Backyard Bash

Spring/Summer 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Backyard Bash | Kiften Stephens and William Carroll, October 8, 2011, The Legare Waring House

Charleston Wedding wedding Legare Waring House Snyder Event Rentals Bella Vista Bridal Cru Catering Hannah Alexander Studio R gown JCrew WED

TO THE LETTER: Studio R’s stationery suite previewed the wedding’s tastefully muted color scheme.

DRESS TO IMPRESS: The soft driftwood hue of the bridesmaids’ J.Crew frocks complemented both the bride’s custom gown and the majestic surroundings.

HAIR AFFAIR: A fresh flower dressed up Kiften’s updo and contributed to her summery, outdoorsy look.

DETAILS COUNT: To add Lowcountry flair, Hannah Alexander of WED tied programs to palm frond fans.

MAGICAL MOMENT: “Toward the end of the ceremony, I had to look down at Will's shoes,” says Kiften. “I knew if I looked him in the eye, I’d start crying!”

PEAS IN A POD: Kiften and Will split their time between their John’s Island residence and MUSC, where she’s a nurse practitioner in pediatric surgery and he’s a medical student.

WARM RECEPTION: “Kiften and Will” welcome bags contained a bottle of water, a bag of benne wafers, and general info about the Holy City.

UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE: Mixing lanterns and Mason jars with burlap-wrapped centerpieces blended formal looks with familiar ones.

PLANTING AN IDEA: “Share your vision, then trust your vendors with the details,” says Kiften. Case in point? This charmingly planted row atop a long farm table from Event DRS.

JUST SO: Sara York Grimshaw wrapped vessels of flowers and greens in burlap to echo the natural hues of the Legare Waring House grounds, which are covered in live oaks and lagoons.

GAME TIME: Paying homage to the couple’s penchant for puzzles, this was a cute alternative to a traditional guestbook. Fun fact: the weekend Kiften realized she and Will were meant for one another, they’d spent an entire night putting together a 1000-piecer.

PLAY TO WIN: In keeping with the informal vibe, guests enjoyed cornhole, the bride’s favorite outdoor game, during cocktail hour.

KICKIN’ AROUND: The groomsmen were all outfitted with Adidas Sambas, and Kiften’s dad took a particular liking to the indoor soccer shoes. Laughs Kiften, “My dad thought they were the coolest! He wears them all the time now.”

BRIGHT IDEA: To spice up the table assignments, Hannah Alexander potted them among greenery in dark-stained wooden boxes.

SERVING IT UP: Cru Catering delighted those unfamiliar with Lowcountry fare. Says Kiften, “Many of our guests were out-of-state, and they were definitely loving the southern cuisine.”

BON APPETIT: Guests dined on Lowcountry favorites like shrimp and grits.

BERRIES ON TOP: Sugar Bakeshop finished off the two-layer cake with sugared blue-berries.

PRETZEL TWISTER: To keep their energy up while burning up the dance floor, guests snacked out of brown paper bags containing peanut butter-filled, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate treats.

SHINING BRIGHT: Says Hannah Alexander, “Technical Event Company’s lighting was breathtaking and a highlight of my year!”

Though Kiften Stephens and William Carroll met in Spanish 101, the interests they shared outside of the classroom truly brought the Davidson students together: both were athletes (lacrosse and soccer, respectively), had a soft spot for board games, and were fond of camping. Six years later, the duo was playing “Memory” during a cabin retreat when Kiften flipped over a card bearing an image of an engagement ring. Following his planted prompt, Will produced the real thing and popped the question.

The playful and outdoorsy sides of their personalities easily translated to a wedding theme. “I envisioned an elegant take on a cookout,” says Kiften, whose favorite childhood memories are of just such neighborhood gatherings. WED’s Hannah Alexander suggested the Legare Waring House as the perfect “backyard,” and Kiften fell for it—and its oak allée—easily.

When fall rolled around, the al fresco shindig was a hit. Florist Sara York Grimshaw placed cream-colored blooms and greenery in Mason jars and burlap-wrapped vases to lend a mellow and homespun grace to the setting. Then, after the “I dos,” the bride challenged her groom, family, and friends to lawn games like ladder golf and croquet. Lanterns and candles glowed softly as evening set in, and guests sat down to a hearty Southern meal by Cru Catering, served family-style. “Everything turned out above and beyond my expectations and my husband and I had a blast,” says Kiften. “We would do absolutely nothing different!”

Vendor List

Baker: Sugar Bakeshop; www.sugarbake.com
Bridal gown: Bella Vista Bridal; www.bellavistabridal.com
Bridesmaid attire: J.Crew; www.jcrew.com
Caterer: Cru Catering; www.crucatering.com
Florist: Sara York Grimshaw Designs; www.sygdesigns.com
Groom/Groomsmen attire: Brooks Brothers; www.brooksbrothers.com
Lighting: Technical Event Company (TEC Lighting); www.technicaleventcompany.com
Musicians: DJ Trey, Other Brother Entertainment; www.otherbrotherent.com
Photographer: Joshua Drake; www.joshuadrakephotography.com
Planner: Hannah Alexander, WED; www.charlestonevent.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals; www.snydereventrentals.com; Event DRS; www.eventdrscharleston.com
Stationery: Studio R; www.studio-r-design.com
Transportation: Absolutely Charleston; www.absolutelycharleston.com; Charleston Black Cab Company; www.charlestonblackcabcompany.com

The Wedding Row

April 5 2019

Jessica & Jay | Middleton Place

Jessica and Jay met online and dated long distance (she was here in Charleston, he was in Connecticut) before she made the move up North. The two came back to visit the Holy City often, though, and...

April 4 2019

Lauren & Alex | The Gibbes Museum

Food plays a part in every aspect of this Atlanta, Georgia, couple’s relationship, from the first time they met to their Big Day at The Gibbes Museum of Art. It’s fitting, Alex says, as he owns that...

April 3 2019

Styled Shoot | The Cedar Room

We’ve all seen photos of Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s Jodhpur, India, nuptials by now, thanks to how social media was lit up with the bright colors and ornate designs of their festivities. But...

April 2 2019

Liz & Kevin | Folly Beach

When the bride owns a wedding and event planning company, you know her Big Day will be something remarkable. Such was the case for Liz, owner of Elegant Aura in Boston, Massachusetts. After her...

April 1 2019

Tiffany & Jayce | Charleston Library Society

Usually no one gets a word out of a barkeep regarding his or her personal life, so today’s an extra special treat considering the groom du jour is Jayce, longtime bartender and bar manager at Edmund’...

March 29 2019

Jacquelyn & Conor | The Dewberry

Jackie and Conor both went to College of Charleston, but they didn’t meet until the New Year’s Eve after graduation. That’s when both were secretly set up by mutual friends (and Jackie’s sister) at...

March 28 2019

Mary Jane & Alex | The Gadsden House

Magic brought Mary Jane and Alex together. No, really, it did—they met while working at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, part of Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Five years later, while on...

March 27 2019

Liz & Chris | Engagement Session

Here’s how the writer-bride talks about meeting her now-hubs on their wedding site: “Liz and Chris lived in the same apartment complex. The ‘boys upstairs’—as they were lovingly known by the girls in...