Hot and Cold

Spring 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Hot and Cold | Julie Sonkin & Michael Belgraier, May 26, 2012, Runnymede Plantation

Charleston Wedding Apple wedding wedding cake Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal Snyder Event Rentals Cru Catering Jazz Flowers runnymede

Hot and Cold

DETAILS MAKE IT: “The tonal stationery suite by Dauphine Letterpress was the first thing I fell in love with when planning our wedding, and the envelope’s orange chevron liner eventually inspired the coral in our color palette,” says Julie. “I liked that hit of color.”

LUSH BLUSH: Bridal attendants carried bouquets of peach-hued tree peonies, protea, Pink Finesse roses, and hypericum berries.

HAT TRICK: The couple offered male guests gray linen yarmulkes monogrammed with their initials and wedding date.

PRETTY PAPERS: Emilie Dulles at Dulles Designs worked with Julie and Michael to incorporate the laurel wreath logo from their invitations onto a program to be handed out prior to the ceremony. “We felt a program was important for guests who weren’t familiar with a Jewish wedding ceremony,” explains the bride.

SITTING PRETTY: During the short ceremony, guests perched atop benches painted Charleston green. The charming seating choice seemed a natural fit with Runnymede’s plantation grounds and respected the vista that Julie and Michael had selected as the setting for their nuptials.

SAVVY SHOPPING: “The bridesmaids’ dresses were a happy accident,” says the bride, who chose a simple and flattering draped dress from the Wedding Library’s ready-to-wear collection after Badgley Mischka discontinued her original selection a month before the Big Day.

SACRED GROUND: Nestled under a grand live oak draped in Spanish moss, Julie and Michael exchanged “I dos” just before sunset on the banks of the Ashley River.

SHORE THING: Julie's Badgley Mischka gown stood out against the dramatic riverside setting, as did Michael's Kenneth Cole tux.

SWEET AND SPICY: At a cocktail hour following the ceremony, servers (donning coral ties to complement the event) offered guests Cajun spice spiked lemonade, a tip of the hat to the bride and groom’s New Orleans connection, courtesy of Cru Catering.

COLOR WATCH: “People can be scared of colorful flowers,” notes event designer Calder Clark, “but you can keep them from looking garish by staying monochromatic.”

PATTERN PLAY: A trellis-patterned fabric, which wended its way into throw pillows and a runner for the head table, inspired the gray in the color palette.

I'M HOOKED: Tucked into a lushly planted wooden box, galvanized calligraphied garden tags pointed guests to the appropriate table. “Tented paper cards wouldn't have withstood the Ashley River breezes,” says planner Calder Clark. Menu cards made of tin carried the medium over to the tables.

SET THE TABLE: “Nothing provides a punch like repeats,” explains planner Calder Clark, who layered the 32-person head table with nickel lanterns, loose blooms, an assortment of Roost votives, and ivory candles in varying heights. To prevent the centerpiece from blocking conversation, Calder kept everything lower than 11 inches.

WELCOME WARMTH: Calder selected a coral underlay for the head table and softened its strong statement with a gray patterned runner.

MIXED MATCH: Set against a muted Tuscany linen tablecloth, coral napkins and blooms gave the dining tables spring appeal; white eyelet plates from Snyder Event Rentals and white blown glass votives added crisp contrast.

STAKE YOUR CLAIM: To direct guests to their seats, a calligraphed seashell with a tinge of pink waited at each place setting.

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC: “The lighting scheme was kind of outrageous,” jokes Calder, who made sure to include task, ambient, and overhead lighting inside the tent. Working with Technical Event Company, she hung the vintage string lights slightly askew, uplit the columns, and used triple pinspots to cast dappled light onto the tables. “Pinspotting prevents the flowers from falling into black once the light dies down,” she explains.

PARADISE FOUND: A Sperry sailcloth tent, with pennant flags waving at every peak, provided a festive and graceful shelter for the reception. “At one point early in the evening, Calder sent Mike and I away from the tent with instructions to turn around and take it all in,” says Julie, grateful for the memory of that solitary moment.

BUSSING THE TABLE: The couple shared a toast and sweet kiss at the close of a joint congratulatory speech given by the maid of honor and best man.

DANCE, PARTNER: Beneath the amber glow of vintage string lights and a rustic chandelier, father and daughter danced to long-cherished lullaby.

MODERN MARVEL: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal constructed the cake's buttercream chevron and laurel wreath pattern, which was derived from the stationery suite. "The tone-on-tone effect presented the bold design in a subtle way," says event design Calder Clark.

SHORT AND SWEET: Just before cutting the cake, Julie changed out of her gown and into a white shift dress by Siri. “A dress with that many layers gets hot on a warm evening, and I wanted to move,” laughs Julie.

UP AT ARMS: Friends and family joyfully hoisted the bride and groom into the air for the traditional Hora (chair dance) that kicked off the party. The newlyweds each held an end of a tie to symbolize their bond.

KEYS FOR HOPE: To show their gratitude for all Charleston had given them, Julie and Michael incorporated decorative keys purchased from the Lowcountry nonprofit Keys for Hope, which donates proceeds to Crisis Ministries, into wedding favors. The couple attached the handcrafted art keys to Rewined candles, which are produced locally from repurposed wine bottles and had been stamped with custom coral-colored wax seals.

RUN THE GAUNTLET: At evening’s end, guests treated the newlyweds to a spectacular sparkler sendoff. “Watching everyone whooping and hollering and shouting their congratulations, I remember the overwhelming urge to break ranks,” says Julie, “to run to each of our guests, throw my arms around them, and thank them—for being there, for loving us, for so genuinely sharing in our joy.”

February 2013

Real-Life Weddings

Receptions

Though Michael Belgraier and Julie Sonkin hail from New York City, they first met at Tulane University in New Orleans and didn’t begin dating until both had returned to the Big Apple. When the two were engaged, they turned toward the South again, specifically toward the Lowcountry, where the bride had vacationed since childhood. Calder Clark of Calder Clark Designs introduced Julie to Runnymede Plantation’s marsh view then planned an evening ceremony there with a cool tone-on-tone gray palette punched up with a hot coral that evoked sunset hues. In addition to the warm shades of the flowers and linens under the Sperry reception tent, a spectacular firework show added color to the night. “Every element that we love about the Lowcountry was incorporated into the day,” says Julie. “More than anything, though, all the love, joy, and excitement made it so special.”

Vendor List

Baker: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal; www.weddingcakesbyjimsmeal.com
Caterer: Cru Catering; www.crucatering.com
Ceremony and reception location: Runnymede Plantation; www.eventsatrunnymede.com
Fireworks: Southeastern Pyrotechnics; www.southeasternpyrotechnics.com
Florist: Blossoms Events; www.blossomsevents.com
Linens: La Tavola; www.latavolalinen.com
Musicians: Charleston String Quartet, Tulane Jazz Ensemble, Infinity Show Band; www.infinityshowband.com
Photographer: A Bryan Photo; www.abryanphoto.com
Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals, Skyline Tent Company; www.snydereventrentals.com, www.skylinetentcompany.com
Stationer: Dulles Designs; www.dullesdesigns.com
Wedding planner: Calder Clark Designs; www.calderclark.com

The Wedding Row

October 21 2019

Amanda & Matt | Lowndes Grove Plantation

Office acquaintances, Amanda and Matt, turned friends at a karaoke work party. One evening after said work party, the pair strolled by the Empire State Building (at 1 a.m., mind you). Matt...

October 18 2019

Kait & Alec | Lowndes Grove Plantation

We’ve all probably dreamt at one time or another of marrying the “boy next door.” Luckily for Kaitlyn, she fulfilled that dream in a kinda sorta way. Back in college, Kait and her roomies had a group...

October 15 2019

Katie & John | Private Residence

You know that person you keep running into over and over, no matter how many times you move, no matter what state you happen to be in? No? Well, some lucky romances are grounded in just that recipe,...

October 13 2019

Ben & Erin | The Restoration Hotel

Here’s a confession: We have seen a bajillion shots of couples and wedding parties on the cobblestones of Chalmers Street (specifically on the block between Church and Meeting streets), and after...

October 10 2019

Grace & Trevor | The Mills House

We can honestly say we’ve never seen a couple with so many photos of themselves on their wedding website having so much fun in so many different hot spots across the globe (check out TrevorandGrace....

October 9 2019

Sarah & Corey | The William Aiken House

It all started in Hollywood, California, with a bright yellow truck. When Corey dropped his friend off to meet his wife at her pal’s place, he spotted a stunning pickup in the driveway there. The...

October 8 2019

Hannah & Matt | Boone Hall Plantation

We are totally in love with these two. Not only does their gorgeous wedding at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens attest that you need not have an elaborate affair to have a sumptuously luxurious one...

October 7 2019

Cassi & Daniel | Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

If you need help believing in love at first sight, take a look at Cassi and Dan. Some years ago in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on the balcony of Dan’s Muhlenberg College dorm room, the pair first locked...

Feature

The Great Escape

A bride—and her mother—realize that eloping is sometimes the best way of coping with a wedding

Feature

Bulb Favors

Give the gift of growth with these simple favors, designed by Annie Mueller of A New Leaf Studio. Choose a flower that has special meaning to you and share it with friends and family

Feature

Copper Tone

Leigh Douglas & Randy Warren October 10, 2010 Lowndes Grove Plantation

Feature

Call it Kismet

The stars aligned for one couple’s perfect wedding day

Feature

Dressing Your Squad

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

Feature

In the Navy

Pink and navy meet for a cool, classic combination at Kiawah Island Goft Resort's Cassique

Feature

Name Your Pleasure

A host of trends hit the Charleston Weddings Spring Bridal Show catwalk

Feature

Breath of Fresh Air

The Cedar Room on East Bay gets a cool, girly makeover with this summery wedding

Feature

Pretty In Pink

A signature hue set the tone for this lavish bash

Feature

True Blue

Nikki Bolton & Brad Ellis, July 2, 2011, Legare Waring House

Feature

Bring on the Glam

Confetti cannons, a mariachi band and bagpipers, plus donations to an international orphanage make this sparkling soirée an epic one

Feature

Pink ’n’ Blue

Cailla Fleming & Bill Brehmer, October 10, 2010, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Feature

Retro & Romantic

Meredith Sheffer & Eric Rose; May 24, 2009, St. John’s Lutheran Church & Historic Rice Mill

Feature

Pomp & Circumstance

Adhering to Indian traditions, one couple’s dream wedding dazzled some 450 friends and family with vibrant color, jubilant dancing, and ornate décor and dress