Subtle Sophisticate

Spring 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Subtle Sophisticate | Laura Phillips & Jack Murphy, May 19, 2012, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church & The William Aiken House

Charleston Wedding wedding William Aiken House Snyder Event Rentals Bella Bridesmaid Big Day White calligraphy Co ooh! events Flowers Fish maddison row Lettered Olive

Subtle Sophisticate

WINNING PAIR: Jack's tux from Grady Ervin & Co. paired perfectly with Laura's formal Romona Keveza gown from Maddison Row.

HANDIWORK: Bridesmaid Rosalyn McKoon hand-stenciled the couple's green monogram on muslin favor bags of grits.

A TISKIT, A TASKET: Sweetgrass baskets held ceremony programs, which guests picked up as they entered the church.

SOUTHERN FLAIR: Dainty hydrangeas and roses were bedded in cotton and Spanish moss to add a Lowcountry touch to standard aisle liners.

BUNCHES OF BLOOMS: Laura's bouquet of pink and white peonies and roses was tied off with the sash from her mother's wedding dress. Bridesmaids carried ranunculus and palmetto roses.

HOW DASHING: Cotton bolls from Jack's family farm made charming boutonnieres.

MEMORY LANE: Laura’s favorite moment of the day? “Jack’s sweet face waiting for me at the end! We both felt a lot of love in that church!”

WARM WELCOME: Don crafted cotton boll wreaths for the church doors. After the ceremony they were moved to the reception at The William Aiken House.

FRUIT ON TOP: Newnan, Georgia, florist Don Nixon used fresh green pears to accent crisp hydrangeas, peonies, ranunculus, and roses.

HOMESPUN: The mother of the groom sewed accent pillows with elegantly subtle prints from GDC Home to lend a personal touch to sofas from Ooh! Events.

METALWORK: Sterling silver trays adorned each table. “What made them so special for me was the fact that they weren't rented,” explains Laura. The bride had them rounded up from family friends in her parents’ hometown, Newnan, Georgia.

DIFFERENT STROKES: Since each table’s décor was inspired by its one-of-a-kind sterling silver tray, every one was a unique combination of white blooms, pears, and votive candles.

GARDEN PARTY: Laura envisioned a reception that felt like she was entertaining guests in her own backyard, and the result was a laid-back, but upscale affair. Clean, white linens and tasteful centerpieces suited the William Aiken House’s lush green surroundings.

THINK FRESH: On each table, delicate Queen Anne’s Lace sprouted from gleaming mercury glass.

GUESTS, LOUNGE: Laura rented couches from Ooh! Events in neutral colors that fit the feel of the William Aiken House. “I wanted it to appear as if we just pulled furniture from the house out onto the lawn,” says Laura.

JACK OF ALL TRADES: Though not a florist by profession (he directs a Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Newnan, GA), family friend Don Nixon created beautiful, towering arrangements, like the pink orchids that greeted guests as they entered Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian.

SAY CHEESE: The bride passed along her grandmother Boody’s pimento cheese recipe to the chefs at Fish so they could whip up the family favorite. “No one makes a better pimento cheese than Boody,” boasts the bride.

ALL TIME FAVES: Fish Catering served Southern staples like crab cakes, shrimp ’n’ grits, and mac ’n’ cheese (made with orzo and truffle oil), while sandwiches and crispy shoe string fries made for perfect dancing fuel.

PICTURE PERFECT: Fish Restaurant pastry chef Susie Ieronemo created a towering vanilla cake with spiced buttercream filling. “I sent a picture to the pastry chef, and she created exactly what I wanted,” says Laura.

CAN’T GET AWAY: Laura and Jack grew up spending summers on the South Carolina coast with their families. “It just made sense for us to get married where we felt at home,” says Laura.

JOY RIDE: Post-reception, the newlyweds departed in true Charleston style, sitting back as a bike taxi took them to the Restoration on King to rest up before their two-week honeymoon in South Africa.

February 2013

Real-Life Weddings

Receptions

Road trips led to romance for Atlanta residents Laura Phillips and Jack Murphy who got to know each other carpooling to visit mutual friends in Charleston. After the couple became engaged, they planned a Holy City wedding with a reception at The William Aiken House dressed in white and crisp spring greens (Laura’s favorite color), plus accents of pale blue. For décor, Laura told planner Mary Sue Henderson of Southern Protocol that she gravitated toward simple, formal looks. “I thought of my mom and grandmothers polishing their silver, pulling out crystal and mint julep cups, and filling vases with beautiful flowers,” says Laura. Jack’s mother picked cotton from the family’s farm in Stuckey, South Carolina, to tuck into everything from boutonnieres to wreaths. On the Big Day, white flowers joined green pears atop sterling silver trays borrowed from friends, and Laura’s grandmother Boody’s pimiento cheese sandwiches were served. “It just seemed very natural and serene,” says Laura.

Vendor List

Baker: Fish Catering; www.fishrestaurantcharleston.com
Bridal attire: Romona Keveza, Maddison Row; www.maddisonrow.com
Bridesmaids’ attire: Amsale, Bella Bridesmaid; www.bellabridesmaid.com
Calligrapher: Elizabeth Porcher Jones and Calligraphy by Paige Tanenbaum; www.elizabethporcherjones.com, www.calligraphybypaigetanenbaum.com
Caterer: Fish Restaurant; www.fishrestaurantcharleston.com
Ceremony location: Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church; www.mppc.net
Day-of coordinator: Cacky’s Bride Aid, www.cackysbrideaid.com
Florist: Don Nixon
Grooms/Groomsmen Attire: Grady Ervin & Co.; www.gradyervin.com
Linens: Event Works; www.eventworksrentals.com; GDC Home; www.gdchome.com
Makeup: EQ Makeup; www.eqmakeup.com
Musicians: Right to Party; www.eastcoastentertainment.com/artist/right-to-party
Planner: Mary Susan Henderson, Southern Protocol; www.southernprotocol.com
Reception location: The William Aiken House; www.pphgcharleston.com
Rentals: Event Works, Snyder Event Rentals, and Ooh! Events; www.eventworksrentals.com, www.snydereventrentals.com, www.oohevents.com
Stationery: Lettered Olive, www.theletteredolive.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

Close to Home

Feature

Getaway Gurus

These Charleston-based women are to bachelorette weekends what planners are to your Big Day

Feature

Get Onboard

Custom Airstreams bring creature comforts (and a touch of cool) to even the most remote Lowcountry wedding venues

Feature

Country Chic

Beloved memories and family treasures marry the present to the past in this farm reception shoot by Luke Wilson of WED

Feature

Storybook Romance

Following an oh-so sweet courtship, this Brooklyn pair heads south to wed along the banks of the Ashley River

Feature

Braving the Elements

D.C. residents Brooke and Chris weather a snowstorm and fire to say “I do” amid autumn’s splendor

Feature

Secret Admirers

Fate stepped in to bring a Mount Pleasant pair together at the altar

Feature

Class Act

Feature

Storied Elegance

High-caliber creatives and chic new venues to elevate your wedding to a whole new level

Feature

Votive Lanterns

Top any plain votive with lovely little shades like these, designed by Perla Anne stationery's Stacey Bradley, and you’ll add a touch of sweet style to any wedding party