Tag Archives: Kiawah Island

Nov 05, 2018

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

This wedding was too fun and perfect for a fall wedding Wednesday, that we just had to pull it out of the archives. The weather could not have been more perfect for this warm fall afternoon ceremony overlooking the Kiawah River at the River Course on Kiawah Island, SC. Thank you to Liz Banfield for the images.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The perfect golf course green grass was the perfect backdrop for the green, orange, and brown harvest color palette we used for the wedding decor all based on graphic designer bride’s paper suite.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Fluffy Dahlias, snowberries, and star of bethlehem make up the bride’s bouquet.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

To designate an “alter” in such an expansive setting we took an ordinary brown linen and adorned it with orange mums. Orange mums were also secured into the grass as pew markers. Hand blown glass vases full of green peas topped with flowers offered a colorful and wind resistant design element.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Golden mums and olive greenery make up the wedding party flowers. The little girls carried posies that complimented their fab floral crowns. The ring bearer carried a miniature bird’s nest full of moss.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The bride, owner of  Oscar and Emma Designs designed all of the paper pieces. Wood paper liners encased the letterpressed ceremony programs.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Lowcountry Lemonade served with drink flags embellished with button mums in the color palette.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Dinner seating cards designed by Oscar and Emma had a precious copper leaf for each guest. We created a tree for the cards to hang from, creating a focal point for decor.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Moss green crushed velvet linens made the brightly hued florals and menus really pop but also allowed for the candles to create a warmth later into the evening.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Roasted pumpkin soup was served in hollowed mini pumpkins.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The cake by Jim Smeal featured all of the designs found on the wedding papers.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The couple, from Ohio, had to have a Grater’s ice cream station, couldn’t be a more perfect accompaniment to the cake.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The guest welcome favors served in a fall orchard basket featured all gourmet treats from their hometown.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Oscar and Emma designed tags topped off the caramel popcorn favors guests received at the end of the evening.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Guests enjoying cocktail hour by the warm glow of the sun setting over the Kiawah River.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The cozy after dinner lounge flanked by the espresso leather furniture and seagrass carpeting made the perfect spot to curl up with some bourbon and enjoy the festivities.

11.05.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

photos by Corbin Gurkin 

What we like to call engagement season is approaching and many of you may be thinking of a wedding in Charleston soon. We hope that our guide to some of our favorite venues in Charleston can help give you some ideas of what we have to offer, and why we think we are so lucky to do beautiful weddings here. Our first, Fenwick Plantation,  is relatively under the radar and a little outside of town. A private historic home and grounds, born of Federalist architecture, the property still boasts a gorgeous avenue of Oaks. Here, we built an aisle over the reflecting pond and used the house for photo backdrops with a large tent on property for the rest of the reception.

 Photos by Liz Banfield and Corbin Gurkin

Lowndes Grove is one of the most popular venues in town, and rightfully so. Located in downtown Charleston, the historic plantation home has been restored to pristine condition. The grounds offer room for a tent (atop bluestone, offering a flooring option), and amazing untouched views of the Ashley River. We have done ceremonies on the front lawn, overlooking the river, under a large oak in the rear of the property, and sometimes just the reception- where the possibilities are endless. It’s pretty gorgeous for photos too.

Hibernian 2 Collage

Photos by Corbin Gurkin

The Hibernian Society in the heart of the Charleston Historic District has long been the scene of many Charleston parties… I like that it’s large enough to hold a sizeable party but it’s broken up as such that if you have a smaller group it won’t feel too huge. It’s got a great porch for creating seating areas that overlook Meeting Street, and the historic architecture lends it some unique value.

Ocean Course Collage

photos by Liz Banfield

The Ocean Course at Kiawah is a stunning site. I like the way a party can progress through different stages at this venue. From a ceremony on the golf lawn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, to cocktails on the upper lawn and porches, to dinner in a ballroom, and then dancing under a tent overlooking the property, you are able to offer your guests so much variety!

Runnymede Collage

photos by Corbin Gurkin

A longtime favorite of many of our brides and us, is Runnymede Plantation. The home no longer stands, other than a few crumbling ruins, but the land and location along the Ashley River allow us to have fun and do whatever we want with decor, and we love that!

Boone Hall Plantation

photo by Liz Banfield

Finally, we’ve done quite a few weddings at Boone Hall Plantation in our many years, but this image from one we did  for over 1200 people really stands out! You can tent on the grounds, or use the ever popular Cotton Dock (where a certain celebrity couple was married) and where we held our Soiree Anniversary Party.. It’s extremely popular and books up fast, but you can see why.  It was also Allie’s house in The Notebook movie.

9.25.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Events, Parties, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

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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.

LO Collage

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.

Bridal Collage

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Ceremony Collage

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.

2013_Diana_Ezra_1194The brides hand tied bouquet featured David Austin garden roses, white peonies, white roses and tea roses, and grey lambs ear for color and texture.

Details Collage

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.

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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!

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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.

Dinner Collage

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.

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

Dancing Collage

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.

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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