The bride wore Modern Trousseau.
Thistle echoed the color of the bridesmaids’ J.Crew gowns.
The bride’s mother covered books (for decoration) in the colors of the American and French flags.
Programs tied with baker’s twine were stacked in farmhouse-style wire baskets.
TWO-IN-ONE: WED crafted menu sleeves from book pages, affixed guest names to each, and rested them atop napkins Kathleen’s mother had stitched.
DEFINING MOMENT: In lieu of a traditional guestbook, guests used washi tape to add notes to a vintage English-French dictionary.
Baker’s twine stood in for ribbon to bind the stationery suite from Sixpence Press.
CULTURAL INTRODUCTION: “We glued a card with our save-the-date information on the back of vintage Parisian postcards and mailed them in velum envelopes,” says Kate. “That way so the postcard showed through just enough to give a hint of what was inside.”
A TALE OF TWO CITIES: The blue and red theme reflected both the colors of the American flag and the French flag.
BEYOND THE SEA: The letterpress stationery suite featured an homage to both Paris and Charleston.
BEYOND THE SEA: The letterpress stationery suite featured an homage to both Paris and Charleston.
BEYOND THE SEA: The letterpress stationery suite featured an homage to both Paris and Charleston.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES: The blue and red theme reflected both the colors of the American flag and the French flag.
FRENCH STYLE: Kate’s white satin shoes with a jewel-encrusted brooch accent were from Cosmoparis.
VINTAGE TOUCH: Kate’s lace gown—from Modern Trousseau in Charleston—had an antique feel.
PERFECT SET: Keeping with their classic aesthetic, Kate and Benoît’s wedding rings are simple bands while Benoît proposed with an Art Deco style engagement ring.
A BRIDE’S ADVICE: “Someone told me that on your wedding day, no matter what happens, one thing you will remember most is having every person you love from all over the world right there in the same place at the same time,” says Kate.
MONOCHROME: Kate’s bouquet of creamy white garden roses paired perfectly with her ivory lace gown.
CHARLESTON’S FINEST: “Since we live in France, I really wanted the wedding to be where I am from so that our friends and family coming to the wedding would get to experience real Southern hospitality,” says Kate.
BISOU: Benoît—who wore a custom three-piece suit from Parisian tailors Samson—and Kate share their first kiss as husband and wife.
ORDER OF EVENTS: Guests picked up scrolls printed with the wedding program and then rolled up and tied with red and white baker’s string.
ORDER OF EVENTS: Guests picked up scrolls printed with the wedding program and then rolled up and tied with red and white baker’s string.
TEAM WORK: “Our wedding planner used an old French book I had to make little pochettes with red thread to tuck the menus for the table setting,” says Kate, who worked with her mother and WED on the day’s décor.
BEST WISHES: “Our guest book was an old French-English dictionary that we had for people to sign where they could attach little cards with messages using red and navy Washi tape,” says Kate.
BANNER TIME: An evergreen wreath, strung with a garland sewn with vintage book flags, welcomed guests.
FAREWELL: Guests took home French Sea Salt infused with rosemary (delicious on French fries…).
SWEET TREAT: When the bride is a pastry chef, cake just isn’t enough; cue these strawberry and chocolate tartlets.
GOOD FORTUNE: A sign of luck in the South, black eyed peas formed the base for candles nestled in hurricane jars. “It was a pleasant surprise to my husband’s family who is originally from Portugal as black eyed peas are also part of their regional cuisine,” says Kate.
GOOD READ: Old books were stacked throughout the reception to give the space a lived-in feeling.
CULTURAL INTRODUCTION: “We glued a card with our save-the-date information on the back of vintage Parisian postcards and mailed them in velum envelopes,” says Kate. “That way so the postcard showed through just enough to give a hint of what was inside.”
FRENCH FÊTE: Table markers with the Eiffel Tower served as a nod to the groom.
FRENCH COUNTRY: To add a hint of vintage, textured pillows were tossed onto pristine white couches.
LANDMARK DETAILS: Vintage postcards of Paris featured on the guest book table.
UNDER COVER: Turn a simple flower (like this thistle) and budvase into a curiosity centerpiece when you cover it with a glass cloche. One other trick? Placing it atop a mirrored tray doubles the volume and gives the illusion of centerpiece larger than life.
SOUTHERN SMILE: ….While the Holy City’s signature Palmetto (here, next to a julep cup-turned-bud-vase) was a reminder of the bride’s South Carolina roots.
PIPED PERFECTION: Jim Smeal of Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal created a white three-tiered wedding cake.
