Category Archives: Reception

Aug 30, 2017

claire_jake

Sorry, I just can’t help sharing all of our fun older weddings from the archives as I’m finding them. It’s been so fun to relive these!  Today, we share another one shot by Liz Banfield, which took place at the French Huguenot Church and William Aiken House. Whites and creams were paired with the bolder Tiffany Blue for a feminine yet formal affair.

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The streets and building of downtown Charleston make fabulous backdrops for our photographers… The Dock Street Theater is directly across the street from the French Huguenot Church so Liz was able to get some pretty candid shots of the couple before the ceremony.

Floral Collage

A pretty pretty bridal bouquet included lily of the valley and it’s greens, along with tulips and gardenias… to add a bit of color to the wreaths on the church gates, little ribbon bows in Tiffany blue were tucked in.

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An overflowering guest welcome box included cheese and crackers, bottled waters, and Chattanooga thumbprint cookies (a throw back to the bride’s home town).  Later, guests received beautifully packaged “S” soaps as take home favors. I loved this idea, because it was something so simple that you wouldn’t necessarily think about but would be happy to get… especially when packaged so thoughtfully.

Reception Collage

Gates at the William Aiken House were gussied up with fabric curtains and a chandelier, which also made for pretty ambience at the end during the send off. Since Tiffany blue isn’t a naturally occurring color in flowers, we wrapped vases in coordinating fabric so that the lush white centerpieces popped.  Guests lounged on sofas accented with our shadow box tables housing fresh gardenia blooms.

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 After cake, champagne, and dancing with guests into the wee hours, our couple departed to guests waving ribbon wands….. these were adorable in the photos and didn’t leave a mess. Luckily, this bride’s younger sister married several years later and we got to work with this awesome family again on that wedding!

8.30.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Flowers, Food and Drink, Gifts, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | 2 Comments
Aug 23, 2017

Ste_a1_veil

I’m so excited to share another one wedding from way back when (can you tell Liz Banfield and I have been going through our archives?).  This was a smaller more intimate wedding here in Charleston, but we got to have fun with the design , and even though we had some rain that day, it didn’t damper any plans!

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A simple mossy green and pink color palette was established, and Lettered Olive created a floral motif that would be used throughout the wedding printing.

Guest bag Collage

Local goodies (including a book about Mrs. Whaley’s Charleston garden, which if you missed our YouTube episode inside this garden, see it here)  filled a moss green jute tote serving as a wedding welcome bag.

Flower Collage

Keeping the bridesmaids’ nosegays very simple with white tulips, the flower girl carried a  ranunculus bundle that was pretty in pink!

Ceremony Collage

Giving guests a true Charleston welcome, a floral basket with a welcome sign was hung on the gates at the church. Orchid blooms lined the aisle giving a whimsical touch of color.

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The couple arrive to their reception at the Gibbes Museum of Art to showers, but were totally prepared and received guests under a tent in the courtyard.

Cocktail hour Collage

Once cocktail hour kicked off at the Gibbes, guests enjoyed mini passed tomato pies and our signature Lowcountry Lemonade with orchid accents.  Escort cards were displayed in slender vases filled with orchids…


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We used to use Chef James Burns of J Bistro Restaurant/Catering (a long time old Charleston favorite) because we worked so creatively together. I love the presentation on this first course of Asian wontons served in individual bamboo steamers on a pretty plate with greenery…

Dinner Collage

Ste_c7_cake Ste_c8_cakeplate

A smaller wedding cake for the ceremonial cutting was a focal point in the chic and candlelit dining room, but what really gave guests the gasps were the beautiful and special mini individual cakes that were served at the end of dinner, by Jim Smeal of course.

getaway Collage

For a simple but oh so Charleston send off, paper cones filled with tiny orchid heads were passed out and tossed at the couple as they departed via rickshaw through the streets of Downtown Charleston.

8.23.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Aug 16, 2017

22062_2a_kiss.©LizBanfield

Today’s feature is a blast from the past summertime wedding at Drayton Hall Plantation featuring gerber daisy designs. Our bride,  a well known Charleston interior designer, was  a great collaborator and serious about her guests having fun. The result was a playful but classic Southern wedding under the Oaks. Thank you to Liz Banfield for the photos.

Printing Collage

A simple gerber motif gave the classic invitations and ceremony programs by Lettered Olive a hint of sweetness…

Bridal Collage

Liz was able to capture some amazing portraits of the bride inside the historic plantation house. We went with brights and colors for the wedding party, so traditional white fit the perfect bill for this bride’s bouquet.

wedding party Collage

22077_8a_chairs.©LizBanfield

ceremony Collage

The wedding ceremony was held under one of the oldest live oaks on the property with a gospel choir providing some hymns during. We lined the aisle with varying shades of gerber daisy heads for a subtle pop of color. And, for the “reserved” rows of family, wide satin ribbon tied around the chair backs also had a gerber daisy detail.

22089_31_wave.©LizBanfield

Reception Collage

Afterwards, a tented reception was held along the riverbanks.  Seating vignettes were placed throughout so as guests tried the varying food stations, they could grab a quick seat to eat.

22084_34a_cuttingcake.©LizBanfield

A tired cake separated by rows of gerber daisies found a pretty home inside a canopied display… We like to take bridesmaids’ bouquets and place them around the cake table also to add some floral elements.

Daisy Collage

Gerber daisy details throughout the wedding included candles inside tall glass cylinders with small gerbers glued along the top, lampshades with real daisies attached, floral tie backs covering all of the tent legs, and pretty floral “tree” centerpieces.

22086_36a_tables.©LizBanfield

Once the dancing began, the tent was turned into a sultry late night lounge with a packed dance floor!

22324_34_spin.©LizBanfield

getaway CollageFor the Sparkler send off, we built a large display full of daisies growing out of rye grass. Guests were able to grab their sparklers on the way out to see off the bride and groom…

8.16.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Interior Design, Photographers, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | 1 Comment