Category Archives: The Lettered Olive

When designing a party or wedding, we try to think through not only the design of the actual wedding, flowers, tent, etc. but also of course the food and drink! Visually how things are presented to us here affect the entire experience, and we are big fan of dressing up our passing trays and our display stations. One of our signature elements are our tray liners. Sometimes a custom monogram, or a pattern used in the wedding printings, we print a mix of complimentary designs to line our passing trays with. Enjoy our video that shows you some tips on how you can do this at your next party.   And, to see the entire episode, head over to our You Tube channel. New episode coming soon!


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photo by Liz Banfield; paper design by Lettered Olive

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photo by Liz Banfield; paper design by Lettered Olive

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photo by Corbin Gurkin

Another trick that is easy and affordable is to use leaves that have been washed and dried out of your garden or from a local flower shop… Anything to not use old school lace paper doilies.

6.13.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Parties, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Jun 07, 2017

6476_33.©LizBanfield

We hope you have been enjoying seeing some of our weddings from the archives. I can’t wait to share some of our more recent ones just as soon as they are published or released! Today, we are going back to a dreamy Lowndes Grove affair, swathed in pink and white, with a custom monogram using the “J” from the bride and groom’s first names. Thank you to Liz Banfield for the pretty imagery.

Bridal Collage

This gorgeous bride was perfectly polished on her wedding day with a floral chignon, Monique Lhullier gown, family heirlooms incorporated into her bouquet, and a six pence in her Christian Louboutins!

6474_32a.©LizBanfield Guest Bag Collage

Guests coming to Charleston for the weekend, enjoyed a jute bag perfect for toting around filled with custom bottled waters and locally prepared snacks. The J&J logo set the tone for all of the design elements to come.

6479_13a.©LizBanfield Church Collage 6532_50.©LizBanfield

I love that final moment the bride has with her father (or whomever the special person walking her down the aisle), to reflect on everything and take a deep breath before walking down the aisle.

6477_33.©LizBanfield escort card Collage

Meanwhile, over at Lowndes Grove , the house is open for cocktail hour- guests enjoy pink champagne, porches with seating to enjoying the sweeping river views, and bountiful appetizers.  We also find this is a great time and place to position items like the guest book (whatever that is for you), and the dinner seating card display while you have all the attention of the guests before dancing, etc.

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Our bride wanted a truly Southern and traditional feel especially in the dinner tent, and we think we delivered! Luxe draping accented with crystal chandeliers, a mixture of tall and low abundant floral pieces, and pretty pink ribbon woven into the chairs just for an added touch.

Tabletop Collage

The J & J was a perfectly pretty accent for the place settings… The head table received embroidered napkins for the couple to use at home after the wedding. Small letterpressed tags were tied just so on the napkins, and wax seals featuring the “J’s” sealed the escort card envelopes.

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Oh, one thing I loved for this wedding- we added a bit of tailoring to the linen linens by trimming them out with heavy satin ribbon.

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The cake by Jim Smeal took notes from the lace used on the bride’s dress, along with the J monogram. Piped icing in a formal pattern was piped onto the traditional cake stand (which we painted white to update the old school silver stands) was an added special touch!

Evening Collage

Another hit at this wedding were the place cards at the head table- etched glasses with each person’s name that they could take home.. LOVE!

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Lounge Collage

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After dinner under a tent on the front lawn… A warm and cozy lounge tent with glowing lamplight, carpeting, and candlelight was the perfect spot for guests to party. An outdoor lounge overlooking the river gave those wanting to enjoy some space away from the party a chance to relax under the stars.

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The bride enjoys her first dance on a custom monogrammed dance floor.

Late night Collage

Late night yummies like sorbet cones, and mini ice cream sandwiches cooled guests off from a long night of dancing…

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The bride and groom departed by a Classic Rolls and traditional rose petal toss….

6.07.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
May 24, 2017

2605_21.© Liz Banfield

We heading down to Sea Island, Georgia this week for a big wedding weekend, so in honor of that we are sharing a beachside celebration for Wedding Wednesday. After marrying at a historic chapel on St. Simon’s island, the couple celebrated with guests at the Ocean Forrest Club. Liz Banfield was able to have some private time with the couple on the beach to capture some amazing images.

Bridal Collage

A classic bridal accessory, a pearl bracelet… beautiful with her Rivini gown. All of the wedding party carried a variety of white flowers like ranunculus, roses, orchids, and tulips.

2604_06a.© Liz Banfield Church Collage

At the church, fluffy wreaths with ribbons and shells great guests. Part of the take on our design aesthetic was “sophisticated shells”, we loved this guests’ handbag!!!

2602_25a.© Liz Banfield

Our wedding welcome bags were full of beach essentials- local treats, bottled water, printed sunscreen, koozies, and magazines in a perfect beach tote.

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Food Collage

After photos on the beach, cocktail hour was in full swing on the back lawn of the beach club. Guests enjoy an intricate ice display houses varied local seafood, and the couple’s favorite cocktail- Southsides.

2593_09.© Liz Banfield

Now, this was our showstopper design feature, and something we had never done before- a seagrass tent ceiling. My team really almost killed me, but we did it and it was amazing! Dinner and dancing was in the same beachfront tent- which we raised up about 5 feet so that an ocean view was present for the entire evening.

Table Collage

Dinner escort cards were in a sanded displays and had a sweet little shell on each… Along with flowers, large glass containers with sand, shells and candles weighted the tables from the seabreeze and was chic at the same time. Sand dollars tied with raffia were perfectly perched at each seat.

Cake Collage

The amazing sand dollar cake by Jim Smeal was a pretty focal point in the tent. We make take home cake boxes for guests wanting a sweet treat later in the evening.

2602_04a.© Liz Banfield

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Nighttime Collage

As the sunset the party begins… Something we created for events years and years ago, but are still able to reinvent, are our shadowboxes. We use them for bars, tables, etc. For this wedding it was perfect for filling with sand and shells for the lounge bars and cake table. They are a great unexpected sight for guests! For a cost savings we brought the wreaths used on the church doors over for the front of the reception venue.

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After dancing late into the evening, the bride and groom departed by classic car and fireworks for their honeymoon… Stay tuned for details from Sea Island this weekend!

5.24.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Cakes, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Photographers, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>