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
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