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
Give your gown some sparkle, fasten your sash in place, or simply dress up your bouquet wrap. However you enlist them, these keepsake brooches are ready to report for duty
