So even though this luxurious fall wedding took place 8 years ago, it’s still one of my favorites so I love resharing with you on this wedding Wednesday. The couple were so fun, the mother of the bride owns a fabulous interior and gift store in Oklahoma, Bebe’s, and it was at one of my all time favorite venues, Drayton Hall. Birds, branches, patterns, and rich colors round out the design theme for our bride who used Tony Duquette’s interior designs as her inspiration. Her amazing dress by Carolina Herrera couldn’t have been more perfect with pattern that looked almost like branches or feathers..Our photographer was Liz Banfield.
We knew we would be using several vintage bird cages in the reception design, so Lettered Olive incorporated one into the save the dates. A bird on a branch “monogram” was also designed to be used throughout other printed wedding items such as the guest bag labels and welcome packet.
The bride and groom chose to do a private “first sight” moment at a Charleston park around the corner from the French Huguenot Church were the wedding was held.
We custom pleated silk ribbons to adorn the bridal bouquet from a photo the bride had saved from Martha Stewart Weddings many years before. Groomsmen boutonierres were made from berzillia berries and seeded eucalyptus, while the groom received a single coral charm peony bloom. Bridesmaids had a muted bouquet which played so prettily off of their chocolate brown silk taffeta dresses.
The groom’s grandmother’s Russian spiced tea recipe was printed on letterpressed coasters guests received at the bar, and the bride’s mother’s Bread and Butter pickles were made and packaged for guests’ favors.
Downtown Charleston’s French Huguenot Church provided the ceremony venue. Blossoming branches and glass vases full of oranges, kumquats, and seeded eucalyptus brightened up the candlelit alter. I loved the sweet and simple pew markers our flower team did, by lining the entire aisle with a dahlia bloom tied with the orange and white striped grosgrain ribbon we used throughout the wedding.
After the ceremony, guests were greeted at Drayton Hall plantation by an alfresco cocktail hour on the front lawn.
Guests were able to experience the historic property in it’s fullest by lounging on the front portico and wandering throughout the house. Unexpected takes on cocktail and app favorites included a pomegranate martini we called the “Blushing Bride’, and bite sized grilled pimento cheese sandwiches.
Die cut birds hung from branches inside the cocktail hour umbrellas served as the dinner escort cards.
The uber cozy dinner tent had lots of glam touches, like ikat table runners, golden branches with twinkle lights, and pashminas in the wedding colors tied to each of the ladies’ seats in case they needed extra warmth. The head table was housed in an iron garden conservatory, and a birch log was hollowed out for the centerpiece.
The after dinner lounge housed eclectic furnishings and a vintage birdcage we filled with candles to serve as a chandelier over the dance floor.
Being in the middle of field requires that potty trailers are brought in. It’s hard to think about having potty trailers at a black tie glam wedding, so of course we have to deck them out so they fit the bill. Painted walls and unique design pieces kept the trailer looking as fab as the rest of the reception tent.
The gorgeous Jim Smeal wedding cake complete with a handmade nest topper, and birds perched throughout was housed in a vintage standing birdcage. The pale peach icing was so lovely with the setting.
A fabulous Jim Smeal dessert station also gave guests sweets to nosh on while dancing complete with mini pies, and woodland cakes topped with edible meringue mushrooms!
As the bride and groom departed guests blew whistles creating a “joyful noise”…
photos by Liz Banfield
photo by Corbin Gurkin
photos by Corbin Gurkin
