Category Archives: Press

Nov 28, 2018

I’m so excited to be able to finally share this gorgeous garden wedding we did for our former intern, Carleton. She married at her parents home in Birmingham, Alabama which featured the ceremony on the front lawn, and an alfresco style dinner overlooking the back. You know how much I love a home wedding.  Carleton is also the niece of Flower Magazine founder, Margot Shaw, who has always been such a great supporter of Soiree. See more of the gorgeous details over on Over the Moon. All photos courtesy of A Bryan PhotoLettered Olive worked closely with our client to make sure the simple and chic feel she wanted was delivered. 

Carleton chose the Greenhouse gown by another favorite friend, Lela Rose. For her it was the perfect mix of modern and classic…

While, the groom, Gael, wore a custom made Ralph Lauren tuxedo, the ladies were asked to chose their own dress within a color palette…. The look was so curated and worked perfectly with the “gathered greens” bouquet we did for each of the ladies.

The scenery, weather, etc was just so perfect for this garden ceremony. A simple arbor waited at the end of a blanketed aisle of rose petals. Greens attached to chairs acted as “pew markers”. Mini jute totes placed on each chair included blank note cards and pens asking guests to leave well wishes for the couple- in lieu of a traditional guest book. After a cocktail hour throughout the house and garden, guests make their way to the back lawn for dinner featuring family style tables and open air scenery.

Keeping in line with the simple at home feel, we wanted to do something different instead of an escort card display. Hatch Cove Designs and Lettered Olive worked together to create a watercolor illustration of the home and tables with the guests names in their places. This  also became a lovely piece of artwork for the couple’s new home.

The tablescapes married the French and Southern influences seen throughout the wedding.  Sweet garden roses and ranunculus were dotted with greens and fresh lavender peppered throughout. Handwritten and hand tied menus sat atop French lace patterened plates and 100 percent linen tablecloths.

After dinner guests enjoyed a lounge, bars, and dance tent with seating areas hidden throughout trees and secret spots.  To keep the intimate feel to the day, wedding cake was served inside the home’s dining room in petit comité. Before all guests finished their dinner, the couple gathered with their families in the dining room and cut the cake while a pianist played “La Vie en Rose,” a nod to the Groom’s French heritage. I think it’s so important for the couple to steal a few moments away from the larger crowds to soak in bits and pieces of the day here and there. After the cake cutting, a horn line (as a nod to the Southern heritage) came and lead the couple through the dining area to get guests up and out of their seats, and got them to the dance floor.  The first dance song, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You by Frankie Valli was the perfect way to kick off the dancing.

The couple was sent off by biodegradable confetti and French “jut married” sign…

11.28.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Photographers, Press, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Nov 26, 2018

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Imagine my joy when I saw this Charleston Magazine with my sweet springer, Georgia on the cover! I had a blast working with our friends at Charleston Mag on this feature- Peter Frank Edwards, Melissa Bigner, and Darcy Shankland. For more tips and outtakes head over here.

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11.26.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Entertaining, Etiquette, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Photographers, Press, Spotted!, Uncategorized | Comments >>

We have been waiting and waiting to get this sweet intimate wedding we did at Palmetto Bluff out to you.  Liz Banfield shot this punchy fall affair featuring lots of texture and color, and of course we loved the sweet French Bulldog fur baby that the couple had to include in their big day, so adorable.

I love when brides want to carry a colorful bouquet…Pale pinks and apricots in blooms like tulips, ranunculus, scabiaosa, roses, stock, and gerber daisies were mixed with natural elements like succulents to make for gardeny gathering for our laid back bride. 

Bridesmaids and groomsmen were swathed in graphite grey… The warmer tone of this grey was a nice compliment to the peachier palette. I’m liking this look for the ring bearers, a classic navy blazer, crisp white dress shirt, and blue dress pants. Appropriate for this age group.

Lettered Olive designed all of the classicaly designed printed pieces. The save the dates featured die cut edging, and an image of the Palmetto Bluff oak trees draped in spanish moss. The pale pink envelopes with the black calligraphy was just a small twist on tradition that paid off. The letterpress invitations featured our custom wedding monogram.  Guests were welcomed with custom printed map totes of of the resort filled with all branded goodies, of course.  Ceremony programs were die cut in fashion of Southern fans- due to the size of the quaint chapel some guests would be seated outside and October is still quite warm here in the South.  Heel Savers were also offered to protect ladies’ shoes from sinking into the lawn. And leading the way down the aisle were the handsome little guys carrying our custom Here Comes the Bride flags.

As a treat to the guests seated on the lawn of the chapel, a local gospel choir serenaded the couple as they exited the church as husband and wife. Aren’t the pink agate slates so stunning with hand written calligraphy as our wedding signage???? Baskets of flip flops were placed around the dance floor for guests wanting some relief before dancing…


Because of the sail cloth tent which is different than some of the frame tents we typically use, swaths of gold, pinks, and peach add some dimension and color to the ceiling and brighten up the more neutral design throughout the lounge tent. A large round bar with a copper top, displayed glassware, and live greenery made a fun focal point in the tent.  Love a round, accessible from all sides, means no lines! And, you are able to hide all of the bottles for a decluttered design.

The ruins on the grounds make for one of our favorite backdrops- glowing with candle lanterns, guests danced in the lounge as the sun went down.

Cake was passed on lovely plates with printed napkins to guests in the dancing tent along with mini Kahlua milkshakes… Sparklers were passed out with custom printed matchbooks by Lettered Olive for the send off… The happy couple drove off into the night after the “Best Day Ever”…  You can see more of this wedding on Inside Weddings.

 

10.10.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Press, Reception, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>