Wedding Inspiration: Place Settings

With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror and Christmas around the corner, it's that time of the year when every Southern Belle has their mind on how to arrange their family's holiday tablescape and joyous place settings.  Am I right?  I always love to see a good tablescape - an eye catching centerpieces, gorgeous place setting, swoon-worthy paper products, candles, runners, glassware -the details just don't stop.  With the hopes of inspiring your tablescape, whether it be for your holiday dinner table or your wedding reception, I've rounded up a few that have stopped me in my tracks and I hope they do the same for you!

Wedding Silhouettes - Southern Wedding Details

While reviewing submissions for our upcoming print magazine I came across a detail in Ashleigh & Tom’s vintage Boone Hall Plantation wedding that caught my eye.  Wedding silhouettes!  Not only did this couple incorporate their own silhouettes into their Charleston destination wedding but they also got their guests involved, too.  Instead of a photo booth a couple enlisted the services of The Silhouette Lady to create individual silhouettes for each guests.  How cool is that?  A wedding favor that doubles as a family keepsake?  Perfection.  Weaving silhouette details throughout your reception décor immediately adds a touch of vintage to any Lowcountry evening and you’d be surprised where you can add that romantic touch.  Check out a few of our favorites below and keep your eyes peeled for Ashleigh & Tom’s wedding in our Winter issue!

Gold Wedding Inspiration for Your Lowcountry Wedding!

Y’all, I’m loving all of this gold trend that has been popping up in my inbox and cheering up my pinterest feed recently.  In my eyes, it’s the perfect addition to any wedding color palette.  From super shiny and oh-so sparkly, to more muted tunes, adding a little gold into your wedding day décor is totally in-style these days, and I don’t mean in-style like the terrible poufy sleeves bridesmaids dresses that our parents thought were super cool back in the 80’s, not to mention everyone’s rockin’ bangs, like legitimately chic and timeless for years to come.  I’ve rounded up a few of my personal gold wedding inspiration favorites for you to feast your eyes on.  I’m personally digging the gold gowns. To. Die. For.  How could you not like rocking a gold wedding gown or bridesmaids dress?!  What about those luscious gold sequined linens and a sparkly arrow to point your wedding guests in the right direct?  Genius, I tell you!

Dying for more Lowcountry Wedding Inspiration!?  Check out these beauties…

• Coastal Folly Beach Wedding from Charleston wedding vendor Dana Cubbage Weddings
• Laid back, DIY Lowcountry Wedding from Jeanne Mitchum Photography with burlap and anemones
• Romantic Purple wedding at The Island House from Amelia + Dan Photography, Pure Luxe Bride, Branch Design Studio, Ash and Co., B. Gourmet Catering and Jenny Packham http://goo.gl/avZL0P
• Sequins and Peony Wedding Inspiration from Savannah Wedding Vendors, Ivory + Beau and Rach Lea Photography
• Isle of Palms shoot from JOPHOTO, LB Floral, Honeybee Events and PhotoVision  http://goo.gl/U7My7a 
• A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine filled with 13 real weddings from Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach

Interested in more information on A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine?  To become a preferred vendor and to learn about print and online advertising options, contact hello{at}alowcountrywed.com to request a media kit.

Get Your Drape On: Wedding Draping

I'm sure you've all seen gorgeous images of custom wedding draping throughout the world of pinterest, and if you haven’t, don't worry we've got plenty for you to feast your eyes on.  But the big question is, why should you drape?  “One of the best ways to transform a space from a bare bones venue into something special is the simple addition of great fabric,” says Isabelle Donovan of Duvall Events.  “Drapery can soften a space for a romantic and intimate occasion or create a dramatic statement to offer a cozy and elegant backdrop for your guests (and photos!).”    One of our favorite ways to incorporate draping into your wedding venue is with a lovely swag through rustic wooden beams (swoon city!).  It will add a touch of glamour to your décor  and works well at a local venues like Pepper Plantation or Boone Hall Plantation.   Set the tone of the evening by adding doorway drapes to frame the entrance of your reception.  We promise your guests will enjoy the romantic ambiance!   Every Lowcountry brides love a beautiful tent (am I right?) but we also like to take it one step further by adding a tent liner.  A custom liner offers your choice of fabric, style of pleating and is always fresh, crisp and clean which is essential for any Southern wedding.  The Duvall Events team hand irons (yes, you heard that right.  Hand. Irons.) and individually staples every single pleat of a custom tent liner for a truly stunning finished product.  Check out some of Duvall’s recent handiwork along with a few our favorites from the Pinterest-universe!

In the market for some more inspiration?  Check out a few of our favorite posts...

• Thinking about jazzing up your chairs?  Get inspired by our favorite wedding chair decor.
• Planning a Charleston wedding?  Enjoy this Hibernian Hall wedding from Shannon Michele Photography.
• Is a Hilton Head wedding more your style?  You'll love this Port Royal Golf Club wedding from Scobey Photography.
• Is a Myrtle Beach wedding a must for your big day?  Take a peek at this gorgeous Pawleys Island wedding from Carolina Studios.
• Is a Savannah wedding at the top the list?  Dive into this Harper Fowlkes House wedding from Scobey Photography

Minty Fresh: Mint Wedding Inspiration

Good morning!  We've got a serious case of summer fever over here at ALW!  So much so, that it makes it ALMOST hard to get any work done.  But don't worry, we're still able to squeeze in a few posts to give you your daily wedding buzz!  Today, we're giving you our current color obsession by showering you with a round up of our favorite mint wedding inspiration details.  This beautiful pastel color is the ideal choice for an airy Spring or Summer wedding and it pairs perfectly with just about any color, though we prefer a pale pink and a touch of gold for that added sparkle!

Sponsored Post: The Bride's Maids Shop - The Perfect Bridesmaids Gifts

Brides, if you are currently on the hunt for the perfect Bridesmaid’s gift, then look no further!  I recently stumbled across The Bride’s Maids Shop, and I promise you, all of your prayers have been answered!  I remember struggling in the months leading up to my own wedding, frantically flipping through magazines and searching through blog after blog, attempting to find the perfect token to show my appreciation for my ladies and something they would use for years to come.  Not to mention, I didn’t want to break the bank having to buy for 10 pretty, Southern belles!  While I might not have had the opportunity to indulge in all The Bride’s Maids Shop has to offer, I’m so excited I get to share this must-stop shop with my favorite Lowcountry ladies.   As you peruse through their site, you’ll find they’ve rounded up a collection of quality and meaningful gifts that will have your gals jumping for joy, and, if I had to guess, you might even find a little something for yourself!

We love that many of their items are handmade or designed exclusively for The Bride’s Maids Shop and we have a feeling your gals will love it, too!  Not only can you purchase single items, but they’ve also packaged some of our favorites together to make your shopping even easier.

Each fabulous package includes complimentary gift wrapping (yay!) and a thank you card so you can tell your maids just how much they mean to you.

Oh, and I almost forgot, once a month The Bride’s Maids Shop host a giveaway and this month they’re giving away this beauty...

Dying to see more? Check out our friends at The Bride’s Maids Shop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more options and plenty of inspiration!

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In the market for some Lowcountry Wedding Inspiration!?  Check out these beauties…

• Dreamy Rice Mill Wedding from Paige Winn Photo in shades of blue and peach
• Rustic Old Wide Awake Plantation wedding from Sea Star Arts Photography
• Coastal Rice Mill Wedding from Shannon Noel Photography in shades of cranberry and peach
• Laid back, DIY Lowcountry Wedding from Jeanne Mitchum Photography with burlap and anemones
• Sequins and Peony Wedding Inspiration from the ladies at Ivory + Beau and Rach Lea Photography
• A Lowcountry Wedding Magazine filled with 13 real weddings from Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach

"A Day to Remember"...Preserve Your Wedding Experience

Just the other day we introduced you to our new editorial intern, the lovely Miss Jenna.  She came in with a bang on her first post "That's When I Look at the Groom," which has been a huge hit and now is back for Round 2!  Check out her favorite ways to preserve your wedding experience

Keepsakes, souvenirs, and mementos are a fabulous way to preserve your entire wedding experience for the rest of your life. Check out these super creative ideas and learn how to treasure your special day for years to come.

1. #Hashtag: Post a sign or hand out cards asking your guests to tag all of their Instagram photos of the ceremony and reception with a specific hashtag, personalized to your wedding, for easy access to photos of your wedding. How fun!

   

2. Frame your dress: Don’t let your gorgeous gown become just another dress stuffed in the back of your closet after the wedding- Frame it and display it in a walk-in closet, dressing room, or bedroom as a way to reminisce, daily!

   

3. Embellish your walls: Etsy shop, Reaganista Designs, offers digital chalkboard wedding posters to help you display special dates and places- your personal love story for everyone to see! It can be completely customized with your meaningful events.

   

4. Think inside the box: Take all the delicate parts from your wedding day and display them in a keepsake box. Invitations, menus, programs, save the dates, your bouquet, your garter and veil- anything that you want to keep safe and sitting pretty.   Utilize your utensils: Etsy shop, Juliethefish, creates hand-stamped cake fork sets that are perfect for both your wedding day and for years to come. These adorable forks can be customized with the date of your wedding and I Do/I Do Too, Mr./Mrs., His/Hers, and much, much more!

   

5. Utilize your utensils: Etsy shop,Juliethefish, creates hand-stamped cake fork sets that are perfect for both your wedding day and for years to come. These adorable forks can be customized with the date of your wedding and I Do/I Do Too, Mr./Mrs., His/Hers, and much, much more!

   

6. Go back in time: Offer a time capsule wedding “book” at your wedding. Request that your guests leave wishes and hopes for the bride and groom to open when they celebrate their 1 year anniversary, 5 years, 10 years, etc.

   

7. Snap photos with Eversnap: The times, they are a-changin’… In this day and age, you can expect that everyone will be snapping pictures on their cellphones throughout your wedding. Take advantage of it! Purchase an Eversnappackage and create an album code. Ask your guests to download the free app so you can collect all of their photos and videos, instantly, all in one huge album. You’ll get to see your wedding from 100 different perspectives- So cool!

   

8. Channel your inner Disney princess: Treasure your wedding shoes by displaying them Cinderella style.

   

9. Shake it like a Polaroid picture: Have a Polaroid guest book at your wedding! Ask everyone to sign the book with their photo. It’s such a cute and creative way to remember each and every guest.

   

10. Nothing is given so freely as advice: Many of your guests are going to be people who have been married for years who’ve shared a lifetime of love together. Others are going to be newlyweds just like you. And some might be in elementary school and still think the opposite sex has cooties... Whatever stage of life they may be in, let them offer you and your groom their advice. You can thank them later.  Never forget your vows: Etsy shop, Geezees Custom Canvas, offers sets of two custom canvases to decorate your home with. After the wedding, get one made with your vows and the other with your groom’s vows so you never forget those solemn promises.

    

11. Go postal: Every day of your honeymoon, send yourselves a postcard from wherever you are. Write about how much fun you’re having, what you did that day, and how head-over-heels in love you are! When you get return home, bind together all the postcards and use it as a scrapbook-journal so you never forget the details of your trip!

    

12. Wine and dine: Save all the wine corks from your wedding and turn them into a DIY keepsake.

    

13. Break the news: Save newspaper articles from the day of your engagement and wedding and frame your favorite pictures in them. It’s such a sweet idea and will help you remember what was going on in the world on the dates of big life events.

    

14. Keep your cake forever: Send a picture of your wedding cake to Aberrant Ornaments… They’ll create a small, ornamental replica of your cake to help you commemorate your special day!

    

15. Pucker up: At your bachelorette party, have all your favorite ladies leave their mark with a lipstick kiss and signature on a white poster board- the perfect décor for a bathroom or make-up area. Muah!

    

16. Keep your cards: Between your engagement, bridal shower, and wedding, you’re going to get a TON of cards. Why not collect them and make them into a keepsake book for your coffee table?

    

17. Make it a tradition: Every anniversary, take a picture with last year’s photo. Imagine how amazing it will look in 40 or 50 years!!

    

18. Have your cake and eat it, too: Storing the top tier of your wedding cake to enjoy on your first anniversary is a really sweet tradition. Learn how to keep your cake from getting stale here.

    

19. Patchwork, please!: As part of your response card, ask each of your guests to send you a piece of fabric. Piece them all together into a huge, cozy, love-filled quilt and present it to your family and friends at the reception. After the wedding you’ll be able to enjoy it at home and remember all the guests who you shared your big day with.

    

20. Lovely lace: Preserve your wedding gown by putting a piece into a necklace so you can wear it more than once. You can even have your future daughter wear it on her wedding day as a sentimental “something old”.

    

21.  Guest Libs: Have this awesome version of Mad Libs at each table for guests to fill out throughout the night. This would be hilarious to read after the wedding and thereafter.

    

Marion's in the French Quarter {Mingle} Paige Winn Photo

Last, but certainly not least, I'm excited to share the beautiful styled shoot Megan of Mingle created this past summer at Marion's in the French Quarter which was included in our premier issue of A Lowcountry Wedding Mag!  Megan was kind enough to invite us a long to enjoy the styling of the great Mingle minds, photography from Paige Winn Photo and dreamy gowns from Maddison Row!   Thanks to Paperdolls Hair & Makeup transforming model Katie into the picture-perfect Charleston Bride.  First Bloom of Charleston whipped vibrant bouquets and centerpieces while Limos for Less let us ride in style!   Even though we wanted to (and we sure did try!), we couldn’t include everything in the magazine, so to see all the details you can head on over and check out the complete Mag here!

Charleston Wedding Vendors

Vendors: Event Designer:  Mingle /  Floral Designer:  First Bloom of Charleston  /  Venue: Marion's in the French Quarter  /  Photography: Paige Winn Photo  /  Flowers: Charleston WholeSale Flowers  /  Dresses: Maddison Row  /  Stationery: Dodeline Design  /  Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals  / Linens: Nuage Designs  /  Model: Katie Cockman  /  Transportation: Limos For Less Charleston  / Hair & Makeup: Paperdolls Hair and Makeup  /  Headpieces: Julia Pagan Designs  / Catering: The Swing by Chef  /  Cake: Michaelangelo's Kitchen