Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
Never one to shy away from glitz, Southern Protocol’s Lizz Akerman went for the gold when it came to decking out this garden. “We really wanted to play up a gold theme,” says Lizz, who imagined what an elegant dinner party at Middleton might have looked like during the Jazz Age. With uplit marble statues in every corner, crystal chandeliers punctuating the elegant tent, antique sideboards peppered with candelabras, and plump upholstered seating, she succeeded in swank style. “We wanted it to look as though the furniture was pulled out of the house for an intimate celebration,” says Lizz.
At a Glance...
Décor: Southern Protocol mixed china from Polished! and décor from 428 Main Vintage Rentals and EventHaus Rentals for a curated setting. Ancesserie added gold letterpress place cards.
Flowers: Charleston Stems filled bowls with roses, ferns, and hellebores for a gathered-from-the-grounds look. Cru Catering displayed gold-painted vegetables and fresh fruit.
Tent: Stout poles supporting the marquee tent by Sperry Tents Southeast created a sense of permanency.
Catering: Cru Catering stocked a “champagne” tower with mini “baked Carolinas” served in coupes.
Cocktail: In addition to serving a French 75 cocktail, ICEBOX also shared a simple classic: iced water with cucumber slices.
Dining Menu
Cru Catering
Drinking Menu
ICEBOX
Resources
Bar: ICEBOX, www.IceboxBar.com
Catering: Cru Catering, www.CruCatering.com
Florals: Stems, www.CharlestonStems.com
Décor and Design: Southern Protocol, www.SouthernProtocol.com
Lighting and Sound: AV Connections, www.AVConnectionsSC.com
Location: Large Secret Garden at Middleton Place, www.MiddletonPlace.org
Papergoods: Ancesserie, www.Ancesserie.com
Place Settings and Crystal: Polished!, www.PolishedTabletop.com
Photographs: Marni Rothschild Pictures, www.marnipictures.com
Rentals: EventHaus, www.EventHausRentals.com; 428 Main Vintage Rentals, www.428main.com
Tent: Sperry Tents Southeast, www.SperryTentsSoutheast.com
