Category Archives: Uncategorized

Nov 19, 2019

photo by Corbin Gurkin 

It’s not just for the ring boxes anymore. We can’t sing our love of velvet enough…As far as we’re concerned we use it on linens, tent/wall draping, even wrapping bouquets!  Velvet is hot hot hot in wedding design right now, so we wanted to show you have we have used it in the past! 

photos by Corbin Gurkin and Liz Banfield

One simple but sweet way to use velvet is on the bouquet wrap. I’ve had great luck finding beautiful velvet options at my favorite vintage ribbon shop in New York.  For the wedding on the right, we even had the wedding’s custom monogram embroidered on her ribbon.

photo by Liz Banfield

One of our first forays into velvet was this collaboration with Velvet Raptor. For an early spring wedding with rich earth hued tones complimented with a pop of pastel, ombre menu booklets were finished with etched bronze name plates. Guests all kept their menus from this one!

photos by Corbin Gurkin (1,2) and Liz Banfield (3)

Our sister printing company, Lettered Olive, has had the opportunity to design paper goods using velvet elements.  Our menu books are so luxurious! For a December wedding, embossed velvet ribbon was an unexpected belly band on the invitation suite. And for another holiday season wedding, and slight hint of velvet on the reply envelopes offer a soft surprise.

photo by Liz Banfield

For a couple’s wedding welcome bags, we custom made velvet travel shoe bags so guests would actually want to take them home. And of course, stuffed with all sorts of goodies and treats for comfortable hotel staying.

Photos by Corbin Gurkin (1,2) and Liz Banfield (3)

And of course, one of our favorite areas for velvet and then more velvet is in the wedding design itself. A giant reception bar was covered in velvet fabric matching the custom built velvet seating. We found super perfect green velvet couches at our local rental company (Snyder Events) to create our reception lounge. And, for a glittering New Years eve wedding and special touch for our couple, we made velvet chair covers embroidered with their names…

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

I am thrilled to share this Fall Fenwick Plantation wedding with you, now that it is officially fall in the south.  This is the 3rd daughter from a family that we have done all three weddings for, which I love because they were all so different and fun to design. This one is full of soft and feminine touches but using lots for rustic and natural elements. Thank you to Corbin Gurkin for all of the photos. Lettered Olive created a landscape scene reminiscent of the grounds at Fenwick Plantation (currently on the market if anyone is interested!), which was printed as the envelope liner on the classic letterpress invitations. Canvas “baskets” were printed with a handdrawn map of Charleston, with all of the weekend festivity locations noted. A custom printed puzzle also gave guests more information about the weekend events. Local snacks and treats filled the basket, including the groom’s favorite fortune cookies, but more on that later…

The bride wore a lace mermaid style gown by Eddy K with a keyhole back and a veil from BHLDN.

Bridesmaids wore gowns from BHLD, and the groom’s suit is from H Stockton in Atlanta.

Letterpress programs were fashioned into fans for the outdoor ceremony, luckily we had a warm beautiful day! After walking down a petal lined aisle with oversized magnolia pieces, the couple married under a magnolia and floral arch.

Cocktail immediately followed in the garden, where guests were greeted with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails named by the couple.  Going with the garden theme, a “planted” escort card display was designed. Galvanized metal tags were calligraphied with guests names and planed in a moss covered box. Dinner under the clear top tent featured a lovely head table with the palest pink linen, and curated tabletop of flowers, differing candles, and elements like antlers and other curios.

Afterwards in the lounge tent, both the wedding cake and a grooms cake were cut. The bride chose a chocolate covered confection by Jim Smeal displayed with a custom monogramed linen… Due the groom’s love of Chinese food, Jim also created a to go box cake with gum paste fortune cookies on top.

The after dinner lounge featured several different seating arrangements for guests to gather… In addition to our traditional bar setup, we built a beer tap wall for the guys… Loved this new addition and it was a big hit with guests… Featuring 4 of the couple’s favorite selections. 

After a night of dancing and mingling with friends, the couple departed to a sparkler send off, in a vintage British convertible.  Congrats Mary and Reid!

11.12.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Flowers, Food and Drink, Press, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Nov 05, 2019

A Bryan Photo

We are definitely seeing a shift in the palettes for our fall weddings as we are diving into the design proposals, but we are loving the inspiration we are getting from new hues.  For a recent wedding, the girls wore shades of ochre. And, with the bouquets of greenery instead of blooms, I love this fresh fall look and how it makes total sense with out the long standing feel of traditional fall.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

A new take on fall brights with a broad palette, these shades are balanced but unexpected.  Our bride, designer of Dee Hutton created custom gowns for her ladies and it couldn’t have been more perfect for this glamorous affair.  Think a trip to Mexico or Cuba as color inspiration here.

photos by Corbin Gurkin and Liz Banfield

Blue, so much blue… Blue has so many shades and can truly be used in all seasons. Navy is a particularly popular for Fall, along with a smokier shade. But blue truly is timeless and versatile, always a good choice!

photo by Corbin Gurkin

Grey doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, in fact we’re seeing more shades of it.  Here, a charcoal is balanced with sunset shades. The green grey gowns in center are balanced with fluffy dusty miller, and blooms in dessert shades. Grey suits are still a main alternatives to tuxedos. A pale grey suit works darker greys, navy, and the paler shades of lilac.  Darker greys are a surprising neutral that are working with all tones.

photos by Corbin Gurkin 

I’m loving the moment that jewel tones are still having, but if you are looking for ways to brighten them, try offering a brighter balance of blush tones.

photos by Liz Banfield and Corbin Gurkin 

Lilac is still definitely having a moment. We’re seeing it done in ombre shades, everywhere from pastels, to the deeper jewel shades. The flowers acting as a counterpart- the lighter shades are complimented with deeper blooms, and the darker shades work well blended with greens, pales, and pops of plum.

11.05.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>