Charleston offers amazing venues–plantation homes, harbor views and historic buildings–so why cover them up?  Shelley and Jon celebrated their wedding on Memorial Day weekend at Stella Maris and reception at the Thomas-Bennett House in Downtown Charleston.  The Thomas-Bennett House has a vibrant garden that is covered in vines, blossoming trees and lush grasses.  With such an amazing space for their wedding day, the couple really wanted to show it off!  Choosing a neutral color pallet of tan, white, and green allowed the guests to focus on the amazing colonial home and grounds.   From the moment I met Shelley and John their main focus was that their guests had a great time.  The recipe for their happy guests: a rockin’ band, huge dance floor, and 5 hours of party!  It was a success!  Every guest danced their heart out and sang along with the band.  The combination of simple decor and a focus on the guests blended for a stunning day in the sun.   

Posted: June 12th, 2009 under wedding.
Comments: none

If you love bright, bold color, USE IT!  Use it we did with Jamie’s fave hot pink and turquoise.  The couple wanted to fully enjoy their Charleston wedding beach-style, haveing made the trip from Indianapolis for the big day!  To pull it all together, have your accent color a more pale print.  Accessories in funky clear glass and simple loose arrangements are a must or no arrangements at all to stay away form being too busy.  Jamie and Matt were a fun couple, anyway, but how could you not have a good time with all of the happy color! 

Posted: June 6th, 2009 under Charleston Wedding.
Comments: none

A night on the town deserves some shine!  Since I covered my cell phone with my self-made rhinestone encasement in high school (back then we did not have 50 fun covers for our Zac Morris phones),  rhinestones have always been a fun way to take things over the top.  If you’re looking for elegance and want to take it up a notch, a little bling, goes a looooong way!  Take a great old ballroom into the 21st century some shine and the light to make it happen.   Sparkles take the cake against clean white lines. I Love napkin rings.  They make the best tea light holders. Up lights and custom art define the space as yours and no one else’s. Click for details.  

Posted: May 15th, 2009 under wedding.
Comments: none

View Images here.For the young couple from DC, there was no spot to consider other than Magnolia Plantation & Gardens for their fall nuptials.With a beautiful spot selected, attention turned to ensuring guests coming from all over could simply arrive for vacation and not have to worry about a thing. Absolutely Charleston and The Charleston Black Cab Company assured everyone arrived and left in style without any concerns over who was reading the map. Guests got a taste of Charleston from Crew Catering and Cakes by Kasarda and danced the night away with tunes from Other Brother. No vacation is complete without photos, and Partybooths.com gave guests the opportunity to create their own memories while Lowry-McKee captured the entire night’s action. Just before the departure, the bride tossed her lovely bouquet from Country & Lace Florals to her friends who danced into the wee hours. Consider it a vacation for everyone:-schedule events in different hot spots, in this case a rehearsal night downtown-make sure transportation and navigation are not issues, cars and buses for all-help everyone capture memories, a photo booth puts the story in your guests’ hands-sweet treats for the ride home and hotel, giant cupcake favors kept everyone from going hungry and did not need suitcase space 

Posted: January 3rd, 2009 under wedding.
Comments: none

With cozy fires and a beautiful view, Teresa and Keith said their vows one Friday night in late October.  With no one claiming a Charleston address, a group of travelers from afar found a romantic fall retreat on arrival to the Creek Club at I’On. Yoj had the green light to ensure every detail had attention.  Beautiful draperies added to every column of the wide, wrap-around porch added to the resort feel with hand embellishments of seashells and sand encrusting the end of every tie back and table runner.  Less tables meant room for great occasional seating and more unique photos surrounding the glowing fires and candles that lit the space.The big lesson from this event came in the form of the flexibility of a smaller guest list and a space with more than one room.  Things to consider:

• Unique fabrics and prints create a signature of the day
• Natural lighting warms it up: pillar candles, fireplaces, and dimmed lights give everyone a glow
• Use large plants to fill empty corners and wall florals make great art
• Break up the spaces for segments of the party so everyone is surprised: use one side for ceremony, another section for cocktails, and a third (or the first reset) for a great ending space

Though the creek outside was flooding its banks that night, the guests inside danced into the wee hours without so much as batting an eye.  This was all made possible by Yoj and their dear friends Country & Lace Florist, AAA Plant Rentals, Cafe Catering, Charleston Wedding Officiant and www.acharlestonwedding.com.

Posted: December 10th, 2008 under wedding.
Comments: none

Linton-Ormond images. 

A very Charleston celebration ensued for the Ormond wedding.  With both ceremony and reception at The Citadel, guests celebrated in true Charleston fashion.  Iron Gate Events served up a healthy helping traditional local fare and hospitality.  Guests smiled as their moments were captured by A Charleston Wedding’s fabulous team and Jack Harris videography.  Keepsakes Florist and Cover Me Chairs brought a flair with beautiful bouquets and arrangements. To pay homage to your roots or your event’s host city:

•  Use favors that are a signature (in this case, sweetgrass baskets and programs mounted on woven fans)  edibles also work, like honey from Savannah Bee Company or Benne Wafers in Charleston
• Pick a location that really plays up this theme 
• Use florals that are seen locally (ex. Hydrangeas that are seen everywhere in town)
• Have a cultural consultant; your coordinator or whomever takes on this role should really dig into the traditions of the people or area to carry a theme throughout your event

Posted: August 25th, 2008 under Charleston Wedding, wedding.
Comments: none

Forsyth Birthday images. 

Under a cloudless sky, the Forsyth family rang in a few 70th Happy Birthdays for their grandparents.  Yoj ensured the family, vacationing from New Jersey and several other states, had a relaxing a fun time and relieved the stress of throwing an intimate gathering in a town where they knew no one.  Deep South fare was served aplenty by Regal Catering and everyone toasted and enjoyed a great atmosphere of beach music and salt air on the Isle of Palms.  Dessert was served up by Le Gateau, and a fabulously flawless time was had by all.

Posted: August 25th, 2008 under Private Event.
Comments: none

Kresse-Tanner images. 

Rain on your wedding day is good luck for your marriage.  The Tanners had an outdoor wedding that was truly wrapped in romance as a rain shower minutes before the ceremony allowed Yoj to not only execute a rain plan, but also for the couple to lose the world and see only each other as mist hung around them in the air and around their gorgeous florals created by Country and Lace Florist.  Mobile Marriage assisted with officiating.  Kelli Nixon, Coastal Media Group,  immortalized the smiles and sunshine brought by the guests and Regal Catering provided southern fare to bring this southern afternoon on the plantation full circle.  Artistic Cakes by Linda made a statement about the couple’s love of the beach and lowcountry while Charleston Heritage Entertainment had every moment set to the perfect rythm from ceremony to goodbyes.  Yoj enjoyed not only meeting the couple, but providing everything from favors to atmosphere to make their special day special.  How to have your day feel like home:

• if outside, have a rain location and love it
• walk through set up and ideas for decor with your coordinator for both sites
• plan for the elements including the mosquitos
• find ways to decorate that will incorporate the location’s style 

Posted: July 30th, 2008 under wedding.
Comments: none

  Smith Bridal Luncheon images.  

The weather was clear and the breeze perfect for the bride’s last bit of quality time with close girlfriends and family at her Bridal luncheon.  Held at a family friend’s house, the ladies enjoyed a light lunch and a sharing of stories.  Yoj geared everyone up for the weekend with delectable desserts and decor from their private stash selected just to match the bride’s bubbly persona.  While different from the wedding decor, the luncheon flowed right into the wedding weekend theme.

Posted: July 30th, 2008 under Private Event.
Comments: none

Stockman Wedding images.  

Smiles filled the sunny day for the Stockman garden party wedding in Charleston.  The bride & groom exchanged vows in the beautiful First Baptist Church in downtown Charleston and then sped over (via corvette) to the Holliday Alumni Center at the Citadel for a fun and festive reception catered by  Aramark.  The day was filled with bright colors and a lot of music by Jay Maxwell’s DJ to keep this energetic group happy.  Lighthouse Digital Video documented the memories made and Country & Lace Florist found the perfect shade of pink to keep everyone smiling as they looked at the bouquets. Have your day resonate your personality: 

•  Find and create beautiful planters (or have Yoj handle it) that not only make centerpieces and decor unique but will hold on to the memory for years to come
• Select colors to match your personality and the season
• Have one decor item created just for you (ie. woven mats for the center of the tables)
• Incorporate family into your day (nothing could have been more special than the bride’s father being able to marry the couple

Posted: July 30th, 2008 under wedding.
Comments: none