A Warm Welcome

Fall/Winter 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

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

The Wedding Row

June 17 2019

Emily & Ashley | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Here’s a sweet-as-pie love story for your Monday. These newlyweds first met in college at Furman University after Ashley asked for Emily’s help in their shared computer class. Little did Emily know,...

June 14 2019

Alex & Chandler | Hibernian Hall

Happy Friday, lovelies. To start the weekend off on a high (and crazy pretty) note, we present to you the wedding of Alexandria and Chandler. University of South Carolina alum Alex met her future...

June 13 2019

Jacqueline & Matthew | Boone Hall Plantation

When Hurricane Florence hit, Jacqueline and Matthew, only a week out from their wedding, feared the worst. With their hometown of Southport, North Carolina, completely flooded, it seemed like...

June 12 2019

Lauren & Austin | Lowndes Grove Plantation

Funnily enough, romantic gestures aren’t the only way to find love. New York natives Lauren and Austin met when he boldly cut in front of her in line outside of a bar in the Hamptons. She took notice...

June 11 2019

Emily & Anthony | The Gadsden House

Believe it or not, produce (yup, apples and oranges!) is what brought Emily and Anthony together. The pair met online and had their first date at the SoWa Market, the Boston equivalent of our 2nd...

June 10 2019

Franzi & Martin | Engagement Session

Dockside just happens to be our best side and it seems to be Franzi and Martin’s, too. The duo, who both hail from Germany, flew all the way to our beloved Charleston just to document their...

June 7 2019

Stephanie & Greg | Middleton Place

After meeting at Wake Forest University in 2009 and being drawn together by what she describes as fate (more about that later … ), Stephanie and Greg officially tied the knot here in the Holy City....

June 6 2019

Maddie & Jackson | Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Although high school sweethearts Maddie and Jackson may not be evenly matched on the athletic field (the pair’s first encounter involved Maddie whipping Jackson’s tail in a game of volleyball) they...

Feature

Great Escape

Ooh! Events and Tusk Events team up to show you how chic a teepee lounge can be

Feature

Charleston Weddings - Summer 2025

Feature

Farm-Fresh Fête

Sarah Billipp & Patrick Barrett; December 5, 2009, Circular Congregational Church & Stono River Riding Academy

Feature

Cool, Blue Getaway

Duvall Catering & Events invites you to chill out with a cool palette, crisp design, and frosty treats

Feature

Modern Romance

An interior decorator bride and her groom celebrate their marriage in an historic space dressed in avant-garde style

Feature

Oh, Happy Day!

A Floridian couple celebrates their “I dos” with an Old South meets New South reception

Feature

Miami Heat

A Sunshine State couple brings the heat to their al fresco wedding at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Feature

Pretty Petals

Engaging Events gives us a glimpse of spring with a host of sweet bouquets

Feature

Big Day Brunch

An Anglophile bride and her dapper groom entertain guests in a garden wedding with a Southern accent and English style

Feature

Partying Charleston-Style in the Big Apple

Enjoy a peek at our New York Bridal Market Kickoff Party, where we teamed with some of the Holy City’s best to bring Southern charm to Manhattan

Feature

Simple & Stunning

Have a cool-weather luncheon or shower on the agenda? Event maven Mindy Rice visits the Old Village and shows how to greet guests with colorful grace

Feature

Rainbow Connection

What's more uplifting than a rainbow? How about a wedding awash in all the colors therein...

Feature

The Bridesmaid’s Bill of Rights

Think prenups are only for Mr. and Mrs.? Think again!

Feature

Home Run

Two Charleston natives make their Big Day all theirs with at-home vows, kilts aplenty, and their favorite grocery store cake

Feature

A Personal Touch

Lyndsey Goodman & Brian Moynihan, October 29, 2011, Saint Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church & The Historic Rice Mill Building

Feature

Fur-Ever "I Do's"

Add laughs and levity to your wedding when you include your pets

Feature

A Perfect Fit

M. Joyner Milam & Bart Beasley; April 8, 2006, Kensington Plantation

Feature

Wishing Tree

Designer Annie Mueller of A New Leaf Studio designed this tree for guests to tag with their sweet sentiments. Plant it in your new front yard post-wedding