Tag Archives: beach wedding

Apr 04, 2018

This pretty, feminine, and chic beach wedding is the perfect share for this Wedding Wednesday. The bride, having grown up in SC and going to the beach at Kiawah Island, thought it to be the perfect destination for all of her Manhattan friends. With a really lovely pastel palette of lavender, pale blue, pale, pinks, and hints of grey, that was something about this wedding that just set my heart aglow. Photos are by Velvet Raptor.

Lettered Olive created a letterpress invite set using a lavender ink and guipure lace belly band cutout mimicking the pattern from the bride’s dress.

The bride wore a corset style dress from Monique Lhuillier and killer jeweled heels by Miu Miu. The frilly bridal bouquet of sweet pea, peonies, and ranunculus was hand tied with an embroidered monogram satin ribbon and finished with a vintage family broach.

The bride awaits her walk down the aisle behind the scenes with her father. Love these two and this photo.

Sprigs of blooming lavender hand tied with satin ribbon made chic boutonierres.

The mother of the bride acquired these plaster sheep and has them on the lawn at their beach house, so we had them brought over to greet guests upon arrival. Of course, they had to have floral wreaths!

For a prime view of the ocean, guests sat on linen ottomans with a lush floral arch to define the alter.

I just love this aisle being so fabulous and floral but beachside. Along the aisle were planter boxes full of lush white flowers.

For the bride, who worked for a well known jewelry atelier, we found lavender velvet jewel boxes, which we put table numbers inside of and name tags on top as the escort cards. Lettered Olive designed a custom monogram that was used throughout the wedding decor.

After the beachside ceremony, guests enjoyed an al fresco happy hour on the porches and lawn over looking the ocean.

Inside for dinner, tailored linens and lush white florals and candles dressed the tables. The bride and groom’s chairs were adorned with floral wreaths. Embroidered napkins were cleaned and given to the couple to have in their new home.. Mini menu books at each place give details of the food, and schedule of the evening, along with anecdotes about the couple…

The mother of the bride is a quintessential hostess and known for her cold cucumber soup. Best served- COLD. So, we had our ice sculptor design individual ice bowls for each guest’s soup serving.

We love any touches that represent the couple or family that can be brought into the wedding day. Here, the mother of the bride had been collecting vintage cake toppers for years and then restoring them. She made a special one for the wedding cake, and then gifted one to each of the bridesmaids as well.

Well into the late hours of dancing, a nasty storm started to roll in. We had a very special car for the getaway that couldn’t get wet, so we had the band play their “last call” , and got guests out front for the send off- just in the nick of time…

Beating the weather, the couple departed in a vintage convertible (the driver is adorable in plaid knickers, and cap) and guests waved purple glow sticks (avoiding a mess and still giving great photos)…

4.04.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Mar 14, 2018

Coastal Kiawah Wedding Wednesday

This wedding has all the makings to get us excited for the Spring season ahead- pretty pastel palette, beach front ceremony, and spring design elements like peaches, dahlias, and greens. Guests were able to spend a vacation like weekend on Kiawah Island, SC celebrating with the couple. Corbin Gurkin was on hand to capture all of the lovely images.

Guests received simply gorgeous letterpress invitations in a simple spring green all designed by Lettered Olive. A floral but not fussy motif set the tone for the events. Upon arrival, custom printed Kiawah Island totes filled with locally made tea, honey, and snacks welcomed guests. The floral pattern used on the printed tags became a big design factor in other places at the wedding.

The bride wore a Monique Lhuillier strapless light and airy lacy mermaid silhouetted gown.

Our bride enjoyed a day of dressing with her bridesmaids all in Plum Pretty Sugar.

The couple opted for a First Look- I love the look of excitement and anticipation on the groom’s face as we awaits her to approach.

The pale green and grey color palette was a lovely background for the palest of spring florals. The bridesmaids wore varying gowns in the same fabric by Amsale.

To dress up and tailor this beach front ceremony, a pristine white carpet runner was laid over the immaculate grass. A simple chuppa with flowing white curtains and floral tie backs still offer guests a view of the ocean.

Simple seagrass anchored in sand were simple chic and affordable aisle decor! We offered flip flops in varying sizes to guests who didn’t want their heels sinking into the ground. Fan shaped programs on the thickest Italian paper we use, made for perfect weather tamers during the ceremony.

The brides hand tied bouquet featured David Austin garden roses, white peonies, white roses and tea roses, and grey lambs ear for color and texture.

Cocktail hour was open air on the porch; a bowl of peaches provides information about the cocktails served and pretty bar decor; monogrammed table runners were placed throughout the ballroom venue to keep it feeling personal.

Of course, being a SC girl, this was one of my favorite escort card displays we’ve done- a table of peaches with hand caligraphied floral die cut cards, LOVE!

One design area worth the splurge at this event was covering the typical busy and bright ballroom carpet with white carpeting, giving the ballroom a crisp and polished feel. Dinner linens were the palest of green with a darker complimentary green piped on the edges and peeking out in corners. Dinner chairs were perfectly matched in a pale green.

Place settings were prettied with matching ribbons and eucalyptus springs and a caligraphied leaf place card. Low lying centerpieces of pink dinner plate dahlias, leafy greens, and seeded eucalyptus accented with mercury glass were classic glam.

A pale green ruffled and sugar flowered cake, all handiwork by Jim Smeal .

We had the floral pattern designed for the couple’s printed materials put onto their dance floor which really made for a breathtaking addition to the ballroom. A guest book was made by guests taking pics with an old fashioned Polaroid and leaving a personal note.

After a traditional Horrah dance and a quick change, the bride and groom departed by sparklers.

3.14.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | 6 Comments

May 24, 2017

A Shore Thing

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.

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.

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!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 >>