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.
Just as you fall for your spouse-to-be, you can fall for the place where you’ll say “I do.” Need a little empirical evidence? Ask Kate Perry and Sabine Beaurain of Fabulous Fête about walking Chelsea...
Getting a ring wasn’t top of mind for Lauren when she was trying to come up with New Year’s Eve 2017 plans with her boyfriend, Rick, but he sure had his own plan in the works. For the holiday, they...
The Wedding Row: How did you and Ben meet?
Jamie: Ben and I met when I was about to graduate law school from the University of Alabama and he was working in Birmingham. I was about to move back to...
We admit we have a soft spot for Hannah Alyssa Photography (back when she was just out of school Hannah worked with us at Charleston Weddings), but it’s totally guilt-free because she’s just so darn...
Everyone wants their Big Day to be memorable and Emily, a Seattle gal, and Robby, a machinist in the Navy, surely won’t forget theirs. It started off with the first look in Hampton Park, which was...
What do you get when you combine an Emily Kotarski wedding gown with a gorgeous crown from Emma Katzka and a bouquet of eucalyptus, roses, and pink queen protea? The ultimate Boho look. For this...
After a couple of rescheduled blind dates, Torrey and Ryan met for drinks; drinks turned to dinner, dinner turned into after-dinner drinks, and … well, let’s just say two years later they had moved...
Ahhh, Boone Hall Plantation. While this spectacular venue is widely known for its infamous scenes in Nicholas Sparks’ film “The Notebook,” and as the setting of Hollywood hotshots Blake Lively and...
Two foodies—he’s worked at Oceana, The Obstinate Daughter, and Wild Olive and she’s penning her first cookbook—tie the knot on All Hallows’ Eve at the bride’s family home on Sullivan’s Island
One of the Lowcountry’s most iconic venues might be known for massive weddings, but see how they are throwing open their storied gates for microweddings and elopements
Feast your eyes on this treasure chest of jewels ranging from ultra-fine to utterly fashionable. Whether you’re dressing for your wedding or any of the myriad events leading up to it, these pieces add polish—and panache
When an interior designer bride and an A-list event planner collaborate on a wedding that meets the missus’ aesthetic for graphics and patterns paired with foliage, the results are a visual feast for the senses
