"Cities for Vows"

Make sure you check out photos from two of our past events on the "Cities of Vows'" website. Featured on the site are Kristin and Rob who were married in July of 2008 and Shannon and Joel who were married in April of 2009. Both are fantastic and fun couples who were lucky enough to have their special day photographed by the talented staff at Richard Bell Photography. Have fun looking!

Happy Holidays and Happy Planning to Everyone!

Holiday Parties

Planning a holiday party? Southern Chic Weddings and Events is here to help with all of your holiday party panning needs. Happy Holidays! Read more here

Here are a few shots from one of the three events that we did this summer at Alhambra Hall. Erin and Phil were married on a warm but gorgeous day in July. Following the ceremony, guests dined on eats by Good Food Catering before they headed upstairs and danced and danced to Plane Jane. Some highlights of this event were the bride's brother's Christopher Walken impression, the stunning sunset, and the packed dance floor! It was such a fun reception! A big thank you to Liz Duren for capturing all of the wonderful memories for us.

Smythe Park Chic

Adrian and Jody were married on September 19th at the beautiful Smythe Park on Daniel Island. The weather was perfect and the view was spectacular! Adrain and Jody live just a few houses down from the park which made things very convenient. Cru Catering served up the yummiest food while guests danced the night away with the Ravenel Bridge as their backdrop. A beautiful night for a beautiful couple - so happy we could be a part of it!

Citadel Beach House Chic

I had such a wonderful time helping Julie and Howie with their October 24th wedding and reception at the Citadel Beach House on Idle of Palms. Julie was a pleasure to work with from the start - sweet and simple. Some of my favorite parts of Julie and Howie's big day were ... that their precious dog Riley was included in the ceremony as the ring bearer, that their friend Will was the officiant and kept things so light hearted and fun, and of course the fireworks departure. What a great day! This day would of course not have taken place without the help of some wonderful vendors. I would like to thank a few of them here ... the ever-so-talented Chris Smith of Chris and Cami Photography, Karen of Keepsake Florist, Ryan of Hamby Catering, Scott at Charleston Black Cab Company, and Steve at East Coast Entertainment. Check out more pictures from Julie and Howies big day under the "Featured Chic" portion of our website or on Chris' website. A fabulous day for a fabulous couple! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Appelt!

Patriot's Point Chic

On September 19 of this year, I had the pleasure of being the day-of wedding coordinator for Jenna and Amit's special day. What looked like it would end up being a rainy day, turned out to be a beautiful day. Jenna was a pleasure to work with from the start. She is extremely organized and on the ball - a dream bride for any wedding planner. Jenna brought a lot of fun ideas to the table for her big day. A few of my favorite ideas of Jenna's that we were able to implement were the childrens' tables and her musically talented friend singing and playing the piano Billy Joel style. (Yes, I know what I am getting myself into by comparing someone to Billy Joel - but it is definitely a fair comparison.) Any child would have been lucky to attend this wedding - Jenna had a yummy looking pasta dish served to the children at their table which was decorated with candy and fun things to do. The little ones even had a babysitter and a photo booth to keep them entertained - as if the personalized games and coloring books were not enough:-) Jenna and Amit's good friend - who is the best Billy Joel type cover singer that I have ever seen or heard - entertained guests for the latter part of the reception while the DJ was given a break. All of the special moments of Jenna and Amit's wedding day were captured by the ever so talented Chris Smith of Chris and Cami Photography. When the guests were not dining on the delicious eats that were provided by the Pavilion's catering company, they were enjoying a wonderful cake designed and baked by Lauren at The Cake Stand. A few other vendors that I can't go without mentioning ...

Venue, Bar, and Catering - The Pavilion at Patriot's Point - Contact Lacy Davidson at (843) 849-2412
Florist - Flowers by Frankie - Contact Frankie at (843) 296-4252
DJ - Jay Maxwel's Music by Request - Contact Jay or Donna at (843) 832-3535 and request Darius
Photo Booth - Joe Bunn DJ Company - Contact Kent (919( 610-7970
Rentals - Snyder Event Retnals and Staffing - Contact Connie at (843) 766-3366
Lighting - Fox AV Rentals - Contact Steve at (843) 729-7267
Decor Rentals - Stage Presence - Contact Alex at (843) 225-5631

You can see more of Jenna and Amit under the "Featured Chic" portion of our website. All in all a wonderful time had by all - Even if they were Gator fans! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Amit Vyas!

Eco-Friendly Chic

Look at me go - four blog posts in one day! That is more than I usually blog in a year!!

I was surfing the web trying to figure out how to get a recycling bin for our home (my husband and I are a little behind on these things) when I can across these recycling bins for events. So I know they are not the most glamorous things but I am confident we could find a way to drape these in linen just like we do the trash cans - yes trash cans at weddings are most often placed behind the bar and draped in linen - that's why you don't notice them:-) If your friends and family drink like mine then just think about all of the bottles and cans that are gone through during a four or five hour reception. Let's get on board. Click here for more details. xoxo

Warrior Chic

When I first came on the scene a few years ago ... it became clear to me very quickly that Charleston wedding makeup and Leslie Moore of Moore Makeup were one in the same. Since then, numerous brides have raved to me about what an awesome job Leslie or members of her team did on their makeup. Not only are they extrememly talented and professional, but they also have this amazing ability to make you laugh and relax at the same time. I know this first hand because I was lucky enough to have Leslie do my makeup for my cousin Lauren's wedding in November of 2008. Leslie came across to me as beautiful and strong from the start, but after reading this article in the Post and Courier today - I feel that way about her more than ever.

THE FIGHTER
The faces of breast cancer
BY ALLYSON BIRD , KRISTEN HANKLA
The Post and Courier
Friday, October 2, 2009

"As the chemicals ooze into Leslie Moore's body, she glances down at the tattoo on her forearm.

The cursive black letters remind her to stay focused on what she has become: Warrior.

She knows that over the next six hours of chemotherapy, her mind will become foggy. Tomorrow, she will feel like a cement truck has poured its load on her. And the day after that will be the worst: kind of like the flu, kind of like early pregnancy. But worse than both.

She'll experience a nausea so intense that for a week she'll be able to eat only bananas and crackers.

The 37-year-old Hanahan resident found the lump four months ago. Since then, she's had both breasts removed and then reconstructed; she's had six lymph nodes taken out; and she's completed three of 16 rounds of chemo. Later, there will be radiation.

Her hair has gone from long, shiny auburn strands to reddish patches on a pale scalp.

She runs a manicured hand over her head. The dark polish prevents her from knowing if her fingernails have turned black. A makeup artist with her own business, Moore used to tell her clients how important inner beauty is. Now she's having to tell herself.

While she dreads the treatments, she shows up for them because of her 2-year-old daughter, her 5-year-old son and her husband who need her. She fights because she's not finished here. She feels like her life is just beginning.

Moore said she used to be too busy but has learned to be more present. She sinks into each moment and logs them in her mind.

"It's been a really sweet time for me and my family.""

Some more inspiration for you ladies ... I LOVE the part about inner beauty. Please keep Leslie and her family in your thoughts and prayers. xoxo

September Chic

A sneak peek at two of our three September weddings ...

Adrian and Jody at Daniel Island's Smythe Park on 9.19.09 - Photographed by the fabulous and fun Valerie Schooling of Richard Bell Photography

Jenna and Amit at the Pavilion at Patriot's Point on 9.26.09 - Photographed by the always inspiring and ever so sweet Chris Smith of Chris and Cami Photography

More September to come! xoxo

White Thread Chic

My friend and colleague, Juliet Jones of Juliet Elizabeth Photography, just posted a facebook message that featured a link to check out some of her work. Little did I know that this link would lead me to a blog featuring all things I love (weddings, shoes, the Carolinas, etc.). Check it out! Below is a sneak peak at the blog for those of you who may be a little too "tired" to check out the site right now.

Charleston Museum celebrates 150 years of wedding fashion: Posted by Dina Holland in Aisle Style on October 1st, 2009

"Like you needed yet another reason to visit Charleston right? Beginning October 16th, the Charleston Museum will be displaying an original exhibition celebrating the wedding wardrobe in a way only a history rich city like Charleston can. Aisle Style: 150 Years of Wedding Fashion will showcase accessories, trousseau items and, of course, the white gown in all its incarnations. Make it to the opening reception and you can enjoy cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres and yummy wedding cake courtesy of Newton Farms Catering and Ashley Bakery. Get your tickets here. Can’t be there for opening night? Fear not! You can follow along with all the fun on the Aisle Style blog. But be sure to get there before June 30th, 2010 when these beauties go back into storage. This is definitely a must for all fashion and wedding connoisseurs alike."

Talk about inspiration ... Hope to see you ladies there! xoxo

Bouquet - Garter Toss Chic

Does catching the bouquet or garter at a wedding really mean you are destined to be the next to get married? My husband and I ended up in a discussion about this last night after finding out that the couple who caught the bouquet and garter at our wedding announced their engagement yesterday. While we would like to be able to take some credit for this wonderful news, statistics show that catching the bouquet or garter at a wedding could actually prolong your future nuptials. Sorry ladies! What began as a tradition in Midieval Eurpoe, catching the bouquet or garter these days may only mean that you have the keenest wits and the sharpest elbows around. Think twice before rushing to get in line to catch that bouquet!

Old Exchange Chic

Mandy and Jerry were married at the beautiful St. Luke's Chapel on the Medical University's campus on the very warm day of Saturday, August 15th. Their reception followed at the Old Exchange Building where guests were entertianed by the Joe Clark Band while dining on Mediterra Catering's delicious eats. The entire day and all the details that most of us missed were captured by the amazing Chris Smith of Chris and Cami Photography. Some of my favorite parts of this event were Mandy's Father's toast - it really came from the heart and gave us outsiders some insight on to how Mandy became the beautiful woman she is today, Mandy's accessoreis - her dress, her veil, the hair piece that she put in after she took off her veil, her jewelry that was perfectly put together - she looked like she was put together by Rachel Zoe, and lastly - the bride and groom's laid back attitude when things did not go exactly as planned. Congratulations and best wishes to Mandy and Jerry!

Some budget tips from my D.I.Y. Chic Bride

"BUDGET WEDDING WISDOM!!"! by Jen Koshorek Rader

"Track your expenses!!! Even little purchases add up. If you're keeping track, you're less likely to over-spend!

Keep it simple! Decide what is most important to you and spend the bulk of your money on those things! (For us, it was FOOD, PHOTOGRAPHER and MUSIC).

Choose a venue that has some amenities (ours included tables). Also, choose a venue that lets you have all-day access and does not charge for additional hours if you have a longer reception.

Go with vendors you can trust! Up-front pricing and service will SAVE you cash! No surprises!!! Also, pick vendors that are willing to work with your budget and be willing to say "NO!". If you didn't want it when you walked in, you don't need it!

Know when to spend money! Time and sanity are important, too! Printing is relatively inexpensive and home printing jobs can be a headache. Know when to "fold 'em". If you're doing complicated or precise folds (like our programs) leave it to the professionals.

If you pay attention to the things that matter, people won't notice the things that don't! No one mentioned the fact that we got the most basic chairs because they hadn't noticed! They were on the dance floor with us!

Pay attention to the details that show your love and care of your guests. Yes, the day is about you, but that little extra effort shows and if your guests are happy, your day is even better! It doesn't cost a lot to show people that you care.

We stayed true to who we were and what we wanted out of the day. We were happy and because of that, no matter what little things may have gone wrong, the day was perfect and our guest noticed. If you're having a good time, your guest will, too!!!

Finally, our wedding motto "Good enough"! Its one day...it should be fantastic and all you've ever dreamed of, but in the end, its about getting married to the person you love. Make all of the other decisions once...changing your mind takes time and in the end will cost money and sanity!"

Detailed Chic

Where do I begin? I LOVED this wedding. Tara McLees and Brad Clark were married at St. Luke's Chapel on a rainy day in May. They had a beautiful candlelit ceremony that was followed by an elegant and toast filled sit-down dinner at the Historic Rice Mill Building. Tara was referred to me by the amazing Juliet Jones who owns Juliet Elizabeth Photography. Before I met Tara, I had already decided I was going to take the event just to work with Juliet (not only is she incredibly talented but she is also one of the kindest and most inspirational people that I have ever met). Fortunately, Tara and I clicked from the start. She has this aura about her - sweet, cute, and real - it's infectious. Tara made things extremely easy for me - she was always organized and on top of things - she really should be a coordinator herself. Her attention to detail is what set things apart - she had everything from custom table runners to fabulous wedding shoes - she did not miss a beat. No detail was left untouched. Some of my favorites ideas that Tara had me implement were a beautiful display of desserts which were kept on an awesome unfinished wood table that was provided by OOH Events, a cigar rolling station for the last hour of the event (this was a huge hit and I loved that the bride took the time to partake in the festivities as well), the faux floral pieces that were placed on top of each menu card (which matched the bride's hair piece), and of course the tree that was set-up to hold well wishes from guests on its branches and eventually become ornaments for the new Mr. and Mrs.'s Christmas tree. I really enjoyed being a part of this event - from the easy and organized planning process to the finale filled with dancing, drinking, cigar smoking guests, and fireworks - it truly was a SUPERB event!

East Bay Street Chic

Melissa Garcia and Austin Mosier were married on Saturday, June 27 at the historic Palmer Home on East Bay Street (technically East Battery). Their beautiful indoor ceremony was followed by a reception at the Old Exchange Building which is also on East Bay Street. Melissa was a very easy bride to work with. She had done the majority of the wedding planning on her own and just hired me to help her out with a few of the last minute details. Her organization and attention to detail made me picking up things late in the game very easy. Melissa was one of those brides that we could all learn a thing or two from - she made her decisions based on what would make her friends and family most comfortable - not herself. These decisions paid off as her guests stayed late in the night despite the crazy thunderstorms that were taking place outside. All in all ... a beautiful day for a beautiful couple.

Memorial Day Weekend Chic

Amanda and Jay were married on Sunday, May 24th at the Thomas Bennett House. It was a rainy day but the skies cleared up like clockwork when ceremony time rolled around. The blue skies allowed Amanda and Jay to get married in the garden like they had dreamed of all along. The Thomas Bennett House ended up being the perfect venue to host this special event. Amanda and Jay's 120 guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the garden and on the porch before they headed to the tent for dinner and dancing. Some of my favorite parts of this special event were that Amanda's Mom hand made her dress and the beautiful table runners, how the bride and groom added parts of Jay's Filipino culture to their ceremony, and that the bride and groom relaxed and let go on their wedding day and truly had the time of their lives. This was a great event that I loved being a part of.

Citadel Chic

Yes, I said it - The Citadel can be chic! Ashley and Griffin were untied in holy matrimony on March 28, 2009 at Summerall Chapel on the Citadel's Campus. They had a beautiful reception that followed at the Francis Marion Hotel in the Gold Ballroom. Laura and I really enjoyed this one. Ashley was incredibly organized and easy to work with. I am tempted to say that her planning process and wedding day went perfectly - no problems at all! Ashley is a great example of a bride that vendors love to work with. She was respectful and generous to all of her vendors throughout the planning process and on wedding day. While Laura took the lead on this one, I had a wonderful time getting to know Ashley and Griffin during the pre-planning process and loved being able to feel like I was a part of their special day as I viewed their pictures a few days ago. Big props to the amazingly talented Liz and Rob Duren for helping to make Ashley and Griffin's day go so smoothly. Ashley is one of those brides that I know I will always keep in touch with - especially because she likes facebook almost as much as I do...

Wickliffe House Chic

May 16, 2009 I had the pleasure of working my first event at the Wickliffe House. The downtown historic home was the perfect spot for Ashley and Joseph's intimate wedding and reception. The ceremony took place upstairs with a cocktail hour immediately following on the porch and side lawn. Guests then came inside for a delicious dinner catered by Mediterra Catering. Katie was the site coordinator and catering manager and was wonderful to work with both during the planning process and throughout the event. I love how upbeat and energetic she remained throughout the duration of the event. She was definitely a breath of fresh air. Chris Smith of Chris and Cami Photography photographed the event and was a pleasure to work with. He always makes the bride and groom (as well as the guests and vendors) feel so comfortable and comfortable guests equal happy guests. I love working with Chris and highly recommend him. After dinner, Ashley and Joseph's guests hit the dance floor before the bride and groom left in a Charleston Black Cab to a bubble departure. Check out some more shots of Ashley and Joseph's wedding under the "Featured Chic" tab on our website. Thank you Ashley and Griffin for inviting us to be a part of your big day!

D.I.Y. Chic

Are you a savvy do it yourself bride? I was not but I have lots of brides that are. This past weekend's bride was no exception. Jenn and Jamie were married on Friday, June 12th in a beautiful ceremony on the lawn of Alhambra Hall. Jenn was escorted down the aisle by both her parents to Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" which was played and sung by Chris Crosby. The bridesmaids wore beautiful hot pink dresses by J. Crew and were given matching bright orange J. Crew flip-flops by the bride. They looked amazing! One of my favorite part's of this wedding (besides how the guys went to the Battery to play Bocci ball while waiting on the girls to get ready - what a great idea!) was the bride's dress. She wore a short fun dress that was just perfect for her. After the ceremony, the happily married couple headed upstairs with their 80 or so guests to enjoy a sit-down dinner that was provided by Carolina Catering. The guests dined to their delicious meal while enjoying music played by DJ Rob Duren and while being photographer by Rob's talented wife, Liz Duren. They are both incredibly fun and easy to work with both during the planning process and on wedding day. Out of Hand brought in beautiful pink and orange flowers to go with Jenn and Jamie's design. We hung 40 off-white paper lanterns and placed tons of candles around the room to give the room a more intimate feel. Jenn had the best ideas when it came to seating chart ideas and her guest book. I am going to try and get her to post a how-to blog when she has some free time. Jamie even made their card box. They really are one talented duo. Fortunately for us, Jenn is a teacher and is sharing her creative ideas with our future decision-makers every day. Everything about this wedding was chic and fun and planned to a tee. This was an example of a wedding where no detail went unnoticed. The guests loved all the special touches - especially the bottled water at the ceremony site and the late night milkshakes, fries, and make your own hamburger station - a huge hit! You can see more of Jenn and Jamie and Liz's work on our website under the "Featured Chic" link. I loved being a part of Jenn and Jamie's special day!

Big Apple Chic

Hi!

I just wanted to take a few minutes to blog about one of my favorite weddings. I had the pleasure of being a part of Laura and Jay's wedding this past March. Laura and I actually knew each other from attending Ashley Hall together back in the day. Both Laura and Jay's friends and family members immediately made me feel like I was part of the group. They were all so kind and welcoming. I felt like I became the Corless' fifth daughter within minutes. Yes, Laura has three beautiful sisters who were bridesmaids along with two of her friends from college. Laura and Jay live in New York, New York and were full of creative and chic ideas right from the start. Laura works for a publishing company and is very talented in the areas of writing, paper, fonts, and design - she will probably be upset when she sees how poorly written this blog is - ha. Laura and Jay fell in love with their venue, The Legare-Waring House at Charles Towne Landing, very quickly. They loved its southern charm and earthy and outdoorsy feel. They also picked some of the most amazing vendors to work with. They chose to have Jenny at Cru Catering come up with their unique and scrumptious menu while choosing Jim Smeal to create another one of his masterpieces in their cake. Matt Powell from Boone, North Carolina captured the day with his camera while Kevin Graham from KG Media recorded their special day via video. Matt did an amazing job with the pictures - despite the horrible weather conditions (flooding and a tornado watch). Please check out Laura and Jay and Matt's work under the "Featured Chic" section of our website. There you will also be able to see how well Lisa from Out of Hand captured all of Laura's ideas in the flowers and decor. Lisa's work was truly amazing. The guests enjoyed their dinner to the sounds of the rain and DJ Frank from Nustar entertainment while dining on filet and crab cake. The ambiance made this event. The guests sat at long wooden farm tables from OOH Events that were covered in candlelight and other special details. Lisa truly captured Laura and Jay's vision and so much more. The couple and their guests danced the night away for the remainder of the evening and departed to the Inn at Middleton Place via a Charleston Black Cab and lots more rain. All in all, a wonderful and wet day had by all. I feel so honored to have been a part of it.

Happy Planning!

Chic Newlyweds

On May 2, 2009 I married the man of my dreams. We truly had the most beautiful wedding day. The weather was perfect and everything ran very smoothly (for the most part). We had some amazing vendors that made our big day possible. I want to take the time to thank a few of them here. To Lauren at the Cake Stand: Our cake was amazing and we are still getting compliments on both the design and the flavor. Thank you! To our band, The Mighty Kicks: You were amazing. Thank you for keeping our dance floor full the entire night. I also want to throw out a special thanks to Greg and Alex at Stage Presence. They ended up providing the most gorgeous dance floor and stage at the last minute and were just all around great to work with. Lastly, to Lisa and all the girls at Out of Hand and OOH events: You MADE our day. The flowers and decor were just amazing. Everything came together perfectly. We can not thank you enough.

The Cake Stand
The Mighty Kicks
Stage Presence
Out of Hand

Chic Eats

Hi Everyone!

Are you still searching for your caterer? Trying to decide which of the wonderful lowcountry caterers is right for you? I know it's a tough choice. If you have the luxury of having a venue that allows you to bring in your own caterer, then keep Jenny at Cru Catering and Elaine at Hamby Catering in mind. They are both wonderful to work with and come up with the most delicious menus. Cru is known for it's unique menu items and for being willing to make any menu reqest within reason happen. Hamby's has the most amazing lowcountry choices - their ham buiscuits and shrimp and grits can't be beat. Don't forget that Cru Catering offers all Southern Chic brides 10% off of their total balance - yummy.

Cru Catering

Hamby Catering

Happy Planning!

Featured Chic

Hello Everyone!

Please check out A Wonderful Wedding's website: www.awonderfulwedding.com/. There, you can download a free copy of the January 2009 issue of "A Wonderful Wedding" magazine. Kristin and Rob's July 2008 wedding at Folly Beach is featured in the issue. You can see more pictures of them on our website under "Featured Chic." We really enjoyed working with Kristin and her family!

Happy Planning!