Goodness Gracious

Fall/Winter 2014

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Goodness Gracious | They may come from Pittsburgh by way of New York, but this couple sure knows how to host a wedding with Southern hospitality

Lettered Olive fashioned a stationery suite in peaches, creams, and pale green to complement the reception landscape and wedding florals. A standout? The laser-cut belly band on the invitation.

favorite palette—navy and white—colored the wedding, starting with the welcome bags. Wedding design and coordination by Tara Guérard Soirée. Paper goods by Lettered Olive.

Image by Corbin Gurkin at the Wentworth Mansion.

Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Groom and groomsmen attire by Ralph Lauren Black Label. Image by Corbin Gurkin at the Wentworth Mansion.

Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Groom and groomsmen attire by Ralph Lauren Black Label. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Boutonnieres by Tara Guérard Soirée. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Bridal gown by Vera Wang, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Bridal styling by Cacky’s Bride + Aid. Image by Corbin Gurkin at the Wentworth Mansion.

Kelly’s bridesmaids’ gowns were by Monique Lhuillier (available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaids).

Bridal gown by Vera Wang, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Bridesmaid’s dresses by Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaids. Transportation by Absolutely Charleston. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Florals by Tara Guérard Soirée. Image by Corbin Gurkin at The First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Programs by Lettered Olive. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Florals by Tara Guérard Soirée. Image by Corbin Gurkin at The First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Bridal gown by Vera Wang, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Image by Corbin Gurkin at The First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Image by Corbin Gurkin at The First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Bridal gown and veil by Vera Wang, available in Charleston through Maddison Row. Bouquet by Tara Guérard Soirée. Image by Corbin Gurkin at The First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Image by Corbin Gurkin at The First Baptist Church of Charleston.

Kelly and James met in New York City through her best friend, a Lehigh pal of James’ who later served as their maid of honor.

Catering by Tristan Events. Image by Corbin Gurkin at Runnymede Plantation.

Catering by Tristan Events. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Runnymede Plantation, which features 180 acres of wide-open countryside along the Ashley River, sits about 20 minutes from downtown.

Reception tent entrances were made formal with custom-made fabric awnings and boxwood “hedges.”

Posted with wooden thumbtacks, paper luggage tags sporting the same pattern as the wedding’s reply card were calligraphed to direct guests to their tables.

To transform the open-air tent into a black-tie reception hall, Tara and her team laid down cream-colored carpet, hung garlands of fresh greens braided with twinkling lights, and draped tables in custom floor-length linens. The head table was marked with a verdant 29-foot floral runner.

Classic china from Tara Guérard Soirée bore place cards penned by calligrapher Elizabeth Porcher Jones.

Kelly asked Tara to create a simple yet romantic setting with chandeliers and multi-sized tables.

Perched atop a table covered in the same sueded navy fabric that trimmed the other linens, the dessert from Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal wore fondant ribbons of gold and pink.

Wedding and floral design and coordination by Tara Guérard Soirée. Rentals by Snyder Events and Berlin’s Restaurant Supply. Image by Corbin Gurkin at Runnymede Plantation.

Wedding and floral design and coordination by Tara Guérard Soirée. Rentals by Berlin’s Restaurant Supply. Paper goods by Lettered Olive. Calligraphy by Elizabeth Porcher Jones. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Wedding and floral design and coordination by Tara Guérard Soirée. Lighting by Production Design Associates. Rentals by Snyder Events. Image by Corbin Gurkin at Runnymede Plantation.

Harkening colors from invitation suite and the hand-held bouquets, arrangements of leafy white hydrangeas, white roses, and pale pink spray roses dotted the dining tables.

Guests snacked from a classic cheese board, part of Tristan Events’ elaborate offerings.

Cake by Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Wedding and floral design and coordination by Tara Guérard Soirée. Rentals by Snyder Events. Image by Corbin Gurkin at Runnymede Plantation.

Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters had the couple and their guests dancing into the night.

Diggity Donuts food truck. Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Image by Corbin Gurkin.

Kelly Broad & James Affinito
October 12, 2013
The First Baptist Church of Charleston & Runnymede Plantation

Kelly Broad and James Affinito may both originally hail from Pittsburgh and call New York home now, but they each seem to have a native’s knack for Southern hospitality. Before convincing you with details from their classic Charleston wedding weekend, check out their courtship and James’ gentlemanly proposal.

The two, who met through Kelly’s best friend, first bonded in the Big Apple at group get-togethers where they found themselves cheering on the same hometown sports teams. Eventually, James invited Kelly to dinner and cooked a childhood favorite: his mom’s homemade pasta. That sentimental meal kicked off four-plus years of dating, much of which was spent dining their way across New York. The couple’s enthusiasm for good eats eventually pulled them southward. “It was our love of food that drew us to Charleston for our first weekend getaway,” says Kelly.

Then, last October, James conspired with Kelly’s office on a surprise trip. A car picked her up from work, and she was told how long she’d be gone, the forecast, and that it was time to pack. At the airport, James told her they were heading to South Carolina. The next morning, quietly in their hotel room, he proposed. Later, over coconut cake at Peninsula Grill, James surprised Kelly again with a pair of tickets to Pittsburgh so she could see her grandmother and brother on the way home to share the good news.

From there, the couple worked with Tara Guérard Soirée to fashion a welcome party at The William Aiken House, rehearsal dinner at Carolina Yacht Club, a ceremony at The First Baptist Church of Charleston, and a reception at Runnymede Plantation. Having a weekend brimming with events was critical, says Kelly, because getting to spend time with each guest was a top priority for the newlyweds. “Everything about it was just dreamy,” says Kelly graciously. “I’ll never forget it.”

Vendor List

Aisle Runner & Awning: Boutique Tents, www.BoutiqueTents.net

Bar Service: Spike by Snyder, www.SnyderEvents.com/Bar-Service

Bridal Party Transportation: Absolutely Charleston, www.AbsolutelyCharleston.com

Bride’s Gown & Veil: Vera Wang, available in Charleston through Maddison Row, www.MaddisonRow.com

Bride’s Dresser: Cacky’s Bride + Aid, www.CackysBrideAid.com

Bridesmaids’ Gowns: Monique Lhuillier, available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaids, www.BellaBridesmaids.com

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

Catering: Tristan Events, www.TristanEvents.com

Calligraphy: (invitations) Claudia Engle Lettering & Design, www.CEngleDesigns.com; (event) Elizabeth Porcher Jones, www.ElizabethPorcherJones.com

Carpeting: Christian Carpet & Binding, (843) 556-9568

Ceremony Location: The First Baptist Church of Charleston, www.FBCharleston.org

Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Suits, Slippers, and Bow Ties: Ralph Lauren Black Label, www.RalphLauren.com

Hair: Kristy Cuthbert, Sola Salon Studios, www.SolaSalonStudios.com/Stylist/Kristy_Cuthbert

Host Hotel: Wentworth Mansion, www.WentworthMansion.com

Food Truck: Diggity Doughnuts, www.DiggityDoughnuts.blogspot.com

Lighting: Production Design Associates, www.PDAStage.com

Makeup: Kori Mahoney, Gwynn’s of Mount Pleasant, www.Gwynns.com

Music: (ceremony) Beverly Bradley (organist), Little City Gospel Choir and Charleston Heartstrings, both Debut Inc., www.littlecitymusic.com; (reception) Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters, EastCoast Entertainment, www.EastCoastEntertainment.com

Photography: Corbin Gurkin, www.CorbinGurkin.com

Reception Location: Runnymede Plantation, www.EventsatRunnymede.com

Rentals: (dinner) Berlin’s Restaurant Supply, www.Berlins.com; (facilities) Nature’s Calling, www.NaturesCallingInc.com; (general) Snyder Events, www.SnyderEvents.com

Stationery & Paper Goods: Lettered Olive, www.TheLetteredOlive.com

Wedding and Floral Design and Coordination: Tara Guérard Soirée, www.TaraGuerardSoiree.com

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