Morgan Wetherington & David “Dave” Weinstock
March 24, 2018 • Lowndes Grove Plantation
Long before Morgan Wetherington ever met David “Dave” Weinstock, she was already in love … with a venue. Yes, while at the College of Charleston, the dimpled redhead had interned for a planner and when an event took her to Lowndes Grove Plantation, sparks flew. She, like most brides, confesses “she immediately knew” she’d found the one (well, the one location, at least). So next? That little business of finding the other one—her husband. As for that, leave it to mutual friends and a happy hour at a bar in Nashville, Tennessee, to kick Cupid into motion.
After three years of dating, Dave was ready to pop the question, and to dress up his proposal he booked a weekend in Charleston for the two. But when Morgan found the ring before the trip, Dave quickly switched to plan B at home and asked her to marry him amid flickering candles and twinkling string lights. (Spoiler alert: She said “Yes.”)
Since Morgan’s stint in the Lowcountry, she had followed Calder Clark on Instagram and was drawn to the event planner’s classic taste and whimsical touches. Morgan and Dave commissioned a watercolor crest and from there, let Calder work her magic. That birthed a milestone celebration that started by the water with a simple, almost unadorned ceremony and segued into a reception wrapped in blue, green, and pink, rife with calligraphy, that crest, and playfulness in the form of a blockbuster children’s table.
“Dave and I wanted our friends and family to fall in love with Charleston the way we have over the years,” says Morgan, who got to see her two biggest crushes unite on her Big Day. “People still call me to tell me how much fun the wedding was,” she says, “and how they are going back to Charleston to visit.” Can’t blame them one bit.
Child’s Play
Craft a table that young guests won’t want to leave. “I learned long ago that weddings are a wonderful way for children to learn how to behave,” says Calder. “There’s something really sweet (and both European and Southern) about including children in a wedding. You don’t have to leave a six-year-old out because you’re scared they’re going to be rambunctious. If you create boundaries they are joy to have at a wedding.” Here are some of Calder’s tips to setting a junior head table.
❶ Make it personal. From monogrammed plates to name straws, each child at Morgan and Dave’s reception received favors of their very own, which made them feel special in their own right.
❷ Be practical. Cup lids, straws, and durable melamine plates keep messes (and broken rentals) to a minimum.
❸ Rethink centerpieces. Let candy take the place of flowers and children—who tend to fiddle with centerpieces of any sort—are riveted.
❹ Add a toy chest. Keep children occupied with goody boxes of table games and puzzles.
❺ Supervise. The eight guests at this table had parents all within sight. An alternative? Hire a nanny (through your planner) to sit with them.
Vendors
Officiant: Dave Wyrick
Makeup: I D.O. Makeup
