Tag Archives: William Aiken House

Sep 24, 2018

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We love love love when our clients hire us and the photographer (in this case, Corbin Gurkin) for all or most of the wedding weekend events. I feel that it really gets to tell the full story, and we can cultivate a complimentary and corresponding look and feel that guests can experience all weekend. For this wedding, recently featured in Charleston Weddings, the rehearsal dinner was a fabulously fun wedding eve at the William Aiken House.

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Al fresco lounge seating was set on the lawn for guests to leisurely enjoy their first night in Charleston.  Local blooms like camelias offered a bright pop to the navy, white, and green evening.

porch-collage

The William Aiken House has sweeping porches perfect for lounging and cocktails. Guests get a prime view of King Street, which anchors Charleston’s most popular entertainment district.

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Calligraphied seating cards were perched atop mini lawns of rye grass. When hosting an event at this venue, we really like to utilize as many of the rooms as possible so that guests get to see detail of the historic restoration. People really enjoy getting to feel as if they are a guest in one of Charleston grande old homes.

dinner-collage

White blooms and greenery made for an lovely and elegant tabletop design.  Small details like embroidered cocktail napkins and cut crystal candles and glassware formalize the affair.

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It’s always fun to see the groom’s personality reflected in a cake! Of course Jim Smeal can make every request look incredible!

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I thought this Needle & Thread dress was so elegant and unexpected for a rehearsal dinner… I’m really into long sleeves when they work for the occasion and season.

9.24.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Cakes, Charleston, Event Design, Events, Fashion, Flowers, Rehearsal Dinner, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
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 >>
Jan 31, 2018

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Today for wedding Wednesday, we’re revisiting this gorgeous golden hued celebration photographed by Corbin Gurkin. Since there are so many details to savor, we’re splitting up this celebration across two parts, so make sure to come back next Wednesday for the reception and party details. You can also see more of this wedding over at Charleston Weddings Magazine.

printing Collage

 Lettered Olive used golden metallic paper to create a die cut lace pattern complimentary to the bride’s dress, I think the white ink on the metallic envelopes was such a lovely and wedding-y touch. Welcome guest bags were custom printed totes featuring the wedding hashtag filled with champagne splits, mini Candlefish candles, and many of the couples favorites things.

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The girls all gathered to get ready together with Plum Pretty Sugar robes gifted by the bride- even the littlest ladies were included.

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The Groom’s tuxedo was by Vera Wang (yes, she does men’s attire) available through the Men’s Warehouse.
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The bride wore a gown by Vera Wang.

B&G Collage

The couple elected to do a “first sight” at one of the many gorgeous parks in downtown Charleston. Corbin staged the groom so that the bride could sneak up and surprise him. This locale also made for a stunning backdrop for photos before heading over to the ceremony. I love when couples decide to do this, because it allows the photographer to really get great shots when the couple is alone and relaxed.

The couple married at First Baptist Church in Charleston, the glorious gates out front were adorned with floral wreaths of roses, hydrangeas, and lemon leaf. Large golden urns flush with greenery and flowers flanked the alter, as the couple celebrated with their first kiss.

Flower Collage

The bridesmaids wore floor length gold lame gowns by Lula Kate. The lush bridal bouquet  made the perfect transition from winter to spring with cream roses, peonies, lily of the valley sprigs and soft lambs ears, and was tied by vintage ribbon I sourced in New York.

William Aiken CollageGuests were welcomed at the William Aiken House in downtown Charleston. The historic home has been fully restored to it’s splendor with museum quality interiors. And, the grounds  were designed by a renowned local horticulturalist, so we love getting to design for our couples at this property.

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A lovely lounge was waiting on the front lounge for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour and as a getaway for after dinner dancing.

F&B Collage

Cocktail hour included a bourbon bar, passed champagne, and Southern staples like ham biscuits, and fried chicken biscuits mixed with Asian favorites- tuna tartar and dumplings.

Porch Collage

In true Charleston fashion, we utilized the sweeping piazzas for seating niches. We hung the letterpressed and caligraphied dinner escort cards on the porch for guests to gather while enjoying cocktails.

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The cream and golden color palette made for a perfectly formal Southern dinner scape. Tables were dressed with silk linens, and the die cut lace paper wraps from the invitations were brought back in to adorn the dinner napkins. Caligraphied tags tied to the lace acted as place cards.

Dinner Collage

Fabric swathes dressed up standard Chivari chairs… Even a traditional spinach salad has a new take on it’s presentation.

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Doesn’t that tent look so happy and cozy like you wouldn’t want to leave????

Cake Collage

The wedding cake by Jim Smeal mimicked the lace pattern from the bride’s bridal gown in gold and cream.  We created a vignette under the William Aiken House pergola for the cake with chandeliers, candles, and a linen dressed up with greenery and flowers. Having been introduced through their mutual veterinarian, the grooms cake included a “dog park”, also by Jim Smeal.

Dance tent Collage

Details for the after dinner dancing lounge included a monogrammed dance floor and sofas with custom embroidered pillows. The chandelier is dressed up with flowers and greenery.

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Going away Collage

After dancing the night away with friends, the couple departed by a sparkling send off and a vintage white Rolls took them away. Lettered Olive handmade the Best Day Ever sign with golden glitter! This couple’s special day was definitely #HappilyHansom!

 

1.31.18   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Charleston, Event Design, Fashion, Flowers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Weddings | Comments >>