Our Fab Five Faves From Summer 2018



Hot times calls for haute trends. From custom newlywed crests to one cutie of a bar-on-wheels, here are our top five takeaways from the current issue of Charleston Weddings magazine. Click here to see where to snag your copy.

TREND: Wedding Crests
Whimsical watercolors, floral adornments, and animals domestic and wild are all a part of the trend that’s giving the beloved monogram a run for first place in brides’ hearts.

One of our featured favorites? This one from bride Caitlin Smith designed her own crest that intertwined Holy City elements with those of the couple’s home,New York City, a la indigenous birds, famous bridges from each locale, and Charleston’s welcome icon, the pineapple.

Couple: Caitlin and Joseph, The William Aiken House

Wedding Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings

Venue: The William Aiken House

Planning + Coordination: Beautiful Bride Events

Floral Design: Purple Magnolia Floral Design

Stationery: The Fox and Bloom

Samantha and Maxwell put their wedding crest on pillows, tablecloths, banners, and even their cake. Designed by Karli Strohschein Art, it showcases their favorite Charleston elements—sea turtles, beach bikes, and pineapples, and more—making it perfect for a Lowcountry wedding.

Couple: Samantha and Maxwell, Old Wide Awake Plantation.

Photography  Carter Fish Photography  

Planning & Design: Samantha Anderson Events

Linens: EventHaus

Stationery: SAS-E Ink

Custom Crest: Karli Strohschein Art

Allison and Christian’s wedding crest was incorporated into their invitations, guest book, and it was even projected onto the dance floor. Today they have a painted version of it hanging in their Los Angeles home.

Couple: Allison and Christian, Governor Thomas Bennett House

Coordinator: A Charleston Bride

Photographer: Virgil Bunao

Calligraphy and Invitation Suite: Sweet Magnolia Paper

Watercolor Crest: Lemon Tree Calligraphy

TREND: Glowing

Choosing makeup for your wedding day can seem a bit overwhelming—you want to look your best, while also looking like yourself. We vote for a natural glow this season, one that highlights natural brown tones and peachy lips. Ready for a step-by-step to get model Katrina’s look? Click here for that and more melt-proof advice from some of Charleston’s top hair and makeup artists.

Photographs by: Perry Vaile

Hair and Makeup: Meg Ann Workman

Attire: (left) ModelBride, (middle) Rebecca Shoneveld’s “Devon” from Southern Protocol Bridal

Accessories: (left) Mini Collection from Croghan’s Jewel Box, (middle) earrings from Copper Penny and bracelet from Out of Hand, (right) Jahde Leather Atelier

Styling: Lindsey Nowak and Quinn Sherman

Shot on location throughout Seabrook Island

Rentals and Greenery: Ooh! Events and Out of the Garden

TREND: Green, Green, and More Green
Providing the perfect amount of lush and lavish that you’re looking for, greenery has so many different textures to mellow out—or spice up—your Big Day doings.

At Jennifer and Agam’s Indian-meets-American fusion wedding, Out of the Garden echoed Middleton’s verdant grounds with ropes and ropes of greenery on everything from the ceremony site to the sweet garland ‘round their precious pup’s neck.

Couple: Jennifer and Agam, Middleton Place

Wedding design, rentals: Ooh! Events

Photography: Logan Cole

Venue, catering, & bar: Middleton Place

Florals: Out of the Garden

Bride’s Attire: Oscar de la Renta (traditional gown)

Indian attire: Anita Dongre

Now this is how Charleston does a backyard wedding! Draped in epic amounts of showstopping smilax vines, Coleman and Tom turned her parent’s Ansonborough home into a verdant oasis.

Couple: Coleman and Tom, Private Residence

Design, coordination, draping: Yoj Events

Photography: Clay Austin Photography

Venue: Private Residence

Florals: Stephanie Gibbs Events

Cake: Ashley Bakery

Rentals: Ooh! Events (chandeliers, tables, bar stools, keg bar); EventWorks (tables, ghost chairs, linens, china, glassware, flatware, tents, dance floor, fans); Production Design Associates (stage, cafe lighting, main bar, generator); The French Eclectic (rugs); Nüage Designs (guest tables, cocktail table linens)

TREND: Bright Flowers & Colored Candles
While brides are still blushing with their palettes, more and more are breaking out of the neutral box to revel in vibrant colors.

Megan honored her Hawaiian roots by wearing a pink flower over her left ear, an Aloha State  signal that shows she’s off the market. (She also asked Intrigue Design & Events to incorporate more bright blossoms into her tablescapes, bouquet, and along the ceremony aisle.) So simple and elegant.

Couple: Megan and Scott, Lowndes Grove Plantation

Wedding design: Intrigue Design & Events

Photography: Dana Cubbage Weddings

Florals: Roadside Blooms

Bride’s gown: Carol Hannah, available locally through Southern Protocol Bridal

Beauty: Lashes and Lace

Bride’s attire: Rose Hraska (veil), Badgley Mischka (shoes)

We’re totally on “cloud nine” with this dreamy setup, all thanks to Sweetgrass Social, at Mallory and Kristian’s wedding. “Sitting underneath that great structure right as the sun was setting … I was in awe,” says Mallory. “Other than the ceremony, that was the most memorable moment.”

Couple: Mallory and Kristian, Lowndes Grove Plantation

Images: Aaron & Jillian Photography

Planning + Design: Sweetgrass Social

Florals: SYG Designs

Rentals: EventWorks

TREND: Tiny Mobile Bars
We’re seeing more and more unique bars-on-wheels sidling into receptions and weddings throughout the Lowcountry. What more could you ask for (besides maybe more moscato)?

How about having this guy hitch a ride to your next celebration? Maddy and Gerald’s Memorial Day rehearsal dinner was a hit thanks to Montage Palmetto Bluff’s camper turned bar-cart. It was filled with sparkling water to keep guests cool, but different drinks could be added for your preference. We’ll take a few, please.

Couple: Maddy and Gerald, Montage Palmetto Bluff

Wedding Design: Ashley Rhodes Event Designs

Photographs: Perry Vaile

Catering, bar service: Montage Palmetto Bluff

Brews and bubbly for the win! With up to six taps, customizable calligraphy, and biodegradable cups, the Chug-a-Lug Wagon is cruising to a wedding near you. Click here to learn about this little “chuglette”.

Bar: Chug-a-Lug Wagon

Images: Hazel Eyes Photography

Florals: Wimberly Fair

Styled: The Petal Report

The Wedding Row

February 14 2022
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...

December 29 2021
An Elegant Affair Proves New Year’s Eve Might Just Be The Perfect Time To Start A New Life Together By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Brandon Lata Photography Few people anywhere in the...

December 16 2021
A Match Made in Heaven Classic white blooms, greenery, and wooden elements set off this stunning Charleston wedding under the oaks When it comes to love and marriage, couples who pair well...

December 2 2021
A Charleston Winter Wedding Embraces the Season with Sophistication and Glamour Just a few hours before sunset in mid-winter, Charleston takes on a certain golden glow, unparalleled at any other...

November 17 2021
Take Cues from this Intimate Dreamy Blue “I Do” Amy Bronston and Trevor Pittman’s love story reads like a romantic movie. It was during the 2019 holiday season in Washington DC, where...

October 28 2021
This Halloween matrimony perfectly plays up the holiday—with a dash of fun and plenty of class in a scenic coastal Charleston setting By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Anne Rhett Photography...

October 11 2021
By Melissa Reardon | Images by Kelsey Halm Photo Expert Advice for a Beautiful Fall Bouquet With seasonal change comes an exciting rich color palette and tons of texture with which to design....

September 29 2021
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Photos by Dana Cubbage Weddings | Written by Melissa Reardon They say the greatest marriages are built on teamwork. And indeed, it’s one of the marital building blocks...