Category Archives: Event Design

Oct 15, 2019

If you are looking for wedding inspiration, there is no question that decorating with greenery right now is hot, almost unavoidable, therefore clients are asking for it. We are huge fans of decorating with greenery due to it’s heartiness allowing some decorating in advance and the ability to go far on impact and less on cost. Here are some of the many ways we have incorporated it into some of our designs.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

This chuppa fashioned from magnolia leaves is balanced with a sweet floral swag, and could easily be replicated on a smaller scale by gathering greenery available in your neighbor’s or your yard.

photos by Tec Petaja

Greenery on large scale can be quite impactful… Full, lush, and oversized centerpieces were perfect on this stark modern rehearsal dinner table. And, as part of a lighting installation fill in a clear top tent and soften the space in this wedding dinner tent.

photos by Liz Banfield and Tec Petaja

Place settings are a fantastic area for using greenery… We used a stem with waxy leaves as a place card that tucked nicely into the napkin as an embellishment. For a rehearsal dinner, a leaf was hand painted and wrapped around the menu cards. Finally, as a modern day “doily” a fatsia looks chic on a charger for a party with a tropical vibe.

photo by A Bryan Photo

Greenery for sure adds depth and dimension to floral bouquets, but i LOVED the ones we did that were all greens… Something different and unexpected and still super stylish.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield photo by Liz Banfield

This labor of love took the rustic cakes to the next level. The linen was covered in galax leaves hand glued over a couple of days, but it was well worth it!

photos by Liz Banfield

So simple and easy, yet looks so thoughtful once it’s executed. Using many different types of leaves (aspidistra, fern, monstera) for decorating passed hors d’eouvres and cocktails is a favorite of mine. I love the idea of using leaves instead of doilies to hold food items into place. Also makes for unique presentation.

photos by Corbin Gurkin, Liz Banfield, Corbin Gurkin

A favorite spot of our is on chair backs. Just a simple swag on the back of the bride and groom chairs (or a monogram made from greenery), against wooden chairs adds a thoughtful touch. For a Christmas wedding, greenery wreaths and embroidered ribbons dictated the table numbers for dinner.

10.15.19 | TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Reception, Weddings | Comments >>

Oct 01, 2019

Favorite Fall Bouquets

Photo by Liz Banfield

Designing flowers for our fall weddings means incorporating different color palettes, and using different materials. Above, traditional airy whites and creams find contrast in seasonal greenery. Greenery being a loose term in that it doesn’t all have to be green, rusty foliage offers a delicate balance.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

I like being able to get creative and come up with something a little unexpected, which for us lately means softer colors or bringing in a metallic like rose gold or copper. For the Maid of honor in this wedding, darker blooms in the same family as the pastels were added for an ombre feel but as a special nod.

Photo by Liz Banfield

Without seeing the same old idea of it, this bouquet really says “harvest” to me. I love the blush and beige tones and the mix of different blooms. The succulent addition is a great and fun alternative for greenery.

Photos by Corbin Gurkin

For this grand fall fete, a bouquet to match the grandness of the bridal gown was in order. There was a lot of “old world” feel to this wedding, so I thought a formal but very simple long stemmed bouquet could carry it’s weight with the dress. Long stemmed roses, and natural greenery with a few berries speckled in tied off with vintage silk ribbon.. if it’s possible for these two words to go together I think it’s full of an airy heaviness indicative of fall in Charleston.

photo by Melanie Mauer

Photo by Liz Banfield

For both of these bouquets, textured looks was the dominate design element. Our bride’s bouquet add berries on the vine, wild clematis, and drapey greens gave a gathered from the garden look. The bridesmaids worn black gowns, so the shades of creams and beiges really popped. Flowers only available in this season like Anenomes and craspedia balls bring in a different look.

Photo by Corbin Gurkin

Deep wines and burgundies mixed with purple or pinks is one of my favorite color palettes… and I love the just gathered wild flower look that many people associate more with spring, but just as spectacular in fall.

Photo by Corbin Gurkin

A delicate pale palette can still work in Fall, dahlias and anemones are blooms true to the season, and adding in a hint of golden tones warms the collection.

10.01.19 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Event Design, Flowers, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Sep 24, 2019

What Bridesmaids Are Wearing

photo by Tec Petaja

If you follow weddings like we do, you are probably seeing that anything goes these days for bridesmaids’ attire… The NY Times even published a story about a maid of honor showing up in a TRex costume after being given the note to wear ANYthing she wanted! But, our clients are sticking a with a more traditional sense of bridesmaids clothing, even if with a bit of a twist here and there. Colors are running the gamut, and the standard appears to be different versions of the same dress fabric and colors, as in the above.

photo by Ryan Ray

This bride wanted a glam and formal event which called for formal gowns. Full length versions of these black dresses were perfectly appropriate and definitely ensures these ladies would be able to wear them again. Even though this was a spring wedding, florals in muted tones made them work for the season.

photo by Sylvie Gil

Shades of blue remain the most common color scheme our clients are wearing. For this seaside Hamptons wedding, watercolor tones created an ombre palette. While, the maid of honor wore a patterned frock, for a special designation.

photos 1 &2 Corbin Gurkin; photo by Jose Villa

Long blue gowns for an at home fall wedding in Georgia; a winter Beach wedding in Watercolor, Florida; and a summer evening in Upstate New York.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

For a bride who is one part of the fashion house, Dee Hutton, custom made couture gowns in a varying but complimentary color scheme proved amazing in photos.

9.24.19 | TARA GUÉRARD
Beauty, Bridal Style, Dresses, Event Design, Fashion, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>