Tag Archives: Charleston wedding

Mar 26, 2018

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

Today, we are going back in the archives to this sweet and simple William Aiken House wedding. This couple embraced the spring season in Charleston, and since their children were a large part of the wedding, Easter was celebrated as well. Thank you to Gayle Brooker for the images.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

The brides’ bouquet was just gathered out of the garden, with flowering vines, jasmine, dogwood branches, and fern.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

Easter baskets for the youngest guests were delivered to the hotel rooms on Sunday morning, full of sweet treats.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

A bar where guests could get a refill and have a seat and conversation was stationed on the front lawn.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

Casual seating in the “Easter” color scheme was also set up on the lawn overlooking the reflecting pond for guests to enjoy after dinner.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

A Lowcountry live oak was also a design element, so to incorporate the natural element seating card pockets were planted in grass and hung from tree branches.  Each table was named for a different type of tree found in the lowcountry.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

Adult guests together in the ballroom at tables designed in a springy but neutral palette. Menus were booklets bringing back in the tree theme and also doubling as place cards.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

The “children’s” table was stationed on the porch overlooking the party on the front lawn. Luckily it’s such a perfect spot with a birds eye view, no one felt like they were being put at the kiddie table.

3.26.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Reception, Weddings | Comments >>

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It really feels like spring is here already in Charleston, so today we’re celebrating Wedding Wednesday with this springlike classic Charleston wedding.  This adorable couple were seriously the sweetest, and we had done the sister of the groom’s wedding a few years back, so it was a great reunion of sorts. The prettiest images come from Corbin Gurkin.

Printing Collage

The invitations by Lettered Olive, had a more traditional feel but by no means were boring. An update to black and white with the navy ink and all hand calligraphy, and a custom logo for the stamps made them feel posh and modern.  Luxurious custom boxes filled to the brim welcomed guests in style.  Printed T shirts, recovery kits, champagne, and treats were coordinated in every aspect to tailor the details setting off the weekend.

Bridal Collage

The bride wore an Issa gown, shoes by Jimmy Choo, and heirloom jewels.

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The bride and groom opted for a pre ceremony “first sight” photo session in a nearby downtown park. The groom’s tartan tuxedo is by Tom James.

Car Collage

The bride and groom enjoyed a ride together to the ceremony in a vintage car. Love that they had this time together to reflect on the emotion of the day.

Floral Collage

The bride’s bouquet with pops of pale color was tied with with a wide taffeta ribbon in in navy and white- couldn’t be more perfect! We had the custom monogram Lettered Olive designed embroidered on the ribbon. Each bridesmaid had their initial monogramed on their bouquet ribbon.

Church Collage

The wedding took place at First Scots Presbyterian Church. Lush greenery adorned the gates, while planted boxwoods anchored the alter. Bouquets of greenery tied with navy ribbon gave a glamorous look to the long aisle.

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After the ceremony, the bride and groom led the guests on a stroll from the church to Hibernian Hall for the reception.

Hibernian Collage

 Matching greenery and draping on the front gates at Hibernian greeted guests and was topped off by a custom flag with the couple’s monogram. Glowing candle lanterns and planter boxes of boxwood were clustered on the front stairs, and seating nooks graced the grand piazza for guests to enjoy cocktails.

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Food Collage

Barsetup Collage

Cru Catering provided the creative food throughout the evening. Tailored on point small plates and individual snacks made for part of the decor at this reception.

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Detail Collage

Cake Collage

A full dessert display complimented the classic wedding cake by Jim Smeal. Printed cocktail napkins bearing the couples namesake in calligraphy were a great way to tie in some more detail.

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During the first dance, the groom revealed to his bride the location of the surprise honeymoon- love that this moment was perfectly captured!

details Collage

In lieu of a traditional guest book signing, guests signed boat oars that the couple could hang in their home. Late night iced coffee and cronuts were a hit!!!!

Getaway Collage

A custom confetti popper send off saw the bride and groom depart in a classic convertible waiting their monogramed flag.

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

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This pretty bride and her pretty plantation party make for a perfect Wedding Wednesday post. She and her groom celebrated with a ceremony downtown at First Baptist Church, and dinner and dancing afterwards at Runnymede Plantation outside of Charleston. The navy and white set a formal yet fun tone and Corbin Gurkin was on hand to capture all of the beautiful images. Here, I do love that the bride and her girls had such a lovely backdrop for the day while getting ready. It does make for photos that help set the tone for the day…

Bride and groom Collage

A bride in all white Vera Wang and a groom in a classic tuxedo is pure perfection.

wedding party Collage

Flowing navy Monique Lhuillier dresses were accented with cream and peach garden rose bouquets. The bride worked in fashion at Ralph Lauren, so the groomsmen all sported custom loafers with their tuxes.

Bridesmaids on bus

The bride and her ladies ride a Classic Charleston trolley to the church, luckily Corbin is right behind to capture this sweet moment

Ceremony Collage

Simple ceremony decor like floral wreathes and a custom aisle runner give a sweet touch without overshadowing the meaning of why everyone is there.

ceremony programs

A custom monogram designed by Lettered Olive is used throughout the wedding papers and design.

guest box Collage

Guest welcome boxes contain a mixture of the couple’s favorite treats and local goodies. Custom printed cups are perfect for the morning bloody mary’s using Charleston’s Fat and Juicy mix.

Cocktail hour Collage

Once at Runnymede, guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the lawn… We customized the wedding everywhere we could, down to the blue and white striped bow ties, and printed papers lining the trays serving the food.

Escort cards

Caligraphied escort tags on papers printed in the different colors and patterns were pinned to a board for guests to find during cocktail hour.

Dinner tent Collage

I’ve been really into designing the outside of a tent as much as the inside lately. I mean, really you see that first and foremost, so why wouldn’t it be lovely as well, instead of some big white rigid structure. To enter the carpeted and greenery draped dinner tent, guests walked down a boxwood lined pathway and under a custom fabric awning.

tent garland

The head table’s centerpiece was a garland adorned with flowers running the length of the table and spilling over onto the floor.

Table Collage

Graced with perfect weather that day, the tent opened up onto the plantation grounds overlooking the river and the ruins of the old plantation house.  A crisp blue and white palette allowed the soft pastels in the flowers to pop.

Cake Collage

Jim Smeal’s pastel and metallic gold cake with simple florals was a centerpiece of the dinner tent. We like finding a way to have a captive audience for the cake cutting without having to interrupt the flow of the party. So, if you can cut it and have the servers pass out as the dessert course without delaying the dancing, that’s a good way we have found to do it.

lounge tent

Guests retreated after dinner into a lounge full of conversation nooks and dim lighting, draped with glowing golden fabric.

Late night Collage

A late night food bar of sweet treats even included Charleston’s cult favorite donut truck, Diggity Doughnuts.

Getaway Collage

The bride and groom said farewell to guests with a classic sparkler send off, and drove off into the night in a classic convertible car as fireworks made for a grand finale.

2.07.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Charleston, Entertaining, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Photographers, Reception, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>