A New Classic



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
A New Classic | Kiawah Island Golf Resort welcomes a Town & Country-style destination wedding to its waterfront clubhouse
Sometimes fate has to work a little overtime. Such was the case of Alexandra (Alex) Stathis and Brian Tsao, who first met while each was working in a different company involved in a New York Red Bulls ad. But it wasn’t until Brian joined Alex’s team—“completely by chance,” says the couple—a few months later that they clicked. In short order, Brian had convinced long-time Manhattanite Alex to make the move to Brooklyn and had proposed on a getaway in upstate New York. But when it came time to plan their Big Day, it was Alex’s turn to take the reins; she aimed south and chose her family’s longtime vacation spot—Kiawah Island—to play host. “We picked that particular weekend because we felt that it was past hurricane season, but also warm enough for our guests to enjoy an outdoor cocktail and explore the island,” says Alex. Kristin Doggett of Bellafare made sure one and all enjoyed just that with a low-key, yet glamorous ceremony and reception that suited Alex and Brian just so.
 
Top Tips from This Wedding
• Make room for surprises. Brian and his mom, Lily, christened the dance floor with a performance inspired by Beyoncé. “The crowd went wild and the party took off,” says Kristin.
• Go analog to capture candid memories. Partygoers were encouraged to snap away with Polaroid cameras, and the miniature shots were featured alongside personal notes in the guest book.
• Embrace spare elegance. A decadent sailcloth tent paired with extravagant hardwood floors and scaled back bistro chairs equal upscale style that’s not a bit ostentatious.
 
Vendors
 
Design: Bellafare, www.bellafare.com
Venue, catering, bar service, sweets: The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, www.kiawahresort.com/golf/the-ocean-course
Images: Harwell Photography, www.harwellphotography.com
Florals: Gathering Events, www.gatheringevents.com
Rentals: Ooh! Events, www.oohevents.com; Emerson James (place settings), www.emersonjamesrental.com; La Tavola Fine Linens (linens), www.latavolalinen.com; Ruth’s House Event Rentals (bistro chairs), www.ruthshouseinc.com; Snyder Events (bars, dance floor, lounge, stage), www.snyderevents.com
Photobooth: The Photobooth People, www.thephotoboothpeople.net 
Tent: Skyline Tent Company, www.skylinetentcompany.com
Draping: The Social Spool Co., www.thesocialspool.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company, www. technicaleventcompany.com
Music: Palmetto Strings (ceremony, cocktail hour), www.palmettostrings.com; A-Town A-List Band courtesy of Sam Hill Entertainment (reception), www.samhillbands.com/bands/a-town-a-list
Paper goods, calligraphy: Isidore and Augustine, www.isidore-augustine.com
Bride’s gown: Oscar de la Renta, www.oscardelarenta.com
Beauty: Lashes and Lace, www.lashesandlacecharleston.com
Getaway vehicle: Lowcountry Valet & Shuttle Co., www.lowcountryvalet.com

 

The Wedding Row

May 9 2019
Morning, lovelies! Boy, do we have one for you today. But before we get into all the goodness, let’s get acquainted with the stars of the show … A meet-cute at a mutual friend’s birthday...

May 8 2019
Some brides just have such a knack for talking about their Big Day that we have to let you hear their own words on the matter. So it is with Angelia, who wed her now-husband Bobby at Old Wide Awake...

May 7 2019
We’ve heard our fair share of wedding day blooper stories here at The Wedding Row, but this may be the first time we’ve heard of the bride’s wedding band falling through the cracks of a rooftop deck...

May 7 2019
Amanda got an early gift the year Zach walked into her pre-birthday celebration with a couple of their mutual friends. The two Wilmington, North Carolina, dwellers hit it off immediately, and nearly...

May 3 2019
Spring is in full swing here in the Lowcountry—in fact, it feels more like summer outside—so we’re celebrating this first Friday in May by sharing an appropriately colorful shoot. Event planning...

May 2 2019
It’s not often that we get to talk about farm life here at The Wedding Row, so we’re especially excited to share the story behind today’s engagement shoot. Emma and Blake, who live in Nebraska but...

May 1 2019
When Mike swiped right on Ryan on OkCupid, he inadvertently created their future wedding hashtag: #MikeSwipedRy. And thank goodness these two found each other, because their wedding just goes to show...

April 30 2019
Good morning, Wedding Row-ers! Pour yourself a big cup of coffee (or is it Tea-day Tuesday?) and get ready to dive into one seriously gorgeous post, if we do say so ourselves. Cayleigh Hopkins of The...