Royal Treatment

Spring 2014

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Royal Treatment | Greek traditions and violet hues set the tone for a regal affair kicked off with a pair of crowns

a charleston bride Charleston Wedding Gayle Brooker Photography wedding wedding cake Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal William Aiken House BBJ Linen Bella Bridesmaid place cards wine Studio R Fish

COMING SOON: Invitations from mac & murphy foreshadowed the wedding's decadent décor hues.

PRECIOUS METALS: Christine’s Lazaro gown featured silver detailing, while Boris’ ceremonial robe boasted a gilded cross.

PRECIOUS JEWELS: In the Eastern Orthodox church, the crowns donned by two newlyweds symbolize the crowns that await them in heaven.

ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU: Boris first saw his bride-to-be in a photograph on the wall of a mutual friend’s dorm room at Furman University. After he begged to be introduced to Christine, the pair met in person a few weeks later, at St. Mary's Orthodox Church.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: “The William Aiken House was perfect for us,” explains Christine. “It’s a classy venue that went with our black-tie reception, but the outdoor area was perfect for a summer night of dancing and mingling.”

SEA OF LOVE: Of their long courtship, which spanned eight years (and the Atlantic Ocean, when Boris left the United States to study and work in London), Christine says, “It only proved our hearts’ true desires for each other.”

IN N’ OUT: The elegance of the house’s interior easily transferred to the garden with lavender sateen bench ottomans, antique furniture, and escort-card laden streamers swinging from the palatial white arbor.

PICK ONE: Melissa Barton of A Charleston Bride affixed escort cards to golden strips of fabric with tiny gilded clothespins.

SWEET MEMORIES: “We kept the furniture white and added rich color via throw pillows,” explains planner Melissa Barton. “Knowing us,” says bride Christine, “there will now be purple cushions in our flat in London.” A Greenville, South Carolina, native, she met Boris, a Bulgarian, when he was at Furman University.

Jonie of A Charleston Bride potted lisianthus and ranunculus in varying shades, from eggplant to pale lilac.

HOT SEAT: Metallic gold dining chairs stood out against white linens and gauzy tent fabric.

WHAT’S APP: Hors d’oeuvres provided by Fish Restaurant included baby fried green tomatoes, mini lobster rolls, and these delectable bites: shrimp and soft gouda grits on edible cracker spoons.

PROBLEM SOLVED: To combat Christine’s concerns about seating guests in three separate dining rooms, Melissa came up with a creative solution: arranging tables along the terrace, which created an easy flow from room to room.

CHILD’S PLAY: Armed with thematically appropriate coloring pages, designated babysitters manned a kids’ dining table.

JUST ENOUGH: With a venue already boasting fine curtains, chandeliers, wall mounted candelabras, and dark wooden furniture, Melissa found the fine balance between enhancing the surroundings and overpowering them.

FOOD COLORING: Goldenrod chargers and lavender linens carried the palette to the dinner table, where pralines in silver chevron-printed bags greeted guests.

Photograph by Gayle Brooker

REST STOP: Melissa added whimsy (and color) to a pewter settee with pennants in the day’s signature violet damask print. Oversized silver vases were resplendent with masses of off-white blooms.

FRESH COAT: To keep the dessert form Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal traditional (i.e. white), Melissa stayed true to the days’ color scheme by placing it atop a metallic lavender cake stand.

FAIRY LIGHTS: Tiny lanterns suspended from the garden’s ancient oaks lent a magical aura to the reception.

BIG TOP: Taking a cue from the elegant indoor fixtures, Melissa arranged for a sparkly Technical Event Company chandelier to illuminate the outdoor tent.

LEAVES OF GRASS: Golden fronds woven into the house’s wrought iron gates beckoned guests to enter.

Photographs by:

Gayle Brooker

Christine Riyad & Boris Michev
June 15, 2013, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church & William Aiken House

In accordance with tradition, when Christine Riyad said “I do” to Boris Michev, their Greek Orthodox priest crowned the couple king and queen of their newly created family. To host a fittingly majestic reception, the pair chose the William Aiken House, a palette of purple, silver, and gold, and Melissa Barton of A Charleston Bride to tie the event together. “We wanted to allow the beautiful, ornate furniture to stand out,” says Christine, “and since purple is associated with royalty, we thought it was a fitting choice.” To add custom touches, Melissa covered coffee tables and pillows in violet damask fabric, topped metallic gold dining chairs with ivory seat cushions, and hand-painted mini-clothespins to attach place cards to wine glasses. The end result? An event clearly befitting a royal couple.

Vendor List

Baker: Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, www.weddingcakesbyjimsmeal.com

Bridal Attire: Lazaro, www.jlmcouture.com

Bridesmaids’ Attire: Amsale, available in Charleston through Bella Bridesmaid, www.bellabridesmaid.com

Caterer: Fish Restaurant, www.fishrestaurantcharleston.com

Groom’s Attire: J. Hilburn, www.jhilburn.com

Groomsmen’s Attire: Jos A. Bank, www.josabank.com

Invitations: Mac & Murphy, www.macandmurphy.com

Linens: BBJ Linens, www.bbjlinen.com

Lighting: TEC, www.technicaleventcompany.com

Musicians: Brendan James (www.brendanjames.com); Atlanta Pleasure Band (www.eastcoastentertainment.com/artist/atlanta-pleasure-band‎)

Photographer: Gayle Brooker Photography, www.gaylebrooker.com

Planner & Florist: A Charleston Bride, www.acharlestonbride.com

Rentals: Event DRS (www.eventdrscharleston.com); Snyder (www.snyderevents.com)

Save-the-Dates: Studio R, www.studio-r-design.com

Venue: The William Aiken House, www.pphgcharleston.com

The Wedding Row

April 29 2019

Bachelorette Session | Isle of Palms

If you’ve ever walked down King Street on a Saturday evening, you know Charleston’s the “It City” for bachelorette parties. So when North Carolina native and bride-to-be Cristen decided to hold her...

April 26 2019

Kaitlin & Allan | The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

The latest Charleston Weddings magazine features the journey of Kaitlin and her hubby Allan, who defied the odds and overcame a traumatic brain injury to join his bride at the altar on their Big Day...

April 25 2019

Morgan & Chase | Hibernian Hall

When Morgan and her family attended Folly Gras 2015 (a Mardi Gras celebration held annually on Folly Beach), she had no inclination she’d meet her future husband. But when she caught up with her best...

April 24 2019

Vendor Spotlight | Mercantile & Mash

Few things get us through a hump day better than fantasizing about fantastic food and lip-smacking libations. So we thought it was a good time to reach out to Graham Ervin, director of sales at The...

April 23 2019

Hannah & Jonathan | Oldfield

We profiled Hannah and Jonathan’s super lovely wedding in the spring issue of Charleston Weddings, but we weren’t able to include all they had to say, and we had a ton of bonus images to share with...

April 22 2019

Tabletop Styled Shoot | Merchants Hall

Samantha Anderson Events teamed up with Lyndi and Jason Photography to turn a no-fun subject—your wedding budget—on its head. The trick? Samantha dressed three tables at three different price points...

April 19 2019

Blake & Charles | The Gadsden House

Blake, a wedding planner for Pure Luxe Bride, recently had the chance to plan her own Big Day. She and now-husband Charles met in an accounting class at College of Charleston, and a few years later...

April 18 2019

Elizabeth & James | Engagement Session

Here’s a rare wedding bird these days: A Charleston-raised couple prepping to say “I do” here in their own backyard. As Elizabeth and James keep on with the planning, here’s a little about the...