Up the Cool-Girl Ante



WRITER CREDIT: 
PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
Up the Cool-Girl Ante | A primer for adding an edge to your elegant Charleston wedding
Amanda Barrett & Alex Mattera
The Creek Club at I'On
 
It might be up for debate who made the first move between Amanda Barrett and Alex Mattera, but they both agree on how their initial meeting went. The one-time Penn State communications majors (he was in advertising and she was in PR) bumped into each other in a client relations class senior year, and, says Amanda, “When I stood up to introduce myself on the first day of class, Alex says he heard himself say, ‘Wow.’ Later, I moved to a seat next to him so that the professor wouldn’t see me doing THON [dance marathon] work rather than classwork. Things all started from there.” That cool-girl beginning culminated in the two getting married at the Creek Club at I’On a few years later. Their first dance tune? “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers, because cool girls pick cool first dance songs, of course. We thought their Big Day stood out for its mix of edginess and elegance, so for all those looking to add a spicy element to your sugary style, take a peek at Amanda’s do’s.
 
 
WORK IT LIKE A COOL GIRL 
 
Play to your strengths when planning.
“I work in social media strategy and Alex is in account management for a branding agency,” says Amanda. “We both plan and manage things all day, so we knew what we wanted and were very quick on decision making. In social media, I see a lot of great style inspiration that we pulled from, and Alex has a strong eye for design from his work.”

 

Pick a posse with a sense of humor. 
After a day of dress shopping, Amanda, her wedding party, and her soon-to-be mother- and sister-in-law all headed to a bar to watch Penn State play. When nearly everyone in their crew walked in with Nittany Lion shirts and leather jackets, they achieved gang status. On her wedding day, the women gifted Amanda a blush-hued leather jacket and broke out their own coats for a few snaps.

Give your girls a little guidance if they get to pick their gowns.
“I sent a few group pics as inspiration,” says Amanda, “and asked them to stay in the blush-champagne family and look at full-length styles. Also, I asked that beading be saved for my two maids of honor to give them something extra to stand out.”

Splurge within reason.
Moscow Mules—the couple’s favorite cocktail—were served in copper cups filled with regular, his style, or her style. Guests at the head table were gifted personalized cups that had been tucked into the table runner greenery.

Be true to you.
“I rarely wear heels, although I love them,” says Amanda, “and I wanted to dance the night away, so [I found an Etsy vendor] to paint my shoes. I shared the geometric pieces and monogram [we planned to use]; and that peonies were my favorite flower, blush was our color palette, and I wanted to include a reference to ‘Friends.’ That was a lot of little things that she made into one awesome pair of shoes.”

 
Vendors
 
Wedding design, planning: Bouquets and Bowties, www.bouquetsandbowtiescharleston.com 
Images: Carrie Elizabeth Photography, www.carrieelizabethphotography.com
Venue, caterer: The Creek Club at I’On, www.creekevents.com
Florals: Tiger Lily Weddings, tigerlilyweddings.com
Rentals, linens: EventWorks, www.eventworksrentals.com 
Draping, lighting: Lowcountry Entertainment, www.lowcountryentertainmentsc.com
Cake: Sweet Rhi, www.sweetrhi.com
Calligraphy, signage: Bennett & Co.
Bride’s attire: Pronovias, www.pronovias.com ; www.BHLDN.com (jewelry); A Bit of Love via www.Etsy.com (hair accessory); Shoes of Prey (shoes)
Bridesmaids’ gowns: www.Brideside.com ; www.BHLDN.com
Beauty: Lashes & Lace, www.lashesandlacecharleston.com 
Flower girl’s attire: Milly Wedding Shop via Etsy.com
Menswear: Menguin (suit), www.Menguin.com ; tie/pocket square from www.BHLDN.com
Ring bearer’s attire: LittleBoySwag via www.Etsy.com (suspenders, bow tie)
Cocktail illustration: JesMarried via www.Etsy.com
Wedding card holder: Leosklo via www.Etsy.com
Ring box: Waen via www.Etsy.com
Moscow Mule mugs: Spanish LaceCo 
Favors: SixPencePress via www.Etsy.com
Music: Chris Dodson (ceremony), www.chrisdodsonmusic.com ; Lowcountry Entertainment (reception), www.lowcountryentertainmentsc.com
Transportation: Lowcountry Trolley, www.lowcountrylooptrolley.com
Video: Adventure Film Co., www.advntrfilm.com

 

The Wedding Row

January 29 2019
What do you get when you mix a love for the outdoors with the inherent girly-girl style that comes when you run a hair and makeup company? Mason and Alex’s well-rounded wedding, of course! Bride...

January 28 2019
Chanel and Alex’s courtship reads like a rom-com, so buckle in for the ride. The two (he’s from Boston and she’s from Atlanta) met during their sophomore year at College of Charleston when Alex...

January 25 2019
We love it when neighbors from “Off” come to Charleston with a fresh look at some of our favorite old stomping grounds to give brides ideas anew. That’s what we’re showcasing today, thanks to...

January 24 2019
New Yorkers Mindy and Matt picked Charleston for a destination weekend a scant few months ago (his biz partner is based here, so they’d fallen for the city some time before). In proper Big City style...

January 23 2019
There are wedding hashtags, then there are neon signs for wedding hashtags! Meet Meghan and Beau, who are not only aces at hashtags but also so bold as to commission a neon sign reading #...

January 22 2019
Ever wonder how a super fancy blockbuster wedding gets pieced together while still coming off as personal? We took a look at Mary and Reid’s fantastic Fenwick Hall wedding, planned exquisitely by...

January 21 2019
So does all the heart candy in stores have anyone else out there seeing red–in the good way? Us, too. Thus we bring you Devin and Scott’s enchanting wedding at Lowndes Grove Plantation...

January 18 2019
Can we just say we love how Caitlin and Michael operate? The pair, who live outside Indianapolis, Indiana, wed on a Sunday last summer with a handful of family and little ones in tow at The William...