A Warm Welcome

Fall/Winter 2013

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A Warm Welcome | Lowcountry love rules this kick-your-feet-up Mount Pleasant fête

Charleston Wedding wedding Snyder Event Rentals Bella Bridesmaid Boone Hall Plantation Boone Hall Cru Catering wine gown favors kristin newman designs porch WED

HANDSOME HINTS: Dodeline Designs incorporated the venue’s front gate into the stationery.

LOVELY LADIES: Bridesmaids wore Dessy gowns in charcoal gray.

BRILLIANT BUDS: Roses crafted from music sheets (a nod to the groom’s profession) dotted the bridal bouquet.

SPACE MAKERS: To create the idea of an altar space, two planters brimming with fresh blooms stood at the end of the aisle.

CHARMING! Etsy vendor Perfect Pendants created these charms, which commemorated various family members.

ROMANTIC REEL: The pair wed in front of Boone Hall Plantation’s main house, which appeared in the 2004 film "The Notebook."

KISSING COUSINS: Inspired by the romance of the day, junior attendants share a smooch after finishing their ceremonial duties.

BOLD IMPRESSIONS: When Clint—dressed here in a tux from Charleston Tuxedo—met Marianna (who donned a Claire Pettibone gown) at a restaurant in 2009, conversation flowed easily. So easily, in fact, that on Marianna’s way out, he called over the crowd to inquire if she was single.

HANGING OUT: Heather Barrie of Gathering Floral + Event Design draped the entrance to the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation with garlands of seeded eucalyptus.

UP IN THE AIR: Event designers Kristin and Heather tucked candles into hobnail jars, then used twine to hang the vessels at varying heights from the Cotton Dock’s ceiling beams. “The décor was simple, but fit us perfectly,” says Marianna.

BETTER TOGETHER: For full-bodied arrangements, Heather mixed delphinium, dahlias, lisianthus, brunia berries, coneflower, and garden roses.

DOCK SITTIN’: Wire garden chairs provided seating for guests to take in views of Wampacheone Creek.

WOODWORKS: Silver-gray linens and pale, unfinished wooden chairs from Snyder Events kept the reception room light overall, while Snyder’s dark-stained farm tables added depth to the design. “Marianna wanted a look that felt like things had been collected from someone’s own home,” Heather says of the bride’s aesthetic. A mix of vessels from Heather’s collection—including an antique pewter teapot—and varying floral arrangements did just the trick.

CRAFTY CASE: In addition to stamping an oak tree guest book, family and friends left cards for the couple in a vintage leather suitcase from Etsy’s Itty Bitty Wedding.

ROOM FOR REPOSE: “Often, a hearth serves as a natural gathering area,” says Gathering Floral + Event Design’s Mary Ruth Tribble. With that in mind, the team positioned comfy settees around a coffee table to create a lounge, and, in lieu of a fire (the early autumn evening was warm), lined candles across the mantel to cozy up the space.

ON THE ROCKS: When you attend a catering tasting, ask about presentation. Charleston restaurants specialize in chic plating options.

FRENCH ACCENT: Gathering's cache of vintage-style chandeliers added sparkle.

SCATTER SHOT: Hanging mirors in clusters helped to reflect light for a romantic—and functional—effect.

MIRROR BALL: Venetian-style cut-glass mirrors added polish to the rustic barn walls.

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER: Chicken tenders in waffle cones? Meet Cru Catering's take on chicken and waffles.

WARMING TREND: There's nothing cozier than warm food from Cru Catering on a cool night. Here, Gathering placed a large arrangement to act as a screen between the lounge and the dining and dance area.

BOX SET: Galvanized window boxes held fresh arrangements by Gathering Floral + Event Design.

PILLOW TOP: To give a cozy, homey feel to the lounge areas, plump pillows in nuetral hues populated the settees.

GLOW ON: With nightfall coming early in the fall, candles tucked into lanterns not only cast helpful soft light, but also protect the area from open flames.

CANDLIT NIGHT: Cru Catering served fresh fish for the sit-down dinner.

MUSIC MAN: Pennants made from sheet music were a shout out to Clint, who, in addition to being a working musician, co-owns and teaches at a music studio

STEEPED IN LOVE: Tea bag favors from the Etsy shop Idea Chic bore tags that read “Love is Brewing.”

HOLY CITY START: A Rolls-Royce drove the newlyweds from the reception to their honeymoon at the Market Pavilion Hotel.

Marianna Clark & Clint Presley
October 6, 2012
Boone Hall Plantation

Home is where the heart is, right? Well, in the case of Marianna Clark and Clint Presley, the saying not only holds true—it defined their fall 2012 nuptials. Following Clint’s proposal in the couple’s Charlotte, North Carolina, home, the Queen City natives chose to wed in Mount Pleasant, where Marianna grew up making annual trips to visit relatives.

“We wanted a wedding where guests would feel comfortable and welcomed—exactly how Clint and I feel when we come down here to stay with family,” Marianna says. The pair chose Boone Hall Plantation, founded in 17th century and home to the pastoral Cotton Dock, as their venue. Then Marianna began scouring Etsy for pieces like bouquet charms from Perfect Pendants Plus, sign-in artwork from Bleu de Toi, and good-bye “wedding wands” from Craft Up Your Life, among many other finds. To weave all her couture-crafted finds into a streamlined and polished fête, Marianna sought out Kristin Newman Designs.

Months later, Marianna and Clint exchanged vows on the plantation’s grounds and retreated with their guests to the dock. There, Kristin’s team, along with Heather Barrie of Gathering Floral + Event Design, had filled the rustic space with antique appointments and artisan-styled décor in a Lowcountry-inspired palette—taupe and cream for sand and sweetgrass baskets, green and blue for marsh and waterways, and peachy pink for shells and sweet shrimp. When the sun set, flickering candles and sweeping garlands of café lights gave the space a warm glow. “The whole evening felt like we were sitting on a porch or couch at a friend’s house catching up,” says Marianna. “It was fantastic!”

Vendor List

Bouquet Charm: Perfect Pendants, www.Etsy.com
Bridal Gown: Claire Pettibone, www.clairepettibone.com
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Dessy, available through Bella Bridesmaid (www.bellabridesmaid.com) and Jean’s Bridal (www.jeansbridalcharleston.com)
Cake,Caterer, Bar, & Wine Service: Cru Catering, www.crucatering.com
Ceremony Location: Boone Hall Front Lawn, www.boonehallplantation.com
Favors: Idea Chic, www.Etsy.com
Florist and Décor: Gathering Floral & Event Design, www.gatheringevents.com
Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Attire: Charleston Tuxedo, www.charlestontuxedo.com
Photography:Virgil Bunao Photography, www.virgilbunao.com
Reception Location: Boone Hall Plantation Cotton Dock, www.boonehallplantation.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals
Sign-In Art: Bleu de Toi, www.Etsy.com
Stationery & Invitations: Dodeline Designs
Valise and Guest Cards: Itty Bitty Wedding, www.Etsy.com
Wedding Design & Coordination: Kristin Newman Designs, www.kristinnewmandesigns.com
Wedding Wands: Craft Up Your Life, www.Etsy.com

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