May ~ A Month of Gardens and Beaches and Beautiful Brides

It feels like May went by in a blink. We were elated to be a part of four amazing weddings this May, all uniquely beautiful and a reflection of each couple.

May 14th brought Emily and Andrew and their loved ones to Middleton Place for a beautiful ceremony in the Octagonal Gardens and a reception at the Pavilion. Emily really wanted to carry the natural beauty of Middleton Place inside the Pavilion, and chose a color palate with a variety of greens. Even the cake by Twenty-Six Divine reflected the theme!

The following weekend brought us back to back weddings on Saturday and Sunday, which we made an exception when we met locals Tara and Scott in January, because we really wanted to help them out! They were halfway though the planning process and needed us! They chose Alhambra Hall for their May 22nd wedding, a stunning setting overlooking the Charleston harbor, and they exchanged vows under a large oak tree. The bride and groom wanted a fun, casual atmosphere for their navy and khaki event, so they brought Cornhole and other lawn games to be enjoyed at cocktail hour--what a hit! Miniature adirondack chairs were used as place card holders--SO CUTE!

Mount Pleasant locals Danielle and Darren chose the Citadel Beach House as the venue for their May 21st wedding, and it was a stunning day. The ceremony was on the back lawn under a simple and elegant white arbor, and the ballroom was decorated in neutrals with hints of light turquoise and a touch of soft pink. Darren's family is affiliated with a local seafood restaurant who catered the event, and constructed an ice sculpture raw bar--the focal point of the room, besides the bride of course.

May 29th brought us back to the Citadel Beach House, the venue of choice for Pennsylvanians Tobi and Jeremiah. This fun couple wanted to exchange their vows on the beach, and it was a stunning day for it! They brought the essence of the beach inside using hues of teal and sand, and the bouquets and boutonnieres by First Bloom of Charleston even incorporated sweetgrass roses, grasses, and seashells.

I love the fact that, even though two of our may weddings were at the same venue, the events were totally different. We really encourage our couples to have fun with their choices and to put their personal touches on their BIG DAY!

The events this month were shared with some amazing vendors: Newton Farms Catering, Gourmet Bay Catering, Event Works Rentals, Ascend Entertainment, Twenty-Six Divine, The Cake Stand, Wildflour Pastry, Mix Charleston, Wildflowers, Inc, First Bloom of Charleston, and The Party Music.

Congratulations again to Charleston Celebrations' newest NEWLYWEDS!!

This time last May...

...we were getting ready for some amazing weddings. Congratulations, and a very Happy One Year Anniversary to Meg and Andrew Jaffee, Laura and Sean Gildea, and Lindsey and Andrew Croy! I can't believe that it's been a year already! Thank you all so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day! <3

Hugs and Best Wishes,

Melissa

Legare Waring House Elegance ~ Julie and Pete

April 17 was one of the prettiest days I've ever witnessed in Charleston, and the Legare Waring House was the PERFECT setting for Julie and Pete's wedding! The ceremony took place under the Avenue of Oaks, an amazing canopy of oak trees, and the reception utilized the house itself and its grounds--truly the quintessential Charleston setting. And did I mention the weather was absolutely PERFECT? After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails on the side of the house by the lagoon, and even though the property warns to not disturb the alligators, no reptilian guests were seen. Chef Eric Gaffin with New Dream Catering did not disappoint, Mix Charleston kept the guests refreshed into the evening, and guests danced the night away to the sounds of the Travis Allison Band. What a beautiful evening filled with lots of love for the happy couple!

April's Tip of the Month~Where's the Book?

Finding a spot for the guest book can be tricky. It doesn't necessarily need a 6 foot table all to itself, and it might get lost amongst all the awesome gifts on the gift table...so where should this extremely important little book go? Solution: a cocktail table! It can be put in a prominent, high-traffic location, and it's the perfect height for your guests, so they don't strain their backs trying to bend over a regular table while leaving their Best Wishes for you! Also, if I notice that many guests aren't frequenting the guest book table, I'll have the band or DJ announce its location at an appropriate time, and that usually does the trick! I would HATE for a bride to flip through a half-empty book post-wedding! Not up in here!! ;-)

Stay tuned for more tips for your special Celebration!

Happy Planning!

Melissa

Ashley and Rob have Tied the Knot!

April 9 was a beautiful spring day, and Founders Hall was the perfect setting for Ashley and Rob's Wedding. Pink hydrangeas, roses, orchids, and peonies added amazing color to the outdoor setting for the ceremony, while lanterns of shepherds hooks lined the aisle from A Floral Affair. Pink and white Japanese lanterns hung from the porch and swayed in the spring breeze while guests enjoyed post-nuptial cocktails from MixCharleston and a wonderful stationed dinner by New Dream Catering followed by a variety of cupcakes from The Cake Stand--topped with sugar orchids! Two3Ways entertained the entire evening, and Shannon Michele Photography captured the entire event. I can't wait to see those pictures! Congratulations to Charleston Celebrations' NEWEST newlyweds!!

Kelly and Collier are Married!

Congratulations to our first 2011 couple to tie the knot: Kelly and Collier! What a BEAUTIFUL Charleston day it was on Saturday--sunny and warm! The Thomas Bennett House was the perfect backdrop for this elegant wedding! Following the 5:30pm ceremony, guests were greeted with Firefly cocktails in Mason jars by MIX Charleston, while the wedding party had fun taking photos with King Street Studios. After an amazing seated dinner by Newton Farms Catering and scrumptious wedding cake by D'lish Dessert, Kelly and Collier's guests danced the night away to the sounds of local band Permanent Vacation under a gorgeous white tent with chandeliers from Event Works Rentals and florals by Branch Design Studios. What a fantastic start to our 2011 wedding season!

The Knot's 2011 "Best of Weddings" Winner!

We Did It! Thanks to our fabulous brides and fantastic vendors, we were selected as one of The Knot's 2011 "Best of Weddings" winners! Whoohoo!! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!!!