Category Archives: Reception

Mar 17, 2020

Happy St. Patrick’s Day… We are throwing it back to this gloriously green wedding we did several years ago at Lowndes Grove Plantation. This venue is a fave because it allows us to create different spaces and designs based on historic architecture, tented courtyards, and glorious trees overlooking the Ashley River. Liz Banfield provides all of the lovely images.

For the lush and natural garden feel the bride wanted, Lettered Olive created a printed “nature” paper along with die cut patterns to use on the wedding invitations. Canvas garden totes made the perfect unexpected guest welcome bags. For an outdoor afternoon ceremony, ceremony programs doubled as fans.

A varied mixture of white and green florals provided lush texture and I loved how the bouquets incorporating both colors looked against the bridesmaids’ green dresses and the bride’s dress.

Heel savers were provided so ladies could easily enjoy the ceremony on the lawn. Natural woven bags full of rose petals were provided for guests to toss at the bride and groom after they were married and coming back down the aisle.

Antique church pews mixed with rustic chairs overlook the greenery covered alter.

Guests were treated to cocktail hour bites and sips by Patrick Properties Hospitality Group. The seafood station was housed over ice blocks full of green leaves for added decor.

The couple met while on a Peace Corps tour in Africa, so we had African made fabrics brought in for different areas of decor, like these dinner escort cards.

Dinner took place in the oyster tabby tented with a clear view of the sky.

The African fabric brought a varied mix tied to the dinner chairs. Branches calligraphied with guests’ names provided the natural place cards.

Like life floral vines covered the wedding cake from Jim Smeal’s artistry.

The after dinner lounge and bar provided a perfect space for guests to retreat for dancing after dinner.

An after dinner dessert station featured individual treats full of fall flavor… Servers passed mini cones to guests on the dance floor need a little treat to call off…

A vintage convertible in the perfect shade of green provides a photo worthy getaway for the bride and groom!

3.17.20 | TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Weddings | Comments >>

Feb 25, 2020

Designing a Bar

photo by Jose Villa

I guess one of the design elements we are most known for are our bars. I’ve preached for years that a bar makes the party, it must be big enough to accommodate lots of bartenders (so that there are no lines) and easy to get to, sleek and clean on top (don’t display those beer bottles and plastic straws!), and of course look amazing. We typically like to add some lower lighting through lamps, lanterns, candles, etc. depending on the look, and also custom printed cocktail napkins from Lettered Olive. For the cocktail hour bar above, custom printed fabric featuring a design used throughout the wedding decor covered the bottom and was topped with cut butcher block for a designer yet approachable feel. Umbrella trim from Boutique Tents.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

Of course, not only must they be good looking, they also must be functional. We either build or rent different types of shelving or units that dress up the glassware storage- get creative, it doesn’t have to be just a table with a white polyester linen on it. And, sweet details like matching bow ties or aprons for your bartenders pretty much nail it every time.

photo by Ryan Ray

One of our recent and most liked bar comes from a wedding we did at a plantation here in Charleston. A large square bar (so that it’s approachable from many different sides) is covered in custom printed fabric. Sleek marble on top gives it a elegant finish, and a floral topped glass storage unit takes this bar to an over the top decor moment. We also made custom lamps to hang from trees which swayed along with the spanish moss.

photos by Corbin Gurkin

For a summer time coastal wedding, live greens and florals were the way to go here. The couple’s name was even spelled in fresh blooms on one of the reception bars. Ombre rose panels were so fun yet impactful.

photo by Liz Banfield

This client loved the wall mural at the famed Bememlmen’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel in New York. So, we created our interpretation and had it printed on fabric to cover the bottom of this oval bar topped with custom cut copper. This was definitely a reception showstopper.
photo by Lauren Bailey photo

For a light and airy tented reception at a historic property in Atlanta, GA, a white wedding bar was topped with delicate greens to add a little element contrasting the starkness. A cluster of woven lampshades draped from greenery garlands gave it a modern garden look.

photo by Tec Petaja

2.25.20 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Events, Food and Drink, Interior Design, Photographers, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Feb 04, 2020

Watercolor Wedding Day

In celebration of this couple’s first anniversary, we’re sharing all of the pretty goodies from their big day in Watercolor, Florida. Corbin Gurkin was with us to capture all of the gorgeous images. This couple was the sweetest, and their day was absolutely filled with love. The bride grew up vacationing in the area with her family so it was an obvious choice. The bride stunned in a strapless Monique Lhuillier. Our sister printing company, Lettered Olive designed some of the most lovely printed pieces for this weekend. While, we went the simple more formal route with the letterpress invitation, the party packs really shone through. Guests received welcome boxes with a custom blue acrylic monogramed tag, and lots of goodies with custom printed packaging. The girls, of course, spent the day getting ready together…and were gifted silk robes by Kim and Ono.We went ethereal in the floral designs, with mixed hues of ombre pink.

For the actual ceremony, we created a tented dream. Guests were greeted by huge floral pieces making for a grand entrance.

Guests strolled down the town park from the ceremony to the reception. Here, an oversized tent was carpeted and draped to created a dreamy spot that guests would want to stay in all night long. Stations were set up for guests to have a progression throughout the space, with dancing as the main focal point.
For the dessert table, we layered the mother’s silver pieces with varying treats, while Confections on the Coast created a stunning wedding cake, and chocolate groom’s cake.

Artist Chloe Strickland was on hand painting a live scene from the reception.

Late night drinks and snacks passed around the dance floor including gourmet grilled cheeses. In order to get guests off the dance floor, the horn section from the band walked everyone from the tent to the town square for the send off…

A happy bride and groom ending a lovely night surrounded by family and friends.. Happy Anniversary Keyton and Chris.

2.04.20 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>