Technicolor Dream

Spring/Summer 2013

WRITER CREDIT:

Victoria Friedman

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Suggs Photography

Technicolor Dream | Catherine Dickson & Zack Stergar, November 25, 2011, The Legare Waring House

Charleston Wedding JoS. A. Bank fashion wedding Legare Waring House Bella Vista Bridal

SOMETHING OLD: Catherine tied on her mother’s flowered wedding gown sash. Zack wore a JoS. A. Bank suit.

HAIR FLAIR: The bride’s sweetest something borrowed? Lace flowers that once adorned Catherine’s mother’s gown, which she pinned in her hair above her veil.

NO ORDINARY GROUP: Catherine told Debi Brickell of First Bloom of Charleston that she wanted a bouquet that looked like wild flowers—a vision the florist realized by combining a sea of Monte Casinos with palmetto roses (the same ones, in fact, that Zack gave to Catherine the day he proposed). The bunch was held in place by lace from Catherine’s mother’s own wedding gown.

PERFECT MATCH: With a delicate mix of daisies, Monte Casinos, and sweet grass roses, the groom’s boutonniere mirrored the bride’s bouquet. The special significance of the daisy? Not only is it Catherine’s favorite flower, but Zack says he often gifts bouquets of the posy to his girl.

OPEN-DOOR POLICY: The backdrop for the ceremony—a 10-foot historic iron gate and two old green shutters—was custom-made by the bride’s uncle, Ron Rader of Antebellum Restoration in Prosperity, South Carolina.

HANGING OUT: Lanterns from Loluma dangled from the venue’s giant oaks.

A WORK OF ART: Catherine says she spent months scouring vintage stores for all the elements of their DIY wedding, including vintage watercolors of Holy City scenes. This décor idea inspired the bride to create her own drawing of their ceremony site, which she gifted to her husband-to-be.

YO-YO, MA: Catherine and her mom scoured flea markets for yo-yo quilts to add color and pattern throughout the reception.

DAPPER DRAPING: Vintage lace and quilt remnants added bursts of color and texture (not to mention comfort) to bench backs.

EASY AS ABC: Fabric-covered letters (“C & Z”) from Anthropologie added to the mishmash of colors and prints.

A GOOD SIGN: Catherine’s uncle Ron Rader, owner of Antebellum Restorations in Prosperity, South Carolina, made signs for the couple from salvaged wood. The gift now hangs in the newlyweds’ home.

BOTTLED UP: “I wanted each arrangement to be unique, colorful, and have a loose, wildflower look,” says Catherine, who relied on First Bloom of Charleston to make it so.

PILLOW TALK: Lounge pieces from Loluma took on a homey vibe when topped with mix-and-match pillows of varying shapes and materials.

FLOWER POWER: The three-tiered confection by Twenty Six Divine was dressed with daisies, miniature palmetto roses, and a vintage cake topper.

A KISS GOODNIGHT: Guests tossed sprigs of lavender on the newlyweds just before they jumped into their getaway car.

Photographs by:

Suggs Photography

Since Catherine, from Columbia, South Carolina, and Zack, from Richmond, Virginia, fell in love and got engaged in Charleston, a Lowcountry wedding was the only thing that made sense to them. With the destination picked and the venue (the Legare Waring House) booked, Catherine and her mother teamed up to fashion a wedding where vintage charm met rustic elegance. Rather than choosing a distinct palette, they gravitated toward pops of cheery color and cozy textures. In the end, their vision played out with yo-yo quilts tossed over lounge furniture; fresh blooms tucked into clusters of flea market bottles and compotes; peppy daisies sprouting here and there; and homespun, patch-worked pillows placed atop cushy seats. Add an altar made from an iron gate by a loving uncle and burlap gift totes topped with quilted rounds (and filled with lavender to toss upon the couple’s exit), and you’ve got a quintessential handmade wedding celebrating love, family, and laid-back style.

Vendor List

Altar, reception cards, and signage: Ron Rader of Antebellum Restorations
Baker: Twenty Six Divine; www.twentysixdivine.com
Bride’s attire: Bella Vista Bridal; www.bellavistabridal.com
Catering: Newton Farms Catering; www.newtonfarmscatering.com
Ceremony music: Palmetto Strings; www.palmettostrings.com
Ceremony and reception location: The Legare Waring House; www.legarewaringhouse.com
Day-of coordination: Melissa Lunsford of Charleston Celebrations LLC; www.charlestoncelebrations.com
Florist: Debi Brickell of First Bloom of Charleston; www.firstbloom.com
Groom’s attire: JoS. A. Bank; www.josbank.com
Lighting and lounge rentals: Loluma; www.loluma.com
Photo booth: ShutterBooth; www.shutterbooth.com/charleston
Photographer: Suggs Photography; www.suggsphotography.com
Rentals (not including lounge): Event Works; www.eventworksrentals.com
Transportation: Charleston Black Cab Company; www.charlestonblackcabcompany.com

The Wedding Row

January 4 2019

Virginia & Stephen | Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Now, we’ve run our fair share of gorgeous weddings at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, but we swear we think this wins the award for most gorgeous to date. It makes sense, though, considering...

January 3 2019

Top 10 Most Liked Instagram Posts of 2018

January 2 2019

Vera & Brien | The Gadsden House

On the heels of New Year’s we needed a classic wedding with black-tie panache to carry us through the rest of this holiday-wind-down week. Enter Vera and Brien’s dreamy day, lovingly designed by A...

December 31 2018

Annie & Matt | Boone Hall Plantation

We searched high and low for a wedding to close out the New Year, and what better pick than Annie and Matt, whose ceremony ended with the officiant (the bride’s brother-in-law, or in this case, we’re...

December 28 2018

Vendor of the Month: Bow Tied Weddings {Sponsored Post}

Here’s a little discussed fact: A great DJ can make (or break) a wedding. And the difference between a first dance that has everyone sighing and posting (instead of cringing) and a party that...

December 27 2018

Kristina & Michael | Engagement Session

Here’s the thing: Charleston’s in the tropics, more or less. And here in the jungle, it rains from time to time, which can put a damper on a portrait sesh out and about if you don’t plan well. The...

December 26 2018

Jesse & Will | Old Village Post House Inn

Ok, people. Yes, you’re gonna love Jesse and Will’s wedding photos (al fresco reception in the Old Village? Yes, please!). But their proposal story? It might even beat the pretty out for best in show...

December 21 2018

Lindsey & José | Middleton Place

Lindsey and José didn’t start off on the right foot (he didn’t do a double-take when he first met her at Boston College, so she gave him the same indifferent treatment, and sparks didn’t fly for...

Feature

A Warm Welcome

<p> Lowcountry love rules this kick-your-feet-up Mount Pleasant fête<br />  </p>

Feature

Strapping Ladies

Bare your shoulders with confidence thanks to spaghetti-straps

Feature

The Perfect Blend

Learn how, despite cultural or religious differences, tying the knot can pay homage to your individuality as well as your union

Feature

DIY Day

Daisy Bowman & Benjamin Swift, November 3, 2007, I’On Creek Club

Feature

True Romance

Feature

Down by the River

Martha Kent Jenkinson & Michael Runey October 25, 2008, Church of the Holy Communion & Lowndes Grove Plantation

Feature

Saving the Day - 4

Local event planners share their expertise on how to avoid or overcome wedding-day mishaps.

Feature

Lovely for Less

Host a wonderful wedding in Charleston on a budget (for $7K)? You bet you can

Feature

Not Your Average Party

You’re not a cookie-cutter bride, so host a bachelorette fête as unique as you are

Feature

Runway Raves

We asked experts at the city’s top wedding boutiques to share their favorite fresh looks for brides planning that momentous walk down the aisle this season

Feature

Rich with Texture

Feature

Tour d'Amour

Wander Charleston's most romantic spots and hear her most love-struck stories on the Bridesmaids Tour

Feature

Take the Plunge

Want a neckline that flatters every figure? Opt for a deep V

Feature

Initial Ideas

Turn to South of Libbie for flawless, fresh monogrammed linens

Feature

Kit & Caboodle

Put together your own bag of tricks for day-of emergencies.

Feature

Where Butterflies Gather

Two local nature lovers proclaim their eternal "I dos" surrounded by earthy and elegant elements

Feature

Quite the Complement

Jessica Peterson and Ben Sielen, October 29, 2011, The William Aiken House

Feature

Prints Charming

When an interior designer bride and an A-list event planner collaborate on a wedding that meets the missus’ aesthetic for graphics and patterns paired with foliage, the results are a visual feast for the senses