Category Archives: Press

I am thrilled to share this Fall Fenwick Plantation wedding with you, now that it is officially fall in the south.  This is the 3rd daughter from a family that we have done all three weddings for, which I love because they were all so different and fun to design. This one is full of soft and feminine touches but using lots for rustic and natural elements. Thank you to Corbin Gurkin for all of the photos. Lettered Olive created a landscape scene reminiscent of the grounds at Fenwick Plantation (currently on the market if anyone is interested!), which was printed as the envelope liner on the classic letterpress invitations. Canvas “baskets” were printed with a handdrawn map of Charleston, with all of the weekend festivity locations noted. A custom printed puzzle also gave guests more information about the weekend events. Local snacks and treats filled the basket, including the groom’s favorite fortune cookies, but more on that later…

The bride wore a lace mermaid style gown by Eddy K with a keyhole back and a veil from BHLDN.

Bridesmaids wore gowns from BHLD, and the groom’s suit is from H Stockton in Atlanta.

Letterpress programs were fashioned into fans for the outdoor ceremony, luckily we had a warm beautiful day! After walking down a petal lined aisle with oversized magnolia pieces, the couple married under a magnolia and floral arch.

Cocktail immediately followed in the garden, where guests were greeted with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails named by the couple.  Going with the garden theme, a “planted” escort card display was designed. Galvanized metal tags were calligraphied with guests names and planed in a moss covered box. Dinner under the clear top tent featured a lovely head table with the palest pink linen, and curated tabletop of flowers, differing candles, and elements like antlers and other curios.

Afterwards in the lounge tent, both the wedding cake and a grooms cake were cut. The bride chose a chocolate covered confection by Jim Smeal displayed with a custom monogramed linen… Due the groom’s love of Chinese food, Jim also created a to go box cake with gum paste fortune cookies on top.

The after dinner lounge featured several different seating arrangements for guests to gather… In addition to our traditional bar setup, we built a beer tap wall for the guys… Loved this new addition and it was a big hit with guests… Featuring 4 of the couple’s favorite selections. 

After a night of dancing and mingling with friends, the couple departed to a sparkler send off, in a vintage British convertible.  Congrats Mary and Reid!

11.12.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Flowers, Food and Drink, Press, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

vintage car- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

If you are looking for an excuse to throw a party especially with a French accent, Bastille Day is right around the corner. Such fun details (which can also parlay into a chick Fourth of July dinner party) and I got to harbor my inspiration from my dream of living in France. I say every year that I’m going to take the summer off and go study at Le Cordon Bleu but in the meantime I’ll just settle for being a stateside Francophile. This shoot (shot by Nickie Cutrona) can also be seen in Lonny Mag.

children in garden- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

cheese side board- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

Think of different ways to display apps or snacks. A sideboard from our clients home was easily transported outside, and fashioned for an upscale “cheese cart”.

long table shot overview- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

You may have seen our Facebook Live video with Southern Living last week, here is a great idea/trick to steal- I found a great striped rug on sale at Target, which made a perfect table runner!

overhead of table- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

Place setting- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

I don’t like using bread plates, etc on table because it can seem cluttered… Here, individual baguettes are preset with vellum menus and tied off with butcher twine for a nice detail. Try playing with flavor profiles in your olive oil- herbs, citrus, etc.

peach salad- Tara Guerard Soiree/NIckie Cutrona Photography

french chalk board- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

sunflower cake- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

A single tier coconut cake looks straight from the French countryside with a solo sunflower bloom. For a variation for Fourth of July, try blue hydrangea blooms.

table with guests- evening- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

guests with sparklers- Tara Guerard Soiree/Nickie Cutrona Photography

 

7.09.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Charleston, Entertaining, Event Design, Events, Food and Drink, J'adore!, Parties, Photographers, Press, Travel | Comments >>

We are so excited to be able to bring this wedding to the blog now that it is featured in the Charleston Weddings Magazine. The father of the bride is my children’s pediatrician, and the wedding was held right here in our backyard, so it was special to me for many reasons… Corbin Gurkin took all of the gorgeous photos. The bride chose a Guipure lace covered gown by Vollaro available through Maddison Row here in Charleston, SC. Bring a traditional Southern bride, we chose to monogram her satin bouquet wrap in her favorite “something blue “color.

Being that it was a summer wedding, hearty boutonierres were best… And, since the bride’s family owns an angling store, locally made Brackish Bowties made perfect sense with their classic tuxedos.

For the mothers and grandmothers not wanting to carry any flowers or pin anything onto their lovely dresses, we made floral bracelets for them to wear… Kind of our version of a corsage!

The wedding ceremony took place at the church that the bride grew up attending, St. Philip’s (which also happens to be my church).  An illustration of the historic steeple graced the cover of the classic ceremony programs.
Afterwards the bride and groom received guests at Lowndes Grove Plantation… True Southern sports fans, we flew flags for both alma maters- Clemson University, and The Citadel. And, custom cornhole boards for both schools graced the front lawn for those wanting to squeeze in a quick round during cocktail hour.

Charleston’s “haint” blue, also the bride’s favorite color, was chosen as the palette. Luckily the perfect dresses were available at Bella Bridesmaids.
Each bridesmaid carried a custom monogramed bouquet.

Guests enjoyed classic favorites like prosciutto wrapped melon and tasteful sips at cocktail hour.
Where else can you enjoy a lawn party than a glorious home overlooking the river banks than Charleston?  A hanging swing bed allowed guests a fun take on al fresco seating…

We designed an entire “garden” tent for our bride, featuring greenery swags, twinkle lights, potted centerpieces, and a fountain (which served an over the top shrimp cocktail).

Jim Smeal’s sweet cake was perfectly pretty for a Southern garden with gum paste flowers and an elevated basketweave…Of course displayed on a garden table with fresh greenery.

Since this wedding was more of a Southern stations style vs a seated dinner, it gave us plenty of room to set up sitting vignettes and lounge seating.. This included lots of nooks and large “bars” for service, so that no one had to stand in line.

Even as the sunset, Lowndes Grove sparkled at night… With fairy lights on the lawn lighting the way for the send off… I love this sweet pic of the bride visiting with her grandparents at the reception.

The bride and groom were sent off with glowing sparklers and departed in a classic Rolls Royce that we dressed up with ribboned greenery…

6.25.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Press, Reception, Weddings | 1 Comment