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…
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.
Photos courtesy of Southern Living Magazine
Yesterday’s post focused so much on planning a holiday or dinner party that would most likely be a grown up function, I wanted to make sure to share a few idea on setting up a kid’s table, and making it chic enough that adults and older kids would feel just as special sitting there too! For a photo shoot with Southern Living Magazine many years ago, we created a formal Thanksgiving spread at our home in Flat Rock, NC. I wanted the kids’ table to still feel formal, but important pieces that I would be heartbroken if ruined were reserved for the adults. One fun detail we did was have the kids’ names etched on glasses, so that it served as a place card and also something they could keep at home.
Photos by Liz Banfield
For younger kids, offering games or activities at the table may give the grown ups time to enjoy dinner and conversation. For this party, we served all of the kids’ meals on little trays so they would be done in advance and served while the adults were serving themselves. I also love the idea of getting inexpensive wooden ornaments or figures at a craft store (or online) and handwriting on them for place cards! You could even do trees, stars, or angels and the kids could have them for Christmas ornaments a month later!
Photo courtesy of One Kings Lane
There are so many sources for nice melamine or bamboo placesettings and utensils that you could consider dressing up your disposables to cut back on all of the clean up- a kids table is a perfect spot for this! Here, having bowls of fruit or other goodies on the table if the food is still being served can help those hungry tummies. We have a local chocolatier that we placed at each placesetting that had the kiddos excited.
Something we have done at several of our weddings that would be a good idea “steal” are gift boxes/baskets at the kids’ table. We have filled these with mini puzzles, crayons/coloring books, or an assortment of toys to keep kiddos busy during dinner.
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.
