Real Wedding Follow-Up: Caroline & Keat, Part 3

Posted by Caroline Crown, whose wedding is featured in our Fall issue

Today I'm back and following up on Calder's post yesterday, and I wanted to share a bit about our welcome bags.

The navy and ivory canvas totes boasted the state's signature Palmetto tree and crescent moon with our family names and wedding weekend date embroidered into it. In fact, the icons of the tree and moon appeared in a few places (tomorrow I'll share one more). Inside, we stuffed a bevy of little goodies, including:

• Custom labeled bottled waters
• Mini candle
• For Your Party barrel-style matches (navy with white C)
• Taste of Charleston spiral-bound 3"x 5" cookbook
• Benne Wafers (local sweet/salty bite)
• Cheese Zingers (a Southern favorite)
• Lord Ashley Cooper's Dictionary of Charlestonese (a quirky little booklet on how to pronounce all things Charleston)
• Charleston Tea Plantation loose tea
• Custom pens and Palmetto notepads
• Charleston Magazine
• Charleston Visitor Center Booklet with maps
• Wedding Weekend info printed in tri-fold fashion

What are you doing for your welcome bag?

Link We Love: Bellochio

Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director

It's no secret: We love Bellochio! The specialty shop in San Francisco is filled with darling accoutrements at every turn, and there's no shortage of reasons to go there (on the web, at least).

1. They offer affordable jewelry for the bridal party gifts and for the bride.

2. Their packaging is breathtaking and extremely thoughtful.

3. Their custom chocolates and caramels taste as good as they look.

4. The stationery, perfect for thank you notes, can't be beat!

I could go on, but then I'd have you here all day!

Event Planning: Report from Saint Barts, Part Two

Posted by Matthew Robbins, Contributor

As part two of my little series of posts on St. Barts, I would like to share a few important contacts with you all. These fantastic people are some of the most knowledgeable and professional friends I have had the pleasure of spending time with during my recent visit. They each share a different history and relationship with the island, but they all bring an impeccable level of service and commitment to their work.

I'll start with Aurélie De Vos. Have a look at her site St. Barth Celebrations for details regarding her planning services. Her calm and cool spirit will keep you relaxed and at ease as she navigates all of the island's options for your event. Her partner Manu is an incredible chef who provides French-inspired private service and catering options for rehearsal dinners, intimate cocktail parties, and elaborate receptions. Here are a few images from a tasting Aurélie and Manu presented for our visit. I love the presentation for each course: small, delicate, and easy to eat. Also, everything was perfect for a hot, tropical environment.

Individual servings of seafood salad

Small tastings of refreshing chilled soup

Beautiful ceviche served in petite glasses

Small tarts with fresh mango, lime, and blueberries

Real Wedding Follow-Up: Caroline & Keat, Part 2

Posted by Caroline Crown, whose wedding is featured in our Fall issue

 
Photography by Bryan Johnson and Caleb Chancey

Yesterday, I shared some of my planning tips when it comes to destination weddings. I was lucky enough to work with Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events and thought it'd be nice to share some additional tips straight from a pro. Here are some things that came into play when planning my wedding, which will help any of you getting married in the colder months when there's a chance of rain, snow, and chilly air. Here's what he had to say.

1. Have a Plan B that you actually like!
A simple no-nonsense rain plan involves reserving a ceremony (and/or dinner!) backup location, or putting a tent on hold with your venue or local rental company.

Saturday, 11.29.08, when Caroline & Keat got married, turned out to be a gray, rainy day with a dampness and a chill that we were determined to overcome. Plan A was a ceremony outdoors in the centuries-old Octagonal Gardens at Middleton Place. A few days out, we watched the forecast and made a bold decision to move the ceremony indoors to the Pavilion, which we had on hold as a rain backup for the ceremony. The beauty of our Plan B is how seamlessly it unfolded. We had long ago planned to flood the back-up venue with an abundance of varying votive light for warmth and drama. The simplicity of hanging hundreds of votives from the beamed ceiling resulted in a breathtaking scene as the guests filed in from their trolleys, happy to settle into a lovely environment. Remember: Spontaneity can be a plus!

2. Pretend You're a Guest
When worrying over a flawed design idea, event flow sticking point, or concern over guest comfort, we often ask ourselves: 'What would I feel like if I were a guest, walking through this wedding?' Here, we did the same thing. For starters, we bagged up gigantic piles of fresh towels for toweling off anything that needed drying. Secondly, we invested in plenty of nice, white golf umbrellas big enough to cover 2-3 heads at once. Next, we arranged for staff to be on hand at every step to play "personal umbrella holder" to guests stepping across the plantation grounds. (Think P. Diddy!) Lastly, we dropped down tent sides and added canon-blown heat to the dinner tent in lieu of the unsightliness and limited reach of mushroom heaters.

3. Play "shepherd"
We are often asked if transportation is necessary, as it can pose a financial and logistical challenge to brides planning for their big day. Destination weddings come with their own layers of presumed modern-day etiquette, including the notion that rental cars aren't necessary and guests will be shuttled to/from each and every function. While this isn't always feasible for each and every bride, it is certainly something to remember to aim for when budgeting for the big day. When possible, planning to shuttle guests about town in a streamlined fashion can be the element that makes them feel completely confident and secure in their enjoyment of the evening.

Transportation provides an automatic safety net if guests over-indulge. Secondly, it assures the timeliness of the event's agenda, as guests are "captive" for the most part, and planners and other professionals can ensure a speedy arrival and departure. Lastly, it is that special touch that very well may cap off a guest's entire perception of how well-received he or she has been for the wedding weekend.

For Caroline and Keat's wedding weekend, we had a lot of fun utilizing several different local vendors to "shake up" the way guests were moved about Charleston each day. On Thursday night, we deployed sleek black sprinter vans to move them in style. On Friday night, we used a bevy of British black cabs to/from the William Aiken House. On Saturday, we lined up old-fashioned trolleys to take them on the 45 minute trek to Middleton Place.

4. Welcome them with Local Flavor
We worked closely with the families to plan for darling little welcome bags aimed at introducing guests to Charleston. Caroline will be talking about all the goodies inside tomorrow!

DIY Craft: A Snow White Dove

Posted by Katie Hatch, Style Director

I've been listening to Dolly Parton's "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove" and it reminded me of one of my favorite stories Rebecca Thuss did while she was working at MSW, a story about handmade cake toppers.  (And, yes, I do know that Dolly wasn't singing about romance).

Anyway, I like the idea of making your own cake topper because it's a small, manageable project (compared to, say, favors), and it can become an heirloom you pass down to your daughter years later. So, to me, the time seems justified. Here's the topper I was thinking of:

It's relatively easy to make this, not least of all because all you need to start are a few pre-made elements, like the doves and the styrofoam base. The directions are here. 

What are you doing for a cake topper?

Real Bride: Caroline & Keat, Part 1

Posted by Caroline Crown, whose wedding is featured in our Fall Issue

Photography by Bryan Johnson and Caleb Chancey

Just about a year to the day of marrying husband Keat, our wedding -- part Thanksgiving feast, part destination wedding, and fully a weekend celebration of all of our nearest and dearest -- appeared in the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings. Thanks to the help of an amazingly talented wedding planner, and my wonderfully loving and helpful mother and mother-in-law, we had such a memorable wedding, welcome dinner, and Thanksgiving for 70. So, with my first anniversary looming and much to be thankful for, I'll be here each day until Thanksgiving sharing some additional tidbits you didn't see in the magazine.

First topic of discussion? Planning tips!

I think most women who have planned a wedding would agree when I describe the process as the perfect mix of fun and stress. And if you’re planning a destination wedding, you get double the fun and double --  maybe triple -- the stress!

Event Planning: Report from Saint Barts

Posted by Matthew Robbins, Contributor

Saint Barthelemy, St. Barth, St. Barts—all of these names refer to one of my absolute favorite places in the Caribbean. Sure, it's known as a celebrity playground, but there are plenty of options for brides, too. After spending many vacations on this little piece of heaven, I decided to really get to know what the island has to offer to potential clients looking for a destination (specifically island) wedding. This will be the first of four posts detailing my recent trip to St. Barts, and I will do my best to include all of the wonderful details! You can also check out my blog for additional photos from the trip!

Are you planning an island wedding? How did you choose your location?

I'm starting my report where you would begin your search (after you use the island, of course): the hotel. There are only a handful of hotels on Saint Barts, and they are all incredibly luxurious and unique. Each offers endless options for a fabulous honeymoon, of course, but it was so wonderful to learn more about what they offer the bride and groom looking to plan an intimate, truly unforgettable destination wedding. The perfect number of guests for a wedding on the island seems to be 50-75; after all, jet aircraft are not permitted to land on St. Barts, so you've got to fly to St. Martin or Puerto Rico and arrive on a small prop plane, or travel by sea. All of the travel is well worth the beauty that awaits each guest! The food alone is enough motivation to plan a St. Barts celebration. You can have the best of France on an exquisite Caribbean island only four hours from NYC!

Etiquette: Timing the Post-Destination Reception

Posted by Talley Sue Hohlfeld, Etiquette Expert

So many of the brides we speak to who are planning destination weddings are also planning a big party at home when they get back. Sometimes it's a big, formal affair; most times it's something a *little* bit smaller and more casual. They want an opportunity to actually celebrate with those loved ones:

a) who weren't able to attend the Hawaii event for schedule or monetary reasons;

and

b) whom they didn't invite to the far-away ceremony because they feared it would be an imposition (invitations to the ceremony itself are often viewed by guests as a "trigger" for buying the couple a gift; and some people feel obligated to make great efforts to attend weddings).

When should they have this secondary event?

There aren't a lot of official sources with answers. (Though Emily Post firmly points out that this should not be considered to be "the wedding reception")

Here's my own vote: within 3 months. Honestly a quarter of a year is enough time for other people to be excited about your wedding (and remember that we've been hearing about it beforehand, too). Us guests want to celebrate while things are still fizzy. So, the sooner, the better. It's hard to recreate the excitement. 

Are you planning such a party? When will you hold it—and what influenced your schedule?

If you're not having a destination wedding, what advice would you have about this for a bride who is?

Expert Advice: Kimberlee Bendeck of Boutique Events

Posted by Kate Berry, Senior Style Editor

Photos (from left to right) shot by Noah Hendler and Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Having the help of a wedding planner is a luxury that's worth every penny. When I got married, I enlisted the help of many of my friends, and then some. But if it weren't for my wedding planner, I would have been a mess trying to keep every detail in order.

I met Kimberlee Bendeck of Boutique Events working on a real wedding last year. Naturally, I feel pretty informed about weddings and events because of where I work, but when it comes to the actual event production, Kimberlee was so on top of things and had every source at her fingertips. I had a chance to catch up with Kimberlee last weekend at an event, and here's what she had to say.

What sets you apart from other wedding coordinators?

I find that every couple has a unique vision for their wedding. My focus is to make sure their vision becomes a reality. I'm very hands on in all aspects of the weddings and stay as far away from the cookie cutter wedding as possible. And I really push my brides and grooms to customize their celebrations and think outside of the traditional expectations of weddings today.

How far in advance and how much do you get involved in a wedding?

Usually about 6-8 months in advance but I've had a few incredible weddings that started just 3 months out! No detail is overlooked, from the type of filling in the cake to the color palette of the wedding—I'm involved in it all. Planning a wedding is a very intimate process, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of helping create such a momentous event in my client's lives.

New York is your area of expertise, but are there other places you like to work?

I just took my business bi-coastal this past summer and love working in sunny Southern California, from LA to Orange County all the way to San Diego. I've started to branch out to Santa Barbara as well. It's just a different vibe, and I can create a very different kind of wedding.

What are some last minute decisions you've had to deal with?

A lot of the last minute decisions I've had to deal with are table changes based on guests that cacel at the very last minute due to illness or travel. Between that and working with new escort cards, it's a situation I've become pretty used to.

Expert Advice: A Conversation with Preston Bailey

Posted by Darcy Miller, Editorial Director

I've known Preston Bailey for a long time. Not only is he one of the kindest people I know, but he's also one of the biggest talents in the industry. (He even has his own stationery line available on his website.) His events are over-the-top amazing and any bride is very lucky to have him on her side. Here's what he had to say about wedding planning over the years.

Darcy: What’s the most unusual thing a bride has ever requested?

Preston: The most unusual request ever made by a bride was to have an all black wedding, including her gown. This is not the typical color brides choose, but all that may change; there are many darker hues that add lush depth and sensuality to your celebration and can replicate the dramatic effect of black.

D: What’s harder to plan for: a huge wedding in the city, or a small wedding
on a remote island?

P: It's harder to plan a wedding on a remote island because you have to be ready for Plan B in case the weather doesn’t agree or operational logistics are handled differently. With small islands, sometimes it’s a real labor of love just getting there. And you must always be informed of the various customs and laws that exist on different islands.

D: What’s your biggest piece of advice for destination brides?

P: Make sure the destination offers beautiful décor to complement the natural surroundings, and the service should be key.

D: What’s your secret for calming nervous brides?

P: I always try to remind brides to be in the moment and not worry about the little things. Love should be exciting, and this moment, the symbol of her love, should be very exciting, too!

D: What do you predict will be the biggest wedding trend in 2010?

P: I think brides are interested in more casual receptions, whether that means smaller in scale or fewer guests, and this isn't necessarily a huge change. Opulent settings are never sacrificed when it comes to a smaller party—the grandeur is all in the details.