Category Archives: The Lettered Olive

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We are fortunate that living in the South allows us to do winter weddings with almost as much ease as Spring weddings (it’s 60+ here in Charleston today!). When you have a back drop as graceful and stunning as the Ford Planation in Savannah, Georgia, you get year round spectacular events! For this Sunday brunch wedding, our bride and groom opted for a chic blue and white toile as the pattern du jour.  The toile was worked into everything from the invitations to the umbrellas, table linens, and even tray liners. Winter white peonies and ranunculus were mixed with festive greens for centerpieces and bouquets which set a romantic mood and the cake was topped with seasonal fruit to finish it off. (All photos by Adrienne Page)

bride-collage

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Of course there were plenty of personal touches as well. Our bride wore a vintage family veil, and received a beautiful bracelet to wear that day as a gift from the groom. The bride’s mother made homemade banana pecan bride and peach chutney which we packaged with custom designed tags by Lettered Olive and guests received as their welcome gift.

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Set under live oaks and overlooking the river, the wedding ceremony was anchored by a simple greenery covered chuppa.  Guests then joined the couple on the back lawn of the Plantation for an al fresco brunch reception.

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The menu consisted of favorite Southern brunch delicacies with a twist, such as Quail and Grits -alongside Shrimp and Grits, Ford Eggs Benedict, as well as a Bloody Mary Station with pickled veggies and Artillery Punch (a famous Savannah celebratory cocktail). One  long table topped with umbrellas in the signature pattern for shade allowed for guests to mingle easily. The bride hand wrote notes to all of her guests thanking them for being there, which also doubled as place cards.

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As they said their goodbyes, guests tossed white rose petals out of paper cones made from the blue and white toile pattern while the couple drove off in a classic black vintage car. This winter wedding couldn’t have been more perfect!

9.05.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Recipes, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Bride and groom color

Today for Wedding Wednesday, we head to Sea Island, Georgia for this natural beauty. This was one of my favorite weddings to design, I love the location, and this bride had fantastic personal taste and style (see her custom made Austin Scarlett gown). Liz Banfield took all of the pretty photos. Since there are so many pretty images, we’re going to make this into a 2 part post. But, you can see more in the meantime over at Martha Stewart Weddings.

Stationary Collage

For the couple’s save the date, Lettered Olive designed a custom monogram incorporating some of Sea Island’s local flora and fauna.  That theme plays throughout much of the rest of the paper and wedding designs.  Ceremony programs were passed out to guests on trays lined with printed paper used in the programs and matched the invitation liners. Notice the Elvis Presley stamps on the reply cards- a nod to the bride’s hometown of Memphis, TN.

guest bag

Guest bags were a canvas zipper pouch full of a mix of goodies and items from the groom’s native, Australia, and the U.S.- including a homemade chocolate chip cookies made by one of the bridesmaids’ mother.

flower Collage

Orchids are a favorite of the bride’s and her mother also had them at her wedding, so it was nice to continue that tradition.  Special family members like grandmothers wore wrist flowers versus having to carry something.

Church exterior

Church Collage

bride and groom church window

The ceremony took place at a chapel at Frederica, and with the architectural elements of the church, Liz was able to get some spectacular images.

door and draping

Guests made their way to the Ocean Forest Golf Club for cocktails, dinner, and dancing.

Cocktail Collage

Edwards fountain

Sea Island is known for the Spanish influence in its architecture… The Club opens up onto a courtyard with a grand fountain, since our cocktail hour was to take place there, we incorporated the fountain by making cushions for guests to sit on and enjoy.

Cocktail hour Collage

The elegant cocktail hour included little enclaves for guests to grab a drink and sit and enjoy conversation.

bride and groom walkingBride and groom portrait

The couple takes advantage of the sunlight and scenery to get portraits and some moments alone to take in the day.

Place card Collage

Since the venue itself is full of pretty scenery and architecture, we really wanted to incorporate some of it into the design elements. During cocktail hour, guests picked up their escort cards at a table anchored by a  simple but lush floral arrangement. Escort cards are held in place by pieces Georgia granite.
Dinner tent overall

 

The dinner tent was swathed in blue fabric, reminiscent of the traditional porch ceilings in the South.  To bring the natural feel of the overall wedding design to the tent, trees were “planted” throughout and created a wall between dinner and the dancing portion of the tent.

Dinner Collage

Guests dined under strands of orchids accented by candlelight. Taking a note from the centerpieces, fern fronds decorated each place setting… Modern brass flatware keeps the table elegant but not fussy.

 

Cake Collage

wedding cake

The wedding cake by Jim Smeal included intricate patterns similar to the windows at the Chapel where the couple were married. The hand made icing flowers add that feminine frill just perfect for a wedding cake.

Bride and groom first dance

The couple takes the floor for their first dance as husband and wife.

Cocktail bar

Ok, now this is one of my most favorite things we’ve ever done!  We created a half moon cocktail bar with copper tops. Then, we had Spoonflower print fabric with the brides’ favorite painting from the St. Regis bar in New York.  I mean…

Nighttime Collage

Landscape lighting sets a moody tone for guests dining and dancing into the wee hours. To announce the bride and groom’s departure, a Dixie jazz band paraded everyone out to the front of the venue for the send off.

B&W couple

After a quick change in to a departure dress by Anaesia, guests tossed rose petals at the bride and groom…

Car Collage

A vintage convertible decorated with lush greenery made for a one of kind getaway..

 

8.15.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Flowers, Food and Drink, Photographers, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Aug 08, 2018

couple

It’s Wedding Wednesday, our favorite day of the week! Today, we’re going back to a couple celebrating their anniversary this September. This beachfront beauty took place at the amazing Ocean Course on Kiawah Island, SC. Liz Banfield was the photographer for this big day.

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The bride had studied art history and worked in galleries, and the main inspiration for the wedding design came from the bride’s favorite Van Gogh painting.  Lettered Olive  incorporated the design into all of the printed materials along with developing complimentary patterns, which were great for designs elsewhere.

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We try to have Cacky of Cacky’s Bride Aid on hand for dressing all of our brides- if you can afford this on your day, it’s more than worth it! The bride’s strappy Chanel sandals worked all night from bridal gown to getaway dress. The bouquet was a textured mix of roses, berries, leaves, and astilbe.

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Bridesmaids wore a mix of colors and styles from JCrew, and Amsale through Bella Bridesmaids. The bride gifted the groom his Hermes tie for the big day.

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The groom is an avid golfer, so having his ceremony on the famed Ocean Course overlooking the greens and the water made for a very happy day.

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Guests were graciously greeted on the porch after the ceremony for cocktail hour, the ocean breeze made it a perfect and comfortable place to sip and snack.

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Cocktail hour was also full of fun details like servers in custom elephant printed ties and white glove service.  Elephants are the brides favorite animal and signify good luck! And,  signature cocktail was a replication of the bride’s favorite drink at the country club her family belongs to…

Escort card Collage

The escort card display was a new take on a traditional display.  Gold caligraphied cards affixed with a mongramed wax seal were nestled in boxes of ruffled blooms.

dinner-collage

Lots of yummy details made for beautiful and luxurious dinner tables. The bride and groom sat at chairs with embroidered toppers that made the logo used on their invitations.

cake-table

Jim Smeal is the mastermind behind the cakes mimicking the favorite painting, and we SCORED when we found these elephant cocktail tables perfect as cake stands!

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As the sunset during dinner, the after party tent and porch lounge was a glow and ready for the revelers.

Lounge Collage

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In the dance and lounge tent, an extra long printed fabric bar was a super glamorous backdrop . Bar stools anchored either end, so guests wanting to take a cocktail break could still look in on all of the dance floor action. I loved the seafoam carpet we found, I really like the polished look it gave the tent.

candle-collage

Favors were locally made Rewind candles, and custom printed matches with the couple’s favorite photo from their engagement session.

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sign-in-book

Guests signed a book complied from engagement photos… a perfect coffee table book for their new home.

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After a change into a Christian Dior dress the bride found while in France with her family before the wedding, the couple departed by a rose petal toss. Cones of printed paper holding petals were passed out to guests on the way out…

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