Giving some love to my BFF, Nicki Clendening today, who was just featured as a design crush on Style Blueprint. Nicki and I first met waiting tables together at an amazing Italian restaurant in Charleston, and have been collaborating ever since. We recently moved into a new office in New York, and had Nicki do the design for it… you can see more below.

 

1.28.20   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Art, Interior Design, J'adore!, New York, Press | Comments >>
Jan 21, 2020

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Blue and white is such a classic wedding palette, and this bride wanted to get even more fun and bring in a variety of colors that really ended up making the look. Thank you to Charleston Weddings Magazine for featuring this Lowndes Grove wedding of ours photographed by Corbin Gurkin.

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1.21.20   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Press, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | 1 Comment
Jan 14, 2020

This wedding was such a stunner, that we had to share some of our own favorite details in addition to the feature in the new Charleston Weddings Magazine. Our couple married at Kiawah Island Resort, with an indoor ceremony in a ballroom we transformed, followed by an evening of dinner, dancing, and details. The bride is Mexican, so were able to use a lot of beautiful details as a nod to her heritage, and incorporate glamorous design that represent the couple’s taste. Corbin Gurkin captured all of the lovely images. Wedding papers by Lettered Olive featured gilded paper and inks, a custom monogram and velvet touches. The save the dates were acrylic thumb drives of a styled video the couple made featuring Kiawah Island to get guests excited for the big day.

The bride wore a gown from Kleinfeld Bridal by Pnina Tornai and shoes by Christian Louboutin. We created her bouquet using shades of blushes and white with opulant orchids, garden roses, and lily of the valley hand tied with an embroidered velvet ribbon. Custom cuff links for the groom were engraved with the wedding date.

Classic black tuxedos complimented the bridesmaids lace and silk full length gowns- by Kate McDonald Bridal. I love seeing sleeves for the bridesmaids!

 

We transformed one of the ballrooms at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island by laying white carpet and bring the outdoors in… We covered golden branches with orchids, and lined the aisle with greenery boxes, and hung white sheer fabric for a beautiful photo backdrop.

A floral covered monogram added pretty detail to the hotel space. Members of the family who couldn’t be there where there in spirit with a remembrance table at the ceremony. In addition to the Virtuosi orchestra at the ceremony, a bagpiper, and Mariachi band provided a variety of music.

Perfectly timed, a confetti cannon went off just as the couple sealed their vows with a kiss.

Cocktail hour featured a salsa and taco station… Covered in greenery, a hotel chandelier makes for a great escort card station. Acrylic cards calligraphied by Penned by Palmer were hung by ribbon.

For this bride, typical chivari chairs just wouldn’t cut it. So, white fabric was woven throughout to give a frilly and extravagant feel.  A centerpiece of the dining room was a large fixture we covered in greenery and draped orchid strands from.

Perfectly piped linens (one of our signatures) provided tailored tabletops with rows of lush floral centerpieces. Delicate glass candlesticks offered a mixture of height. Place cards were embroidered satin ribbons tied to the napkins at each place setting.

Jim Smeal created a modern and elegant cake using two of the main design elements- marble and gold gilding.

Perfectly positioned lounge seating and tables provided guests a place to perch when not dancing.
Marble was an element that kept popping up in the bride’s inspiration photos, so we created a marbleized dance floor as a stand out focal point of the room.

Since it’s seen in so many of the photos, the band’s stage can stick out like a sore thumb, or blend in perfectly. Fabric draped curtains and custom edging create a showcase for the band that show the extra thought that goes into designing the space.

As a send off, the guests were showered by orchids, and departed in a vintage car with the prettiest of petals making the final look as special as the first. Congrats Gaby and Ward!

1.14.20   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>