Garden Party Perfection

Spring 2015

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Garden Party Perfection | Allison Thompson & Christopher Unger, May 12, 2012, The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church & Governor Thomas Bennett House

Charleston Wedding wedding Governor Thomas Bennett House Thomas Bennett House Snyder Event Rentals Cru Catering gown Paper Dolls

PALE PRETTIES: White peonies, roses, ranunculus, and Lily of the Valley filled the bridal bouquet.

TOUR GUIDE: Allison worked with dodeline design to create a stunning stationery suite sprinkled with helpful travel tips.

WARM WELCOME: With mixed type and blocks of color, the ceremony programs made a bold, modern statement.

BRIDAL PORTRAIT: Loluma arranged an all-white bouquet to complement Allison’s Romona Keveza gown.

FRESH PICK: For the groom’s boutonniere, Loluma arranged a white rose with simple greens complementing his green and navy striped tie.

MAY DAY: It was a beautiful spring day for the couple’s downtown nuptials at The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church.

A BIT OF HISTORY: The couple exchanged vows at The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church in the French Quarter—Charleston’s oldest Gothic Revival building and a National Historic Landmark.

UNDER THE ARCH: The gothic revival style architecture of The Huguenot Church brought historical and romantic charm to the ceremony.

FAMILY FIRST: A large white hydrangea tied with ribbon reserved the front pew for members of the couple’s family.

SET THE STAGE: Loluma accented The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church’s deep wood décor with fresh white and green blooms.

TROPICAL DELIGHT: The couple—who first met in the Bahamas—headed back to the Caribbean for their honeymoon.

A TO C: Greens arranged in letter shapes hung from the gate, welcoming guests to the Governor Thomas Bennett House.

BACKYARD BEAUTY: Cocktail hour was held on the back lawn of the Governor Thomas Bennett House.

WHITE DELIGHT: White roses, hydrangea, and hypericum berries were placed in mint julep cups for delicate centerpieces.

HANGING GARDEN: Colorful floral arrangements hung from porch railings at the Governor Thomas Bennett House.

GET COZY: A good friend of the couple’s made the reception’s throw pillows, which now adorn their newlywed nest.

GARDEN PARTY: White sofas from Snyder Event Rentals were dressed up with chevron and ikat-patterned pillows. Loluma camouflaged chandelier chains with fabric and twisting vines.

A SPECIAL PLACE: “We wanted to enjoy time together with friends and family beyond just the wedding day," says Allison.

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT: Granny Smith apples and oranges added a fresh, colorful effect to the reception décor.

STUNNING SET: Silver vessels matched cocktail tables’ Chiavari chairs.

NATURAL BEAUTY: “We went simple—white with green accents,” says Allison of the florals.

LUSH LAYERS: The Governor Thomas Bennett House’s yard featured an abundance of plants and flowers, providing natural beauty to the reception’s décor.

UNDERSTATED STYLE: Loluma tucked the fresh florals into small rustic pots.

DAINTY DOES IT: Petite groups of Belles of Ireland, white roses, and hypericum berries were bookmarked by Mason jars filled with sand and votive candles.

HERE AND THERE: To help ensure smooth traffic flow, the Governor Thomas Bennett House’s grassy backyard was divided.

SITTING PRETTY: Loluma set the outdoor tables with white linens and Chiavari chairs—a clean and crisp that balanced well with the colorful flowers and natural elements.

TABLE TALK: Chiavari bar stools and silver vessels dressed up cocktail tables.

DIG IN: Cru Catering dished up distinctly Southern fare, like shrimp and grits, macaroni and cheese, and biscuits.

TAILORED TREATS: In lieu of a tiered confection, the King Street bakery Cupcake provided mini cupcakes for the dessert spread.

SNEAKY, SNEAKY: After serving as ring bearer, Henry Howard satisfied his sweet tooth with a mini chocolate cupcake.

PICTURE PERFECT: The bride says choosing the right venue was one of their top priorities.

AN EYE FOR DETAIL: Thoughtful touches were one of the couple’s chief requests for the evening, says Allison.

Photographs by:

Aesthetiica Photography

A spring break trip to the Bahamas turned especially memorable for Kentucky native Allison Thompson when she met Christopher (“Chris”) Unger, of Massachusetts. After casually chatting about Boston—where Chris lived and Allison was hoping to intern the following summer—the two exchanged email addresses, then parted ways to return to their respective colleges. Months later, Allison scored the internship, and when she arrived to Boston, reached out to Chris. The pair soon scheduled their first date, which Allison says was, “The moment that started the rest of our lives.” A decade of dating later (four years of which were spent long-distance), Chris surprised Allison on a “low-key, pizza Friday night” with a bended knee proposal.

As their guest list included folks from all over the North and South, the couple opted for a destination wedding. “After my first trip to Charleston, I knew that one day it would be the perfect wedding destination,” says Allison, who grew up visiting the Lowcountry on vacations with her family. With a color scheme—green, yellow, and navy blue (the bride’s favorite color)—and a love for special details in mind, the couple then enlisted Tiffany Snyder of Loluma to orchestrate the evening.

And on May 12, 2012, after exchanging vows in the French Protestant (Huguenot) Church, the newlyweds and their guests made their way west on the Peninsula to the Governor Thomas Bennett House. From a bold stationery suite crafted by dodeline design and fresh fruit and chevron-patterned accents, to the bride’s Romona Keveza gown and dangling chandeliers, the evening was filled with modern-meets-traditional elegance. After a cocktail hour in the venue’s grassy backyard and a Southern-style dinner indoors, the couple continued the celebration with their friends and family on the tented outdoor dance floor. Says Allison of the night, “Having the opportunity to have everyone together for the weekend was amazing.”

Vendor List

Baker: Cupcake; www.freshcupcakes.com
Bar service and rentals: Snyder Event Rentals; www.snydereventrentals.com
Bridal attire: Romona Keveza from Kleinfelds New York; www.romonakeveza.com
Caterer:Cru Catering; www.crucatering.com
Ceremony location: French Protestant (Huguenot) Church; www.frenchchurch.org
DJ: DJ Natty Heavy; www.nattyheavy.com
Florist:Loluma; www.loluma.com
Groom and groomsmen attire: Bloomingdales; www.bloomingdales.com
Hair & makeup: Paper Dolls; www.mycharlestonweddinghair.com
Music:Charleston Virtuosi (ceremony strings) and Bill Peterson (vocalist); www.charlestonvirtuosi.com
Photographer: Aesthetiica Photography; www.aesthetiica.com
Planner: Tiffany Snyder ofLoluma; www.loluma.com
Reception location: Governor Thomas Bennett House; www.governorthomasbennetthouse.com
Stationer: Dodeline Design; www.dodelinedesign.com
Transportation:Absolutely Charleston; www.absolutelycharleston.com
Videographer: Siegel Films; www.siegelfilms.com

The Wedding Row

February 8 2019

Cosette & Andrew | The Gadsden House

One of the things about being wedding-obsessed is that we’ve seen (more than) our share of Big Days thrown here in Charleston. So for us to pass on a post to you, it’s got to be an event that was...

February 7 2019

Emily & Alex | Middleton Place

Emily and Alex’s Big Day may look effortlessly picture-perfect (thanks to the expert styling skills of Blythe Hill at Hill & Co. Creative), but according to Emily, there was a moment before the...

February 6 2019

Lauren & Brent | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Beer, pizza, and donuts each play a pivotal role in Brent and Lauren’s romance, which hit a majorly high note last fall when they wed at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. But before we get to the big...

February 5 2019

Caroline & Matt | The Cedar Room

If, after looking at these photos, you find yourself scrolling down to the vendor credits to see which planner was at the helm of this traditional-meets-artsy fête at The Cedar Room, you won’t find...

February 4 2019

Katelin & Daniel | Daniel Island Club

There’s a lot you can tell about a wedding from photos—the color palette, what kind of dress the bride wore, how amazing the cake was—but we’ve learned that the best wedding info often comes straight...

February 1 2019

Styled Shoot | Coosaw Plantation

Watch out, Lowcountry, there’s a new wedding venue down the road. Previously a private home, Coosaw Plantation sits just outside Beaufort, making it a short (and scenic) drive from Charleston. And as...

January 31 2019

Sarah & Carl | Thomas Hall

There are so many cool details about this couple and their sleek black-tie wedding by Bouquets and Bowties that we hardly know where to start. How about let’s back up for a sec and start with the...

January 30 2019

Kingslea & Preston | Private Club

We got a live one, y’all! You know when we get a great first-person(s?) story from a couple that we like to let them tell their tale. Well, meet Kingslea and Preston. Get ready to take notes because...

Feature

Edited to Perfection

What does a Pure Luxe Bride planner do when it's her turn at the altar?

Feature

A Cut Above

Decorate your Big Day with storied (and snipped) art forms

Feature

Pretty in Purple

This vibrant celebration at the Cigar Factory pulled out all the design stops

Feature

Nice Wheels

Roll your way to happily wedded after in an oh-so-original ride

Feature

Simple & Stunning

Have a cool-weather luncheon or shower on the agenda? Event maven Mindy Rice visits the Old Village and shows how to greet guests with colorful grace

Feature

Get Inspired: Artfully Cool

Feature

Dressing Your Squad

You’ve found your dream gown, now it’s time to choose a look for your bridesmaids

Feature

True Blue

Edit your wedding day inspiration into something that reflects you as a couple, celebrates family, and stays within your budget

Feature

Host a Manly Meal

Put the groom’s predilections at the forefront of the rehearsal dinner

Feature

Happily Ever After

What does a gal get when she has an officer and a gentlemen, plus an audience with the Queen on date number two?

Feature

Suite of Sweets

Ooh! Events joins Charleston bakers and confectioners to show how to streamline all the sweet treats at your wedding

Feature

'Tis the Season

With a ceremony in her childhood church, a reception (for 350!) at the beach club where she grew up, a groom who’s her best friend, this winter wedding was all this bride could hope for