Happy Holidays!

Wow! I can't believe 2010 is coming to an end. It has been a fantastic year for Southern Chic Weddings and Events. We have learned a lot, had a ton of fun, and met lots of amazing people along the way. I want to thank all of our brides, grooms, vendors, and everyone else who has made Southern Chic such a success. My dream of helping Brides from all around the country to have their own perfect wedding day would not be a reality without all of your help. Thank you again for everything and cheers to 2011 being the best year yet!

Happy Holidays,

Amanda

Shopping with Friends Brunch Pictures

Pictures of the Shopping with Friends Brunch can be viewed here. A big thank you to Liz at Liz Duren Photography for capturing it all!

Shopping with Friends

Shopping with Friends was a huge success. Thank you for all the love and support. I am excited to have this fundraising weekend under my belt and am looking forward to donating my time to assist Lowcountry AIDS Services and other local charities more in the future. I want to send a special thank to Lisa at ooh! Events, Liz at Liz Duren Photography, and Greg at Snyder Event Rentals for being so willing to donate their time to this event. It would not have been possible without them. I also am really excited about all of the new friends that I was able to meet because of this event - Katie at Circa PR, Jessica at Charleston Place, Mary at Lotus Flower and everyone else who was a part of the weekend. I hope I have the opportunity to work with all of this local talent again in the future. A great event for a great cause that I was proud to be a part of. Pictures to follow soon!

Shopping with Friends - Cocktail Party

Shopping With Friends Cocktail Party is tomorrow, December 3rd, at Biton. Select
merchandise will be 50%-70% off for one night only! Guests will also
enjoy wine, sweet treats from local bakeries, a Fall Fashion model
showcase, and music from DJ Danny Seltzer.

Wedding Wire

You can see more pictures of our events and read reviews from past clients on our Wedding Wire page. Check it out!

Happy Planning!

The Wedding Row

We were so excited to hear from Della today that Lindsey and Nick are featured on The Wedding Row's blog. Lindsey and Nick look great on the post. Everyone should check it out!

Royal Chic

Are you as glued to the details of the Royal Wedding as I am? I can't get enough. April 29th, 2011 - If I can't be planning the wedding or even attending then I will settle for a full day of wedding coverage fun!

Make it a holiday affair!

Need help putting together that fabulous holiday fete? Southern Chic has got you covered. Contact us today.

Happy Holidays!

Go Red!

Wade Chic

Lindsey and Nick were married on October 2nd, 2010 at the Citadel Beach House on Isle of Palms where a reception immediately followed. I loved this couple. Lindsey was such a great Bride to work with. She had so many chic, fabulous ideas for her wedding day. A few of my favorite things about Lindsey and Nick's big day were ...

Their families - I loved their families. They were all such great, fun, easy going people. Everyone was so excited for Lindsey and Nick and just really enjoyed themselves and mainly being together. Lindsey's Dad even brought lunch to the venue for everyone setting up. Isn't that so nice?

The decor - Lindsey brought the best decor items: candles, coral, burplap and so much more. It all came together beautifully. I can only imagine how beautiful Lindsey and Nick's home is. Lindsey has such a great eye for decor. A few days before the wedding, she and I were at Out of Hand finalizing a few of the rental details and she saw this table - a table that has never been rented before - and ended up convincing Lisa, the owner, to rent out the table for her to use as her candy table at the reception. The table was perfect.

The way Lindsey and Nick let loose and had a great time - they laughed and danced and had the time of their lives. I love seeing couples really step back and enjoy their day.

Such a fun day had by Lindsey and Nick, their families and friends, and event their vendors!

A huge thanks to some of my favorites OOH! Events, Cru Catering, Liz Duren Photography, Hart to Heart Media, Absolutely Charleston and new friends Sugar Bakeshop, Classical Charleston, and the Chris Crosby Band, for helping to make the day such a success. You can see more of Lindsey and Nick and Liz's beautiful work on our Facebook page as well.

Happy Planning!

Janine and Jack tie the knot!

Janine and Jack were married at First Baptist Church Downtown on Saturday, September 25, 2010. A Lowcountry reception immediately followed at the Creek Club at I'on. The guests dined on lobster macaroni and cheese and other delicious treats that were provided by Jacob's Kitchen and Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal. The guests were entertained by Voices of Deliverance after the ceremony and then Two Three Ways at the reception as they enjoyed the beautiful decor that was done by OOH! Events. And of course ... the talented Tara and Rod of Red Shutter Studio who were nice enough to share the photos with me. Tara won me over with her salsa dancing skills. So fun! This really was a beautiful event for a beautiful couple. Janine and Jack - I wish you a lifetime of love, fun, and happiness. Keep in touch!

Beaufort or Bust

Lauren and Jonathan were married on August 21, 2010. Their ceremony was scheduled to take place at the Old Sheldon Ruins but God had other plans for their big day. The skies opened and didn't close so the ceremony was quickly moved to the reception site, Beaufort's waterfront pavilion. While the Church would have made a beautiful backdrop, the lawn of the pavilion ended up being the perfect setting for Lauren and Jonathan's sunset ceremony. I also have to mention how calm and collected the Groom and especially the Bride stayed through the switch. They were rock stars. After the ceremony, the guests walked a few feet over to the reception site where they escaped the heat with lots of delicious southern style tea and lemonade along with of course plenty of adult beverages as well. Guests were wet and it was hot but it didn't stop this crowd from having fun. DJ Mike from Jay Maxwell's Music by Request kept the dance floor packed all night. Matt and Sol of Del Sol Photography captured it all and were nice enough to share the photos with me. Matt is actually the Bride's cousin so it was a true family affair. I really enjoyed working with Lauren and her fabulous Mom, Danae, throughout the planning process. This is a beautiful family that I am so fortunate to have met. Congratulations Lauren and Jonathan Cooke!

Happy Planning to the rest of you!

Save the Date!

Southern Chic Weddings and Events is proud to be a 2010 sponsor of Lowcountry Aids Services' Shopping with Friends

SHOPPING WITH FRIENDS

December 4, 2010

Shopping With Friends is celebrating its seventh year, and we are doing it in Style. Grab your friends and shop til you drop to show your support for over 100 caring Red Ribbon Retailers who will give 10% of every dollar you spend to Lowcountry AIDS Services. Guilt free shopping for a great cause!


Cocktail Party and Fashion Show hosted by Biton
20% off any purchase * Swag Bags * Free Giveaways * Signature Drinks
Friday, December 3rd from 6pm-8pm
Biton - 275 King Street
$10 Donation to Lowcountry AIDS Services


Kick-Off Brunch at the Rivera at Charleston Place
Live Auction * Vintage Village * Gift Bags(valued at $100) * Bloody Mary and Mimosas
Saturday, December 4th from 10am to noon
Tickets to this Stylish event are $45

LOVE

Just a few of the vendors that I am loving on right now ...

Venue: Julie Ann with The Legare-Waring House

Caterer: Francesca with Newton Farms Catering

Cake: Lauren and Will with The Cake Stand

Photographer: Liz with Liz Duren Photography

DJ: Rob with Rob Duren Productions

Band: Michael with Permanent Vacation

Rentals: Greg with Snyder Event Rentals

Floral and Decor: Lisa with Out of Hand and OOH! Events

Transportation: Karen with Absolutely Charleston

Officiant: Jill with Mobile Marriage

Videographer: Christian with Hart to Heart Media

Ceremony and Cocktail Hour Music: Mike with Palmetto Strings

Hair and Makeup: Karen with Cover Girl Brides

Attire: Jodi with White on DI


Happy Planning!

Newton Farms Catering

I had a second meeting today with Francesca of Newton Farms Catering. I am becoming a huge fan. Not only does she really know her stuff, she is also fun, passionate, and extremely helpful. It also helps that their food is fresh and usually local and their staff is excellent. Take a look at Newton Farms before deciding on your reception caterer.

Happy Planning!

Riviera Chic

Emily and Neal were married in a beautiful ceremony at Trinity United Methodist Church. Emily and Neal are a lovely couple - the number of friends in their bridal party is proof alone. An elegant and fun reception followed at the Riviera Theater. This was my first event at the Riviera and I hope it's not my last. I loved the venue, the staff, and of course the food.

Emily and Neal chose lots of great vendors to make their big day go so smoothly:

Cake - d'lish Desserts
Floral and Design - Bloom at Charleston Place
Ceremony Music - Bob Williams Duo
Reception Music - Soul Function
Transportation - Palmetto Carriage Company and Charleston Black Cab Company
Hair and Makeup - Allure Salon
Accommodations - Charleston Place Hotel
and of course the lovely Emily Horton for photographing Emily and Neal's special day and sharing her work with us!'

A big congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Neil Horton!

Tea Chic

I love this couple! I met Stefanie and JP through my good friend, Kristen. Kristen and JP work together and she knew we would be a great fit. Stefanie and JP are a lot of what I am not - laid back, cool, etc. We were a great balance for each other. Stefanie hired me to take over the planning of her wedding ten days out and that is exactly what I did.

Some of my favorite parts of their wedding day were:

1. the venue - the Charleston Tea Plantation was a great spot for this special couple. the venue was unique to both locals and out-of-towners alike and proved to be the perfect back-drop for their simply chic decor.

2. the band - the couple hired a local rag time band that kept the dance floor packed all night.

3. Stefanie and JP.

You can see more of Stefanie and JP's AMAZING wedding pictures on our Facebook page. A big thank you to Stefanie and JP's photographer, Nadia, for sharing her gorgeous work!

Carmen Ash Photography

I really enjoyed meeting with Carmen of Carmen Ash Photography today. She and I had a chance to talk about how we can work together to continue to make Brides all over the Lowcountry have perfect wedding days. I loved Carmen's enthusiasm for her work and her adorable two dogs. You can see more of Carmen on her website.

Happy Planning!

Charleston Bridal Association

Southern Chic Weddings and Events is a proud member of the Charleston Bridal Association. Check out the site to learn more about Charleston weddings and to see all of the other fabulous Charleston wedding venues and vendors.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Robinson!

You have seen and read about the bridal portraits ... now here is the real deal ...

Stefanie and Tradd were married at Christ Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant on Saturday, July 10th, 2010. Yes, it was a little warm, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.

I fell in love with Stefanie right from the start. She is super organized and on the ball but also really fun, sweet, smart, and beautiful - the kind of girl you should love to hate but you can't because she is that nice.

Stefanie and Tradd have been together since they were two years old. Okay, not two, but you get the idea. They have been together for what might as well be their whole lives and it only takes seeing them together for a hot minute to know why they have lasted and will continue to last.

Stefanie, like me, grew up in Snee Farm ( a Mount Pleasant neighborhood ) and her Dad is a big golfer like all the men in my family. My brother, Michael, actually set this one up for me. Thanks Michael! Stefanie handled most of the planning herself - only using me for opinions and vendor referrals and then letting me take over the week before her wedding. Stefanie was so organized and on the ball throughout the planning process that taking over ten days out was a piece of cake.

Speaking of cake, Stefanie had a beautiful red velvet flavored wedding cake that was done by Michelle at Peacock Feather Cakes. Before enjoying the cake, the guests enjoyed fun hors d'oeurves such as oyster shooters, mini fried green tomatoes, crab cakes, and much more. After the cake, the very smart staff at Cru Catering passed mini grilled cheese sandwiches out to the guests. Nobody left this event on an empty stomach.

Cru Catering also took care of the bar which stayed busy all night. Michael and the guys at Permanent Vacation kept the dance floor of Hibernian Hall packed all night long. And yes, they did play "Mrs. Robinson." Hart to Heart Video captured the day on video while the awesome Liz Duren took care of the photography. A big thanks to Liz for sharing the pictures.

Out of Hand and OOH Events took care of the rentals, floral, and decor making Hibernian Hall even more beautiful than normal. My favorite part of the decor was that all of the centerpieces for the guest dining tables were placed in white milk glass - just gorgeous.

We can't forget about Kristi of Velvet Salon and Leslie of Moore Makeup for helping to make these naturally beautiful girls stunning ALL night long despite the heat and rain.

Kristen and I really enjoyed being a part of Stefanie and Tradd's special day. The families, the friends, the wedding party - everyone was so much fun to be around. We hope to keep in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and their families for years to come.

Other Vendors:

Absolutely Charleston
Charleston Black Cab Company
Lula Kate
White

Happy Planning,

Amanda

Caldwell Chic

Kristy and Brian were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony on Friday, May 21st, 2010 on the lawn of The Palmer Home. The Palmer Home is a beautiful bed and breakfast located on the Battery in historic downtown Charleston. The Palmer Home serves as a great venue for couples who are having an intimate ceremony and want their guests to experience all of the charm and grace that Charleston has to offer. I highly recommend the Palmer Home as a ceremony location.

The Caldwells hosted a beautiful and FUN reception at the Old Exchange Building. Their guests loved being greeted with tours of the Old Exchange Building's dungeon as well as a delicious table of appetizers and passed speciality drinks, sweet tea vodka served in mason jars and champagne with a raspberry garnish, perfect for that warm spring (which we all know feels like summer) night. The guests were also treated to a photo booth which was a huge hit. Kristy and Brian's guests loved going inside the photo booth, playing dress up if you will, and just having old fashioned laughs. This reception really was a good time had by all.

Kristy did a great job of making her and Brian's wedding weekend a reflection of them. They live downtown and love downtown - hence the location of both the ceremony and reception being walking distance from their home. They love the outdoors and being active so the beach day after the wedding with kegs, food, and fun was also right on par. Kristy and Brian even went as far to include their beloved pets, two cats, in their big day by having mock versions of them as cake toppers. These were a big hit as well.

A wonderful wedding for a wonderful couple. So glad we could be a part of it!

Vendors -

Minister - Chris Snelson, Friend of the Bride and Groom
Ceremony Venue - The Palmer Home
Reception Venue - The Old Exchange Building
Caterer and Bar - Cafe Catering
Flowers - Flowers by Frankie
Rentals - Snyder Event Rentals
Ceremony and Reception Music - Jay Maxwell's Music by Request
Transportation - Absolutely Charleston and Charleston Rickshaw Company
Cake - Publix Bakery
Hair and Makeup - Velvet Salon
Photo Booth - CVI Photography
Photographer - Tillman Branch Photography ~ A special thanks to Mike and Rachel at Tillman Branch Photography for sharing the beautiful pictures with us. We are looking forward to working with you again in the future!

Here's to you Mrs. Robinson!

It's not always that I get to see a Bride's bridal portraits. This time I had the pleasure of seeing lots of the pictures on the Wedding Row - and boy are they fabulous! Stefanie chose the ever-so-talented and wonderful Liz Duren of Liz Duren Photography to shoot her bridal portraits as well as her wedding day. The bridal portraits were taken at Boone Hall Plantation which served as the perfect back drop for this elegant and southern Bride. Stefanie had a little help with hair and makeup from Kristy at Velvet Salon and Leslie at Moore Makeup. Out of Hand provided the gorgeous bouquet. You can see Stefanie's bridal portrait session and Liz's work on the Wedding Row's July 15th, post.

More of Stefanie and Tradd's wedding to come soon!

Happy Planning,

Amanda

Planter's Inn Chic

We had our first event at the Planter's Inn on Saturday, April 24th, 2010. The Planter's Inn is a beautiful location for an intimate ceremony and / or reception. Christy Loftin and her staff are amazing and of course having Peninsula Grill on site for all of your catering and baking needs is a double plus!

Sharon and Joe made the trip from Alabama to be married in the courtyard of the Planter's Inn's with their beautiful children by their side. After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the courtyard where they were offered delicious appetizers and drinks and listened to the wonderful music provided by my favorite local harpist, Judy McCoy. Guests then went inside for dinner, dancing, and dessert. Yes, the dessert was the Peninsula Grill's famous coconut cake and the guests, like the rest of us, could not get enough of it. A big thanks to Out of Hand and OOH Events for all the fabulous decor and rentals and a special thanks to Brianna at Stello Photography for capturing Sharon and Joe's day in style.

I can't forget about Sharon and Joe's other vendors that helped to make their wedding day happen:

Officiant - Jill Kruger of Mobile Marriage
Disc Jockey - Scott Borgerding of Mobile Disc Jockey and Karaoke
Babysitters - Elite Nannies
Hair - Taneshia Dupreee
Makeup - Antonia Edmonds
Transportation - Palmetto Carriage Company

Celebrating the Hamiltons

Erin and Phil Hamilton are celebrating their one year anniversary this Sunday. Yay! Congratulations you guys! We wish you many more years of smiles, laughs, and wedded bliss:-)

Chick Chic

I know the subject line is cheesey with a "Z" but I couldn't resist. I get at least one phone call a month for Southern 'Chick" Weddings. I love everything chic and everything chick which is probably why I loved this Bride from the start. Lacy was easy to work with - so laid back and real. Lacy knew what she wanted and was fun fun fun which of course meant things would be no different for her wedding day. The day was laid back, real, and a fun time had by all. Lacy and Brendan really had a beautiful wedding day. They were married at the South Carolina Aquarium where lots of drinking, eating, and plate breaking took place following the ceremony. Okay, not that much plate breaking but what can I say ... I wanted more ... it was too fun! Lacy chose lots of great vendors to make her big fat greek wedding day go smoothly: Cru Catering, Sweetsmith Bakery, The Flower Cottage, Lee Edwards Entertainment, Charleston Rickshaw Company, DeBorah's Bridal, The Market Pavilion Hotel, and of course the fabulous Carmen of Carmen Ash Photography who was nice enough to share her talents with all of us. A fun and fabulous wedding for a fun and fabulous couple. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Brendan Chick! Stay chic and keep in touch:-)

Featured Chic - Carolina Bride

Please check out this month's issue of Carolina Bride. Our 2-20-10 wedding was featured. Rachel and Jeff were such an awesome couple to work with. You can read more about Rachel and Jeff, or the couple we affectionately named "the perfect couple", and their special day on our March 3, 2010 blog.

Happy Planning!

WeddingWire

Check us out on WeddingWire where we are now officially rated. A big thank you to all of our fabulous past clients who took time out of their busy lives to share their experiences with us on the site.

Aliesha and Josh's Wedding Day

Two moths ago today, Aliesha and Josh were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the lawn of the Citadel Beach House by Reverend Dr. Holt Clark. A cocktail hour followed on the porch and patio where Cru Catering passed delicious appetizers and served lots of fun drinks - including a green punch recipe that has been in the Bride's family for generations. Rhett of Jay Maxwell's Music by Request handled the reception music while Ashley Bakery handled the stunning beach themed cake. Out of Hand and OOH Events were responsible for the beautiful flowers and decor that everyone raved about all night. Also helping with set-up and decor were Brian of Ice Age and Steve of Fox AV Rentals. Finally, the day was captured by Nathan of Richard Bell Photography and Christian of Hart to Heart Video. One of the highlights of the night was the Bride and Groom's departure. The guests were given fun glow sticks to wave as the Bride and Groom ran down the stairs to the Groom's father's gorgeous yellow corvette. A perfect end to a perfect evening! Thank you everyone for another wonderful event and a big congratulations to Doctors Josh and Aliesha Cleveland!

Cake Stands

Are you looking for that perfect cake stand? Try Sarah's Stands - a cake stand company. "Sarah's Stands offers custom made pedestal cake stands for cakes that want to stand out. The cake stands are available in 12", 14", 16", 18", 20" and 22" sizes and are ideal for displaying wedding cakes and other yummy goodies. With more than 70 colors to choose from, now every bride can match her cake stand to her wedding color theme!" Visit Sarah's Stands here.

Tims Wedding Video Clip from Briteside Productions

Kessie & Mark Wedding Day from BRITESIDE PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Kessie and Mark are married!

Kessie and Mark got married at the beautiful Old Santee Canal Park on May 1st, 2010. Kessie and Mark really are the perfect couple - so laid back, fun, and real. I met Kessie a few years ago through her sister, Erin, and brother-in-law, Walton. Walton and my husband, Tim, have been friends for years so I was honored to be able to help Kessie and Mark when it came to their own special day. Kessie and Mark love being outside so we really wanted to reflect that throughout our theme. They were married with the water behind them and Palmetto Strings playing music with a beautiful tent set-up for the reception just feet away. Hamby's catered the event with hits such as seared tuna, chicken bog, and even venison that was caught by the Groom himself. Publix of Goose Creek did the cake and cupcakes while Snyder provided the drinks - the blue speciality drink was a huge hit and looked great floating throughout the tent. Tomme of Tomme Hilton Galery and Josh of Briteside Productions captured the day for us while the Travis Allison Band played some great music that all the guests really enjoyed. The night ended with mini grilled cheese sandwiches being passed before the bride and groom departed in a Charleston Black Cab with a sparkler departure to the Vendue Inn. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mark Tims!