Quite the Complement

Spring/Summer 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Quite the Complement | Jessica Peterson and Ben Sielen, October 29, 2011, The William Aiken House

Charleston Wedding wedding wedding cake Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal William Aiken House Snyder Event Rentals food gown favors Fish Shoes Vera Wang

IRON CLAD: The letter pressed stationery suite from Dulles Designs featured calligraphy by Elizabeth Porcher Jones and a graphic that mimicked Charleston ironwork. Calder Clark Designs peppered the pattern throughout the reception’s décor, too, on drum shades, throw pillows, napkins, and tablecloths.

SET DESIGN: The ceremony was held in the backyard of the William Aiken House. Jessica and Ben’s 150 guests watched them exchange vows from benches arranged on either side of the custom-made aisle runner.

CROWN JEWELS: Jessica says she wanted to “add a little color and some spunk” to her ensemble, so she commissioned a handcrafted, bejeweled sash from the Etsy shop Doloris Petunia to accent her Vera Wang gown.

CUFF HER: Jessica gave Maggie, her sister, maid of honor, and sole attendant, a jeweled cuff that matched her bridal sash.

ALL TOGETHER NOW: The catering staff from Fish Restaurant suited up in apricot-hued bow ties, white tux shirts, and blue aprons.

LEAD THE WAY: Anne Melvin of Boutique Tents custom-crafted the 21-foot aisle runner—a grand introduction to the evening’s bright-shaded theme.

THE REAL DEAL: ”We got along so well we wanted to be together every moment—and still do!” says Jessica of her and Ben’s relationship. “Above all else, we became best friends.”

TAKE A BREATHER: Two tents from Snyder Event Rentals and Staffing, one located on either side of the dance floor, housed comfy lounges where guests could relax.

HOLD BACK: Disguising the reception tent’s metal poles were blue velvet curtains held back by fabric featuring the invitation suite’s “lashar” motif.

BLOOMING SET: Blossoms Events found delicate 1940s lusterware used the cups and vessels to cradle arrangements of orange calendula and peach astilbe.

MIND FOR MINGLING: “The intricate architectural details and gorgeous grounds meant we didn’t have to spend a fortune on decoration,” says Jessica.

COLOR ME HAPPY (HOUR): Napkins carried the color scheme into the post-ceremony cocktail hour, as did earthy, seasonal arrangements of Rene Goscinny garden roses, orange calendulas, and green hellebores.

SPOON DU JOUR: Edible cracker spoons held goat cheese and sundried tomatoes.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: White and bright blue melamine patterned plates dressed up the neutral-colored hors d’eouvres.

DIG IN: Potato and blue cheese soup shooters were one of five hors d’oeuvres served during the post-ceremony cocktail hour. Also served? Duck and apricot purses; fried lobster Rangoon; creamed goat cheese with sun dried tomatoes served on crispy cracker spoons; and tomato, mozzarella, and basil skewers.

SUGAR HIGH: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal frosted the cake with two different icings—stuccoed buttercream and natural white coconut—then garnished the treat with marzipan apricots.

COLOR-CODED CONFECTION: In keeping with the wedding’s “apricot and azure” theme, the traditional white butter cake, made by Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, was garnished with marzipan apricots. The wooden cake stand was painted to match the pantone shade of the theme, as well.

THROUGH THE AGES: In lieu of a guest book, guests pinned memories of when they met the bride or groom near photos on a corkboard.

TIME FLIES: In lieu of a guest book, Calder came up with a “through the ages” board. Photos from four different periods of the bride and grooms’ lives decorated a bulletin board (the early years, the school years, their time in college, and while they dated). Guests wrote notes about when they met either the bride or groom, then pinned them near a photo from that period.

HIT IT, BOYZ: “The band was out of this world,” says Jessica of the group Deas Guyz.

MOVING MEMORIES: Reminiscent of their first official date at an Elton John concert, the couple’s first dance was set to “Your Song.”

WORD FOR WORD: As a nod to Jessica’s career as a writer, guests were given a book of the bride’s favorite love quotes.

Photographs by:

Tracy Turpen

Though Jessica Peterson admits she’s always considered intra-office romances a no-no, she made an exception after what she says was one “casual, cool conversation” with Ben Sielen at an after-hours client dinner (then getting wind of the compliments he paid her by way of the workplace grapevine).

A smart move, seeing as since their first date in 2007, the Charlotte residents have been inseparable. “We discovered we were perfect travel buds, fellow foodies, and concert junkies,” says Jessica. And it was the first of these common interests that, two years later, led the couple on a trip to Venice, where Ben proposed overlooking St. Mark’s Square.

Once back in the States, the planning began. First on the to-do list? Picking a venue. Wanting to steer clear of anywhere expected, Jessica threw out some far-flying locales, but Ben pitched the idea of a Charleston-set fête, which his bride-to-be loved. “The food, the history, fine art, and friendly people—we were smitten,” Jessica says of the city. “And we thought our guests would be, too.”

After enlisting Calder Clark Designs, the details of the day came into color-filled focus. Marrying the bride’s favorite hue (blue) with an autumnal shade of orange, Calder came up with the vibrant apricot and azure theme that colored much of the night—from the hand-stenciled aisle runner and servers’ attire to the furnishings, favors, and even the food. And at just past 5 o’clock on that crisp, cool autumn evening, Jessica joined Ben at the end of the aisle—the start to a night she remembers as “romantic and sexy, heartfelt, and deliriously happy.” Following drinks in the courtyard and a supper in the ballroom, the party moved to the dance floor, where, “People didn’t stop dancing until the very last minute,” says Jessica. “Our guests—and we—still talk about how much fun everyone had.”

Vendor List

Aisle runner and hand-painted fabric pieces: Anne Melvin; www.boutiquetents.net
Band: Deas Guyz; www.deasguyz.weebly.com
Bride’s gown: Vera Wang; www.verawang.com from BleuBelle Bridal; www.bleubellebridal.com
Bride’s sash: Doloris Petunia; www.dolorispetunia.com
Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo; www.jimmychoo.com
Calligrapher: Elizabeth Porcher Jones
Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal; www.weddingcakesbyjimsmeal.com
Caterer: Fish Restaurant; www.pphgcharleston.com
Ceremony musicians: Archer String Trio; www.archermusic.com
Ceremony and reception location: The William Aiken House; www.pphgcharleston.com
Florist and fabric production team: Blossoms Events; www.blossomsevents.com
Groom’s attire: Taylor Richards & Conger; www.trcstyle.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company (TEC Lighting); www.technicaleventcompany.com
Linens: DC Rental; www.dcrental.com
Photographer: Tracy Turpen
Planner: Calder Clark Designs; www.calderclark.com
Rentals and tenting: Snyder Event Rentals; www.snydereventrentals.com
Stationer: Dulles Designs; www.dullesdesigns.com
Transportation: Charleston Black Cab Company; www.charlestonblackcabcompany.com