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

January 29 2019
What do you get when you mix a love for the outdoors with the inherent girly-girl style that comes when you run a hair and makeup company? Mason and Alex’s well-rounded wedding, of course! Bride...

January 28 2019
Chanel and Alex’s courtship reads like a rom-com, so buckle in for the ride. The two (he’s from Boston and she’s from Atlanta) met during their sophomore year at College of Charleston when Alex...

January 25 2019
We love it when neighbors from “Off” come to Charleston with a fresh look at some of our favorite old stomping grounds to give brides ideas anew. That’s what we’re showcasing today, thanks to...

January 24 2019
New Yorkers Mindy and Matt picked Charleston for a destination weekend a scant few months ago (his biz partner is based here, so they’d fallen for the city some time before). In proper Big City style...

January 23 2019
There are wedding hashtags, then there are neon signs for wedding hashtags! Meet Meghan and Beau, who are not only aces at hashtags but also so bold as to commission a neon sign reading #...

January 22 2019
Ever wonder how a super fancy blockbuster wedding gets pieced together while still coming off as personal? We took a look at Mary and Reid’s fantastic Fenwick Hall wedding, planned exquisitely by...

January 21 2019
So does all the heart candy in stores have anyone else out there seeing red–in the good way? Us, too. Thus we bring you Devin and Scott’s enchanting wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation...

January 18 2019
Can we just say we love how Caitlin and Michael operate? The pair, who live outside Indianapolis, Indiana, wed on a Sunday last summer with a handful of family and little ones in tow at The William...