a7_invite

A simple mossy green and pink color palette was established, and Lettered Olive created a floral motif that would be used throughout the wedding printing.

Guest bag Collage

Local goodies (including a book about Mrs. Whaley’s Charleston garden, which if you missed our YouTube episode inside this garden, see it here)  filled a moss green jute tote serving as a wedding welcome bag.

Flower Collage

Keeping the bridesmaids’ nosegays very simple with white tulips, the flower girl carried a  ranunculus bundle that was pretty in pink!

Ceremony Collage

Giving guests a true Charleston welcome, a floral basket with a welcome sign was hung on the gates at the church. Orchid blooms lined the aisle giving a whimsical touch of color.

Ste_b1_walkinrain

The couple arrive to their reception at the Gibbes Museum of Art to showers, but were totally prepared and received guests under a tent in the courtyard.

Cocktail hour Collage

Once cocktail hour kicked off at the Gibbes, guests enjoyed mini passed tomato pies and our signature Lowcountry Lemonade with orchid accents.  Escort cards were displayed in slender vases filled with orchids…


Ste_b9_serving

We used to use Chef James Burns of J Bistro Restaurant/Catering (a long time old Charleston favorite) because we worked so creatively together. I love the presentation on this first course of Asian wontons served in individual bamboo steamers on a pretty plate with greenery…

Dinner Collage

Ste_c7_cake Ste_c8_cakeplate

A smaller wedding cake for the ceremonial cutting was a focal point in the chic and candlelit dining room, but what really gave guests the gasps were the beautiful and special mini individual cakes that were served at the end of dinner, by Jim Smeal of course.

getaway Collage

For a simple but oh so Charleston send off, paper cones filled with tiny orchid heads were passed out and tossed at the couple as they departed via rickshaw through the streets of Downtown Charleston.

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