Category Archives: Reception

Aug 09, 2017

7646_15_BandG

Today we are sharing a preppy pink and green summertime wedding from 2007. The bride’s family had a summer home on Kiawah Island, but this wedding took place on a somewhat unexpected part of the island- Mingo Point. Usually reserved for guest oyster roasts or as a water sport hub, we love that the bride trusted us to transform the space into something special. One thing people don’t think about Mingo Point is the spectacular view of the sunset you get over the creek. Thank you to Liz Banfield for capturing the big day.

Printing Collage

The save the dates by Lettered Olive set the tone from the beginning. Guests received a letterpress packet so pretty no one would want to miss the weekend. Invitations were sent in a pale pink box stuffed with a silk envelope containing the letterpress invitation. Labels were affixed to the outside of the box with a green and white patterned wrap that was used throughout the wedding printing.  Welcome “boxes” were in the same patterned paper full of goodies like bathing suit sugar cookies, custom water bottles, and a Charleston coffee table book.

7642_31_bouquet.@LizBanfield-679x1024

Floral Collage

Shades of pink make a really pretty flower palette. So many gorgeous blooms can be gathered when using this palette. I loved the nerines we got in for this one.  Luckily we found a perfect green and white vine fabric to use in places like a custom ring bearer pillow, and wrapping the bouquets.

Ceremony Collage

 Bottled waters and Lowcountry Lemonade with printed labels helped guests cool off before the ceremony began.

7641_27a_entrance.@LizBanfield-679x1024

The groom, and most of the groomsmen are native Canadians, so they entered the ceremony to a classical version of their National Anthem.

embrescia7

Due the space typically used for oyster roasts, having a unique shape, we opted for a ceremony in the round… We built a fabric canopy to shield guests from sun, and to help create an alter in the center. A friend of the couple performed the ceremony making for a personal touch.

7721_48_BandG.@LizBanfield-1024x749

Escort card Collage

Wanting to repurpose some extra invitation boxes, we created an escort card station during cocktail hour. Guests found their names calligraphied on tags on the outside, and then a letterpressed menu card and table number on the inside.

Cocktail hour Collage

Cocktail hour was set on a wooden boardwalk overlooking the creek. We dressed it up by draping the ceiling with fabric and hanging glass chandeliers. Pillows made from the printed fabric dressed up lounge seating.

7620_14a_table.@LizBanfield-679x1024

Dinner Collage

In the pink and green dinner tent, custom linens were made with patterned fabric tops. Complimentary paper wraps dressed the place settings. Sweet chair covers were made for the bride and groom chairs.

7622_26a_cakes.@LizBanfield-1024x679

Instead of one large cake, several smaller ones that Jim Smeal decorated with the patterns used on the wedding printing made a show stopping centerpiece for the after dinner tent.

Lounge Collage

After dinner, guests were able to roast marshmallows in an existing firepit… Marshmallows were packaged to prevent attracting bugs.

7625_14_tent.@LizBanfield-1024x686

Nighttime Collage

After a long evening dancing in the green glowing lounge- the couple departed to guests waving miniature flags from the groom’s native Canada and bride’s, U.S.

8.09.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Flowers, Photographers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Aug 02, 2017

6989_23a_BandG Liz Banfield

I’m so thrilled to have this wedding to share from the archives… it’s been 10 years since this sweet sweet couple came to Charleston to get married, so a little post on them is long overdue. Thank you to Liz Banfield for sharing the images, and enjoy this truly Southern wedding.

Traditional Collage

The wedding palette was traditional black and white with pops of spring green.  Lady slipper orchids other than being stunningly special, were also the PERFECT color and accent for us to use throughout. This bouquet was and still is one of the best we’ve ever done. I mean, lily of the valley sprigs with lush peonies and lady slippers, it was to die for!

6962_22_welcome Liz Banfield

The bride did want a bit of modern brought into the tradition, so a mid century modern font and mr & mrs theme took shape. Black jute totes (we tied green ribbon handles on) were filled with custom printed water bottles and koozies, and matching cookies, and weekend information booklet by Lettered Olive.

6991_8a_bridesmaids Liz Banfield

Church Collage

The wedding ceremony took place at First Scots Presbyterian Church in downtown Charleston. The wrought iron gates were transformed into a lush floral arch.

Flower Collage

Afterwards at the reception at a local Yacht Club, guests were greated by a Dixieland Jazz Band playing in the lobby (a nod to NOLA, where the couple was living at the time)… we created a “curtain” of orchids hung by ribbons from the 2nd floor balcony to hide an unsightly entrance to the private bar portion of the venue.. it ended up being one of my favorite design elements!

7191_50_lounge Liz Banfield

A lounge was set up on the second floor porch overlooking the Charleston Harbor.

Cake Collage

Jim Smeal created the beautiful cake inspired by the bead work on the bride’s gown. I agree with Liz Banfield, who says this is still one of her favorite cakes and shots of all time. So timeless and simple but stunning!

7191_43_lounge Liz Banfield

Food Collage

Bar Collage

Guests enjoyed large food stations like a custom ice display for seafood featuring carved bowls for shrimp, and glass holders for oyster shooters. Sushi was preplated with chopsticks making it so easy for guests to navigate with a cocktail in hand.

6994_9_firstdance Liz Banfield

One of the major design features we built for this wedding, was the floral chandelier hanging over the dancefloor… we did cover the old school drop tile ceiling in fabric which made them seem lower than I would like, so create an illusion of height and distraction, 10′ square covered in fragrant and dramatic blooms was the centerpiece of the room.

Balloons Collage

After dancing all night to a 70’s and 80’s throwback band, the couple departed to a balloon release…

6964_21a_sendoff_car Liz Banfield

Loved this couple so much and sharing their big day with you… Let us know if you like seeing these weddings from our archives…02

8.02.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Jul 31, 2017

Cover

We love getting a new Charleston Weddings Magazine in the mail. We’re often too busy planning or traveling for weddings, we miss some of the new and exciting stuff going on in Charleston… But, we’re even more grateful to receive the mag when we have a feature in it!

56

Stay tuned for more details from this wedding with tons of entertainment (think Drag Queens, arielists, and marching bands), and a major transformation of the space, on a future blog post…

57

7.31.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Press, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>