Meant to Bee

Summer 2012

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Meant to Bee | Katharine Matthews & Tony Moffat, May 7, 2011, Legare Waring House

a charleston bride Charleston Wedding Priscilla of Boston wedding BBJ Linen Snyder Event Rentals Bella Bridesmaid Daniel Island White Studio R Design food Studio R gown Fat Hen favors Fish

NICE THREADS: The bride wore a Priscilla of Boston gown from White, and the groom sported a suit from Charleston Formal Wear at Berlin’s.

CRAFTY THINKING: Katharine printed programs herself, using natural paper and the wedding’s ever-present bee motif.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: Katharine vows she’ll never forget walking down the aisle with her father. “I could tell Tony was nervous but once we were up there together everything was just like a dream,” she laughs.

CAGED BEAUTY: A hive-shaped birdcage held cards and small presents on the gift table.

TALL ORDER: Katharine fell in love with the humble, long-stemmed allium (garlic plant), and its purple blooms inspired the wedding’s dominant colors: green and lavender.

DRINKS ON ME: Fat Hen served honey-colored cocktails in Mason jars, spruced up with wedges of orange.

STARK CONTRAST: For variation, planner Melissa Barton paired pale and dark green succulents and placed them along the patterned white-and-green table runner.

SUBTLE TOUCH: Katharine says she opted for arrangements of mostly greenery, avoiding elaborate flowers that would have made the feel “too formal or princess-like.”

DRESS SHARP: Cousin of the bride Ellis Moore showed off a dapper plaid blazer and bright red bow tie.

HIGH CLASS: The sheer height of this floral centerpiece—made up of the spherical garlic plant flowers that inspired the day’s palette—drew well-deserved attention to the bridal table.

DRINK UP: The bride’s favorite cocktail of the evening? A Key Lime Martini with a Graham Cracker Rim

MINI ME: Succulents and greens tucked into tree bark containers echoed the Legare Waring House’s grand, sweeping trees.

EAT FRESH: “We wanted to show people how amazing local, organic cuisine truly is and Fred did a perfect job!” says Katharine of Fat Hen Catering and the menu. Treats like a delicious duck confit topped with cranberries certainly did the trick.

SEE, FOOD: Fat Hen topped savory crab cakes with parsley and grilled shrimp

JUST MADE: All food served, like these deviled eggs, was locally grown. A few ingredients were even picked up from the farm en route to the wedding!

SWEET THING: Baked by d’lish, the carrot and vanilla cake bore a honeybee design gleaned from a favorite T-shirt of Katharine’s. Rachel of Studio R digitized the shirt’s artwork and replicated it on all the printed materials, too.

ALL TOGETHER NOW: According to Katharine, “One part I especially enjoyed was seeing all our family and friends in one place. It was like a huge reunion!”

PERFECT MATCH: Of the wedding’s locale, Katharine says, “We knew we wanted our wedding and reception to be held outdoors and we both loved the beautiful setting of the Legare Waring House.”

Two years after self-proclaimed health fanatics Katharine Matthews and Tony Moffat met courtesy of his mom (a frequent shopper at Katharine’s Daniel Island holistic pet store), the couple joined with A Charleston Bride to plan an organic wedding with a bee theme. “We’ve read about the disappearance of the honeybees and what it will mean to our society,” explains Katharine. To bring the plight to light at their nuptials, bees appeared on the stationery, napkins, cake, and honey jar favors. Adding to the event’s earthy feel, succulents sprouted from bark containers and burlap curtains hung from the tent. Local food was another must, and the only sweetener found in either caterer Fat Hen’s organic eats or the cake by d’lish? Honey, of course! As the couple said their “I dos,” the sun streamed through the branches “like there was a spotlight on us,” says the bride.

Vendor List

Baker: Molly Lawson, D’lish; www.dlishdessert.com
Bridal gown: Reem Acra from White; www.whiteondi.com
Bridesmaids’ attire: Priscilla of Boston from Bella Bridesmaid, www.bellabridesmaid.com
Caterer: Fat Hen Catering; www.thefathen.com
Coordination: Melissa Barton; A Charleston Bride, www.acharlestonbride.com
Florist: A Charleston Bride; www.acharlestonbride.com
Grooms’ attire: Berlin’s on King Street; www.berlinsclothing.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company; www.technicaleventcompany.com
Linens: BBJ Linen; www.bbjlinen.com
Musician (ceremony): Dori Chitayat; www.spanishflamencoguitar.com
Musician (reception): Soul Fish; www.otherbrotherent.com/soulfish.htm
Photography: TimWill Photography; www.timwill.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals; www.snydereventrentals.com and Blossoms Events; www.blossomstogo.net/wordpress
Stationery: Studio R Design; www.studio-r-design.com