Garden Party Perfection

Spring 2015

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Garden Party Perfection | Allison Thompson & Christopher Unger, May 12, 2012, The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church & Governor Thomas Bennett House

Charleston Wedding wedding Governor Thomas Bennett House Thomas Bennett House Snyder Event Rentals Cru Catering gown Paper Dolls

PALE PRETTIES: White peonies, roses, ranunculus, and Lily of the Valley filled the bridal bouquet.

TOUR GUIDE: Allison worked with dodeline design to create a stunning stationery suite sprinkled with helpful travel tips.

WARM WELCOME: With mixed type and blocks of color, the ceremony programs made a bold, modern statement.

BRIDAL PORTRAIT: Loluma arranged an all-white bouquet to complement Allison’s Romona Keveza gown.

FRESH PICK: For the groom’s boutonniere, Loluma arranged a white rose with simple greens complementing his green and navy striped tie.

MAY DAY: It was a beautiful spring day for the couple’s downtown nuptials at The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church.

A BIT OF HISTORY: The couple exchanged vows at The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church in the French Quarter—Charleston’s oldest Gothic Revival building and a National Historic Landmark.

UNDER THE ARCH: The gothic revival style architecture of The Huguenot Church brought historical and romantic charm to the ceremony.

FAMILY FIRST: A large white hydrangea tied with ribbon reserved the front pew for members of the couple’s family.

SET THE STAGE: Loluma accented The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church’s deep wood décor with fresh white and green blooms.

TROPICAL DELIGHT: The couple—who first met in the Bahamas—headed back to the Caribbean for their honeymoon.

A TO C: Greens arranged in letter shapes hung from the gate, welcoming guests to the Governor Thomas Bennett House.

BACKYARD BEAUTY: Cocktail hour was held on the back lawn of the Governor Thomas Bennett House.

WHITE DELIGHT: White roses, hydrangea, and hypericum berries were placed in mint julep cups for delicate centerpieces.

HANGING GARDEN: Colorful floral arrangements hung from porch railings at the Governor Thomas Bennett House.

GET COZY: A good friend of the couple’s made the reception’s throw pillows, which now adorn their newlywed nest.

GARDEN PARTY: White sofas from Snyder Event Rentals were dressed up with chevron and ikat-patterned pillows. Loluma camouflaged chandelier chains with fabric and twisting vines.

A SPECIAL PLACE: “We wanted to enjoy time together with friends and family beyond just the wedding day," says Allison.

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT: Granny Smith apples and oranges added a fresh, colorful effect to the reception décor.

STUNNING SET: Silver vessels matched cocktail tables’ Chiavari chairs.

NATURAL BEAUTY: “We went simple—white with green accents,” says Allison of the florals.

LUSH LAYERS: The Governor Thomas Bennett House’s yard featured an abundance of plants and flowers, providing natural beauty to the reception’s décor.

UNDERSTATED STYLE: Loluma tucked the fresh florals into small rustic pots.

DAINTY DOES IT: Petite groups of Belles of Ireland, white roses, and hypericum berries were bookmarked by Mason jars filled with sand and votive candles.

HERE AND THERE: To help ensure smooth traffic flow, the Governor Thomas Bennett House’s grassy backyard was divided.

SITTING PRETTY: Loluma set the outdoor tables with white linens and Chiavari chairs—a clean and crisp that balanced well with the colorful flowers and natural elements.

TABLE TALK: Chiavari bar stools and silver vessels dressed up cocktail tables.

DIG IN: Cru Catering dished up distinctly Southern fare, like shrimp and grits, macaroni and cheese, and biscuits.

TAILORED TREATS: In lieu of a tiered confection, the King Street bakery Cupcake provided mini cupcakes for the dessert spread.

SNEAKY, SNEAKY: After serving as ring bearer, Henry Howard satisfied his sweet tooth with a mini chocolate cupcake.

PICTURE PERFECT: The bride says choosing the right venue was one of their top priorities.

AN EYE FOR DETAIL: Thoughtful touches were one of the couple’s chief requests for the evening, says Allison.

Photographs by:

Aesthetiica Photography

A spring break trip to the Bahamas turned especially memorable for Kentucky native Allison Thompson when she met Christopher (“Chris”) Unger, of Massachusetts. After casually chatting about Boston—where Chris lived and Allison was hoping to intern the following summer—the two exchanged email addresses, then parted ways to return to their respective colleges. Months later, Allison scored the internship, and when she arrived to Boston, reached out to Chris. The pair soon scheduled their first date, which Allison says was, “The moment that started the rest of our lives.” A decade of dating later (four years of which were spent long-distance), Chris surprised Allison on a “low-key, pizza Friday night” with a bended knee proposal.

As their guest list included folks from all over the North and South, the couple opted for a destination wedding. “After my first trip to Charleston, I knew that one day it would be the perfect wedding destination,” says Allison, who grew up visiting the Lowcountry on vacations with her family. With a color scheme—green, yellow, and navy blue (the bride’s favorite color)—and a love for special details in mind, the couple then enlisted Tiffany Snyder of Loluma to orchestrate the evening.

And on May 12, 2012, after exchanging vows in the French Protestant (Huguenot) Church, the newlyweds and their guests made their way west on the Peninsula to the Governor Thomas Bennett House. From a bold stationery suite crafted by dodeline design and fresh fruit and chevron-patterned accents, to the bride’s Romona Keveza gown and dangling chandeliers, the evening was filled with modern-meets-traditional elegance. After a cocktail hour in the venue’s grassy backyard and a Southern-style dinner indoors, the couple continued the celebration with their friends and family on the tented outdoor dance floor. Says Allison of the night, “Having the opportunity to have everyone together for the weekend was amazing.”

Vendor List

Baker: Cupcake; www.freshcupcakes.com
Bar service and rentals: Snyder Event Rentals; www.snydereventrentals.com
Bridal attire: Romona Keveza from Kleinfelds New York; www.romonakeveza.com
Caterer:Cru Catering; www.crucatering.com
Ceremony location: French Protestant (Huguenot) Church; www.frenchchurch.org
DJ: DJ Natty Heavy; www.nattyheavy.com
Florist:Loluma; www.loluma.com
Groom and groomsmen attire: Bloomingdales; www.bloomingdales.com
Hair & makeup: Paper Dolls; www.mycharlestonweddinghair.com
Music:Charleston Virtuosi (ceremony strings) and Bill Peterson (vocalist); www.charlestonvirtuosi.com
Photographer: Aesthetiica Photography; www.aesthetiica.com
Planner: Tiffany Snyder ofLoluma; www.loluma.com
Reception location: Governor Thomas Bennett House; www.governorthomasbennetthouse.com
Stationer: Dodeline Design; www.dodelinedesign.com
Transportation:Absolutely Charleston; www.absolutelycharleston.com
Videographer: Siegel Films; www.siegelfilms.com

The Wedding Row

February 24 2020

Molly & Chris | The Governor Thomas Bennett House

Molly and Chris’s colleagues at J.P. Morgan in New York had a feeling the two were perfect for each other and tried for months to set them up. When they finally met up at an event? Cue: magic. Over...

February 24 2020

Danielle & Tom | Middleton Place

After Long Islanders Tom and Danielle met in chorus class during their freshman year of high school, it took him a full year to build up enough courage to ask her to be his girlfriend. Her response...

February 24 2020

Sarah & Wilson | The Gadsden House

On the first day of college at the University of Georgia, a complete stranger tried to convince Sarah to drop freshman English; he’d heard the professor was terrible. Turns out the professor was,...

February 14 2020

Pete & Alex | The Cedar Room

To all the single ladies (and gents): Valentine’s Day isn’t only for those already in love. As Alex and Pete’s story proves, it may be the perfect day for a meet-cute. Pennsylvania-born Pete was in...

February 12 2020

Allison & Brendan | Lowndes Grove

Four days before Allison and Brendan’s dream Charleston wedding, Hurricane Florence was making its way toward the Lowcountry and the city was under evacuation orders. The Dallas-based couple pulled...

February 11 2020

Courtney & Kristen | The Wickliffe House

Courtney wasn’t looking to settle down, but when friends convinced her to take Kristen on a date, something felt different. Before long, they found themselves in a long-distance relationship—Courtney...

February 7 2020

Michelle & Kenneth | Engagement Session

Bumble may be responsible for introducing this couple, but it was a magical first date filled with sushi, hours of conversation, karaoke, and endless laughter that truly brought together Michelle and...

February 6 2020

Maggie & Mike | The Cedar Room

Maggie and Mike’s story puts a whole new spin on bro-mance. It all started in Chicago when her boss, who was dating a fellow named Eric, wanted to set Maggie up with her boyfriend’s younger brother....

Feature

Classic Beauty

The look du jour? A timeless one. Pair a fresh face with wind-swept hair and a romantic gown for a swoon-worthy statement for the ages

Feature

Earthy Elegance

Margaret Winnicki & Jeffrey Stark, April 21, 2012, Legare Waring House

Feature

Allison Abney

Allison Abney transforms vintage silks into couture clutches brides (and their maids) will cling to

Feature

A Hoppin’ Good Time

A furry friend inspires a celebration of eccentricity and elegance

Feature

Pretty as a Picture

<p>Add a soft touch to your Big Day with watercolors from Hatch Cove Designs</p>

Feature

Details Rule

Upscale décor and high fashion meet for a beautiful Big Day with a showstopping confection

Feature

Aquamarine Dream

Revel in pretty shades of teal, turquoise, and more in this chic reception at Boone Hall Plantation

Feature

It’s a Guy Thing

8 best-bet barbers for Charleston grooms

Feature

Fun-ky Rentals

<p> Pump up the fun at any wedding celebration with an offbeat element</p>

Feature

Time for Tepees!

Ain’t no party like a tepee party! Gather with guests in these hip huts to celebrate your Big Day in style

Feature

Rain & Shine

Worried about a wedding washout? Learn from this couple’s backup plan

Feature

Love It!

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

Feature

Golden Girl

Sweetgrass Social's Meredith Severs turns to her favorite color—gold!—for an ornate celebration

Feature

Naturally Elegant

Katie Martin & Blair Marshall September 19, 2015 / William Aiken House

Feature

Tiers of Joy

Wedding cakes may be a centuries-old tradition, but that hasn’t stopped them from evolving right alongside wedding design. Here, we share a few swoon-worthy styles by local pastry chefs.