fall color palette i love

Early this year, I found this serving tray and fell instantly in love.

I adore the champagne & taupe along with the shades of orange (from peach to coral to persimmon)! I’m typically not a fan of peach and try to avoid it at all costs, but it looks amazing when mixed in with some stronger shades of the orange family.  I’m incredibly happy about getting away from all the chocolate brown!

A few weekends ago, we had a client use this palette at the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation. All of the guest tables adorned this bright  persimmon hue with floral centerpieces designed in many shades of orange.  The bridesmaids dresses and other accents displayed the taupe/champagne hue.  We used round ottomans dressed in persimmon and crisp white sofas accented with color corresponding pillows.  We pulled the taupe into the color palette to derive variation. It was a gorgeous palette set against the lowcountry marshscape.

fall into love….

SEATS! We recently purchased a matching pair of Ikea loveseats to add to our fall season.  We had to assemble these sofas and it only took a matter of minutes to turn a clutter of parts into a fabulous lounge area!  They are very versatile and we are able to mix and match colors with the classic white, to create a theme for any occassion.  We love love love our new loveseats!

weddings unveiled blogged about acb

Weddings Unveiled magazine just recently posted one of our favorite weddings from last Spring on their blog. Check it out at http://weddingsunveiledblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Real%20Weddings. Sarah & Dan were such a neat couple- some of our favorite elements of their wedding were:

The patio of the Rice Mill was completely transformed into a fabulous lounge. White fabric lined the ceiling and square pink pendant lights suspended over each table & ottoman.

Sarah & Dan own a pet bulldog named Lulu. They really wanted to included Lulu in the wedding, but due to the destination it just wasn’t feasible. Sarah & Dan decided the groom’s cake should be a replica of Lulu- so she too could be present. The only problem was, when it came time to cut the cake- they didn’t want to cut & serve her! Elaine Mincey of Elaine’s Events did a fabulous interpretation.

Late night snacks were served, which included miniature chocolate chip cookies served with shots of milk. Miniature hambuger sliders & French fries were also served.

A candy buffet was set up for guests to enjoy. Sarah & Dan supplied mini Chinese to-go boxes for guests to carry their sweets home with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we just can’t get enough….

of the totally sophisticated & modern party frocks by chloe & reese’s new bridal line, Ardour. Ardour specializes in custom & chic party wear for the bride-to-be & her entourage. So, for all you ladies searching for your perfect engagement party, rehearsal dinner or wedding ensemble- look no further. You can shop chloe & reese & their Ardour collection at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s or Neiman Marcus.

the island chef

Here are a few pics from Melissa’s family dinner last weekend:

The Island Chef’s menu wasn’t the only thing local- Melissa & her mom actually bought the flowers from a local market- where they literally pick the flowers out of the field behind the shop!

At last year’s soiree, yes they do this annually, the candles refused to stay lit, hence the lanterns.  It actually worked out perfectly with the nautical color scheme and managed to provide the perfect amount of light for dinner.  The menus tucked into the dinner napkin is an absolute must for venues with high wind!  They kept it simple and clean- just perfect for their beach front  “grand finale”.

Green Tomato Bruschetta served with fresh colonial mint! Yum!

summer menus that make me melt….

OH! the joys of summer! One of my favorite things about summertime is the fabulous flavors of the season. Chad Glasscock of the Island Chef is preparing a four course tasting menu for Melissa & her family on Friday evening. Melissa & 25 of her family members will eat on the oceanfront porch of their Edisto Beach house and Chad & crew will wine & dine them. As you can tell by the menu- the Island Chef has prepared a fabulous fare using the freshest and -most importantly- all local ingredients. I took the morning helping to design the menu cards (thanks to special help & the artwork from the gals at Studio-R!) & gather a few props to make the tablescape as unforgettable as the food. Aside from the fact that Chad is Carrie’s husband- (& that we love to reap the benefits of office leftovers!)- we love to refer the Island Chef for intimate dinner or cocktail parties, bridal luncheons and post wedding brunches.

the monsoon that was october 2008

The past couple of days, I have spent countless hours revisiting old memories. Thumbing through photo albums, cleaning up computer files, updating the website…. and it’s been an fantastic trip down memory lane. In the midst, I found a few stellar events that took place in the ridiculous rain filled month of October 2008.  .  .  .

Contrary to the rest of the month, the weekend of October 4th- the weather couldn’t have been any more gorgeous. Kim Jarvis & Jimmy Moore wed at the William Aiken House. The Charleston based couple, wined & dined their guests & then danced to reggae beats late into the evening. Jimmy, is actually one of the lead musician’s for the local Reggae Band, Jah Rules, so- his surprise serenade of a love ballad to Kim was  definitely the hit of the evening , mon!

Out at Irvin House Vineyards, a fabulously romantic local vineyard and original home of the ever-so-famous, Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka,  Amy Sams & Blake Lyda tied the knot on October 11, 2008. Now I warn- if you do so happen to choose this hidden gem for an event spot – you MUST do a rain dance! From our experience, as well as advice from others- a good luck wedding day rain shower always seems to be in the forecast over this hideaway on Wadamalaw Island. However, rain or shine-  Amy & Blake had a fabulously, unforgettable event. With rain showers off & on all day- we managed to get through the ceremony, photos & cocktail hour without a single drop. The ceremony took place down by the pond & then guest followed the trail of lanterns to the reception barn which took place on the other end of the property- just south of the vineyard entrance. The reception site was adorned with wild smilax, grapevine & hydrangea blooms throughout the entryway & the rafters. Warm amber lights accented the walls & paired well with the amber votives and rich champagne colored linens.

The very next day, the ACB crew headed further south to Wideawake Plantation- a gorgeous property located along  the banks of the Stono River. Rhea Gray & Chris Avera’s peacock inspired wedding color scheme of teals, bright greens, & shades of purples lent a vibrant feel to the grey & rainy day. Rhea & Chris’ Bluegrass & BBQ afternoon reception proved to be a big hit with their guests. Even with the afternoon shower- guests were still able to enjoy croquet & bocce field games under the quickly tranformed ceremony tent. Guests also grabbed their partner & dosey doed on the dance floor- resting only briefly to sit on the fabric covered hay bails.

Jessica Sweeney & Jarrett Pierce caught a huge break with the weather. Their ceremony was on the back lawn of the Kiawah Island Club’s River Course on October 18. The ceremony overlooked the 18th hole & the marsh of the Kiawah River. Cold & cloudy all day with threats of rainshowers- however just as we prepared to send Jessica down the aisle, the sun came out in the nick of time and created a fabulous sunset on the marsh. The lowcountry marshscape was a constant motif through out the wedding. Save-the-dates, Invitations, Ceremony Programs, Welcome Packets & Wedding Decor all revolved around an organic lowcountry marsh scene. ACB constructed canopied walkways to & from the ceremony site to create a romantic and whimsical atmosphere. Organic bamboo rods were planted in floral boxes with marsh grass, sea oats & cattails & connected every couple of feet with a billowing ivory cotton canopy.  The altar was constructed to match the walkways. This clean, simple altar was elegantly dressed with curly willows, sea oats & cat tails.

The rainy month ended with a bang! Literally. Thunder, lightning, a down-right down-pour. But, this was Friday. 24 hours later at Mary Katherine Harr & Dustin Pfief’s wedding reception- you would have never known that Charleston had seen 8 inches of rain less than 24 hours prior.  After sweeping the stationary water & debris from the dancefloor, ACB transformed the Gibbes Museum courtyard into a truly royal affair. We used deep purple & gold fabrics to decorate the tents & tables. Linen drum shades were hung above the dinner tables- casting a romantic glow on the family style dinner service. Our bench ottomans proved to be a hit- allowing guests a quick spot to rest their feet in between dances!

 So that’s it. . . . the ever-so-fabulous month of October! A quick trip down memory lane to prove that there was certainly no ‘rain’ on these bridal parades!

Kelly Rawls & John Fountain

Every so often, I come across a bride with a great sense of style and self confidence.  This is Kelly Rawls Fountain.  Within hours of meeting her, she hired me as her planner and we started our amazing journey together.  She is not only beautiful, but very classy.  She listened to our ideas and made a decision; never thinking twice about it.  She was a great decision maker.  She had no problems telling me an idea was “cheesy” to her!  I loved it! Believe it or not, that actually makes my job so much easier!

We have some preliminary photos from the incredibly talented Parker J Pfister.With french blue, white and silver as the color palate, this wedding had traditional and sophistication written all over it.

The flowers were all white with white ostrich feathers mixed in for texture. Think peonies, sweet peas, stephanotis and hydrangea.  Her bouquet was wrapped in lace mimicking the delicate fabric of her unbelievable wedding gown.  I’ll detail more about the event once we get the photos from Parker because seeing is believing.  It was a magical evening!

happy birthday to carrie!

the acb crew is heading to lunch to celebrate Carrie’s birthday, as well as the end of a fantastic wedding (& baby!) season! our dear friend Catherine Bruce of Good Food Catering, is treating us to a yummy lunch at Rue De Jean! This will also be the first outing for acb newbies, Beckett & Gavin. Beckett Shelton Glassock was born on May 7, 2009 & Gavin Chase LaRosee was born on May 19, 2009.