South Carolina Wedding from Joel Serrato Films
I knew this was a Tara Guerard wedding the minute I laid eyes on it. It just has that stamp of something Tara-fabulous. And when we first spotted it in Southern Weddings, well, we were dog-earring pages left and right because it's one huge piece of total eye candy. Well what you didn't see in the mag was perhaps even more special. If that's even possible. Because it was crafted by my dear friend, Joel Serrato, who just happens to be one of the most crazy talented filmmakers on the planet and who gifted us this next little number to make the pretty last that much longer.
I know. Box of tissues is officially empty and I'm on the phone with Joel trying to convince him to live with me and film my life so that it will look just as beautiful as this. Okay not really, but I'm having to sit on my hands to stop myself.
From Tara Guérard Soirée... Lowndes Grove Plantation provided a stunning backdrop for this Charleston, SC wedding designed by Tara Guérard Soirée. The bride chose this waterfront location for its historic, yet contemporary design and Tara transformed the various spaces – both outdoors and in – for a romantic and elegant occasion. For the ceremony, she created a white runner leading to a chuppah fashioned with sheer panels adorned with garlands of white orchid. The guests sat under a canopy of live oaks looking over the Ashley River. As guests strolled to the main house following the ceremony, the were greeted by an old-fashioned champagne tower brimming with coupes of bubbly topped with a white orchid.
For the cocktail hour inside the historic plantation home, Tara set up a chef-attended oyster station along with plenty of passed items including caprese skewers, ham & cheese on sweet potato biscuits and citrus crab salad in edible Asian spoons. Miniature mirrors with hand calligraphy served as escort cards with each couple assigned to a letter of the bride’s monogram. At the end of each of the three long dinner tables, Tara placed a letter of the bride’s monogram to designate each guest’s setting, which held a silver case which enclosed the menu cards. Guests then entered a clear top dinner tent enclosed with sheer curtains and accented by blue taffeta panels and crystal chandeliers. Three long tables in light gray taffeta were decorated with glass candlesticks held gray taper candles and mercury glass votives were generously placed throughout. Vases were full of orchids, roses, ranunculus and peonies and the bride & groom chairs were dressed in white orchid garlands. As the night grew dark, the chandeliers and tapers added a soft ambiance to the seated dinner.
After dinner, a separate party tent was unveiled! This lounge area held a separate bar, stage and all-white dance floor. Large drum shade hung overhead by strands of orchids and white sofas and loveseats were positioned around the dance floor. Tara designed a custom tiered cake display holding mini cakes for each guest. For the send-off, Tara created custom sparklers and match sets and the happy couple left in a vintage Lincoln convertible decorated with orchid garlands from the chuppah.
Wedding Photography: Liz Banfield Photography / Venue: Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina / Event Planning + Design, Floral Design, Lighting, Guest Bags: Tara Guérard Soirée / Wedding Cinematography: Joel Serrato Films / Catering: Fish Restaurant / Wedding Cakes: Kim Morgan of A Matter of Taste / Ceremony Music: String Ensemble via Debut, Inc. / Reception Music: The Maxx via East Coast Entertainment / Wedding Stationery: The Lettered Olive / Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones / Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals / Transportation: Absolutely Charleston / Vintage Lincoln: COMPASS Transportation / Wedding Dresses: Amsale + Rachel Gilbert (short dress) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier / Hair: Kristy Cuthbert of Velvet Salon / Makeup: Moore Make Up / Groom’s Attire: Tom Ford
From Tara Guérard Soirée... Lowndes Grove Plantation provided a stunning backdrop for this Charleston, SC wedding designed by Tara Guérard Soirée. The bride chose this waterfront location for its historic, yet contemporary design and Tara transformed the various spaces – both outdoors and in – for a romantic and elegant occasion. For the ceremony, she created a white runner leading to a chuppah fashioned with sheer panels adorned with garlands of white orchid. The guests sat under a canopy of live oaks looking over the Ashley River. As guests strolled to the main house following the ceremony, the were greeted by an old-fashioned champagne tower brimming with coupes of bubbly topped with a white orchid.
For the cocktail hour inside the historic plantation home, Tara set up a chef-attended oyster station along with plenty of passed items including caprese skewers, ham & cheese on sweet potato biscuits and citrus crab salad in edible Asian spoons. Miniature mirrors with hand calligraphy served as escort cards with each couple assigned to a letter of the bride’s monogram. At the end of each of the three long dinner tables, Tara placed a letter of the bride’s monogram to designate each guest’s setting, which held a silver case which enclosed the menu cards. Guests then entered a clear top dinner tent enclosed with sheer curtains and accented by blue taffeta panels and crystal chandeliers. Three long tables in light gray taffeta were decorated with glass candlesticks held gray taper candles and mercury glass votives were generously placed throughout. Vases were full of orchids, roses, ranunculus and peonies and the bride & groom chairs were dressed in white orchid garlands. As the night grew dark, the chandeliers and tapers added a soft ambiance to the seated dinner.
After dinner, a separate party tent was unveiled! This lounge area held a separate bar, stage and all-white dance floor. Large drum shade hung overhead by strands of orchids and white sofas and loveseats were positioned around the dance floor. Tara designed a custom tiered cake display holding mini cakes for each guest. For the send-off, Tara created custom sparklers and match sets and the happy couple left in a vintage Lincoln convertible decorated with orchid garlands from the chuppah.
Wedding Photography: Liz Banfield Photography / Venue: Lowndes Grove Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina / Event Planning + Design, Floral Design, Lighting, Guest Bags: Tara Guérard Soirée / Wedding Cinematography: Joel Serrato Films / Catering: Fish Restaurant / Wedding Cakes: Kim Morgan of A Matter of Taste / Ceremony Music: String Ensemble via Debut, Inc. / Reception Music: The Maxx via East Coast Entertainment / Wedding Stationery: The Lettered Olive / Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones / Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals / Transportation: Absolutely Charleston / Vintage Lincoln: COMPASS Transportation / Wedding Dresses: Amsale + Rachel Gilbert (short dress) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Monique Lhuillier / Hair: Kristy Cuthbert of Velvet Salon / Makeup: Moore Make Up / Groom’s Attire: Tom Ford