When your guests hail from New England and your groom spends his days on ice as head coach of the South Carolina Stingrays, a hot, sticky outdoor reception just won’t do. So when Caroline Oddo started venue hunting for her wedding to Ryan Warsofsky, A/C was non-negotiable. Luckily, she found The Cedar Room, which offered all the modern conveniences a bride could crave. Plus, it gave guests a peek into their daily life: “Plantations are fun to visit, but we wanted the day to be a representation of our life downtown,” she says. After a few rounds of floral Tinder (swipe right for ranunculus) and inspired by her ultra-fem Hayley Paige gown, Caroline handed the reins to Francesca DiSalvo-Follmer of Pure Luxe Bride, who planned a garden-glam—and oh-so air-conditioned—fête.
DEFINITE DO'S
• Don’t be afraid to take a risk. The Cedar Room was under construction when Caroline started planning, but she was sold after seeing digital mockups.
• Play with shapes. Pure Luxe Bride staged a circular bar in the room’s center. It offered a stunning focal point and helped with crowd control as guests could order drinks from any point. Plus, the curvy shape offset the site’s boxy layout.
• Seat yourself. The couple saved cash by opting for a mixture of lounge settings, bistro tables, and pub-style rounds with barstools rather than tables and chairs for all.
• Wave goodbye to valets. Since parking downtown is notoriously tricky, consider a venue with a built-in solution: The Cedar Room offers on-site parking after 5 p.m.
• Dress to impress. Chandeliers, pink sequin statement linens, and a gold-leaf cake design added a feminine touch to the industrial space.
Bride’s attire: Hayley Paige (gown, available in Charleston through White on Daniel Island, www.WhiteOnDI.com), Manolo Blahnik (shoes), www.ManoloBlahnik.com
Bridesmaid attire: Donna Morgan (maid-of-honor’s gown), Amsale (bridesmaids’ gowns), both available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaids, www.BellaBridesmaids.com
Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
An Elegant Affair Proves New Year’s Eve Might Just Be The Perfect Time To Start A New Life Together
By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Brandon Lata Photography
Few people anywhere in the...
A Match Made in Heaven
Classic white blooms, greenery, and wooden elements set off this stunning Charleston wedding under the oaks
When it comes to love and marriage, couples who pair well...
A Charleston Winter Wedding Embraces the Season with Sophistication and Glamour
Just a few hours before sunset in mid-winter, Charleston takes on a certain golden glow, unparalleled at any other...
Take Cues from this Intimate Dreamy Blue “I Do”
Amy Bronston and Trevor Pittman’s love story reads like a romantic movie. It was during the 2019 holiday season in Washington DC, where...
This Halloween matrimony perfectly plays up the holiday—with a dash of fun and plenty of class in a scenic coastal Charleston setting
By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Anne Rhett Photography...
By Melissa Reardon | Images by Kelsey Halm Photo
Expert Advice for a Beautiful Fall Bouquet
With seasonal change comes an exciting rich color palette and tons of texture with which to design....
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Photos by Dana Cubbage Weddings | Written by Melissa Reardon
They say the greatest marriages are built on teamwork. And indeed, it’s one of the marital building blocks...
Charleston is one of the country’s top-tier cities for so-called destination weddings, and any couple getting married here should expect far-flung guests to RSVP an enthusiastic “Yes” to their celebration, especially when this old-school boarding pass, designed by Studio R, debuts your wedding details in high flying style.
