Above Par

Summer 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Above Par | A downtown duo ties the knot steps from the Atlantic on one of Charleston’s sea islands

Charleston Wedding College of Charleston Gown Boutique of Charleston JoS. A. Bank wedding Snyder Event Rentals Bella Bridesmaid place cards gown Garden Inc JCrew Lettered Olive Teal

Above Par

TASTY TEAMWORK: Designer Tara Guérard placed a Jim Smeal cake atop a porcelain elephant planter. The stand highlighted a recurring whimsical motif—elephants appeared on the groomsmen’s ties and reception pillows, too.

GET SETTLED: Guests’ welcome bags included a copy of Charleston magazine, the Scout Guide to Charleston, bottled water, Emergen-C, and monogrammed koozies.

VISUAL ART: The bride’s love of fine art—having worked at The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art—and favorite van Gogh painting Almond Blossom inspired the stationery suite by Lettered Olive.

HAPPY FEET: Chanel sandals lent a modern touch to Lisa’s classic Augusta Jones gown from Gown Boutique of Charleston.

SHADY LADIES: Inspired by a photo she had seen on Pinterest, Lisa and her bridesmaids toted parasols to protect against the summer sun.

PRETTY PETALS: Dusty Miller and silver brunia added texture to Lisa’s bouquet of garden roses, orchids, ranunculus, and tulips.

SOFT & SWEET: “I decided early on that flowers were a major priority,” says Lisa. “And a party is no garden party without a sea of roses.” Bridesmaids carried copious bouquets of garden roses, astilbe, and Dusty Miller.

MY FAIR LADY: Parasols carried by the bride and her maids were reminiscent of a Victorian-era garden party. Find similar ones at www.LunaBazaar.com.

MAKING MEMORIES: Lisa walked down an aisle lined with lush garlands of white roses.

SWAGGER: Tying off the aisle garlands with double-sided gold satin ribbon was another way to introduce the secondary color to the event’s palette. Love the chairs? Tara designed them with Snyder Event Rentals. For more, see www.FrankandLane.com.

SWEET STRANDS: Petal garlands draped either side of the aisle, surrounding expectant guests with a sweet, floral scent.

CHILL out: Guests stayed cool by relaxing on the clubhouse’s covered porch.

ELEPHANT TALES: To play up the elephant motif that appeared on pillows and here and there in décor, the wait staff sported ties with the creatures on them as well. Look closely and you’ll see the “Almond Blossoms” pattern from van Gogh’s painting (which covered the bar and informed the cakes) is also lining the ice water serving trays.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: “We decided early on that we wanted to get married outside,” says Lisa. “That’s where we feel closest to God, surrounded by all of his creations.”

TAILORED TROUPE: Bridesmaids wore Amsale from Bella Bridesmaid and J.Crew silk chiffon dresses in shades of seaglass and teal.

BETTER TOGETHER: “I think we both ‘knew’ quite early on,” says Lisa of their courtship. “We’re a good combination of yin and yang.”

DEBONAIR FELLOW: Mike’s boutonniere was a Blushing Bride protea atop a leaf of Dusty Miller.

PERFECT SITUATION: Kiawah Island was the couple’s ideal wedding locale: Florida-raised Lisa dreamed of marrying by the water, and Mike, a golf aficionado, loved taking vows where the PGA Championship had just occurred.

SIT BACK: “I wanted some quiet moments to embrace it all,” says Lisa of their decision to host a seated dinner. “I wanted to sit down with my husband, eat a good meal, and savor this one night.”

CUSTOM TOUCH: Gold accents popped up in perfect places, like on the seal of personal letters that Lisa wrote to her wedding party and vendors.

FINE DETAILS: Gold-rimmed china and glassware contributed to the polished look of the reception dinner. Soirée kept arrangements of Dusty Miller, garden roses, and silver brunia low so guests could easily converse across the table.

LEAN BACK: Tara tied on satin bride-and-groom seat back covers embellished with the couple’s initials by local vendor Harbor Specialties.

EDIBLE ART: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal adorned pistachio, white chocolate chip, and lemon cakes with patterns inspired by the bride’s favorite painting.

HINT OF TRADITION: “We kept monogramming alive in small ways,” says Lisa. One example: embroidered satin ribbons wrapped around the bouquets.

BE OUR GUEST: Place cards were nestled in beds of hydrangea blooms.

PERFECT HARMONY: Minty hues in the Lettered Olive stationery were echoed with Dusty Miller.

BON APPETIT: “Charleston has turned us into major foodies, so Michael took on what mattered most—the menu!” says Lisa. Dinner, catered by the Atlantic Room at Kiawah Island, included Crab Louie, chicken française, and an herbed petit filet. Place cards were tied to napkins with heavy gold trim ribbon..

SUGAR RUSH: Among other goodies, guests were treated to chocolate-covered Oreos from Lori Jayne Monogramming & More in Palm Beach, Florida.

POTTED PLANTS: Want to give an antique, curated flair to your reception? Use antique vessels for vases.

SAND AND SURF: Patterned accent pillows echoed seashells and waves, appropriate for a waterside ceremony.

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER: Using gold-painted urns as vases for roses and seeded eucalyptus gave arrangements a styled, home-like air.

ROOM WITH A VIEW: Kiawah’s famed Ocean Course is known for being one of the toughest—and most stunning—places for golf in the States. It’s view over greens, dunes, and the Atlantic is unparalleled.

FIRED UP: Guests took home locally made Rewined candles scented in Sauvignon Blanc, along with matchbooks printed with an engagement portrait of the couple.

DARK NIGHT: Lanterns were scattered across the porch and also hung on shepherd’s hooks to line the path to the after-dinner cocktail party tent.

DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT: Lisa and Mike swayed to “You and Me” by Penny and the Quarters.

GUIDING LIGHT: Lanterns cast a soft, pink glow over the pathway leading into the reception tent.

KICK BACK: Soirée’s lounges were so striking the couple now displays the elephant-embroidered pillows in their home.

QUICK CHANGE: After the ceremony, the bride slipped into a lighthearted “Mrs.” dress by Christian Dior.

HANGING AROUND: Golden cylinders hung from a gauzy ceiling to create a cozy bar atmosphere. Since Lisa’s parents are from Minnesota, bartenders served a Midwestern favorite, the Bootleg, made with fresh herbs muddled with lime.

SWEET SEND-OFF: Tara rolled paper cones—in the same wave pattern that appeared on custom pillows throughout the event—to hold rose petals, which the guests tossed on the couple as they exited the reception.

OPEN ROAD: The couple drove away in a hunter green 1954 Lincoln Continental Coupe.

ON THEIR WAY: The couple left the reception for a10-day honeymoon in Hawaii.

June 2013

Photographs by:

Liz Banfield

Lisa Reed & Mike Roy
September 1, 2012
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

“He felt like home right away,” says Lisa Reed of her courtship with Mike Roy, whom she met through a mutual friend during her senior year at the College of Charleston. While Lisa says the two had chemistry from the onset, she also says, “We were so very different, and he wasn’t at all my type.” That worked in the pair’s favor, though, and allowed a close friendship to develop. Then, one night when Mike offered Lisa a ride home from a party, he took the plunge and kissed her. Their opposites-attract romance evolved in a cozy, comfortable way thereafter, she says.

Six years later the couple was in their home overlooking the Ashley River when the perfect pop-the-question moment presented itself. Sitting on their balcony with cocktails in hand, Al Green playing in the background, and the sky awash in a pink and purple sunset, Mike proposed. Since the two can recount their entire love affair in the Holy City, says Lisa, they began planning a Lowcountry wedding here.

Lisa entrusted her vision of a romantic, waterfront garden party to Tara Guérard and the Soirée team, who planned a day for 150 guests at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island with an outdoor ceremony, a clubhouse dinner, and an after-party in a reception tent resplendent with carpet, sheer fabric draping, and luxe lounge areas. Ivory furniture, green linens, and teal accent pillows complemented the natural colors of the coastal setting, and gilded dishes, votives, and place cards added glamour. Floral garlands hung from chandeliers while metal lanterns tossed off light as the sun faded into the Atlantic. Lisa’s verdict? “Utterly magical.”

Vendor

Baker: Jim Smeal; www.WeddingCakesbyJimSmeal.com
Bridal attire: Augusta Jones, Gown Boutique of Charleston, www.GownBoutiqueofCharleston.com; Christian Dior, www.Dior.com
Bridesmaid attire: Amsale, Bella Bridesmaid, www.BellaBridesmaid.com; J.Crew, www.JCrew.com
Caterer: The Atlantic Room, Kiawah Island Golf Resort; www.KiawahResort.com/dining/the-atlantic-room/
Groomsmen attire: Jos. A. Bank; www.JosBank.com
Hair: Kristy Cuthbert, Velvet Salon; www.VelvetSalonCharleston.com
Makeup: Moore Makeup; www.MooreMakeup.com
Musician (ceremony): Robbi Kenney; www.RobbiKenney.com
Musician (reception): Debut, Inc. and Pat Patrick Band; www.EastcoastEntertainment.com
On-site Dresser: Cacky’s Bride+Aid; www.CackysBrideAid.com
Photographer: Liz Banfield; www.LizBanfield.com
Planner, florist, and linens: Tara Guérard Soirée; www.TaraGuerardSoiree.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals; www.SnyderEventRentals.com
Stationery: Lettered Olive; www.LetteredOlive.com
Videographer: Lowcountry Wedding Films; www.LowcountryWeddingFilms.com