Cagney's Boone Hall Plantation Bridals by Charleston wedding vendor Paige Winn Photo
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Wedding by MCG Photography
Debordieu Club Wedding {Kacy + Justin}
I can't believe we're wrapping up 2012! It's been a wonderful year here at A Lowcountry Wedding and we couldn't have done it with your support. We've got big things in store for 2013 and can't wait to share all the big news! Hint, hint: a lovely new online Lowcountry wedding magazine MAY be coming your way! To close out the year, we're sharing a stunner from a few of our favorite Myrtle Beach wedding vendors! Kacy + Justin's beach affair took place at the breathtaking DeBordieu Club where the talented Paula Player Photography was on hand to capture all the lovely details. Greenskeeper Florist created delicate hydrangea bouquets with touches of cream and peach roses while the bridesmaids wore aqua dresses. The adorable couple said 'I do' on the beach before celebrating with their guests. Thanks to Paula Player for this gorgeous DeBordieu Club wedding!
South Carolina Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Paula Player Photography / Floral Designer: Greenskeeper Florist / Reception Venue: DeBordieu Club / Cake Designer: Incredible Edible Cakes / DJ: Myrtle Beach DJ's
Megan + Cisco's Island House Wedding by Richard Bell Photography
Bluff Drive Engagement {Savannah}
I ran across this timeless Bluff Drive wedding engagement from Jade + Matthew Take Pictures a few months ago and about fell out of my chair! I knew that it was time for us to road trip it from Charleston down to Savannah and I can't wait for you to see why . This beautiful couple knocked it out of the park with their classic, Southern attire and they couldn't have picked a more picturesque, Lowcountry backdrop.
Wando Farms Wedding {Lydia + Clay}
I had a hard time choosing what pictures to use for this beauty from Fia Forever Photography because in every shot blushing bride Lydia is completely elated. It's just too lovely not to share. Lydia + Clay got hitched in Mt. Pleasant, at the charming Wando Farms, in a gorgeous outdoor ceremony. Later, the couple and their guests slipped on their dancing shoes for the perfect evening under the Lowcountry stars. Charleston wedding vendor, Ooh! Events, hit-it-out-of-the-park with soft centerpieces to compliment the classic blue color palette.
Photographer: Fia Forever Photography / Caterer: Salt of the Earth Food / Event Planner: Ooh! Events / Floral Designer: Ooh! Events / Musicians: Classical Charleston / Dress Store: J. Crew / DJ: OtherBrother Entertainment / Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Indigo & Cotton / Bridesmaid Dresses: J. Crew
Pepper Plantation Wedding {Jennifer + Mike}
Wickliffe House Wedding by Rick Dean Photography
A Caterer's Guide to a Seated Dinner {Duvall Events}
Hopefully, you caught Dodeline Design’s early guest post about a stationer’s role in your seated dinner extravaganza. If not, feel free to check it out here! Sticking with the served dinner topic for your Lowcountry wedding reception, we’ve asked another talented Charleston wedding vendor to discuss the catering end of things. So, please welcome the crew from Duvall Events as they teach you everything you need to know when planning your plated dinner reception…
Seated Dinners
A served and seated dinner provides an entirely different event experience and aesthetic than a stations or buffet style reception. It can be a wonderfully intimate way to celebrate your new marriage with your closest friends and family all seated around a table, getting to know each other. There are a few basic things all brides and grooms should know when deciding on a served dinner.
1. Served dinners are more expensive. When having a served dinner, you need a seat for every guest attending the reception, this drives your rental cost up- more tables, more linens, more centerpieces, more glassware. Consider mix and matching floral centerpieces with candle or lantern centerpieces to save on your floral budget. If everyone’s being served at the same time, catering companies need more staff to execute dinner service- more chefs and more servers- this inevitably increases your bottom line budget. Lastly, even if you have an open bar, if you want wine service with dinner, most catering companies will charge a per-bottle fee in addition to your open bar price. Consider having guests get up to go to the bar for a refresher or ask the servers to offer refreshments if they’re free. If you insist on wine service with dinner, consider closing the bar during the dinner hour to save on your bar cost.
2. Served dinners require more planning. If you’re planning on offering multiple options, you must pre-plan and coordinate your invitations so you can have a proper entree count to provide your caterer. We typically ask for these final entree counts at least 2 weeks prior to the wedding. Additionally, it is important that your catering company know about any allergies so they can accommodate any guests that may need a special entree. During dinner service, we typically ask that the place cards somehow denote what entree the guest requested on the response card. If this is not done, often times people forget what they ordered and guests end up with entrees they do not want.
3. Served dinners take time. An average served dinner will typically take about an hour and a half, with getting guests seated prior and up and onto the dancefloor after. If you’re dreaming about a wedding full of people buzzing about and hitting the dancefloor all evening, know that a served dinner takes time to execute and will typically take up ⅓ of your reception.
4. Details matter. When planning a served dinner, talk with your caterer about customizing the china, glassware and flatware you use. Mix vintage patterns to create fun decor. Incorporate a metallic charger to make a statement or mix and match water glasses to create an eclectic feel. The table settings will be a focal point so pay attention to every detail- what napkin fold do you want? How do you want the place card? Will there be a menu card at each setting? Does the chair match the aesthetic? When making all of these decisions, be sure all of these details coordinate with the centerpieces you have chosen. Get creative with your table scapes and chairs and your tables are sure to catch the eye! Lastly- candles, candles, candles! Candleligt is the best way to create budget friendly ambiance at your wedding. Ask your caterer if they provide votives to sprinkle on the tables. If not, purchase a box and have your caterer place a few on each table. It will make a world of difference!
All images via Duvall Events
Looking for a Lowcountry caterer who can knock your socks off!?!
Contact Duvall Events set up your appointment:
2816 Azalea Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405
843.763.9222
twitter: @duvallevents
Charleston Wedding Inspiration {Harborside East}
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A group of talented Charleston wedding vendors recently teamed up for a chic, plum inspired shoot overlooking the Cooper River Bridge, and the images from Reese Moore Photography will leave you weak-in-the-knees! The purple perfection took place at one of our favorite Charleston wedding venues, Harborside East, and allowed for a picturesque, backdrop of the Charleston Harbor. The ladies of Fabulous Fete were the masterminds behind the whole design. They dreamed up a plum evening with ombre touches complete with a modern cake from The Cake Stand, sleek sequined pillows in varying shades of purple and orchids, lots of dreamy orchids!
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Photographer: Reese Moore Photography / Venue: Harborside East / Event Designer: Fabulous Fete / Catering: Newton Farms / Dress: Jim Hjelm / Rentals:Stage Presence, Event DRS / Cake: The Cake Stand / Dress Store: The Gown Boutique of Charleston / Stationery: Open House / Florist: Keepsake Events / Hair Stylist: Strawberry Blonde Salon
Rock Smith Farms {Emily + Andrew}
Lowndes Grove Wedding {Nancy + Harris}
Ordering Your Gown Wedding Gown - How Long Does it Really Take?
We're so excited to have our resident bridal experts back this week! You may remember a few weeks ago, the ladies of the Gown Boutique of Charleston joined us to share some pointers on how to 'Be A Prepared Bride' when gown shopping. As if that wasn't enough, they're back this week and diving into the topic of ordering your gown...
Ordering Your Wedding Gown – How Long Does it Really Take?
One question we are asked every day in our boutique is “When do I need to order my gown?” Brides wonder, “Do I really need to order my gown 1 year before my wedding date?”
The answer is: It is best to order your gown at least 9 months before your wedding date.
When a bride thinks of ordering her gown, she just thinks about selecting the gown and then having it arrive at the boutique. Rarely is a gown ready to be worn the week it arrives. Most need a few fit adjustments to hug your curves in the right places, and almost all of them need a hem and a bustle. These alterations take time! They cannot be turned out in a week like a pant hem, and you don’t want the work to be overly rushed…it should be done perfectly!
It takes anywhere from 4-6 months for a gown to be made and then shipped to the boutique. Then it takes another 3 months to complete most alterations on a wedding gown.
Some of you may think, “Three months for alterations?!” Well, most brides end up coming for 2 – 3 visits with the seamstress in order to achieve a perfect fit. Those visits are usually scheduled 2 – 4 weeks apart, so planning on 3 months for alterations is a conservative plan. This is why the 9 month timeframe is suggested.
Here is an ideal timeline:
There is one other pesky detail in this planning process. Many brides, especially here in the south, want a bridal portrait done before their wedding. When a bride asks if she has enough time to get her gown in, we ask “Are you doing a portrait?” Many brides aren’t ready to answer this question for sure, but the answer is ultimately important in determining your timeframe.
If you want a framed portrait to be displayed at your wedding reception, it is likely you will need that photo session done at least 1 month before your wedding date. If you want the wedding announcement to run in the paper the Sunday directly after your wedding day, you will need to have the chosen photo submitted to the paper 2 weeks prior to that issue’s run date.
When you plan to have a bridal portrait taken, you will most certainly want your gown to fit you perfectly before it is photographed. That means we need your gown to arrive in time to have any necessary alterations completed before that portrait session date.
Don’t have 9 months? Don’t panic!! Gown can be rush shipped (for a fee) if needed, in most cases. Also, we always keep a nice selection of “off-the-rack” gowns. These gowns are purchased on the spot, and alterations can be started immediately, making them a great option for brides with 4 months or less.
Happy Shopping!
Ready to start shopping?
Contact the Gown Boutique of Charleston to set up your appointment:
664-A Long Point Rd Belle Hall Shopping Center Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843.856.2682 phone
info@gownboutiqueofcharleston.com
Lowcountry Wedding {Details}
Can we talk about some of my favorite Lowcountry wedding details?! I thought so :) The coast of South Carolina is home to a few of my favorite beach towns: Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. These coastal cities are full of Southern charm and have a distinct Lowcountry personality that makes our weddings every Southern girl’s dream!
These chairs are wonderful and when teamed up with those fabulous fans you’ve got pure perfection. They’ll give your guests and extra breeze as they watch your intimate ‘I do’s’. I’m picturing an gorgeous, outdoor ceremony under the grand Oaks with a beautiful Plantation home in the background. Swoon.
Menus on printed on napkins…yes, please! What an elegant touch to any place setting. I just hope I wouldn't get it dirty!
Don’t you just love this idea? Place note cards on each table with fun questions printed atop each one. Throughout the reception guests have the opportunity to leave their comments on the card(s) of their choice. I can only imagine how amusing/inappropriate the answers could get as the evening goes on. How much fun would it be to read over their answers when you return from your honeymoon with a bottle of wine? Tons!
I just had to include this. I can’t think of a better way to really get your guests excited about your upcoming nuptials then to let them know there is going to be some serious celebrating taking place and you need to know what tunes get them out of their seats. Forget the entrée choices, just make sure we’ve got some ‘Party in the USA’ and ‘Tootsie Roll’…you know what I mean!?
Joy Thigpen, just stop it with your seaside perfection. I love everything about this. It is oh-so Lowcountry. Not only do I love the grey linen but that oyster garland is pure heaven. If done right, and it’s done so right here, oyster shells are a laid back but chic touch.
I had to share these star lanterns. What a beautiful touch to this Southern soiree. They’ve got a clean, modern feel that would a darling addition to any tented reception under the Lowcountry stars.
Monogrammed veil, nuff said!
How fantastic would an eclectic mix of candles be lining the aisle. Dreamy...
McCrady's Restaurant Wedding {Lynsey + Steve}
I'm pretty much obsessed with Bride Lynsey's chic wedding gown from Gown Boutique of Charleston. It completely sets the tone for the rest of their elegant wedding! Their love story began as a long distance romance with Steve residing in the Lowcountry while Lynsey was in London. Now that the couple calls the Holy City home, they thought the romantic city was the perfect place to say 'I do.' They started with a first look at The Battery before heading to McCrady's for an evening of exquisite celebration! Thanks to Fia Forever Photography for capturing every beautiful moment...
Photographer: Fia Forever Photography / Dress Store: Gown Boutique of Charleston / Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. / Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Brooks Brothers / Caterer: McCrady's / Other: The Battery
Litchfield Plantation {Meghan + Joshua}
I’m about to treat you to a big dose of preppy perfection from Carmen Ash Photography…so you can go ahead and thank me! It took place just up the road in beautiful Pawleys Island, South Carolina at the picturesque Litchfield Plantation. The sweet Southern couple enlisted a brilliant team of Lowcountry wedding vendors to pull off their big day. Blossoms Events created a heavenly backdrop of lanterns that acted as the alter for their outdoor ceremony and it is bound to make you go weak-in-the-knees! Bride Meghan dreamed up a classic pink and green color palette that she tasked Della Ramsey and crew with executing all of the whimsical details. Don’t you just love those adorable pinwheels and that fabulous bar?! Lastly, every last, dreamy moment was captured by the talented lenses of Carmen Ash Photography. Enjoy!
Photographer: Carmen Ash Photography / Dress Designer: Pronovias / Floral Designer: Blossoms Events / Cinema and Video: Hart to Heart Media / Equipment Rentals: Snyder Event Rental / Lighting: Technical Event Company / Band: Deas Guyz / Event Planner: Della Ramsey Weddings / Event Venue: Litchfield Plantation
Boone Hall Plantation Engagement {Laura + Matt}
Alright, ladies! We're hopping right back into a little Lowcountry heaven with this phenomenal Charleston wedding engagement from Myrtle Beach-based Carolina Studios by Gillian Reinhardt. The couple did it right as they moseyed around charming, Downtown Charleston before heading across the bridge to Mount Pleasant. The couple then moseyed around the stunning Boone Hall Plantation where Laura sported a seriously adorable yellow skirt, blue and white striped shirt and a pair cowboy boots (actually, I love all of her clothing selections). The images of them walking through the fields with the Spanish moss dripping down...I die. The duo then headed to the beach with their pooch where they changed into their opposing school's gear. Gotta love a Clemson/Carolina couple! Seriously Gillian, I love this one!
Photographers: Carolina Studios by Gillian Reinhardt / Venue: Boone Hall Plantation
Charleston Bridal Portraits {Lauren}
Southern Weddings {Place Settings}
If it wasn't for Pinterest, I'm not sure I would get my daily fix of Southern wedding details. Luckily, with all the talented wedding vendors that call the Lowcountry home, I don't have to go far to get my pin on! So, today I'm sharing a serious round up of some of my favorite place setting that have recently graced my Pinterest account. Boy, do I love a good tablescape. It adds an instant dash of elegance for any Charleston, Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head Wedding! Don't you agree?
