Category Archives: Weddings

Aug 07, 2018

After being voted the #1 city 5 times in a row, it’s not hard to see why Charleston has become a top bachelorette party spot. Today, we’re sharing a Charleston Bachelorette Weekend guide. Forty eight hours of around the clock ideas for where to stay, eat, and hang.

For those looking for the modern or boutiquey places to stay- there are new places coming on the Charleston market all the time, but a few of our favorites are The Spectator Hotel (one of our past brides was the interior designer), the Dewberry, and the newly redesigned Restoration Hotel. If you want a more Southern traditional Charleston abode then The Charleston Place is a classic, and the Mills House has more than a few historic claims to fame.

And for a big group of girls all wanting to stay together of course there are AirBnB properties, but another great resource focusing on Charleston and the beaches is Luxury Simplified Retreats.

Figuring out where to dine in Charleston for an upcoming visit can be a full time planning job in and of itself, but, we’ve got you covered. Start with an early dinner of Lobster Rolls and Rose Friday evening at 167 Raw. Then, head back to the hotel for an early nightcap at your lobby or rooftop bar. You can’t miss Chez Nous – it’s truly one of my most favorite spots and such a special little place. Lunch at the large outside table would make for a lovely afternoon. Saturday night calls for Upper King- dinner at Darling Oyster Bar makes for an effortless first stop. Duck into any of the other hot spots around as you make your way to late night dancing at The Commodore. Cure the “Blew it Out Blues” over Sunday brunch at the Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan’s Island.

Charleston is wonderful on foot of course, but bikes can get you farther into the upper and lower areas of town (helpful for getting you to lunch at Chez Nous). Affordabike offers rentals and deliveries throughout downtown. If you are staying at the Spectator or the Restoration, inquire about the bikes they have in house. King Street is known for it’s shopping, from national and worldwide chains, to local boutiques. Hampden Clothing is a must hit, as well as Finicky Filly across the street. Since, you’ll be on Sullivan’s for brunch, plan on staying for the afternoon and enjoy the beach!

8.07.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Fashion, Food and Drink, Shopping, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>

Aug 06, 2018

Our Favorite Tents

photos by Corbin Gurkin

We have several requests recently to share more of our tented receptions, so today is the day! The top photos shows you a bit of what we started out working with, a large white frame tent with clear plastic walls. Then, as you step inside you can see how we transformed the space. We started with white carpeting to soften the space and really give it a feel more like a living room or interior space and not a tent. Then, a romantic drapey ceiling in crisp blue and white brings the ceiling down and of course hides all of the ugly insides. We have to have pretty fabric walls too!

photo by Liz Banfield

This seaside reception tent was quite unique for a number of reasons. One, we raised the floor up several feet so that guests’ view wasn’t impaired by the sand dunes. We also left the walls open on this one so that the seabreeze could float thru throughout the night, and for the ocean views. Then, we tried something new by creating the ceiling liner out of actual woven seagrass… It was a conversation piece throughout the night for sure!

photo by Liz Banfield

In Charleston, we have only a few months out of the year that using a clear top tent is ideal. When it’s only slightly warm, the sun bearing down on the clear plastic can really heat things up acting as a “greenhouse”. For this early April wedding when temps were still mild, we didn’t want to block out the uniqueness by covering the ceiling in fabric. So, for this garden inspired fete, a woven greenery ceiling allowed for sunlight and stars to peek through.

photos by Corbin Gurkin

For this winter wedding, heavy textures like wood, suede, and greenery were used to create this space. Of course, the outside has to be as pretty as the inside. For this grand entrance we built an awning, added custom doors, and several container plants. The oversized tent, once inside, featured hardwood floors, a garden greenery trellis backdrop and garland draped ceiling, and even a huge wooden wall behind the bar.

photos by Corbin Gurkin

For this Aspen wedding, natural elements blended with tailored prettiness. Guests walked thru a lantern lit walkway to the tent at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Hardwood floors gave way to white couches and cowhide throws. The dance floor and ceiling added softness with blue and white draping and a striped showcase floor.

8.06.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Event Design, Event Planning, Reception, Weddings | Comments >>

Aug 01, 2018

Wedding Wednesday with a Vintage Touch

We were so thrilled to see this wedding feature on 100 Layer Cake this week. . Elizabeth Messina was here to shoot with us, and as you can imagine the imagery is pretty spectacular, her style was the perfect fit for this ethereal bride.

The couple was wed at the French Huguenot Church in downtown Charleston, one of my all time favorite churches (the Guerards were one of the first Huguenot families in Charleston).

We try to encourage our clients to do a “first look” when appropriate. It still allows for the moment that a groom sees his bride on their wedding day, but on a more intimate level, which some of our brides find really relieves a lot of the pressure of walking down the aisle in front of all of those guests. And, it allows for some one on one time with the photographer to really capture some great shots together and with the wedding party without missing out on your party after the ceremony!

Vintages touches throughout the stationary by Lettered Olive really set the stage for the wedding day feel. Custom antique postcards were crafted and a logo with a vintage lace border was used throughout the wedding design. We even made a custom cornhole game for guests to play during cocktail hour!

Lettered Olive also crafted a custom “Charleston” map which was printed on the guest welcome bags. All of the wedding weekend locations were noted.

Antique keys and tags engraved with guests’ names, and attached to paper cards with table numbers, adorned a moss covered board for guests to find their seats at dinner.

Large wooden bed swings hung from live oak branches overlooking the river during cocktail hour.

As a special treat for the groom and his friends, a true Southern bourbon bar was on hand.

Lush greens, pale pinks, and creams dotted all of the florals we designed.

Draping covered in green garlands helped to give a landscaped garden feel to the dining room.

Moss and ivy topiaries on longer tables were perfect accents to the floral centerpieces on the square table. I love giving a dining room a layered look by working with different sizes, shapes, heights, and textures.

Jim Smeal did his version of a naked cake decorated with champagne grapes…

What else other than a vintage Model T could be more perfect for this couples’ departure.

8.01.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Photographers, Press, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>