Budget, Meet Bliss

Spring 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

Charleston Weddings Staff

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Diana Deaver Weddings

Budget, Meet Bliss | Amy Clark & Scott Kohn, May 7, 2012, Creek Club at I’On

Charleston Wedding wedding BBJ Linen weddings EventWorks porch

Budget, Meet Bliss

WHAT A DAY: Weekends at the venue were booked throughout the spring, so the pair held their celebration on a Monday, which inadvertently cut expenses.

FLORAL DESIGN: Charlotte, North Carolina, stationer Three Little Birds incorporated a peony motif on the ceremony program to mimic the wedding flowers.

ORGANIC COMPOUND: Branch Design Studio fashioned a bridal bouquet of crimson ranunculus, cream and coral peonies, mini green hydrangeas, pink tulips, and fuchsia sweet peas.

TEAM SPIRIT: As a tribute to the Mets, Scott sported orange and blue socks.

NATURAL GRACE: Since the lush setting needed little embellishment, a simple canopy of Japanese lanterns hung from the live oak under which Amy and Scott wed.

DOUBLE BLOOM: Mason jars with flowers marked the aisle during the ceremony then later adorned the clubhouse mantel.

ALL TIED UP: For an understated preface to the event’s coral color scheme, Branch Design Studio tied dainty posies of red ranunculus and mokara orchids to each of the aisle-side chairs.

FAMILY MATTERS: The bride’s younger sister, who acted as her matron of honor, and her mother each contributed to the wedding preparation and execution. “If you have people that you trust, let them help—it takes a lot of the stress out of planning,” notes Amy.

SPECIAL TOUCHES: Since her grandmother couldn’t travel to attend the wedding, the bride pinned her favorite brooch to the bridal bouquet. Amy ordered her garter and clutch, monogrammed inside with her and Scott’s names and the wedding date, from Etsy vendors. And the matron of honor, Amy’s sister, helped her pick out the drop pearl and crystal earring and necklace set that echoed the crystal cluster on the her heels.

SOUTHERN COMFORT: The mother of the bride sewed throw pillows to accent the porch rockers, adding an inexpensive hint of color and touch of comfort.

MIXED BUNCH: In lieu of pricey arrangements, Branch Design Studio submerged simple stems of orchids in clear vases of varying heights and topped each with a floating candle.

SIGNS OF SPRING: By comparing the maid of honor’s dress swatch to fabric samples from rental company BBJ Linen, wedding designer Pam Paciaroni and Amy selected bright tablecloths and napkins to complement the ceremony’s color scheme.

DOUBLE AGENT: Pew markers were repurposed as highboy table centerpieces for cocktail hour.

THE PERFECT DAY: Since weekends at the Creek Club were booked for the upcoming year, Amy and Scott chose to hold their wedding on a Monday. “Although a bit unorthodox, it allowed our guests to enjoy Charleston before the festivities,” explains Amy. “Plus, we didn’t have to worry about availability constraints with our preferred vendors.”

BRIGHT BEAUTY: Amy and Scott worked with the florist to include an array of large and small arrangements to stay within their budget.

RIBBON WORKS: Once the couple agreed on the coral and green palette, Amy visited Michaels and purchased satin ribbon in the appropriate colors to share with vendors who needed trimmings, such as this wrap around the aisle posies.

SURF OR TURF: For a fun and functional touch, the stationer added fish and foul stamps on the backs of the place cards, making it easy for the wait staff to determine which dish each guest had ordered.

IN GOOD TASTE: The raspberry-filled almond crème cake from Publix was dressed up with a bright peony topper and a shower of tulip and orchids.

SWEET TALK: “Every time we visited Charleston during the planning process, we would stop by Christophe Pâtissier and buy chocolates,” says Amy. So she and Scott worked with the artisan chocolatier to create individual boxes of hand-painted truffles as favors for their guests.

GET THE SCOOP: Paolo’s gelato set up a cool cart inside the reception hall so guests could indulge in a chilly treat on the warm spring day. Flavor choices included chocolate, cappuccino, and tiramisu.

EXIT STRATEGY: Amy changed into a festive frock before leaving the reception amid bubbles.

SIGN OFF: The matron of honor adorned the couple’s black cab with a hand-painted “Just Married” sign. “We got lots of honks on the way out,” remembers Amy.

February 2013

One Tar Heel couple shows how good sense and romance can go happily hand in hand

Photographs by:

Diana Deaver Weddings

Amy Clark and Scott Kohn started off as chummy coworkers, but when he accepted a job at a different company, their friendship bloomed into a romance. Two and a half years later, Scott sent Amy on a scavenger hunt, each clue spelling out his vision for their future together. The final note directed her to him, and after she accepted his proposal, the two teamed up on another big project—their wedding.

With the couple based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and their families in the Northeast and Midwest, Scott and Amy opted for a destination wedding, choosing Charleston for its peaceful ambiance. “We really wanted a relaxed, intimate day with our closest family and friends,” says Amy. And when the couple discovered the Creek Club at I’On, they immediately took to its secluded feel. With Amy attending to details and Scott paying mind to the big picture, the club’s event designer Pam Paciaroni helped plan a laid-back daytime affair that emphasized togetherness.

Following a creek-side ceremony officiated by a good friend, the party moved to the clubhouse’s wraparound porch for a cocktail hour, during which guests mingled with mojitos in hand. Lunch opened with an amuse-bouche of shrimp and grits in Tasso gravy. Later, while the Joe Clarke Quartet played ’40s-style classics, guests chatted, danced, and indulged in treats from Paolo’s gelato. By the time the newlyweds headed away with a bubble send-off, their wedding wishes had been happily fulfilled. “We got to talk to—and hug—every person that came,” says Amy. “It was an event focused on simply being together to celebrate our new life.”

Vendor List
Baker: Publix; www.publix.com

Caterer: Jacob’s Kitchen; www.ioncreekclub.com
Chocolates: Christophe Artisan Chocolatier-Patissier; www.christophechocolatier.com
Florist: Branch Design Studio; www.branchdesignstudio.com
Gelato: Paolo’s; www.paolosgelato.com
Hair: Amanda Bagford from David Ross Salon; www.davidrosssalon.com
Linens: BBJ Linen; www.bbjlinenstore.com
Makeup: Grace SalonSpa; www.gracesalonspasc.com
Musicians: Palmetto Strings; www.palmettostrings.com, Joe Clarke Quartet; www.joeclarkebigband.com
Photographer: Diana Deaver Weddings; www.dianadeaverweddings.com
Rentals (highboy tables): EventWorks; www.eventworksrentals.com
Stationery: Three Little Birds; www.threelittlebirdsinc.com
Transportation: Charleston Black Cab Company; www.charlestonblackcabcompany.com
Wedding designer: Pam Paciaroni; www.ioncreekclub.com

The Wedding Row

October 4 2019

Wiki Wiki Styled Wedding

Y’all. I almost don’t want to write a thing here because the shots from Folly Beach’s Wiki Wiki Sandbar are so freakin’ amazing they need no explanation, embellishment, or extrapolation. I mean,...

October 3 2019

Liz & Chris | Lowndes Grove Plantation

Psst! Want a sneak peek into how a photographer helps a couple warm up before the lens long before the Big Day? Here’s how it’s done, Charleston-style, by Priscilla Thomas of Priscilla Thomas...

October 2 2019

Inali & Leon | Engagement Session

Inali and Leon met on a college trip to Washington D.C. back in 2012. Inali’s first impression? Leon was the strangest man she had ever met. Six years later, after some solid QT together, she...

October 1 2019

Savannah & Jared | Private Residence

We love how bride Savannah operates. That dress she’s sporting? It was purchased at what was formerly The Gown Collective (and now is Magnolia Bride, an upscale gown consignment shop downtown on...

September 30 2019

Meryl & Emily | Cannon Green

The stars aligned for Emily and Meryl not once, not twice, but three times to make sure they ended up a couple. The first time, Emily sidled up to a bar where Meryl was slinging drinks when sparks...

September 27 2019

Shannon & Russell | The Gadsden House

If you’re craving a love story and the tale of how this wedding at The Gadsden House came together, click here for the original story that ran in summer 2019 Charleston Weddings. If you’re wanting to...

September 26 2019

Chic Styled Shoot | Folly Beach

You know all those paradise weddings you’ve seen? Those where the bride and groom are standing on a windswept beach with palms blowing in the wind and the bride’s veil flutters almost as much as her...

September 20 2019

Michelle & Patrick | The Gadsden House

Sparks flew a few years back on the Fourth of July in Charleston when Michelle was introduced to Patrick. After what we are assuming was one memorable holiday, and after dating for two-ish years,...

Feature

Ode to Old Hollywood

Inspired by a love of movies, this American Theater wedding was nothing short of iconic

Feature

Real-Life Fairy Tale

See what happens when a local wedding insider dreams up her own princess-worthy celebration

Feature

Leave a Good Impression

Commemorate your wedding with a landmark gift to the city that’s hosting your “I dos”

Feature

Bellissimo!

Get the scoop on the newest cool treat-on-wheels in town

Feature

The Good Life

Limoncello & citrus sweets take over this wedding at Middleton Place

Feature

Love Blossoms

Inspired by a chinoiserie wallpaper pattern, the florals at this Aiken House stunner stole the show

Feature

In the Moment

Picturesque Palmetto Bluff played host to a multiday celebration of love

Feature

Peace, Love & Happiness

A couple of city slickers ditch the concrete jungle for a wedding weekend in the lovely Lowcountry

Feature

Grin & Bare It

Pamper your skin to look and feel silky soft on your big day

Feature

Princess Diaries

Watercolored portraits give brides the royal treatment (and a timeless memento)

Feature

Belle of the Hotel

Looking for a summer hideaway in the middle of the city? Belmond Charleston Place is one cool choice for your wedding

Feature

Up at Arms

Barely there or billowing, sleeves on bridesmaids' gowns flatter every body

Feature

Easy Breezy

Fresh inspiration for summer vows

Feature

Creative Signage

A Charleston “letter artist” takes modern calligraphy to a whole new level that brides (and celebs) adore

Feature

Winter Whites

Jane Ruffin & Justin Waluch; September 12, 2009, Lowndes Grove

Feature

Gossip, Girl!

From new dress shops to chic stuff for your mom (and mom-in-law), and lipstick that’s so pretty you’ll pucker right up, here’s the latest in wedding style headlines