New Years Eve Estate Wedding in Full Bloom

EMILY + DAVE

Private Estate weddings are truly some of the most memorable for so many reasons. Clients get to see their homes in a completely different way.  A way that helps them to build meaningful future memories on top of existing ones that resonate in the space for their lifetime.  We are able to design an event that is uniquely constructed to compliment the flow of the energy in the home that already exists. I also find that having the ability to take our time in the installation process helps the event take shape in such an organic and purposeful way.  These types of events are truly my favorite reveals. 

Emily and Dave imagined all of their closest friends and family members gathered in their home enjoying good food and togetherness.

When we first met over video chat Emily shared with me a photo of a lavender wisteria covered dinner table on a terrace that must have been plucked out of a tuscan fairy tale. She said “I want that feeling in that photo”. Honestly, I don't know that there was much more direction but I also can’t remember needing any.  

Emily was in the wedding industry and she understood the power of giving the professionals a clear, single focus and letting them go.  She owns a Lovely Bride bridal shop in Charleston, SC and often, as we have all heard, brides don’t settle on the dress they first intended but they always get what they ultimately wanted - magic. 

Now that I had a clear feeling from Emily I needed to see what was important to Dave. He had been very open about wanting to get married near the pool so that he could be near the water since fishing and the outdoors were a part of his identity.  I had asked him to provide images of spaces that represented his esthetics to get a better idea of what he really connected to.  Over and over he sent deep wood tones, rich fall colors and closed cozy spaces.  So, that's what I had to promise him.  That I would identify him in the design better than his connection to the water near the pool. 

What we came up with was a cozy lush fall forest growing over the repeating arches of their Spanish styled home and covering the aisle in such a variety of tones that it hardly had a specific palette at all. It was wild, warm and welcoming. 

Emily processed through large arched wooden double doors and as they exited the ceremony guests rang brass bells to celebrate and signify new beginnings. We then ushered guests to cocktail hour with a freshly muddled sangria in hand as we turned over the space to create the most lovely 32 foot feasting table full of ambient candlelight, decadent charcuterie displays and golden pears that held raw silk ribbons with each guests name handwritten in gold ink. 

There was a Spanish guitar playing in the background as guests began dining on an appetizer of smashed pea lobster timbale and moved to beef tenderloin with a variety of accoutrements shared across the table through echoes of laughter and toasts to the adoring couple.

After a four course meal the guests were invited to continue the evenings celebrations making themselves at home while we quickly cleared and leaving them to dance and celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs. 

Images by Kaity Brawley

Equestrian Estate Wedding

Garden Family Affair

The groom Nathaniel, comes from such a long and strong family line, it was fitting that they get married in such a beautiful estate.  As family traditions have it, it is the family that gathers to create these beautiful celebrations and for Laura and Nate, it was no different.   The family came together and all played such an intricate part in the creation of this day.  Krissy was the florist for Isn't She Lovely but she was also the groom's Aunt.  She put all that she had towards creating the garden that set the stage for the couple's vows.  The groom's brother owns a brewery and brought in beer for all of the guests.  The grooms mother, a prominent baker in the area, designed and created the couples sweet cake.  The oldest brother, a youth pastor had the pleasure of marrying them in the garden they created.  Watching Laura's father walk her down the aisle as everyone gasps was such a surreal moment and I truly felt that it was due to the love that was put into the day.  Laura, being a photographer herself selected the most incredible team to capture the day so we just wanted to highlight all that the family and soon to be family represented, A casual elegance that was effortless, classic and warm.

Sand Swept Modern Simplicity

Dockside Garden Wedding

Intimate Spring Soirée

Blueberries by the Sea

Sea Side Love Story

A Deep Sea Romance

Ali and Jay's wedding took place on a warm July afternoon in the picturesque setting of South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island. Being a young couple full of life, their wedding perfectly reflected the playfulness and joy they together. The color palette of blues, green, and cream, grounded with accents of warm woods made the design feel right at home for their beachside nuptials.

We created a light and airy ceremony on the secluded beach at the tip of the natural island. Guests had the pleasure of arrived via traditional Florida trolley to the sand swept views of the Gulf of Mexico. The team set a beautiful scene of ghost chairs and umbrellas with a ceremony sign designed for the couple and made with reclaimed wood salvaged from an old boat. Everything accented the floral altar created with a mix of white flowers, pompano grass, sea fans and driftwood positioned in a crescent shape and framed with petite pier pilings. The bridesmaids complemented the scene beautifully in their light blue gowns and the men in their dusty blue tuxes and clean white shirts. As Ali walked down the aisle in her classic white chiffon gown with delicate lace details, she took everyone's breath away. Having lost her father she felt it important to honor him by walking alone down the aisle until she reached the first row of chairs where it was only fitting that her groom meet her to take her the rest of the way. .

The feeling their beachside ceremony captured was brought inside and enhanced with warm woods, soft linens, and a floral installation positioned perfectly over the dance floor. Reception tables were layered with textures that reflected the fluidity of the ocean, light blue linens layered with gauze slate blue runners and complemented with wood chargers and a collection of blue glass stemware were accentuated with floral arrangements running the length of the tables. Cross back chairs blended seamlessly with the sea fans and driftwood mingled throughout the centerpieces.

Guests enjoyed a relaxed cocktail hour before visiting the escort card table made of aged tin and used to highlight the hand-calligraphed escort cards tied with blue raw edge silk ribbon and a silver key to represent the couples last name, Key. Sea hearts were also hand calligraphed with the guest's names and used on their place setting, they sat atop a gauze napkin and dip-dyed deckled edge cotton menu. Once sat for dinner the escort card table transformed into the cake display. The four-tiered beauty, enrobed in white and light grey fondant painted to resemble sea fans and finished with the Ali and Jay's monogram and a sea fan perched on the top tier.

The mix of natural and fluid elements complemented the seaside setting and Ali and Jay's relaxed auras with an effortlessness that made for a romantic ceremony and inviting reception. The evening was finished off with the couple saying adieu and leaving under dreamy sparklers held by their guests. It was a joyful end to our couples dream wedding.

images by Kaity Brawley

When Rustic meets Glamour

A Glamorous Southern Seaside Wedding at Laplaya Beach and Golf Resort in Naples, Florida

Charnele and Joe were the sweetest couple with vibrant personalities only matched by a calm casual demeanor. There wedding was just that. Full of joy and life but comfortable and welcoming. The wedding was designed in a warm palette of blush, rose, cream and burgundy, grounded with deep wood accents.

The guests arrived at ceremony to a sea of ghost chairs anchored by a custom deep mahogany aisle runner so Charnele could walk in her perfectly playful gold sparkly heels down the soft lush lawn as her string trio played. The circular ceremony altar dripped in greenery and blooms while the back row of chairs and aisle matched the floral with even more wild blooms to frame the light hearted nuptials. In line with the circular theme, the bridesmaids carried floral wreaths that were used as embellishments to the drape backing the head table after the ceremony. Charnele was such a beautiful site in her perfectly laced, studded gown and trailing silk ribbon from her bouquet while Joe, the groom in his white dinner jacket with black lapel, was the perfect gentlemen to match her elegance. The cake was the centerpiece of the room. A floral explosion of sweet blush and burgundy. Guest found their seats on a large lucite chart which was hand calligraphed on lucite dressed with blooms and candle light.

In order to bring in the fluidity of the ocean we paired the wood planked tables at reception with ghost chairs, glass plates and velum menus. The key was to balance the rustic wood elements with a little southern sweetness. We did this by finishing each place setting with stacked macaron favors in custom colors wrapped in raw edge organic ribbon. A wave of candlelight welcomed the guests and delicate touches of greenery and soft creamy blooms brought the outside in for a cozy, yet glamours seaside celebration.

Images by Kaity Brawley