Golden Girl

Fall/Winter 2014

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

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

Charleston Wedding wedding wedding cake Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal William Aiken House Bella Bridesmaid wine Coren Moore EventWorks gown Fish maddison row inspiration Kate Spade Monique Lhuillier Paper Dolls Social Stems

Make sure gold text on stationery is as legible as it is glam, as is this suite by Sixpence Press. Image by The Connellys.

Groom’s attire from Berlin’s. Boutonniere by Charleston Stems. Image by The Connellys.

Add sparkle to a bouquet with sequined ribbon, like Charleston Stems did. Image by The Connellys.

Groom’s and groomsmen attire from Berlin’s. Image by The Connellys.

Bouquet by Charleston Stems. Image by The Connellys.

Bridal gown by Monique Lhuillier from Maddison Row. Bridesmaid attire by Coren Moore from Bella Bridesmaids. Flower girl dress by Coren Moore from Bella Bridesmaids and tights by Gymboree. Florals by Charleston Stems. Hair by Allure Salon. Makeup by Paper Dolls. Image by The Connellys.

Flower girl dress by Coren Moore from Bella Bridesmaids. Floral headpiece by Charleston Stems. Image by The Connellys.

Ceremony program by Sixpence Press. Image by The Connellys.

Image by The Connellys at Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston.

She wore Monique Lhuillier from Maddison Row; he wore a tux from Berlin's.

“When you are working with a strong color like gold,” says bride (and planner) Meredith, “do a mock-up in the space with a set of the tablescape elements, linens, and chairs to see how the whole picture works together.” Here, golden tablecloths and chiavari chairs are a natural extension of the room’s gilded frames. Image by The Connellys.

Image by The Connellys.

Wedding design and coordination by Sweetgrass Social Event & Design. Florals by Charleston Stems. Rentals by EventWorks. Linens by La Tavola. Venue, The William Aiken House. Image by The Connellys.

Wedding design and coordination by Sweetgrass Social Event & Design. Rentals by EventWorks. Linens by La Tavola. Florals by Charleston Stems. Bar, catering, and wine service by Fish Restaurant. venue, The William Aiken House. Image by The Connellys.

Guests signed ornaments for the couple's first Christmas tree as man and wife.

Wedding design and coordination by Sweetgrass Social Event & Design. Sofa from Snyder Events. Tables from EventWorks. Florals by Charleston Stems. Venue, The William Aiken House. Image by The Connellys.

Tent from Snyder Events. Linens by La Tavola. Rentals by EventWorks. Cake by Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal. Image by The Connellys.

Cake by Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal. Image by The Connellys.

SIMPLY STUNNING: For Meredith Sever and Dan Tanton’s December 2013 fête, Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal fused patterns from the stationery suite and the bride’s gown with gold—the reception’s star hue—for a brilliant confection.

Rim coupe glasses with gold sugar for thematic (and edible) trimming. Image by The Connellys.

Cover small cocktail tables—rather than large dining tables—in your priciest and showiest fabric to save money and pace your style statements. Linens by La Tavola. Rentals by EventWorks. Image by The Connellys.

Signage by Sixpence Press. Bar from EventWorks. Tent from Snyder Events. Bar and wine service by Fish Restaurant. Image by The Connellys.

Bridal gown by Monique Lhuillier from Maddison Row. Groom’s attire from Berlin’s. Venue, The William Aiken House. Image by The Connellys .

Getaway car from Tri-County Transport. Image by The Connellys.

Meredith Severs & Dan Tanton
December 14, 2013
Second Presbyterian Church & The William Aiken House

“Some people are afraid to use metallics, but I am not one of those people,” laughs Meredith Severs. That applies to the galas she throws as the owner of Charleston’s Sweetgrass Social Event & Design, as well as to her own December wedding to beau Dan Tanton, who’d proposed a year earlier at Thanksgiving dinner. The inspiration behind their gilded fête? “When I was a little girl, my grandfather nicknamed me ‘piece of gold,’” she explains. “He has since passed away, but his piece of gold got to have a golden wedding!” Indeed, Meredith transformed The William Aiken House into a palace, her golden touch manifesting in a formal dinner lit by luxurious chandeliers and served on shimmering flatware, with guests seated upon cushioned metallic ballroom chairs fit for kings and queens. Throw in a dance floor smattered with gold flecks, and it was a veritable sparklefest. Laughs Meredith, “Dan gave me the green light, and I went all out!”

Vendor List

Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier, Maddison Row, www.MaddisonRow.com

Bridal Accessories: Kate Spade, www.KateSpade.com

Bridesmaid Attire: Coren Moore, Bella Bridesmaids, www.BellaBridesmaids.com

Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, www.WeddingCakesbyJimSmeal.com

Catering, Bar, and Wine Service: Fish, www.PPHGCharleston.com

Florist: Charleston Stems, www.CharlestonStems.com

Flower Girl Attire: (dress) Coren Moore, Bella Bridesmaids, www.BellaBridesmaids.com; (tights) Gymboree, www.Gymboree.com

Getaway Vehicle: Tri-County Transport, www.TCTSLimo.com

Groom’s and Groomsmen’s Attire: Berlin’s, www.BerlinsClothing.com

Hair Stylist: Beth Bell, Allure Salon, www.AllureSalonInc.com

Linens: La Tavola, www.LaTavolalinen.com

Locations: (ceremony) Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston, www.SecondPresbyterianChurch.org; (reception) The William Aiken House, www.PPHGCharleston.com/venues/view/william_aiken_house

Makeup Artist: Paper Dolls, www.MyCharlestonWeddingHair.com

Musicians: Classical Charleston, www.ClassicalCharleston.com; Loose Chain, www.EastCoastEntertainment.com/artist/loose-chain; Spiritually Yours Gospel Choir, (843) 270-2111

Photographer: The Connellys, www.TheConnellys.com

Rentals: Eventworks, www.Eventworksrentals.com; Snyder (tent and sofa), www.SnyderEvents.com

Stationery and Signage: Sixpence Press, www.SixpencePress.com

Wedding Design: Sweetgrass Social Event & Design, www.SweetgrassSocial.com

The Wedding Row

June 17 2019

Emily & Ashley | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Here’s a sweet-as-pie love story for your Monday. These newlyweds first met in college at Furman University after Ashley asked for Emily’s help in their shared computer class. Little did Emily know,...

June 14 2019

Alex & Chandler | Hibernian Hall

Happy Friday, lovelies. To start the weekend off on a high (and crazy pretty) note, we present to you the wedding of Alexandria and Chandler. University of South Carolina alum Alex met her future...

June 13 2019

Jacqueline & Matthew | Boone Hall Plantation

When Hurricane Florence hit, Jacqueline and Matthew, only a week out from their wedding, feared the worst. With their hometown of Southport, North Carolina, completely flooded, it seemed like...

June 12 2019

Lauren & Austin | Lowndes Grove Plantation

Funnily enough, romantic gestures aren’t the only way to find love. New York natives Lauren and Austin met when he boldly cut in front of her in line outside of a bar in the Hamptons. She took notice...

June 11 2019

Emily & Anthony | The Gadsden House

Believe it or not, produce (yup, apples and oranges!) is what brought Emily and Anthony together. The pair met online and had their first date at the SoWa Market, the Boston equivalent of our 2nd...

June 10 2019

Franzi & Martin | Engagement Session

Dockside just happens to be our best side and it seems to be Franzi and Martin’s, too. The duo, who both hail from Germany, flew all the way to our beloved Charleston just to document their...

June 7 2019

Stephanie & Greg | Middleton Place

After meeting at Wake Forest University in 2009 and being drawn together by what she describes as fate (more about that later … ), Stephanie and Greg officially tied the knot here in the Holy City....

June 6 2019

Maddie & Jackson | Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Although high school sweethearts Maddie and Jackson may not be evenly matched on the athletic field (the pair’s first encounter involved Maddie whipping Jackson’s tail in a game of volleyball) they...

Feature

Life of the Party

He came back from a debilitating coma to walk the aisle. She was right by his side every step

Feature

Party With Your Pooch?

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

Feature

One More Time!

Not able to get that Charleston wedding you dreamed of? Come back for an anniversary portrait session instead

Feature

Secret Admirers

Fate stepped in to bring a Mount Pleasant pair together at the altar

Feature

Life Imitates Art

Ashley Allen & Gavin Stark, May 12, 2012, Belin Memorial United Methodist Church and Kimbels at Wachesaw Plantation

Feature

Tied Up

Check out the spring’s dandy new bow tie options from local designers and Lowcountry shops

Feature

Purple Haze

Kris Welch & Jacob Luhrs, September 16, 2011, The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation

Feature

Presto Change-o!

Tara Guérard Soirée and LulaKate teamed up to create a custom bridesmaid ensemble that went from formal ceremony to garden party reception. Here’s what they fashioned (plus a few bonus accessories Tara recently fell for)