Big Day Brunch

Spring 2014

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Big Day Brunch | An Anglophile bride and her dapper groom entertain guests in a garden wedding with a Southern accent and English style

CLASSIC BEAUTY: Liz wore the Scarlett Dress by Monique Lhuillier, found at Maddison Row.

HANDLE WITH CARE: The bride carried an English-inspired bouquet of white, pale yellow, and candy-floss pink freesia, with garden roses, hyacinth, lisianthus, peonies, ranunculus, scabiosa, and scented geranium.

NEW-FOUND HEIRLOOM: Liz’s great-grandmother embroidered a handkerchief for Liz’s mom with a special message from the bride.

Gayle Brooker Photography

SOMETHING BLUE: The bride’s father had given her a pair of blue sapphire earrings for her birthday, which she wore along with her blue sapphire engagement ring custom made by Matthew and Laurie Sarah Designs (found on Etsy).

FASCINATING: Liz didn’t want to cover up the keyhole back of her gown, so she opted for a fascinator—made by Meyriel Jill Millinery—in place of a traditional veil.

EASTER PARADE: Liz wore Monique Lhuillier from Maddison Row, while her bridesmaids slipped into dresses from LulaKate’s matte silk collection. “We went with short dresses,” says Liz, “for comfort because of the time of year and because it made everything feel fun and a little less formal.”

Gayle Brooker Photography

PERFECT COMPLEMENT: Lindsey Nowak, bridal fashion stylist for Kristin Newman Designs, ordered custom-made clutches for the bridesmaids.

HATS OFF: Liz’s niece, Cate, happily donned a crown for her duties as flower girl.

GREEN GREETINGS: In an unusual twist for the stalwart Charleston wedding location, Gathering Events placed enormous, springy arrangements outside the William Aiken gates, a treat for all Sunday passersby.

SMALL TOUCH: The William Aiken House and its grounds don’t need much decoration, so Gathering Events added simple yellow vines to the arbor for the ceremony.

DOWN THE GARDEN PATH: Save-the-date cards from Sideshow Press featured pressed flowers, so the stationery suite included a floral theme, too.

HOME STYLE: Vintage appointments on the sign-in table gave the setting a homey aura.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Liz’s parents—both South Carolina natives—attended vendor meetings with the bride, helping her plan a dream Bid Day.

REMEMBER THE MOMENTS: “I read somewhere to consciously take mental snap shots throughout the wedding day, and I made sure to do so. I think this helped me remember a lot of little details that make your wedding day special,” says Liz.

NEW HEIGHTS: Gathering Events turned the William Aiken House’s arbor into a garden trellis with a meandering vine of smilax and yellow peonies—the bride’s favorite flower. Hydrangea blooms floated in the lily pond, which was spanned with a temporary bridge covered with a damask-style runner.

BOUND IN LOVE: Liz and Matt’s rings were tied to an original copy of their favorite Harry Potter book.

LOVE SEAT: Wrought-iron garden furniture created airy gathering spaces.

REST EASY: Plush upholstered chairs and settees created conversation nooks throughout the grounds.

Gayle Brooker Photography

SWEET TREATS: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal took inspiration from the lace on Liz’s wedding dress for the cake, which featured lemon and coconut flavors, plus a top tier of chocolate hazelnut for the couple to save for their first anniversary.

TAKE YOUR PICK: Liz’s teatime theme called for treats—like these mini custard and fruit tarts and cinnamon rolls—befitting of the time of day.

Gayle Brooker Photography

TAKE A DIP: Liz has a sweet tooth, so the coffee and tea bar featured treats like chocolate-dipped biscotti presented on English rose-patterned teacups, which also served as favors. Guests’ table numbers were written in calligraphy on cards tucked under the cups.

Gayle Brooker Photography

BOOK OF LOVE: The extensive menu was shared in a booklet that included a poem of the couple’s favorite things.

MINI DELIGHTS: Fish Restaurant served tapas-style versions of the couple’s favorite brunch foods, like these bite-sized blueberry pancakes.

IN THE FOLD: Kristin Newman Designs tucked the couple’s “Book of Love” menu into a folded Battenberg lace napkin and placed it atop hand-selected heirloom china. Etched champagne coupes—a shape originally designed for English aristocrats—finished the look on the sweetheart table.

Gayle Brooker Photography

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Combinations of pastel-colored double tulips, dusty miller, eucharis lilies, peonies, scented geranium, and spray roses topped each table.

Gayle Brooker Photography

HATS OFF: Guests channeled the Downton Abbey feel of the day by wearing traditional hats.

JAVA TIME: A chocolate rim upped the ante on espresso cups.

Gayle Brooker Photography

RICH IN LOVE: The couple celebrated with etched champagne coupes—a shape originally designed for English aristocrats.

BRUNCH TIME: Guests enjoyed mimosas adorned with fresh citrus.

GOOD MORNING: Bloody Marys scored flourish via floral-printed paper straws.

KEEPSAKE: The team at Kristin Newman Designs surprised the couple with favors of teacups and seed packets for each of their guests to take home.

Gayle Brooker Photography

GROW TOGETHER: Guests took home boxed tea cups tied off with seed packets.

WORDS OF WISDOM: Flower petals and heart-shaped confetti punched from pages of books rained down on the couple as they left the reception.

MAKE A CHANGE: Liz changed into a LulaKate shortie, Matt donned a Goorin Bros. hat, and the two exited in a London-style cab from Charleston Black Cab Company.

Gayle Brooker Photography

CHEERIO: Liz and Matt had a truly British sendoff, complete with a white Rolls Royce and mini Union Jack flags.

Gayle Brooker Photography

Photographs by:

Gayle Brooker

Elizabeth Hardwick & Matthew Hannah

May 11, 2013

William Aiken House

When Elizabeth (Liz) Hardwick looks back on meeting—and eventually marrying—Matthew (Matt) Hannah, one line sums it all up: “It came naturally,” she says. And it really did—from how quickly and easily Liz fell in love with Matt after they met in the orientation line at Virginia Tech to how the self-professed Anglophile chose an English garden theme for their wedding nearly seven years later.

For the bride, a Gaithersburg, Maryland, native whose family has a vacation house in downtown Charleston, only one venue would do: the William Aiken House. Beyond that, “I envisioned a small spring wedding,” says Liz, “with brunch food, which is Matt’s and my favorite meal.” To make everything just so, Liz called upon Kristin Newman Designs and Gathering Events.

And while the day Matt proposed was complete with real English weather (read: rainy), the skies were clear and robin’s egg blue on the couple’s Big Day. Following a solitary morning that began with her taking in the sun rise on her own, Liz donned a vintage-inspired Monique Lhuillier lace dress and met Matt under the William Aiken House’s vine- and bloom-adorned arbor, where they traded vows.

After celebrating with guests, dining on Southern brunch specialties (like an eggs Benedict with ham and fried green tomatoes) from Fish Restaurant, and sipping drinks (with properly curled pinkies) from the coffee and tea bar, the couple got one very sweet send-off—literally. The pair made their exit and, as they slipped into a British getaway car, they found goodie bags from Kristin’s crew filled with cookies and tarts for their honeymoon flight to (where else?) London.

Vendor List

Bridal & Bridesmaids Clutches: Nelle Handbags, www.nellehandbags.com

Bridesmaids Dresses: LulaKate, www.lulakate.com

Bridesmaids Earrings: Pearl Paradise, www.pearlparadise.com

Bridal Fascinator: Meyriel Edge from Meriel Jill Millinery

Bridal Going Away Dress: LulaKate, www.lulakate.com

Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier from Maddison Row, www.maddisonrow.com

Bridal Ring: Laurie Sarah Designs on Etsy, www.etsy.com/shop/LaurieSarahDesigns

Bridal Shoes: BHLDN, www.bhldn.com

Cake: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, www.weddingcakesbyjimsmeal.com

Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones, www.elizabethporcherjones.com

Catering & Bar Service: Fish, Patrick Properties, www.pphgcharleston.com

Ceremony Music: Music for a Moment Ensemble, www.otherbrotherent.com

Fashion Stylist: Lindsay Nowak for Kristin Newman Designs, www.kristinnewmandesigns.com

Florals, Custom Furniture, & Specialty Décor: Gathering Events, www.gatheringevents.com

Groom’s Hat: Goorin Bros., www.goorin.com

Groom’s & Groomsmens’ Suits: Berlins for Men, www.berlins.com

Groom’s & Groomsmens’ Socks: M. Dumas and Sons, www.mdumasandsons.com

Groom’s & Groomsmens’ Ties: M. Dumas and Sons, www.mdumasandsons.com

Guest Transportation: Absolutely Charleston Trolley (www.absolutelycharlestonwedding.com) and Charleston Style Limo (www.acharlestonstylelimo.com)

Hair & Makeup: Stella Nova, www.stella-nova.com

Limo: Vintage Limousine, www.limousineservicecharleston.com

Photography: Gayle Brooker Photography, www.gaylebrooker.com

Planning & Event Design: Kristin Newman Designs, www.kristinnewmandesigns.com

Reception Entertainment: Charlton Singleton, www.tidewatermusicgroup.com

Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals, www.snyderevents.com

Save-the-Dates and Invitation: Sideshow Press, www.sideshowpress.com

Venue: William Aiken House, www.pphgcharleston.com

The Wedding Row

June 17 2019

Emily & Ashley | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Here’s a sweet-as-pie love story for your Monday. These newlyweds first met in college at Furman University after Ashley asked for Emily’s help in their shared computer class. Little did Emily know,...

June 14 2019

Alex & Chandler | Hibernian Hall

Happy Friday, lovelies. To start the weekend off on a high (and crazy pretty) note, we present to you the wedding of Alexandria and Chandler. University of South Carolina alum Alex met her future...

June 13 2019

Jacqueline & Matthew | Boone Hall Plantation

When Hurricane Florence hit, Jacqueline and Matthew, only a week out from their wedding, feared the worst. With their hometown of Southport, North Carolina, completely flooded, it seemed like...

June 12 2019

Lauren & Austin | Lowndes Grove Plantation

Funnily enough, romantic gestures aren’t the only way to find love. New York natives Lauren and Austin met when he boldly cut in front of her in line outside of a bar in the Hamptons. She took notice...

June 11 2019

Emily & Anthony | The Gadsden House

Believe it or not, produce (yup, apples and oranges!) is what brought Emily and Anthony together. The pair met online and had their first date at the SoWa Market, the Boston equivalent of our 2nd...

June 10 2019

Franzi & Martin | Engagement Session

Dockside just happens to be our best side and it seems to be Franzi and Martin’s, too. The duo, who both hail from Germany, flew all the way to our beloved Charleston just to document their...

June 7 2019

Stephanie & Greg | Middleton Place

After meeting at Wake Forest University in 2009 and being drawn together by what she describes as fate (more about that later … ), Stephanie and Greg officially tied the knot here in the Holy City....

June 6 2019

Maddie & Jackson | Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Although high school sweethearts Maddie and Jackson may not be evenly matched on the athletic field (the pair’s first encounter involved Maddie whipping Jackson’s tail in a game of volleyball) they...

Feature

Easy Breezy

Fresh inspiration for summer vows

Feature

Pin Up, Girls

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

Feature

Say “I Do” Like a Local

Insider tips for the ultimate Charleston insider wedding

Feature

Scared of Setting a Table?

See how mixing patterns and textures can be a hit—not a hot mess—at Charleston's Lowndes Grove plantation

Feature

Paperwhite

Crisp, clean, & contemporary design marry in this eco-smart reception shoot from Soirée by Tara Guérard

Feature

Earthly Delights

Megan Sones & Marty Clapton; June 17, 2006, Mingo Point, Kiawah Island Resort

Feature

Amazing Lace

As lace makes a bigger statement in bridal couture, Jean Brueser, owner of Jean-Paul’s Creative Cakes, artfully incorporated the intricate, delicate, and oh-so-feminine embellishments to these inspired confections.

Feature

Snap It Old-School Style

Turn to tintype for keepsake portraits and photo booths that are as poetic as it gets

Feature

The Perfect Blend

Learn how, despite cultural or religious differences, tying the knot can pay homage to your individuality as well as your union

Feature

Charmed, I’m Sure

A resourceful bride dresses her Big Day in pretty little details

Feature

Get Inspired

Garden of Love

Feature

Itty Bitty Bow Ties

The Southern staple gets a mini-makeover

Feature

A Walk to Remember

Four-legged friends bring a Tar Heel couple together...and to the Holy City

Feature

Simply Charming

An outdoor-loving pair trade vows at a charming boathouse venue

Feature

In the Moment

Picturesque Palmetto Bluff played host to a multiday celebration of love

Feature

Braving the Elements

D.C. residents Brooke and Chris weather a snowstorm and fire to say “I do” amid autumn’s splendor

Feature

THEIA: White Collection Fall 2014

Feature

8 Absolute Beauty Do’s—and Don’ts—on Your Wedding Day

<p>Lashes, extensions, and brows—oh my! Here's what makes sense to try (and what doesn't) on the Big Day</p>

Feature

Backyard Bliss

Top event planner Tara Guérard helps one classy couple host an at-home reception with grace and style

Feature

Presto Change-o!

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)

Big Day Brunch

The Wedding Row

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Tags

Search form

Big Day Brunch

The Wedding Row

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Tags