Love’s a Blooming

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Love’s a Blooming | D’Anne Morehead & Patrick Stephens, April 15, 2012, Middleton Place

Charleston Wedding Leigh Webber Photography BBJ Linen White budget rehearsal dinner Fish florida Garden JCrew rehearsal Pamela Lesch Stems

FOLLOW YOUR HEART: Dressed in a Romona Keveza gown, D’Anne wore a necklace of diamonds passed down from her grandmother Ma, whose wise words (“Love isn’t convenient; you have to go where your heart is”) finally convinced D’Anne to follow after Patrick. Charleston florist stems arranged bouquets of white and pink peonies for the bride and bridesmaids.

COLORFUL CONTRAST: Pink peonies stood out against the bridesmaid’s J.Crew frocks. Of the wedding’s color palette D’Anne says, “I wanted something soft and romantic, yet a bit unpredictable.”

WHAT A HANDFUL: Stems arranged a simple white peony bridal bouquet to complement D'Anne's gown.

SPRING HUES: Groomsmen wore pink rose boutonnieres accented with rosemary lamb’s ear. Patrick stood out from the bunch with a white rose variation.

BEST DRESSED: "I loved how the soft pink shades of flowers popped against the dusty blue dresses," says D'Anne of the bridesmaids' attire.

A WHIMSICAL TOUCH: Before taking their seats, guests picked up one of the bride’s handmade contributions—wishing wands made of pink and white ribbons to wave as the newlyweds walked together up the aisle.

OUT-OF-OFFICE: “We really wanted all of our guests to feel as though they were on vacation,” says D’Anne. Relaxed in their dapper seersucker suits, tech-savvy ring bearers Liam Green and Keenan Ward had no problem following their Aunt’s request, plugging in some playtime before the ceremony.

PINK ‘N’ BLUE: Blue ribbon-tied Mason jars filled with light pink roses, white roses, and carnations hung from chairs that lined the aisle.

PRECIOUS PAIR: Suited up in seersucker and bow ties, ring bearers Keenan Ward (left) and Liam Green introduce their aunt D'Anne.

SPECIAL SPRINKLES: The flower girl paved the way for the bride using pink rose petals.

FAMILY REUNION: As many of the couple's guests traveled from the West Coast for the nuptials, D'Anna says, "We planned a weekend packed with fun. Patrick and I were so happy with how much time we had with our guests the entire weekend. And people are still talking about how much fun they had.”

LOCATION, LOCATION: Patrick and D'Anne exchanged vows beneath the ancient Middleton Oak with the Ashley River as the backdrop.

SOUTHERN CHARM: “The setting at the Middleton Place was absolutely incredible,” says D’Anne, adding that the plantation’s Inn, and proximity to downtown (where they held their rehearsal dinner at Fish Restaurant), made for a fun-filled weekend for their visiting guests.

HAND-IN-HAND: The bride and groom retreat up the aisle through the Octagonal Garden.

THE DREAM TEAM: D’Anne tackled the visual details like this signage—creating 80 percent of the décor herself—while Patrick got the music, menu, and bar selections in order. The signature cocktail of the evening? Lowcountry lemonade served with blueberries and blue and white striped straws.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT! Mason-jar cocktails were fancied up (and fitted into the evening's palette) by fresh berries and fun straws.

LEND A HAND: D'Anne's bridesmaids helped out by penning table assignments onto framed chalkboards.

PRECIOUS METAL: For vintage-inspired centerpieces, blush bouquets of roses, peonies, carnations, and rosemary were tucked into old-fashioned tea-tins and set atop lace doilies.

SOFT-SPOKEN: Dodeline design fashioned neutral-toned menus and escort cards with doily lace ribbon.

TIE THE KNOT: Coordinating pink and white silk fabric bows draped the bride and groom chairs for a subtle yet elegant addition to the dinner setting.

WOVEN WARMTH: Creating a rustic effect, votive candles glowed from Mason jars wrapped in burlap and twine.

YOUR TABLE AWAITS: White, pink, and green arrangements and baby blue linens from BBJ Linens softened the rustic charm of the reception's wood-finished Chiavari chairs and wooden tables from Event DRS.

POSY PERFECT: For reception tablescapes, stems placed roses, carnations, and Lamb's Ear into silver vessels.

SWEET & SIMPLY: The Cake Stand’s triple-tiered cake was decorated with Swiss dots and garnished with two pale peonies.

SCENIC GLOW: Technical Event Company’s lighting softened the indoor space for a cozy feel during the twilight hours. “Patrick and I were so pleased with how the reception glowed from the candlelight and string lighting,” says D’Anne. “The light sparkled off the chandelier and glassware.”

STATE OF GRACE: Mercury glass votive candles, cylinder glass candleholders, and petite flower vases brought elegance to the rural fireplace.

MIDNIGHT SNACK: The bride and groom surprised guests with a late night treat of milk and chocolate chip cookies served in Mason jars.

SPARKLING FAREWELL: “Patrick and I were so happy with how much time we were able to spend with our guests the entire weekend,” says D’Anne. “People are still talking about how much fun they had at the wedding and the entire weekend!”

HAPPILY EVER AFTER: The couple enjoyed a two-week honeymoon in Maui, Hawaii.

D’Anne Morehead and Patrick Stephens first met as students at San Diego State University in February 2002, when she took a seat beside him at Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill. “We sparked up an immediate conversation and connection over health-mex burritos,” laughs D’Anne. After three years of dating, the pair went their separate ways when Patrick moved to pursue his career in the United States Navy. Six years after that, though, convinced he was still the one for her, D’Anne took fate in her own hands and planned a trip to Pensacola, Florida, where Patrick was then living. Her instincts proved solid—after a whirlwind four months, the couple was engaged.

For their nuptials, the San Diego natives wanted to host a weekend-long celebration in a place their West Coast family and friends had never visited. One trip to Charleston and the decision was made: “It’s romantic, lush, charming, and historical—we knew right away we had found the perfect location,” says D’Anne. With a beautiful backdrop at the top of their list of must-haves, the couple chose Middleton Place as venue, adding to it a soft palette of light pink, dusty blue, and cream. As for the details, D’Anne—an event planner by profession—handcrafted budget-friendly touches, like wishing wands of pink and white lace ribbon and chalkboard signage.

On a sunny day in April, a close family friend officiated as D’Anne and Patrick exchanged vows in Middleton Place’s Octagonal Garden. As day turned to night, string lighting, chandeliers, and candlelight glowed inside the venue’s pavilion, softening its rustic vibe. After an intimate seated dinner, the festivities continued with dancing, a costume photo booth, and late night milk and cookies, before wrapping up with a sparkler send-off. “The most vivid memory was looking out the back window of our old fashioned cab, feeling overwhelmed with love and happiness,” says D’Anne. “It felt like a real fairytale.”

Vendor List

Baker: The Cake Stand; www.thecakestandcharleston.com
Bridal attire: Romona Keveza; www.romonakeveza.comfrom Ivory & White Bridal Boutique in Birmingham, AL; www.ivorywhiteboutique.com
Bridesmaids’ attire: J.Crew; www.jcrew.com
Caterer: Middleton Place; www.middletonplace.org
Ceremony and reception location: Middleton Place; www.middletonplace.org
Day-of Coordination: Lexie Webb
Florist: Stems; www.charlestonstems.com
Groom attire: Men’s Wearhouse; www.menswearhouse.com
Hair & Makeup: Affair Hair by Tanesha; www.affairhairbytanesha.com; Pamela Lesch Makeup; www.makeupartistcharleston.com
Invitations: Pink Star Design; www.pinkstardesign.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company; www.technicaleventcompany.com
Linens: BBJ Linen; www.bbjlinen.com
Menu & Escort Tags: dodeline design; www.dodelinedesign.com
Musician: Bob Williams
Photographer: Leigh Webber Photography; www.ltwebber.com
Photo Booth: Complete Music Video Photo of Charleston; www.mycharlestondj.com
Reception music: Rob Duren; www.robduren.com
Rehearsal dinner location: Fish, www.fishrestaurantcharleston.com
Rentals: Event DRS; www.eventdrscharleston.com
Vintage Décor: Hemstitch Vintage in Pensacola, Florida; www.hemstitchvintage.com

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