Category Archives: The Lettered Olive

Apr 18, 2018

Today, we are digging back into the archives for springtime wedding with the pops of color we need right now. There are so many details from this wedding atop Gorham’s Bluff in Alabama, it’s hard to narrow them down. This sweet shindig has all the trademarks of a perfect Southern affair- seersucker, nods to favorite college football teams, cocktails (many many cocktails), bows, outfit changes (the bride had 3 dresses!) and lots and lots of flowers, all done in the chicest way of course.  Liz Banfield shot this wedding weekend for us and Lettered Olive is responsible for all of the printed items.

The printed materials all featured a sweet floral pattern countered by a seersucker pattern that we wanted included because of it’s prominence in the upcoming wedding design.  The guests were welcomed with individual picnic baskets full of custom packaged goodies.

A palette of ombre punchy colors were balanced with varigated flowers were wrapped with seersucker fabric.  The bride carried a bouquet with a bit more of a bridal feel, creams and whites with faint hints of pink.

The wedding ceremony was held in the property’s outdoor amphitheater overlooking the lake and valley.

Immediately following the ceremony, guests enjoyed an al fresco cocktail hour on the grand lawn overlooking the valley… We passed “Tigertinis” a nod to the couple’s Auburn University alma mater, along with other noshes.

Guests enjoyed dinner in a grand tent swathed in fabric and lush carpeting. Giant lampshades were fashioned from seersucker fabric, as were table linens. The place settings featured die cut floral letterpressed menu cards with grey leaves hand lettered as place cards.

An 8 tired cake with a hand painted floral design by Jay Qualls  was a centerpiece of the tent. We made a custom linen perfect for this bride featuring ruffled flowers made out of taffeta.  After dinner, guests enjoyed dancing in the late hours in a glowing lounge tent. One of my favorite elements of this tent started as a problem we encountered during set up. A tent was growing in the footprint of the tenting, and obviously we couldn’t tear it down! So, we cut the flooring and it appeared as if a tree was just growing right in the tent. Hang some lanterns from it, and it’s a pretty design element we didn’t even plan for!

The bride and groom are avid college football fans, so we had guests wave pompoms at the send off.  The bride departed wearing her mother’s wedding gown- a cotton eyelet dress with bell sleeves- so fab!

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

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Today’s post showcases the rehearsal dinner of our couple featured recently on our blog and in Martha Stewart Weddings. The Wedding Eve party consisted of a more intimate rehearsal dinner for extended family and wedding party, then, the couple welcomed their out of town guests for an after dinner cocktail and dance party. Brides gorgeous waterfall gown by Nardos Imam, and photos by Corbin Gurkin.

Scenery Collage

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With gorgeous scenery and urban setting, the Huguenot Loft in Greenville, SC was the perfect “modern rustic” setting for the event, since the wedding the following day would take place at the family home of the bride. The converted mill built in the 1800’s already had great features for us to build upon like exposed brick walls, antique plank flooring, and exposed wooden ceiling beams. A simple palette of white and green was perfect for the Spring season, while the added wooden details (like in the menus, farm tables, and chairs) gave a masculine touch. Simple but perfectly detailed linen runners edged in green ribbon matched the ribbons giving a pop of color to the place settings.

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An after dinner lounge offered guests a place to catch up and convene over cocktails.

Black and white Collage

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After a 3 course dinner by a favorite local caterer, the couple welcomed guests with an after party. Sliders, BBQ Biscuits, and an abundant cheese display, along with Zac Brown cover band- 20 Ride kept guests partying late into the evening!

4.09.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Entertaining, Event Design, Rehearsal Dinner, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Apr 04, 2018

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This pretty, feminine, and chic beach wedding is the perfect share for this Wedding Wednesday. The bride, having grown up in SC and going to the beach at Kiawah Island, thought it to be the perfect destination for all of her Manhattan friends. With a really lovely pastel palette of lavender, pale blue, pale, pinks, and hints of grey, that was something about this wedding that just set my heart aglow. Photos are by Velvet Raptor.

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Lettered Olive created a letterpress invite set using a lavender ink and guipure lace belly band cutout mimicking the pattern from the bride’s dress.

Bridal Collage

The bride wore a corset style dress from Monique Lhuillier and killer jeweled heels by Miu Miu. The frilly bridal bouquet of sweet pea, peonies, and ranunculus was hand tied with an embroidered monogram satin ribbon and finished with a vintage family broach.

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The bride awaits her walk down the aisle behind the scenes with her father. Love these two and this photo.

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Sprigs of blooming lavender hand tied with satin ribbon made chic boutonierres.

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The mother of the bride acquired these plaster sheep and has them on the lawn at their beach house, so we had them brought over to greet guests upon arrival. Of course, they had to have floral wreaths!

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For a prime view of the ocean, guests sat on linen ottomans with a lush floral arch to define the alter.

Ceremony Collage

I just love this aisle being so fabulous and floral but beachside. Along the aisle were planter boxes full of lush white flowers.

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For the bride, who worked for a well known jewelry atelier, we found lavender velvet jewel boxes, which we put table numbers inside of and name tags on top as the escort cards. Lettered Olive designed a custom monogram that was used throughout the wedding decor.

Cocktail hour Collage

After the beachside ceremony, guests enjoyed an al fresco happy hour on the porches and lawn over looking the ocean.

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Dining room Collage

Inside for dinner, tailored linens and lush white florals and candles dressed the tables. The bride and groom’s chairs were adorned with floral wreaths. Embroidered napkins were cleaned and given to the couple to have in their new home.. Mini menu books at each place give details of the food, and schedule of the evening, along with anecdotes about the couple…

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The mother of the bride is a quintessential hostess and known for her cold cucumber soup. Best served- COLD. So, we had our ice sculptor design individual ice bowls for each guest’s soup serving.

Cake Collage

We love any touches that represent the couple or family that can be brought into the wedding day. Here, the mother of the bride had been collecting vintage cake toppers for years and then restoring them. She made a special one for the wedding cake, and then gifted one to each of the bridesmaids as well.

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Well into the late hours of dancing, a nasty storm started to roll in. We had a very special car for the getaway that couldn’t get wet, so we had the band play their “last call” , and got guests out front for the send off- just in the nick of time…

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Beating the weather, the couple departed in a vintage convertible (the driver is adorable in plaid knickers, and cap) and guests waved purple glow sticks (avoiding a mess and still giving great photos)…

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