Category Archives: Reception

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.

12.10.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Cakes, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Press, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Nov 26, 2019

video by Siegel Films

Oh, I was so happy to see this highlight video hit my inbox. We did this wedding about a month ago, and had a random tropical storm pop up on us going into the set up and wedding weekend. This was our second wedding with this family, so luckily we had a wonderful trusting relationship, and knew that we would make sure the rain didn’t “dampen” the day, but still… Now, as I watch this, I can truly see how happy they were and how much love was in the room. Congrats Bruce and Kimberly.

 

11.26.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Event Design, Event Planning, Parties, Photographers, Reception, Spotted!, Videos, Weddings | Comments >>

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 >>