Down-to-Earth

Summer 2012

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

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

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

The Wedding Row

February 5 2020

Sarah & Colin | Private Venue

The stars may have aligned when Sarah and Colin met at a popcorn stand in a Charlotte, North Carolina, bar. But it was actually the sun, moon, and earth aligning that saw them to the next step....

February 4 2020

Ashley & Kevin | Private Garden

“What is more Charleston than a spring wedding in a gorgeous historic church and a garden reception?” asks bride Ashley. Not much, we answer! And today’s post showcases all the charm you could...

January 31 2020

Grace & Nick | The Cedar Room

A couple who adventures together, stays together. Grace (from Washington D.C.) and Nick (from Greenville) met while attending Clemson University. These East Coast lovebirds went through two rounds of...

January 30 2020

Stacy & Hudson | Lowndes Grove

Sometimes you look at a complete stranger’s wedding photos and feel sadness at the fact that you weren’t guests at their incredible event. Welcome to such a fête! Before we trigger FOMO …...

January 29 2020

Natalie & Steven | Historic Rice Mill

We love it when we find couples and weddings with particulars you just don’t see every day. Enter Natalie and Steven. Our precious couple met each other … wait for it … in jail … as Correctional...

January 28 2020

Alex & Robert | The Cedar Room

If weddings not only celebrate love, but also heighten it with fairy tale-feeling outfits and flowers and food and dance, why wouldn’t they be the supreme spot to meet your forever love as well?...

January 27 2020

Clay & Caitlin | Legare Waring House

Once upon a time a South Carolina boy introduced a Maryland girl to Charleston. Little did they know the Lowcountry would become the backdrop of their love story—romantic trips, a big popped question...

January 24 2020

Erica & Charleston | William Aiken House

As a local wedding professional who travels and plans weddings all around the world with Tara Guérard Soirée, our bride Erica still feels there’s no better place to get married than right here in the...

Feature

Dress Rehearsal

Style blogger Hilary Rose Elrod (she’s engaged!) test drives the most stunning bridal jewels in town

Feature

Love It!

Easton Events’ inaugural wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation imparts ideas worth emulating

Feature

School Crush

Teenage sweethearts seal the deal with a church wedding in downtown Charleston and a plantation-set reception by the water

Feature

Pastel Perfection

Close to a decade after they began dating, a Colorado couple exchanges vows in an easy, airy seaside ceremony on Kiawah Island

Feature

Break the Mold

Jessica Morse & Ryan Roberts April 13, 2013 William Aiken House

Feature

Under the Trees

Two born-and-raised Southerners celebrate their love for the Lowcountry, summertime, and one another

Feature

Party With Your Pooch?

Include your puppy in your Big Day with tips from Dog Tired and this wedding photographer

Feature

From the Heart

Feature

Game On!

Bring on the fun and family bonding at your reception with these games that can be dressed up for the most elegant of affairs

Feature

Sew Stylish

Celeste Rose & Joshua Pratt; December 21, 2008, The William Aiken House

Feature

Budget, Meet Bliss

Amy Clark & Scott Kohn, May 7, 2012, Creek Club at I’On

Feature

Making Waves

Kick off your wedding weekend like Annie and Davis did, with a stylish supper on the harbor

Feature

Elegant, Naturally

Tara Guérard Soirée shows how magnolia leaves make the most elegant of rustic statements in this al fresco Fenwick Hall plantation wedding

Feature

A Formal Affair

<p> A North Carolina couple enjoys an elegant celebration steeped in tradition</p>

Feature

Do Yourself a Favor

Take a peek at our picks for the best local treats for guests—perfect for favors, welcome bags, and more

Feature

Jersey Belle

Northern transplants delight with their version of a grand Southern wedding

Feature

Golden Beginning

Lawton Cooper Ginn & Eric Yon; November 8, 2008, French Huguenot Church & Carolina Yacht Club (South Property)

Feature

Braving the Elements

D.C. residents Brooke and Chris weather a snowstorm and fire to say “I do” amid autumn’s splendor

Feature

Kismet Connection

A pair of meant-to-be Auburn Tigers swap “I do’s” surrounded by crisp sea breezes and an even cooler color palette

Feature

Lace Me Up

Layers, tiers, and new patterns—oh my! Designers embrace the old-world material in myriad forms for modern looks

Down-to-Earth

The Wedding Row

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Tags

Search form

Down-to-Earth

The Wedding Row

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Tags