Barrett + Shelby | Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, SC from Adam Siegel on Vimeo.
In celebration of our recent feature on Martha Stewart Weddings, and our winter storm, we’re sharing this sweet wedding film which is sure to warm you up this chilly morning…
Liz Banfield recently sent this wedding we did together back in 2004… It was one of our first big scale productions and was in Columbia, SC. I loved so much working with this client because she and her husband were so dear, but looking at these pictures I also remember everything that went into doing this wedding and I thought it would be fun to share today…
Our bride went with chartreuse and chocolate as her color palette and had a bit of modern sensibility… So, we designed these octagonal chocolate brown invitations, and I think they were ahead of the times- and a preview into the creation of Lettered Olive, our sister printing company.
Because the bridesmaids’ dresses were chocolate brown and white, we had hoped to use chocolate cosmos in their bouquets, but when they came in looking terrible we had to improvise… We covered large buttons with chocolate brown velvet and they looked so great! The couples’ puppy needed a cute floral collar too of course, since he would be walking down the aisle with them. And, the historic Columbia church looked pretty as a picture with lush white floral wreaths adorned with chocolate brown ribbons.
We used the velvet buttons again in the pretty wreaths on the historic mansion’s gate… I know Liz and I are both big fans of the photos of the brides navigating thro
As guests arrived to the tent for dinner and the lounge, a large orchid covered tree with chartreuse octagon place cards with stunning chocolate brown calligraphy took center stage, Jim Smeal brought us this pretty octagon and orchid monogrammed wedding cake, and a focal point of the lounge was our bar lined with orchids… This was one of the first bars we started to design and build on our own- using a special material for the bar top, fabric bottom, etc. I love seeing how our look and design has changed and developed over the years.
One of my favorite service elements we brought to our clients was having the wedding cake precut and served for them at dinner- the couple could have the ceremonial cutting, but having a lovely piece of cake served to you, perhaps garnished is so much nicer than watching the big thing get butchered in the middle of the tent. The tent was covered in cow hide rugs, draped in greenery, and accented with velvet linens, pillows, and ottomans.
After the couple enjoys dancing with their guests, friends and family saw them off with a sparkler send off- still remains classic to this day!
We have been waiting to share this oh so pretty Winter wedding at Montage Palmetto Bluff with you for a while, and since it’s was just featured on Martha Stewart Weddings, we finally can! Filled with so many custom details, the tailored crispness of the color palette and seaside location created a perfect “winter” wedding in the Lowcountry. Photos by Corbin Gurkin. 
Lettered Olive did an amazing job of creating a fresh and young take on a traditional wedding invitation suite… While the rectangle shape, paper, and black calligraphied ink fall along the modest vein, an embroidered emerald green velvet belly band, gold edging and a whimsical monogram add a modern vibe..
With the wedding take place at a full service resort, simple wedding welcome gifts fit the bill… Take home dopp kits, and Christmas plaid koozies were tokens of appreciation complimenting the snacks and bottled waters.
The bride wore a gown by Oscar de la Renta, and shoes by Jimmy Choo. The lace long sleeves were stunning! 
The couple opted for a first sight moment before the ceremony in the Chapel.
We wanted to set the tone for the English garden feel early on, so the exterior doors of the chapel were adorned with boxwood greenery, and a floral archway.
The architectural lines of the grand windows in the chapel essentially created a “trellis” for us, so filling it with flowers seemed the natural thing to do. Adding a bridal white aisle runner helped absorb the sunlight on the wooden floors and soften the grand space.
Green and white flowers are my all time favorite palette to work with… And, with the Emerald green bridesmaids dresses, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Dainty Lily of the valley for the bride and groom, and lush and wild mixtures of hearty and dainty for the girls. 
The old Plantation ruins served as the backdrop for the cocktail hour… Guests were able to enjoy a lovely lowcountry day and sunset before heading into the dinner and lounge tent into the wee hours. 
You know I love to make sure the exterior of our tents are just as pretty as the inside… it’s’ the first thing your guests see, wow them before they even walk in the doors… 
And, for this tent, we wanted to bring the outside in, so along with the greenery garlands draped from the ceiling, and garland covered lanterns, a greenery trellis wall served as the background focal point for the large tent.
Small greenery wreaths with embroidered banners served as the table numbers. Velvet menu books emblazoned with gold name plates were big wow getters on the tabletops. 
Simple touches like tailored linens with contrasting piping really finish the look. Mixing the flower and candle heights and holders give a layered look that’s not messy…
Again to break up and soften the extra large tent space, carpeting was laid, and a raw wood “shiplap” wall was built… Shelving to hold the glassware has the tent looking more like a custom built home than a wedding tent!
A patterned dance floor in the wedding colors became the focal point of the lounge and worked so well with the velvet upholstered sofas and benches… 
A textured white cake layered with Jim Smeal’s artistic gum paste flowers provided a stunning centerpiece…
And for those who prefer to take their cake home with them, waxed bags printed with the couple’s custom monogram were passed out late night sweet treats. 
The band performed behind a silhouetted wall, keeping in line with the super finished aesthetic.
After a sparkler send off, the couple drove off into the night in a greenery draped golf cart… the true goodbyes came after the couple hosted their guests for a brunch the following day.
Recognized as one of the nation’s leading tastemakers, Tara Guérard has earned a widespread reputation for her ability to create spectacular settings celebrating life’s most anticipated occasions. As the visionary and founder of Tara Guérard Soirée, she is best known for her distinct style that honors the storied traditions of Southern hospitality paired with a modern aesthetic and flair for the unexpected.
