Backyard Beauty | <p>Take one bride, pair her with a dear family friend with a flair for design, and a backyard reception goes from quaint to quite fabulous</p>
When your grandparents’ place on Wadmalaw Island has played host to your love story—from the first utterance of those three little words to the proposal—it’s only fitting to host your Big Day there. “We loved that we would be able to revisit our reception site for years after our wedding, making even more memories with our future family,” says Lea McCallum, who wed Cooper Lott last May. Lea dreamt up an upscale backyard fête, and then partnered with family friend Allison Doares of Callie Weddings & Events, who “led the way while letting me be as hands-on as I wanted,” says Lea. (Allison was also assisted by Lea’s sister, who interned with the planner at the time.) On the day, golden chandeliers and candelabras and the palest of blush linens bolstered the beauty of the land already resplendent with blooming confederate jasmine and towering live oaks. To reinforce the palette, Branch Design Studio added delicate arrangements of pink fluffy blooms and leafy flora. “Twinkling lights, spilling florals, candles, and the sun setting over the creek … It was magical how everything came together,” says Lea.
TIPS TO TAKE IT UP A NOTCH
Keep it classy ... and cool. The couple enlisted Royal Restrooms to set up temporary restrooms, power generators, and fans.
Enlist family. Lea’s landscaper uncle provided ferns and accent florals. “It cut costs while also ensuring that we were working with a team we trusted,” says Lea. Her grandmother had the house power-washed and guaranteed the grounds were immaculate.
Splurge on statements. A sailcloth tent; a sweetheart table with gold-embroidered linens, crystal and brass candle holders, and specialty chairs; chandeliers; and a curved bar took the soirée into sophisticated territory.
Be a fashion director. Guests were instructed attire was “springtime fly,” which the bride translated to linen suits and chiffon frocks. She even shared the wedding palette in case attendees wanted to coordinate.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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’...
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...
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...
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...
Looking for the perfect gown? Find it here as you explore the world of portrait-perfect locations amid the beaches, marshes, and wild pastures of Seabrook Island
Tara Guérard Soirée and LulaKate teamed up to create a custom bridesmaid ensemble that went from formal ceremony to garden party reception. Here’s what they fashioned (plus a few bonus accessories Tara recently fell for)
Give your gown some sparkle, fasten your sash in place, or simply dress up your bouquet wrap. However you enlist them, these keepsake brooches are ready to report for duty
