Giving some love to my BFF, Nicki Clendening today, who was just featured as a design crush on Style Blueprint. Nicki and I first met waiting tables together at an amazing Italian restaurant in Charleston, and have been collaborating ever since. We recently moved into a new office in New York, and had Nicki do the design for it… you can see more below.
Blue and white is such a classic wedding palette, and this bride wanted to get even more fun and bring in a variety of colors that really ended up making the look. Thank you to Charleston Weddings Magazine for featuring this Lowndes Grove wedding of ours photographed by Corbin Gurkin.
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.
