Plan your wedding in one weekend

A Charleston Event invite you all to come see us at the upcoming A WONDERFUL WEDDING Bridal Show on July 11 in beautiful downtown historic Charleston.

We will be offering special show discounts and of course introducing our brides to some of our favorite and most trusted vendors who will be participating in the show. This will be a wedding planning experience of a lifetime.

We're also extending this special invitation for you to join our Charleston Wedding FAM. We are offering a special one-time introductory FAM price to show you the very best wedding venues in town on July 10. And if that's not all, a special cocktail reception at the conclusion of the day will allow you to compare notes and get to know other brides. Sip on champagne, mimosas and learn about wedding signature drinks at at the same time.

This will be a power-packed weekend starting on Saturday with a Charleston Wedding FAM to visit the best and most popular wedding sites in town, a cocktail reception Saturday evening to top off your day and then a fun-filled Bridal Show on Sunday to introduce you to the finest wedding vendors we work with. Planning your entire wedding in just one fun-filled weekend with over 30 years experience you can trust AND in a stress-free atmosphere is every bride's dream come true.

Space is extremely limited, so call Whitnie or Brigid to reserve your space now. Price includes transportation, weekend guide and wedding planning review book, entry fees to plantations and other historic sites, nibbly bits and treats along the way, cocktail reception on Saturday evening and a ticket into the Charleston Bridal Show on Sunday July 11. You'll also be entered into our Grand Prize Draw!

This special weekend FAM is being offered to help raise funds for our local charitable cause: GIVING BACK CHEER in support of Families Helping Families, an initiative of Palmetto Project.

Call our office for more information at 843-494-9501, email us at info@ACharlestonEvent.com or visit our site to request your special code for this weekend offer. CHARLESTON WEDDING FAM

Destination Weddings by Melissa Bigner, Charleston Mag

10 Reasons to Get Married in Charleston, South Carolina
by Melissa Bigner, Posted May 7th 2010 1:00PM

Filed Under: Destination WeddingsTaylor Stewart Photography

1. Locations, Locations, Locations!
No matter what flavor ceremony and reception venue you're craving, Charleston's got it. Antebellum manor house? Sure! Plantation? You bet! Verdant courtyard garden? Not a problem. Dune-fringed beach? Coming right up. Fairy-tale church? They don't call it the Holy City for nothing -- Charleston claims more than 300 churches and temples, many of which date back to the late 1600s and 1700s. There's a reason movies like The Notebook are filmed here and why catalogs and magazines shoot here round-the-clock -- everywhere you go, you've got a stunning backdrop, be it naturally or historically so. For couples, that means getting married in Charleston equals a textbook wedding fantasy (and it means you don't have to dish out dollars to create or overdress your location).

2. Tasty Times
For a relatively small town, Charleston boasts more than its share of local foodie celebs, from James Beard Award - winning chefs (and restaurants) to nationally renowned tastemakers. That means rehearsal dinners, reception menus, day-after brunches and sweet treats all along the way are crafted by the best of the best. But don't think it's all old-school Southern fried. These days, mama's specials (like she-crab soup and shrimp and grits) have new twists and boast straight-from-the-low-country-farm and boat ingredients. So whether you're in the mood for an oyster roast, tapas sampler or formal multicourse meal, Charleston delivers.

3. Sweet Treat
The South has long been know for its sweet tooth -- pralines and pecan pie, anyone? -- but Charleston's bakers and cake designers have raised the bar sky-high. From Peninsula Grill's nationally known 12-layer coconut cake to James Beard Award - winner Lauren Mitterer's confections to Jim Smeal's intricate, oft-published cakes and the dessert buffets from Baked, we know how to sate a sugar lover.

4. Turnkey or Do It Yourself?
Charleston vendors have their feet on the ground. It's one of the best things about living here -- that we all know snootiness equals bad manners. So whether you hire a wedding designer and planner to oversee every last detail of your wedding or you elect to DIY and simply need a day-of coordinator and a few pros to pitch in, the wedding folk in this neck of the woods get it and treat you princess-style no matter your budget. And as for their work? Sure, their weddings, florals, images and more grace the pages of all the national wedding mags and litter the pages of "It" wedding books near and far, but even more importantly, their client feedback is pure gold.

5. Play Station
While those in the bridal party typically have full slates on wedding weekends, guests tend to have a fair bit of downtime. That's why hosting a wedding in an easy-to-navigate vacation town like Charleston -- with world-class attractions, golf, spas, beaches, shops, restaurants, history and more -- is a gift to everyone involved in your big day.

6. Romance Rules
Time and again Charleston is voted the most romantic city in the country. Because strolling is THE way to go here (the city's historic neighborhoods, cobblestone streets, pristine beaches, and public gardens are hand-holding central); horse-drawn carriages and couples rickshaws are ubiquitous; and little boys offer handmade palmetto roses to most every passing lady, the accolade comes as no surprise to locals. If you're looking for a wedding spot that's synonymous with romance, we're it, as even the most reluctant romantic gets the love bug in Charleston.

7. Fair Weather, Friend
There really is no wedding season in Charleston. That's because the weather here is wedding-rific year-round. Sure it gets cool enough to know it's winter (think 60s), and yes, the summers can get steamy (July mostly), but that's where a wrap or AC comes in, respectively. And as for sunny skies? We average 209 a year. The wet days? They tend to have only those fleeting, afternoon Southern showers. About snow -- what's that?

8. Weddingmoons?
Have you heard of these? It's the idea that your wedding location is so keen that you're loathe to head out of town and honeymoon elsewhere. Charleston's aforementioned amenities, plus its mix of spoil-me resorts, boutique hotels, B&Bs, beach cottage and town-house rentals and other getaway pads make it a top spot for weddingmoons. If saving on your bottom line while splurging on your honeymoon is a priority, think about staying in the city after you say your I do's; the travel expenses you can pocket and the packages available at many accommodations will do you right and then some.

9. Fashion, Baby!
Maybe you've noticed how Charleston designers keep landing on Project Runway.Charleston Fashion Week each March, as well as its offshoot, the Bridal Couture Runway Show, presented by Charleston Weddings
Why, you ask. Well, it used to be that local fashionistas would have to head to the big cities for top labels and of-the-minute looks, but no more. Thanks to bustling King Street with its scores of chains (from Saks and Brooks Brothers to Urban Outfitters and Cynthia Rowley) and boutiques (like Hampden Clothing, Bob Ellis, LulaKate, M. Dumas & Sons and Billy Reid), Charleston is a style maven's dream town. That means brides, bridal parties, grooms, and mothers and fathers of the couple can find just what they need for wedding attire. Couture gowns, off-the-rack numbers, handmade creations, plus vintage, mod, or custom jewels, and men's attire: It's all here, as preppy, classic, or contemporary as you could wish for. Want to see it on the runway? Check out magazine.

10. Please and Thank You
Charleston was actually honorably retired (with a lifetime-achievement award for good graces) from the Most Mannerly City in America contest because we kept winning first place year after year after year. Tough problem to have. We just can't help opening doors, giving directions, helping strangers with this and that and inviting everyone in, whether in to town, to our gardens, inside for a house tour or who knows what. Really. If you want to surround yourself with quintessential Southern hospitality -- and what better way to kick off a marriage than in play-nice central? -- head this way.

Melissa Bigner is the Editor of Charleston Weddings magazine.
http://www.aisledash.com/2010/05/77/10-reasons-to-get-married-in-charleston-south-carolina/

Tana & Patrick

When Tana and Patrick decided to hold their destination wedding in Charleston, they wanted a venue with a simple, laid-back type of feeling. They also wanted a resort style but not something that would be stuffy or too far away from downtown Charleston. The choice was easy. The Charleston Harbor Resort in Mount Pleasant was ideal. Just on the other side of the new bridge, with easy access to scenic tours and located right on the Charleston Harbor with Water Taxi access attached to the hotel.

With a skyline of the City of Charleston directly across the harbor, the hotel boasts a man-made beach area that was the perfect area to hold their wedding ceremony. Palms tress swayed in the breeze as The Pantasia Steel Band played Caribbean music for the formalities and cocktail hour.

Seashells and starfish were nestled into the girls bouquets and matching boutonnieres with natural raffia and dendrobium orchids were worn by the gentlemen in the bridal party.
The mothers of the bride and groom carried small nosegays and after the ceremony dropped their small treasures in these cute little vases with embellishments of dendrobium orchids and raffia.
Accent florals were also created for a Memory Table (in honor of the bride's grandmother) along with other touches for the banquet tables.
Pew markers for the ceremony were looped on the tops of natural wood folding chairs.

Tables were laid with pale green linens to match the theme with large Monstera leaves used for placemats to hold natural themed centerpieces. The bride's invitations also had monstera leaves on them.

Small seating areas were created with wicker settee furniture and plain white cushions.

Simple accents for the banqueting tables and bar areas added the final touches to this beautiful day.

Venue - Charleston Harbor Resort
Planning - A Charleston Event & Bridal Library
Florals - A Charleston Event - Charleston Florals

For more information on planning your destination wedding in Charleston, SC, contact our wedding planners at 843-494-9501 or email us at info@acharlestonevent.com

In the Pink

Each year I look forward to seeing the 'new trendy color' that will take the helm of wedding season. 2010 still holds pinks as the 'top color choice' for 8 out of 14 of our upcoming weddings. Greens are running a close second. This was our first beach wedding of the year and the pink tones dominated the entire day.

Our traditional 'simple' beach wedding works its magic every time. A seashell circle with two large urns was all that was needed to frame the backdrop for a beautiful ceremony. The table was used to hold the glass containers for a sand-pouring ceremony. Small touches of natural elements that matched the bride's bouquet was used for boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen. Finished off with simple raffia, these made perfect touches that even the most masculine don't mind wearing.The Holiday Inn at Folly Beach and their wonderful banquet team provided the chair covers to complete the reception. Connie Duglin Linens provided these fun 'Confetti' linens to go with the different pink tones throughout the wedding.
Custom light boxes illuminated half the guest tables and made the simple tulips stand out in the reception site. Cymbidium Orchids were placed in tall glass cylinders with up-lights beneath them and placed on single jumbo monstera leaves to match the bride's invitations. These were placed on alternate tables.
This beautiful cake was created by Jean Paul Bakery and had the same monstera leaves as the bride's invitations. Candy buffets are still popular and are things that a bride can supply herself. Here, the bride's mother supplied all the different sweet options, along with glass containers. We then simply arranged them on top of monstera leaves to carry on the theme and added touches of the same leaves in pink vases. Small boxes were provided at each place setting for guests to fill themselves later on in the evening and take home wonderful treats for 'Sweet Dreams' that evening.

Wedding Design, Decor & Florals provided by A Charleston Event - Charleston Florals
Rentals provided by A Charleston Event, Snyder Event Rentals
Wedding Cake provided by Jean Paul Creative Cakes

For more information on Beach Weddings in Charleston, call us at
843-494-9501 or email us at info@acharlestonevent.com

Featured Couple: Sharon & Josh

Sharon & Josh on the Slopes January 2010

The WHO - Sharon and Josh

The HOW - She was a first year attorney at a Washington DC law firm. He was a seasoned second year attorney at the same firm. It all began when they were staffed on the same case....many billable hours later, they fell in love. Josh proposed by surprising Sharon with a trip to Kiawah Island. He led her up to their suite at The Sanctuary Hotel where the room was covered in rose petals and there were chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, and a candlelight dinner waiting on a balcony overlooking the ocean. As the sun was setting, Josh pulled out a beautiful ring and the rest is history...

Where you live now and WHY you chose Charleston and A Charleston Event

DOW and location(s): We now live in Colorado. We loved Kiawah so much that we decided to get married at the same place we got engaged. We chose A Charleston Event because Elyn was so knowledgeable and helpful from the very first conversation we had with her.

PLANNING - We have picked our rehearsal dinner venue (Magnolia's restaurant downtown), ceremony/reception/brunch venues (the Sanctuary hotel), and vendors. Our next steps are picking/designing invitations and finalizing menus for the rehearsal dinner, reception, and brunch.

Cultural Divide by Charleston Weddings Magazine

DECEMBER 1, 2009 Cultural Divide Span the distance between far-flung family customs, religions, and wedding traditions with finesse WRITTEN BY BRIDGET HERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY GISSENDANNER PHOTOGRAPHY Milan Patel and Rachel Bloom When Drs. Rachel Bloom and Milan Patel married at the Charleston Marriott on Lockwood Drive, they wanted to include all of Rachel’s Jewish traditions and all of Milan’s Hindu customs in their celebratory weekend. Thus Elyn Rahman of A Charleston Event & Bridal Library planned a wedding extravaganza ulminating in two elaborate same-day ceremonies followed by one big bash. On their wedding day, the Manhattanites (clad in custom-made saris) first knelt under a mandap, the sacred Hindu wedding tent, and were married by a Hindu priest. A few hours later, Rachel donned an ivory silk and taffeta wedding gown and Milan slipped into a tux. The couple then exchanged vows under a chuppah, the traditional Jewish wedding canopy. As Milan stomped the wedding glass, a rabbi sealed their union for the second time that day. To keep the couple’s celebrations cohesive, Elyn stuck with one location and incorporated the same colors throughout both events. Red and gold linens, along with ample armfuls of lush red and white orchids, brightened the Marriott’s ballroom, and both traditional Indian food and American fare were served. At the end of the night, more than 500 wedding guests hit the dance floor and celebrated the union of the happy couple—and their customs. Lowcountry lovebirds Josia Martin (an Indian expat) and Cooper Strong (a local son) also hosted a blended wedding, although they ran into a few planning challenges at the onset. The initial stumbling block occurred with their church. Both attend Christ Our King in Mount Pleasant, but Josia wanted to incorporate a few Indian traditions into the service, and local Catholic church officials were skeptical. Undaunted, Josia met one-on-one with her officiant to explain the spiritual significance of the traditions, and the church changed its position. “My uncle is a Catholic priest,” says Josia. “So he presided over that part of the ceremony and read in my native language, Malayalam.” When everyone retired to the reception at Hamlin Plantation, guests sampled both chicken tikka masala and she-crab soup while lounging on ottomans outfitted with pillows covered with Indian fabrics. In the end, the couple was thrilled with the outcome, and Josia advises brides in similar situations to create celebrations that represent the melding of families. Her top tip? “Anything special to either family should be included in the wedding.” Takeaway Tips for Blended Weddings • Successfully blended weddings are all about communication. Begin by discussing your dream wedding ceremony one-on-one with your partner. Together, make a list of “musts.” • Present your ideas to a wedding planner: they’ll help make the celebration cohesive. • Ask your planner for advice on talking to families if this promises to be tricky. • If you have more than one officiant, encourage them to work together while planning the ceremony. • Present your ideas to your families as a united pair. • Print programs that spell out special customs incorporated into the ceremony or ask officiants to explain rituals as they are performed. • Provide translations for foreign language segments so all guests can follow. •Print menu cards that name and describe all foods, local and ethnic. Head to the Holiday House! What are you doing this Thursday, December 3rd? A Charleston Event & Bridal Library is throwing a holiday social-slash-networking event for those in the bridal industry. That means the Governor Thomas Bennett House will be dressed to the nines by a host of great local vendors—but it’s not for biz folks alone! Brides who want to preview local talent in action can pop in, too. See you there! GIVING BACK CHEER, December 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Governor Thomas Bennett House; free, although a sealed envelope with a donation for Palmetto Project's Families Helping Families is required. For a complete list of vendors, and more, click here!
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