weddings: savannah GA Archives | Wedding Planner Hilton Head, Savannah, Charleston

How to Incorporate Lowcountry into your Wedding

Engaged couples flock to the Lowcountry to plan their wedding because they love the beauty of the outdoors, the richness of it’s history and the memories they have vacationing here as a child. Incorporating local nods into the wedding design is important to give guests a taste of the culture.

Here are 4 easy ways to bring the beauty of the Lowcountry into your wedding design:

1. Oyster Shells – The drastic tide swing and moderate temperatures between September and April cultivates the perfect environment for harvesting oysters. As farmers shuck the oysters, they often throw behind the beautiful shells they grow in. I LOVE incorporating these beauties into a wedding’s decor. From chandeliers and table runners to place cards and candles, oyster shells are symbolic of the area and stunning works of art.

2. Sweetgrass – Gullah families have been making items from sweetgrass for generations. They’re best known for their baskets, which are perfect for your flower girl to toss petals from. I also love how sweetgrass was added as a decorative band to the cake below.

3. Palmetto Roses are a fun alternative to fresh floral bouquets or boutonnieres. They also make a sweet gift to include in your welcome bags along with a note talking about their history.
Magnolias – Known for their large blooms and bright green and copper leaves, magnolias are everywhere here in the South. The sky is the limit when it comes to incorporating these into your wedding.

Evan Laettner Photography

Peachtree Photography

Evan Laettner Photography

The Lowcountry is geographically comprised of the coastal areas between Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. The area is known for its vast marsh views, moss draped oaks, relaxed pace of life, front porch sitting and ice tea sipping. It’s a way of life and one you’re sure to enjoy. So come visit y’all!

Header image by Evan Laettner Photography

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Boutique Wedding Planning & Design
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

UberEVENTS launches in Savannah

Uber may be a taxi cab’s worst nightmare, but they just became a dream to couples planning their wedding in Savannah, Bluffton, or Hilton Head. UberEVENTS is the latest extension of the brand and lets you buy rides in advance for your guests.

“You arrange how, when, and where your guests ride so they can focus on having the best time.”

Basically, it’s like setting up a hotel room block. You coordinate the details with the local UberEVENTS manager and they’ll send you a group code. You are only charged for what is used on the night of your event, which means, you’re not paying for empty cars. Contact helms@uber.com to coordinate drivers for your upcoming wedding in or around Savannah, Hilton Head and Bluffton.

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Boutique Wedding Planning & Design
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Rose Hill Wedding Featured in The Knot Carolinas

I am thrilled to share this beautiful feature of Madeline and Joe’s wedding in the latest The Knot Carolinas 2016 spring/summer issue.

Our bride’s vision was clear from the very first time we met. She wanted to incorporate coastal chic style into a setting that was truly represented by the South. This venue had everything you would expect from the palmetto state: history, moss draped oaks, a long winding gravel driveway, and a home that dates back to the 1800’s.

This wedding had so many beautiful details, which were all captured by Scott and Melissa Hopkins of Hopkins Studios. To see more images from Madeline and Joe’s wedding, click here. To see the inspiration board for their design, click here. Their bar was one of my faves!

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Boutique Wedding Planning & Design
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Charming Southern Wedding at Oldfield River Club

Elizabeth and David are dentists from Kentucky that had a dream of marrying in the sleepy beach town where they grew up vacationing, Hilton Head, SC. Staying true to their Southern roots, Elizabeth and David wanted a venue that evoked the history, charm and hospitality of the South.

Elizabeth and her mom planned most of the details for her wedding and the most important design element was flowers, which brought music to my ears! I knew A Floral Affair would be the perfect match for their vision. Dawn created several showstopper pieces, adorned with gorgeous Southern blooms: magnolia foliage, hydrangea, garden roses, ranunculus and trailing jasmine vine.

My favorite moment of the night was watching Elizabeth, David and all of their horse-race-loving KY guests take a break from dinner to gather around and watch the final moments of when American Pharaoh won the Belmont Stakes AND the Triple Crown. The energy in the house was electric from this group and the photos below say it all.

Working with this mother-daughter duo team over the course of 9 months was a dream. Their gracious and fun-loving personalities made the experience one I would be happy to do all over again. Congratulations to Elizabeth and David and thank you Billie Joe and Jeremy for capturing their memories so beautifully!

VENDORS:

Venue: Oldfield River Club

Planning + Design: Embellished Events

Photography: Billie Jo and Jeremy Photography for Studio Mynt

Flowers: A Floral Affair

Wedding Cake: Custom Cakes

Hair + Makeup: Christine Stephens

Tent + Rentals: Amazing Event Rentals

Trolleys: Old Savannah Tours

Ceremony + Reception Music: Emerald Empire Band

Dress: Vera Wang

Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Wedding Planner & Coordinator + Luxury Design Services
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Wedding Ceremony in Historic Charleston Churches

Voted #1 city by Conde Nast Traveler multiple years in a row, Charleston, SC is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the United States. With sweeping views of water, stunning antique architecture, and a rich historical heritage, the city is home to some of the most beautiful wedding venues for ceremonies and receptions in the country.

Some of the most prominent architecture in Charleston are the churches, which line the brick-laid streets that have been here for hundreds of years. Charleston offers over 20 different churches of different denominations to match your religious background and dream setting you’ve always wanted for your wedding ceremony.

If you’re planning a destination wedding in Charleston, SC and looking to exchange vows inside a church, we’ve compiled a list of those located in the historic district that welcome non-members for their wedding ceremony.

First Baptist Church of Charleston

First Baptist Church is located in the heart of Charleston on Meeting Street. This large white church that had its first congregation in 1662 is open to nonmembers and is a much sought after venue for Christian wedding ceremonies.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Although this church was opened in 2010, it was built with the historic, gothic architecture true to centuries ago. Available to nonmembers but is in such high demand there is at least a 6-month notice required!

Second Presbyterian Church

Located on lower Meeting Street and opened in 1811, Second Presbyterian is open to nonmember and even offers a smaller chapel adjacent to the larger worship area for smaller, more intimate ceremonies.

Here is a complete list of Charleston area churches, courtesy of Charleston Wedding Guide:

African Methodist Episcopal
Mt. Zion AME Church – 843.722.8118
Nichols Chapel AME Church – 843.577.7366

Baptist
First Baptist Church – 843.722.3896
First Baptist Mt. Pleasant – 843.884.8521
Friendship Baptist Church – 843.744.9935
Grace on the Ashley – 843.556.6802

Catholic
Charleston Anglican Catholic – 843.763.8873
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – 843.724.8395
St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church – 843.722.7696
Sacred Heart Church – 843.722.7018

Episcopal
Cathedral Church of St. Luke & St. Paul – 843.722.7345
Grace Episcopal Church – 843.723.4575
St. James Episcopal – 843.795.1623
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church – 843.723.8818

French Huguenot
The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church – 843.722.4385

Jewish
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim – 843.723.7324
Birth Sholom Beth Israel – 843.577.6599

Lutheran
Martin Luther Lutheran Church – 843.795.4855
St. Johannes Lutheran Church – 843.722.8906
St. John’s Lutheran – 843.723.2426
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – 843.884.3107

Nondenominational
Church Purchased with His Blood – 843.556.0029

Presbyterian
First Scots Presbyterian – 843.722.8882
Redeemer Presbyterian – 843.724.1164
The Second Presbyterian Church – 843.723.9237

Unitarian
The Unitarian Church in Charleston – 843.723.4617

United Methodist
Asbury-St. James United Methodist Church – 843.722.2826
Bethel United Methodist Church – 843.723.4587
Cherokee Place United Methodist Church – 843.747.9697
North Charleston United Methodist Church – 843.744.6669
Trinity United Methodist Church – 843.722.8449

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Wedding Planner & Coordinator + Luxury Design Services
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Katy and Fred’s Wedding at the Beaufort Inn

Beaufort, SC is one of my favorite towns to plan weddings in for many reasons, which I could easily create an entirely separate blog post about. Our bride, Katy was born-and-raised in Beaufort, so when it came time to plan her wedding to Fred, they knew right where it would be – in her quaint, waterfront hometown.

Katy and Fred were married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, followed by a tented reception with 175 guests at the Beaufort Inn. Katy wanted a look that was crisp and organic with elements from the Lowcountry. Her colors were green and ivory with accents of rustic brown. We incorporated mixed metals of gold and copper to tie in with the ombre of browns in the magnolia leave accents, which graced every floral arrangement. I especially loved the hanging designs, which served as a focal point above the bar and dance floor.

Katy and Fred planned a strolling reception for their guests and had food stations sprinkled around the expansive tent. Chef Nick cooked up everything from quail and duck to some of the family’s secret recipes. For dessert, Minette Rushing of Custom Cakes Savannah created a tiered wedding cake with sugar magnolias and a hand drawn replica of their custom monogram.

Thank you Evan Laettner for capturing their wedding day so beautifully through your lens.

Photography // Evan Laettner Photography

Planning + Design // Embellished Events

Floral Designs // Branches Designs

Rentals // Snyder Event Rentals

Cake // Minette Rushing of Custom Cakes Savannah

Lighting // JLK Events

Catering // Nick Muehller Catering

Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music // Lowcountry Strings

Band // Finesse via East Coast Entertainment

Trolleys // Old Savannah Tours

Church // St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Reception Venue // Beaufort Inn

Embellished Events | Jen Leiti
Wedding Planner & Coordinator + Luxury Design Services
Serving Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston, SC
(843) 757-7762
Hello@EmbellishedWeddings.com

12 3 4 Next ›Last »

How to Incorporate Lowcountry into your Wedding

UberEVENTS launches in Savannah

Rose Hill Wedding Featured in The Knot Carolinas

Charming Southern Wedding at Oldfield River Club

Wedding Ceremony in Historic Charleston Churches

Katy and Fred’s Wedding at the Beaufort Inn

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