Fall Lightens Up



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Fall Lightens Up | Catherine Elcock & Aaron Schwartz; October 31, 2009, Lowndes Grove

In February 2009, New Yorker Aaron Schwartz proposed to his girlfriend of four years, Catherine Elcock, and almost immediately after she said “yes,” they chose the Holy City to say their vows. “I grew up spending summers on Pawley’s Island,” says Catherine, “and it’s become a very special place to Aaron and me.”

The couple set their wedding date for October—Halloween, to be exact—and although they did want to reference the holiday   (especially for their nieces and nephews) they didn’t want to drown in a sea of black and orange. With that in mind, Catherine and Aaron enlisted Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events to transform Lowndes Grove into an autumnal scene. To get there, Calder re-interpreted the traditional Halloween palette as dove gray and daisy yellow, and incorporated tricks (like waiters donning pirate eye patches) and treats (like a kiddie candy bar).

When the day arrived, a backdrop of ribbon streamers gently blew in the Ashley River breeze as Catherine and Aaron said their “I dos” before retiring with their guests to a tented reception.  While the adults dined on seasonal cuisine—like a starter of lobster salad tossed in lime-cilantro dressing—and sipped wines specially flown in from California, younger guests (who changed into their costumes after the ceremony) held court at their own table, filled with crafts and sweets. “The combination of Halloween and our wedding was tons of fun for them—and us,” says Catherine. “It was a beautiful weekend.”


Vendors

Bridal Gown:  Jin Wang
Bridesmaids' Dresses:  Jenny Yoo Collection
Cake: Elaine’s Events
Calligraphy:  Elizabeth Porcher Jones, elizporcher@gmail.com
Catering: Fish
Ceremony Music: Strong Trio
Event Design: Calder Clark Designs
Florist: Blossoms Events 
Lighting: PDA Stage
Location: Lowndes Grove
Photography: Gayle Brooker (chief photographer); Heather Forsythe (detail photographer)
Reception Music: Total Package Band
Stationery: Dulles Designs
Transportation: Absolutely Charleston


 

The Wedding Row

July 29 2019
Happy Monday, friends.  We are sitting down with our cup of coffee and with lovely Kelly, the owner of Paper Meets Pearl, a one-stop shop boutique wedding and event planning company based in the...

July 26 2019
It’s confirmed: Heather and Chuck absolutely let the dogs out. The pet lovers (and now newlyweds) met back in Gainesville, Florida, while in veterinary school. Chuck was getting his PhD in animal...

July 25 2019
These days, it’s pretty common to meet your S.O. on a dating app, but Tanya and Joe met in real life, sans any electronics. Can you believe it? While checking out a new store opening in Crown Town (...

July 24 2019
Back again, but this time it’s official! We fell hard for Abby and Grant’s love story back when we shared their engagement session a few months back. For a refresher, their romance began when Abby...

July 23 2019
Not everyone is fortunate enough to meet their future spouse as early as middle school, but Caroline and Robert sure lucked out. Although these two grew up together, they only began dating after...

July 22 2019
Alicia and Cameron, Maryland dwellers, may not live in our zip code but they certainly know how to throw a shindig, Charleston-style. We will get to that bit later but for starters, how about a...

July 18 2019
Now this is a wedding story full of fun, food, and … fish. (Wait for it. You’ll see.) Arkansas natives Elle and Miles met in college and dated for four years before this groom seriously reeled in a...

July 17 2019
After meeting online and sensing that this could be something special, Carolyn and Jeff found themselves falling head-over-heels IRL. Four years later, the duo vacationed in Grand Cayman for the Ritz...