Category Archives: Event Design

May 18, 2016

This sweet sunny soiree from the vault is perfect for this Wedding Wednesday. The yellow, white, and green is just the bright color pattern needed for the midweek slump. This wedding was even more special for us since we had done the bride’s older sister’s wedding a couple of years before. She wore a fabulous eyelet Caroline Herrera ballgown, which we just had to incorporate into the wedding decor as well.

The brides’ bouquet, full of lush greenery and white blooms like ranunculus, lily of the valley, clematis, and fluffy listianthus was wrapped with eyelet fabric to match the brides’ gown. Her letterpress invitation suite designed by Lettered Olive, had a cheery yellow and white wrap in lieu of inner envelopes.

Guest welcome “pails” were full of local treats, waters, and necessities like bug spray, sunscreen, etc. all adorned with custom stickers and packaging.

Ceremony Collage

To create an “alter” for the wedding ceremony, we hung hand made yellow banners with white floral patterns from the branches of the old Live Oak tree. The Drayton Hall home made an amazing backdrop for the wedding.

Cocktail Hour Collage

We always have umbrellas or back up plans for outdoor ceremonies, and thank goodness, because there were some quick showers at this one! At cocktail hour, guests enjoyed lemonade cocktails.

Candle Collage

The eyelet pattern was carefully woven into the tent decor which glowed with a soft yellow and white ambience all evening.

Photos by Adrienne Page.

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

May 16, 2016

Charleston Venue Scene

Lowndes Grove Collage

photos by Liz Banfield

This Monday calls for a roundup of some of our favorite wedding venues in Charleston, SC. We’re highlighting a few of our favorite ceremony (outside of the churches) and reception venues that we are lucky to work with here in the Lowcountry. Our first is Lowndes Grove Plantation located actually in downtown Charleston. We love working with each client to determine the best layout for their event, and play around with the different spots at the Plantation. Ceremonies can overlook the river, or have the house as the backdrop. Dinner and dancing in the tented courtyard is always a favorite, but we also love that the interiors and grounds provide such lovely scenes for photos.

Ocean Course Collage

photos by Liz Banfield

The Ocean Course at Kiawah is a stunning site. I like the way a party can progress through different stages at this venue. From a ceremony on the golf lawn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, to cocktails on the upper lawn and porches, to dinner in a ballroom, and then dancing under a tent overlooking the property, you are able to offer your guests so much variety!

HIbernian 1 Collage Hibernian 2 Collage

Photos by Corbin Gurkin

The Hibernian Society in the heart of the Charleston Historic District has long been the scene of many Charleston parties… I like that it’s large enough to hold a sizeable party but it’s broken up as such that if you have a smaller group it won’t feel too huge. It’s got a great porch for creating seating areas that overlook Meeting Street, and the historic architecture lends it some unique value.

Drayton Hall Collage

photo by Liz Banfield

Drayton Hall Plantation is probably hands down my most favorite venue in the Lowcountry. However, they have cut back on their wedding business due to the effort they place on historic preservation. The old oaks and riverbanks along with the Federalist style home offer spectacular scenery.

WAH Collage

photos by Corbin Gurkin and Gayle Brooker

The William Aiken House’s prime location on busy King Street make it perfect for the crown who wants to keep everything easy for their guests while offer something special or unique to those coming to Charleston for a different type of wedding. The historic home has large porches for partying and antique ballrooms where you are able to host your guests for dinner.

Runnymede Collage

photos by Corbin Gurkin

A recent favorite of many of our brides and us here at Soiree, is Runnymede Plantation. The home no longer stands, other than a few crumbling ruins, but the land and location along the Ashley River allow us to have fun and do whatever we want with decor, and we love that!

Boone Hall Plantation

photo by Liz Banfield

Finally, we’ve done quite a few weddings at Boone Hall Plantation in our many years, but this image from one we did for over 1200 people really stands out!

5.16.16 | TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Photographers, Reception, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

May 04, 2016

Wedding Wednesday on the Farm

As we are looking forward to our upcoming wedding in Newport, Rhode Island, it reminded me of this splendid affair we did at the family farm of the bride in Martha’s Vineyard. The property was breathtaking, and the father of the bride had a century old barn moved to the farm from Canada. They host guests every fourth of July for dinner in the barn and festivities on site, so what a better way to celebrate than by hosting the wedding there as well. Adrienne Page captured all of the images.

Bridal Collage

The bride had all of the women in her family’s initials embroidered onto her bouquet ribbon. The groom gifted his bride an enamel Hermes bracelet on the wedding day along with words to his future bride.

The guest welcome bags contained locally bottled waters, vintage Vineyards postcards, snacks included homemade caramel bars, and custom printed playing cards (the couple and their families enjoying playing several card games) all in a Martha’s Vineyard maptote.

Ceremony Collage

The baby’s breath en masse made a statement for the ceremony aisle. The natural beauty of the land was the best backdrop.

Flower girl Collage

All of the flowers used at the wedding were purchased in town at the farm stand based on what was available. Bridesmaids wore dresses by Lela Rose, a friend of the bride and groom who attended the wedding.

Cocktail hour Collage

Natural wood was a design element the bride really wanted incorporated, so we painted many wooden signs placed throughout the party. And, the seating chart was fashioned from calligraphied wooden paint stirrers.

The bride and her mother work in the interior design field, so they selected many of their favorite design coffee table books and had guests pen notes to the couple in lieu of a guest book.

Dinner was held inside the vintage barn that was moved to the property from Canada.

Dinner Collage

All of the wooden flooring, beams, etc inside the barn were all original. We printed the menu on large wooden signs to match the rustic feel of the barn.

Placesetting Collage dinner

Lounge Collage Cake table

Nighttime Collage

Guests enjoyed a cheese cart that was served after dinner in the “Boogie Tent”, full of local cheeses, fruit spreads, and honeys guests could select what they want and servers plated cocktail plates for them.

Getaway Collage

In order to keep foreign grasses or plants at bay, guests tossed bird seed to the couple as they departed by a vintage “woody” owned by a fellow islander.

5.04.16 | TARA GUÉRARD
Books, Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Parties, Photographers, Reception, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>