Sunset Soirée



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Sunset Soirée | A pair of Charlestonians roll out their version of a big, fat Greek wedding

Stephanie Frehse & Daniel Lempesis
February 7, 2015
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity & Lowndes Grove Plantation


After years of attending services at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Stephanie Frehse knew the Lempesis family, but somehow had never met pappa Pete’s son Dan. The patriarch remedied that by setting the two youngsters up on a blind date and a year later, Dan was gearing up to propose.

But fate stepped in (again) and changed up the would-be bridegroom’s plans when Stephanie opened a credit card statement that showed a major—a one-in-a-lifetime kind of major—purchase from a jeweler. Dan was standing right there as it happened and broke into the hallmark of their relationship: laughter. “We both started cracking up,” says Stephanie, “because all his hard work to surprise me fell through.” Nonetheless, Dan told her to relax, that nothing would happen for a while. But later that very night, during a visit to his family’s Folly Beach home, they took a walk and Dan popped the question as dusk settled over them.

Soon after, Stephanie went about planning their wedding with the aid of A Charleston Bride and inspired by her hometown’s moodier side. “I love the way Charleston looks after a storm at sunset,” says Stephanie, “so that’s where we started—dark and stormy.” That translated into posh gray French furniture, violet florals, and black tapered candles. And for Dan? He got a “man cave” lounge area with a wall of beer taps and a cigar roller.  

When the day rolled around, everyone headed back to the church where their story started, and both Stephanie’s grandfather and her father walked her down the aisle. After the bride and groom were pronounced husband and wife, the congregation headed to Lowndes Grove Plantation where Stephanie danced first with her husband, then with her dad and pappous. “The reception could have been over after those dances and I would have been a happy camper,” she says. And to that, we say opa!

 

Vendor List:

Wedding design: A Charleston Bride, www.ACharlestonBride.com
Florals: Jonie LaRosee, A Charleston Bride, www.ACharlestonBride.com
Venues: (church) Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, www.HolyTrinityGreekOrthodox.Weebly.com; (reception) Lowndes Grove Plantation, www.PPHGCharleston.com
Photography: Timwill Photography, www.TimWill.com
Catering, cake: Patrick Properties Hospitality Group, www.PPHGCharleston.com

Rentals: 428 Main Vintage Rentals, www.428Main.com
Specialty lounge décor rentals: Snyder Events, www.SnyderEvents.com
Stationery, signage: Studio R, www.Studio-R-Design.com
Specialty linens: BBJ Linens, www.BBJLinen.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company, www.TechnicalEventCompany.com
Bride’s gown: Lazaro (available locally through Gown Boutique of Charleston, www.GownBoutiqueofCharleston.com)
Beauty: (hair) Hunter Johnson, Updo Charleston, www.UpDoCharleston.com; (makeup) Leslie Moore Makeup, www.MooreMakeup.com
Transportation: Marquee Limo, www.MarqueeLimoCo.com; LowCountry Valet & Shuttle Co., www.LowCountryValet.com
Cigars: Cigar Row, www.CigarRow.com
Music: Atlanta Rhythm & Groove through East Coast Entertainment, www.EastCoastEntertainment.com
Video: Siegel Films, www.SiegelFilms.com