Down-to-Earth

Summer 2012

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Down-to-Earth | Lee Deas & Dave Brown, April 16, 2011, Sugah Cain Plantation

Charleston Wedding Charleston Symphony Orchestra Duvall Catering diy Elise Testone favors JCrew Rachel Gordon Tim Hussey

FROCK-TAIL PARTY: Local designer Rachel Gordon of ONE LOVE custom crafted Lee’s gown from bamboo fabric. Dave’s verdict? “It was epic.” The groom sported an off-the-rack J.Crew suit.

THE WHEEL DEAL: During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed bites from the food truck Hello My Name Is BBQ.

SOW NICE: Lee’s father filled favor pots with soil and paper leaves embedded with wildflower seeds.

BOOK IT: The couple’s monogrammed, faux-vintage vow books came from the Etsy shop BraggingBags. The mosaic ring box belonged to Lee’s grandmother.

PIE SAFE: Lending the dessert spread a no-frills family-style feel, blueberry mascarpone, lemon, and Nutella-flavored mini-pies from Duvall Catering & Event Design were placed on cake stands, wooden blocks, and the tabletop itself. “Our motto was to do everything our way and to not do anything expected,” says Lee, who skipped having a traditional cake.

DIY DIRECTIONS: Wooden signs painted by Duvall hinted at the day’s down-to-earth vibe.

SET THE SCENE: “The location is breathtaking and guests loved strolling the grounds or taking a golf cart to explore,” says Lee. “It was its own character of the day that people could interact with at their leisure.”

OUTDOOR ORBS: A windy storm rolled through just before the ceremony began, so most some décor, including colorful prayer flags, were taken down or moved under the tents by Lee’s family. These twine balls, however, remained hanging with rustic charm.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS: Duvall Catering & Event Design fashioned a twine-garnished wildflower boutonniere to complement the groom’s off-the-rack J.Crew suit. The bar, which was stocked with the couple’s drink of choice, Red Stripe, was open for guests before and during the ceremony.

PRETTY AS A PETAL: Ring bearer Aaron and flower girls Jade and Iris, all cousins of Lee’s, made happy with wildflower bouquets.

MEMORY LANE: Lee says that when they were dating, she and Dave used to borrow their friend’s vintage Chevy to ride around Folly Beach. They made the truck their exit car for a sentimental touch.

CYBER SNAGS: The couple, who says they turned to Etsy for many of their décor odds and ends, found this handcrafted burlap banner from the shop Victorian Station [etsy.com/shop/victorianstation].

CLASSIC TRIMMINGS: Cloudy tincture bottles and succulent arrangements dressed up the wooden tables with organic charm.

EASY DOES IT: Event planner Shari Knight Gillum, who helped design the wedding , described the day’s décor as, “simple yet meaningful.”

GRAB A BUNCH: Duvall Catering Events & Design loosely gathered wildflowers for colorful, natural bouquets.

DOWN-HOME COOKIN’: The couple had the Hello My Name Is BBQ food truck roll up during their post-ceremony cocktail hour. In addition to their diverse buffet offerings, Lee says they wanted to give Dave’s family and friends from New York a taste of Southern soul food.

FESTIVE FARE: Lee and Dave, who say they share an adventurous, ethnic palate, chose island-inspired dishes like ceviche, paella, and mini Cuban sandwiches for their reception dinner.

UNTRADITIONAL SWEETS: Rather than choosing a towering confection for dessert, the couple opted for mini pies from Duvall Catering, giving the spread a down-home, grandma’s cooking feel.

GIMME S’MORE: Lee’s father assembled personalized, paper-bagged kits for guests to make the tasty treats.

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD: Dave, who is founder and principal of the local company Cigar Row, had a employee man a rolling station during the reception.

PET NAMES: Lee (Luscious) and Dave (Delicious) saved their spots with hand-painted wooden signage hung by twine.

Despite Dave Brown and Lee Deas’ penchant for travel (the Charleston couple got engaged on a trip to Turks and Caicos), they chose Sugah Cain Plantation on John’s Island as venue for their nuptials. With the family farm, which is owned by one of Lee’s cousins, as backdrop, the duo split the planning 50-50 and enlisted close pals to make their vision of an intimate and down-home event a reality. Both entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry, the couple went for an organic vibe when it was their turn to be fêted. “We wanted everything to look like it had come from the land,” says Lee. When the day came, rustic wooden appointments and wildflower arrangements mixed with DIY favors and vintage touches for a farm-fresh theme. “It was amazing,” says Lee. “Walking out, surrounded by all our favorite people and things.”

Vendor List

Baker: Duvall Catering & Event Designs; www.duvallevents.com
Bar service: ICEBOX BAR; www.iceboxbar.com
Bride’s attire: Rachel Gordon; onelovedesign.com
Caterers: Hello My Name is BBQ, www.facebook.com/pages/HELLO-my-name-is-BBQ; Duvall Catering & Event Design, www.duvallevents.com
Ceremony and reception location: Sugah Cain Plantation
Cigars: Cigar Row; www.cigarrow.com
Florist: Duvall Catering & Event Design; www.duvallevents.com
Groom’s attire: J.Crew; www.jcrew.com
Reception Music: Elise Testone + The Freeloaders, www.myspace.com/freeincharleston; DJ Natty Heavy, www.nattyheavy.com; Ceremony Music: Charleston Symphony Orchestra violinist, www.charlestonsymphony.com
Planner/day-of coordinator: Shari Knight-Gillum; shariknight@gmail.com
Photographers: Gately Williams Photography, www.benwilliamsweddings.com; Tim Hussey, www.timothymerrickevents.wordpress.com; Gregg Lambton-Carr Photography, www.gregglambtoncarr.com
Rentals: Event DRS; www.eventdrs.com
Stationer: Slant Media; www.slantmedia.net
Videographer: Tim McManus; www.pdastage.com

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