We love getting a new Charleston Weddings Magazine in the mail. We’re often too busy planning or traveling for weddings, we miss some of the new and exciting stuff going on in Charleston… But, we’re even more grateful to receive the mag when we have a feature in it!
Stay tuned for more details from this wedding with tons of entertainment (think Drag Queens, arielists, and marching bands), and a major transformation of the space, on a future blog post…
Happy Wedding Wednesday… Today, we are showing you our Brides Magazine features, which we are so thrilled about and proud of. We’ll be able to show you more from these weddings right here on the blog soon! Both weddings were shot by Corbin Gurkin, one in Newport, Rhode Island, and the other here in our backyard of Charleston, SC.
Both ladies, long time best friends and business partners (designer and owners of Dee Hutton and Dee Hutton Bridal) were integral in each other’s wedding especially through the dress design… but you can read more below and stay tuned for future wedding posts with more gorgeous photos from these two!
Today’s wedding Wednesday comes in the form of a traditional glamorous affair from the archives. The classic colors of black and white with a golden touch were the perfect palette for this formal affair. Held at Lowndes Grove Plantation and photographed by Liz Banfield, we hope you enjoy a glimpse at this soiree as much as we enjoyed producing it.
A letterpress invitation by Lettered Olive didn’t stay too far from traditional but added some glam updates like die cut edges and a metallic champagne belly band.
Throughout the wedding, all white lush and fluffy blooms were used. Monograms were a huge part of the design, so everyone from the bride to bridesmaids, to the Mother of the Bride and Groom (MOB and MOG) carried bouquets with hand tied and monogrammed ribbons.
With both the ceremony and reception at Lowndes Grove Plantation, guests received a true gracious Southern welcome from the beginning. Guests were escorted to the ceremony seating down an aisle lined with live orchestral musicians. Pre ceremony Champagne was served with custom printed napkins also doubling as the ceremony programs.
This stunning ceremony took place on the front lawn with gorgeous views of the river. A custom monogrammed aisle runner led the bride to the “alter” which was defined by huge hanging floral chandeliers from the limbs of a grand oak.
Take a note from the antique interiors of the house, Chandeliers were an essential design element used throughout… Dinner escort cards were die cut chandeliers we had caligraphied and hung from real chandeliers in the cocktail hour area.
Guests then made their way under a tent for dinner. We had a small custom monogramed dance floor adjacent to a sweetheart table… it was a surprise to guests that a live Jersey Boys cover act performed during dinner and also for the bride and groom’s first dance -which was what they did on their first date!
The tent was aglow due to the overhead chandelier lighting and masses of gold candles (from Creative Candles). Long tables were draped in champagne silk and satin ribbon woven into chairs for a more tailored finish.
Loved loved loved this special detail surprise for our bride- a cake table linen made from real rose petals!!!!! Cake by Jim Smeal.
The after dinner lounge was a glam party set up with chandeliers, velvet lounge seating, custom pillows, and a theater type stage set up for the band.
Our bride had a killer second Little White dress for dancing and it looked so amazing on her, with lace detail and champagne satin ribbon- a perfect fit for her party!
Guests enjoyed a variety of late night food from pulled pork biscuits, to fries in self serve containers, and candied praliens.
For the send off, guests got sparklers in die cut chandelier packets with custom matches…
In the bride’s family, all of the cars have customized license plates, so for the just married sign we made a little nod to this tradition.
Recognized as one of the nation’s leading tastemakers, Tara Guérard has earned a widespread reputation for her ability to create spectacular settings celebrating life’s most anticipated occasions. As the visionary and founder of Tara Guérard Soirée, she is best known for her distinct style that honors the storied traditions of Southern hospitality paired with a modern aesthetic and flair for the unexpected.
