Category Archives: The Lettered Olive

Thrilled to finally share all of the over the top details for this fun loving couple who celebrated in Charleston complete with Drag Queens, marching bands, and arielists. Leslie and Robert’s wedding has been featured in both Charleston Weddings and Inside Weddings, so we’re sharing some of our favorite outtakes today as well. Thank you to Liz Banfield who was with us to capture the big day.

Even this couple’s printed materials were playful. Lettered Olive created the save the dates using etched acrylic, even the cobalt blue envelopes gave a guests a sense of the fun that was to come. This party pack included one of my favorite new features… perfect for a destination wedding with lots of weekend events…These are dress code cards that guests can hang with their attire for each event!  And for the “guest sign in” photo cards and envelopes were designed for guests to use in the photo booth for take home. These guest bags were wow! LL Bean bags chockfull of goodies- personalized!! We did two travel laundry bags embroidered with each of their initials and filled with each of their favorite things… A retox to detox kit of hangover cures, and of course a folder containing all of the important weekend information.  And this time blue acrylic was etched for the tags as a nod to the save the dates.

Of course the couple’s pooch made an appearance… And the embroidery on this Oscar de la Renta gown was truly stunning!

This groom’s lego cufflink and button set showed the fun loving side to his personality and lined up perfectly with the bride’s baubles.

The flowers were a perfect bridal blend of roses, lily of the valley, orchids, and roses in a not too perfect bunch. With the bridesmaids in navy a blend of whites and greens was the way to go, and I love the look the wild hellebores give.

The wedding was hosted at the new Gaillard Center in Charleston, we loved being able to work with somewhat of a blank slate and the fact that we had never worked here before.

After carpeting and draping one of the spaces, a ceremony in the round with a vine covered chuppa was finished up with guests tossing rose petals at the couple after the I Do’s.

Cocktail hour immediately followed with lots of bubbles and noshes for guests to enjoy.

The evening’s entertainment was unlike anything we had done before for a wedding, and it was a hit!  From a silk arieliest, to a popular local lively high school marching band, to a drag queen show complete with the bride joining in, they sure kicked off the night with a big bang!

Guests enjoyed an array of food at different stations, under grand greenery covered lanterns… We draped and carpeted the ballroom to give it a softer and more wedding like feel (the space is typically used as a concert hall), and we sure lucked out with the blue covered walls.

After dinner, guests enjoyed lounging and dancing in the ballroom.  The tiered white cake mimicked the bride’s gown’s intricate lace pattern and positioned a top a table with flowing flowers and a monogramed linen, it was a focal point of the large room.

Our beautiful bride donned a Naeem Khan shortie for the reception- stunning.Keeping in line with their big night of fun, Rescue Flats were offered to ladies so that the dance floor would remain packed all night… Lots of dance floor flair was donned as well, and custom popsicles kept guests cool as they worked up a sweat.

The vintage Volkswagen van that served as the couple’s photo booth, also served as their getaway at the end of the night… We couldn’t think of something more fitting to their personalities. Congratulations Robert and Lesley.

2.28.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Charleston, Dresses, Entertaining, Event Design, Fashion, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

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This pretty bride and her pretty plantation party make for a perfect Wedding Wednesday post. She and her groom celebrated with a ceremony downtown at First Baptist Church, and dinner and dancing afterwards at Runnymede Plantation outside of Charleston. The navy and white set a formal yet fun tone and Corbin Gurkin was on hand to capture all of the beautiful images. Here, I do love that the bride and her girls had such a lovely backdrop for the day while getting ready. It does make for photos that help set the tone for the day…

Bride and groom Collage

A bride in all white Vera Wang and a groom in a classic tuxedo is pure perfection.

wedding party Collage

Flowing navy Monique Lhuillier dresses were accented with cream and peach garden rose bouquets. The bride worked in fashion at Ralph Lauren, so the groomsmen all sported custom loafers with their tuxes.

Bridesmaids on bus

The bride and her ladies ride a Classic Charleston trolley to the church, luckily Corbin is right behind to capture this sweet moment

Ceremony Collage

Simple ceremony decor like floral wreathes and a custom aisle runner give a sweet touch without overshadowing the meaning of why everyone is there.

ceremony programs

A custom monogram designed by Lettered Olive is used throughout the wedding papers and design.

guest box Collage

Guest welcome boxes contain a mixture of the couple’s favorite treats and local goodies. Custom printed cups are perfect for the morning bloody mary’s using Charleston’s Fat and Juicy mix.

Cocktail hour Collage

Once at Runnymede, guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the lawn… We customized the wedding everywhere we could, down to the blue and white striped bow ties, and printed papers lining the trays serving the food.

Escort cards

Caligraphied escort tags on papers printed in the different colors and patterns were pinned to a board for guests to find during cocktail hour.

Dinner tent Collage

I’ve been really into designing the outside of a tent as much as the inside lately. I mean, really you see that first and foremost, so why wouldn’t it be lovely as well, instead of some big white rigid structure. To enter the carpeted and greenery draped dinner tent, guests walked down a boxwood lined pathway and under a custom fabric awning.

tent garland

The head table’s centerpiece was a garland adorned with flowers running the length of the table and spilling over onto the floor.

Table Collage

Graced with perfect weather that day, the tent opened up onto the plantation grounds overlooking the river and the ruins of the old plantation house.  A crisp blue and white palette allowed the soft pastels in the flowers to pop.

Cake Collage

Jim Smeal’s pastel and metallic gold cake with simple florals was a centerpiece of the dinner tent. We like finding a way to have a captive audience for the cake cutting without having to interrupt the flow of the party. So, if you can cut it and have the servers pass out as the dessert course without delaying the dancing, that’s a good way we have found to do it.

lounge tent

Guests retreated after dinner into a lounge full of conversation nooks and dim lighting, draped with glowing golden fabric.

Late night Collage

A late night food bar of sweet treats even included Charleston’s cult favorite donut truck, Diggity Doughnuts.

Getaway Collage

The bride and groom said farewell to guests with a classic sparkler send off, and drove off into the night in a classic convertible car as fireworks made for a grand finale.

2.07.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Charleston, Entertaining, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Photographers, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Jan 31, 2018

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Today for wedding Wednesday, we’re revisiting this gorgeous golden hued celebration photographed by Corbin Gurkin. Since there are so many details to savor, we’re splitting up this celebration across two parts, so make sure to come back next Wednesday for the reception and party details. You can also see more of this wedding over at Charleston Weddings Magazine.

printing Collage

 Lettered Olive used golden metallic paper to create a die cut lace pattern complimentary to the bride’s dress, I think the white ink on the metallic envelopes was such a lovely and wedding-y touch. Welcome guest bags were custom printed totes featuring the wedding hashtag filled with champagne splits, mini Candlefish candles, and many of the couples favorites things.

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The girls all gathered to get ready together with Plum Pretty Sugar robes gifted by the bride- even the littlest ladies were included.

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The Groom’s tuxedo was by Vera Wang (yes, she does men’s attire) available through the Men’s Warehouse.
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The bride wore a gown by Vera Wang.

B&G Collage

The couple elected to do a “first sight” at one of the many gorgeous parks in downtown Charleston. Corbin staged the groom so that the bride could sneak up and surprise him. This locale also made for a stunning backdrop for photos before heading over to the ceremony. I love when couples decide to do this, because it allows the photographer to really get great shots when the couple is alone and relaxed.

The couple married at First Baptist Church in Charleston, the glorious gates out front were adorned with floral wreaths of roses, hydrangeas, and lemon leaf. Large golden urns flush with greenery and flowers flanked the alter, as the couple celebrated with their first kiss.

Flower Collage

The bridesmaids wore floor length gold lame gowns by Lula Kate. The lush bridal bouquet  made the perfect transition from winter to spring with cream roses, peonies, lily of the valley sprigs and soft lambs ears, and was tied by vintage ribbon I sourced in New York.

William Aiken CollageGuests were welcomed at the William Aiken House in downtown Charleston. The historic home has been fully restored to it’s splendor with museum quality interiors. And, the grounds  were designed by a renowned local horticulturalist, so we love getting to design for our couples at this property.

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A lovely lounge was waiting on the front lounge for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour and as a getaway for after dinner dancing.

F&B Collage

Cocktail hour included a bourbon bar, passed champagne, and Southern staples like ham biscuits, and fried chicken biscuits mixed with Asian favorites- tuna tartar and dumplings.

Porch Collage

In true Charleston fashion, we utilized the sweeping piazzas for seating niches. We hung the letterpressed and caligraphied dinner escort cards on the porch for guests to gather while enjoying cocktails.

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The cream and golden color palette made for a perfectly formal Southern dinner scape. Tables were dressed with silk linens, and the die cut lace paper wraps from the invitations were brought back in to adorn the dinner napkins. Caligraphied tags tied to the lace acted as place cards.

Dinner Collage

Fabric swathes dressed up standard Chivari chairs… Even a traditional spinach salad has a new take on it’s presentation.

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Doesn’t that tent look so happy and cozy like you wouldn’t want to leave????

Cake Collage

The wedding cake by Jim Smeal mimicked the lace pattern from the bride’s bridal gown in gold and cream.  We created a vignette under the William Aiken House pergola for the cake with chandeliers, candles, and a linen dressed up with greenery and flowers. Having been introduced through their mutual veterinarian, the grooms cake included a “dog park”, also by Jim Smeal.

Dance tent Collage

Details for the after dinner dancing lounge included a monogrammed dance floor and sofas with custom embroidered pillows. The chandelier is dressed up with flowers and greenery.

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Going away Collage

After dancing the night away with friends, the couple departed by a sparkling send off and a vintage white Rolls took them away. Lettered Olive handmade the Best Day Ever sign with golden glitter! This couple’s special day was definitely #HappilyHansom!

 

1.31.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Charleston, Event Design, Fashion, Flowers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Weddings | Comments >>