Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
Emily Slater and Lindsay Bissell know how to make a great first impression—even on each other. Cofounders of the gifting service A Signature Welcome (678/372-5127), they became fast friends on move-in day freshman year at the University of Georgia. Ten years later, both had moved to Charleston when Emily, a wedding magazine veteran and Lindsay, a graduate of Parsons The New School for Design, found themselves gabbing about what Emily would have done differently for her nuptials.
Welcome bags topped her short list, and that chat birthed a business that has caught the fancy of top-notch planners like Yoj Events and Easton Events, among others, as well as the luxury retreat group Bliss & Bespoke. Bridal gown designers like Carol Hannah Whitfield and Heidi Elnora have been on the receiving end of their surcey boxes, and when Victoria’s Secret “angel” Lindsay Ellingson tied the knot at Palmetto Bluff last fall, she enlisted the duo to greet her guests in luxe style.
Curated contents are customized to each client and range from home-baked treats (they can package up Mom’s snickerdoodles) to your favorite imported soaps, hand-poured candles, or cocktail bitters. Full-service gifting starts at $1,500; the rate depends on gift contents, packaging, and quantity. Popular mini kits include the Revelry + Remedy Kit (ibuprofen, bandages, and more) to a Sun Kit (sunscreen, sunglasses, and a Turkish towel).
But the irresistible draws? High-end packaging options that melt a Pinterest lover’s heart—custom monograms and logos; calligraphed tags; wood-burnt balsa wood boxes; fine silk ribbonry—hand delivery, and a bespoke boutique experience overall.
