This breathtaking ceremony took place under the oaks at Drayton Hall Plantation. This bride was all about glamour and wanted a modern flair for her southern plantation affair. So, we added luxe details including chandeliers covered with spanish moss dripping from the branches of the old oak overlooking the pond. Swaths of orchid blooms draped along the aisle runner of plush white carpet. An arch of floral covered branches in footed urns framed the spot where the couple tied the knot.
Great little takeaway for upcoming and future brides- have all of your bridesmaids sign the bottom of your wedding shoes, and the first name to rub off will be the next to get married. The guest welcome bags were canvas shoe bags (which made it easy for out of town guests to take home) filled with hotel room essentials, including a “Charleston” candle by Archipelago. This braid/bun combo was a bridal hair showstopper!
This couple made a great point of including loved ones on the big day- Small nieces acted as flower girls, and the couple’s two golden retrievers made a guest appearance for photos.
After the ceremony, guests walked the grounds of Drayton Hall towards the riverbanks where they entered a cocktail tent full of plush lounge furniture, candlelight and chandeliers.
Lettered Olive was loving being able to mix up materials for this bride- the menu cards, escort cards, and table names were all etched acrylic signs. In lieu of a guest book, guests were asked to take a polaroid photo and write a note which went in a box for the couple to have at home..
After dinner, guests entered an all white and silver swank lounge for dancing. It had been sealed off during dinner, so the big reveal really wowed the guests. The Casablanca lilies used in the centerpieces filled the room with their scent which was an unplanned but pleasant surprise detail!
Inexpensive and comfy asian slippers took place of flip flops for guests needing to change out of their high heels. This mod octagon shimmering cake by Jim Smeal was definitely a stand alone centerpiece. Guests not wanting to indulge at the party, were given slices in boxes that they could take home with them.
Intimate seating lining the edges of the dance floor allowed for cozy conversation and quick break to rest!
Having a fun couple allows us to get really creative, which is of course, fun for us. For the send off, everyone “Got Silly at Hilary and Will’s Wedding” with custom covered silly string cans.
The vintage getaway car was adorned with paper flowers in the brides’ colors. Loved the throwback to weddings when decorating the car was a really big deal!
Thank you to Liz Banfield for all of the gorgeous shots!
I find people always asking for easy entertaining at home tips- especially on quantities or what to sere at the bar. Entertaining at home is a cinch if you have the right guidelines to follow! Here are my recommendations based on a four hour party for about 20 guests.
If you are going to have a self serve bar, you can always dress it up by using your decanters, pitchers, or other vessels and have tags identify each liquor.
I think it’s a nice touch to have bar snacks for guests as well, in case they end up in a conversation over cocktail refreshing.
I suggest for glassware that you have a standard high ball that you can use for cocktails and beer. As well as wine glasses ( you can use something fun and if it’s casual and the wine isn’t from your best collection you can use the same glasses for all), and champagne if serving.
You’ll also need about 250 paper cocktail napkins (foryourparty.com is a great resource), or if you have a collection of linen cocktail napkins, break those out. And custom drink stirrers would really wow your guests! I favor these from 
And, if you can really splurge, it’s nice to have a bartender so that guests don’t have to lift a finger!
We have been waiting to share this oh so pretty Winter wedding at 
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.
