The Scarlet Wedding Tour | Charleston Wedding Venue Tours | A Wedding Show Alternative | Charleston, Atlanta, New York Nontraditional Wedding Planning & Design

This past weekend was easily one of the hardest and most rewarding weekends of my career.  My team and I have spent just about the last full year talking about, planning, designing and pulling off essentially 4 events in one day.  We took engaged couples and their loved ones on tours of 4 of Charleston's most amazing wedding venues before ending with a super fun private after party.  Each venue featured a different design by a Scarlet planner complete with live models styled by a Scarlet stylist, full tablescapes, floral designs, tastings by award winning caterers, cocktails, epic wedding cakes (and even a cake made entirely out of cheese wheels!), and so much more!

More than anything I need to thank my incredible team and our amazing sponsors.  Without them this event never would've happened.  I love all of you!

My venue was Boone Hall Plantation.  Most people opt for the Cotton Dock, but that's not what we wanted.  We went for the Back Patio and it was perfect for my design!  It's funny how my design went from being super Tuscan inspired to ending up kind of a mash up of all things "Sara".  I basically created a wedding that was entirely 100% me without even realizing it!  We mixed some Italian/Tuscan pieces, a killer vintage airstream, farm tables topped with mismatched plates that could've been just as easily at home in my Nonna's cupboard as they were on our tables, fun travel themed pieces like vintage globes and suitcases (thanks, Whitney!), a little bit of my love for Wes Anderson flicks, and some very fun Boho touches to create this one of a kind theme!

Enjoy!

vendors

Planning/Styling: Sara Skinner assisted by Regis Byrd & Jordan Zarwel; Styling by Alden deHart & Brittany Lapin, Scarlet Plan & Design  | Photography: Catherine Ann Photography | Venue: Boone Hall Plantation back patio | Videography: Before Your Eyes Cinematography  | Linens & Furniture Rentals: Event Haus  | Invitations: By Brydon | Gown: Maddion Row | Tuxedo: Charleston Tuxedo | Catering: Crave  | Mixology: Flute | Cheese “Cake”: Sablee/Charleston Artisan Cheese | Florist: Wildflowers Inc. | Music: Ear For Music  | Airstream: I Roll With It  | Favors: Holy Smoke Olive Oils  | Table Settings: Polished!  | Makeup/Hair: Charleston Lash & Beauty Bar  | Cigar Roller: Cigar Row | Vintage Car & Bus: Lowcountry Valet

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Sweet Taylor Girl one of our favorite bloggers (Holy City in Heels) acted as our lovely bride model paired with Max owner of Holy Smoke Smoked Olive Oil as our handsome groom.  We put Taylor in a stunning lace Sareh Nouri gown (arguably one of my favorite designers EVER) with an illusion neckline and back.  I mean, what's more Italian than lace?  Niente!  Max was decked out in a classic black tux from Charleston Tuxedo.

I'd say this "cake" is probably my favorite piece of this entire design.  I mean, seriously?  A cake made entirely out of cheese-wheels is legit the coolest thing I've ever seen and perfect for the couple that loves savory more than sweet!  And with a cake like this, there's no need to wait until late in the evening to slice that bad boy and mangia!

Vintage globes throughout the tablescapes kept the vibe fresh and unexpected.

Individual baguettes wrapped in kitchen paper with a spring of rosemary tucked in atop vintage china plates with gold flatware completed our "Family Style" feel on the guest table.  If you're in the market for gorgeous vintage plates, gold flatware or any other unique table toppers, look no further than our friends at Polished!

Sweet Brydon at By Brydon Fine Paper Designs absolutely knocked our paper suite out of the park with the colors she chose and the design we collaborated on!  And how about that canary yellow diamond on Taylor's ring?  Amazing!

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With the bride getting so much attention and say so when it comes to the wedding plans, we KNEW we had to do something pretty epic for the fellas!  A vintage airstream inspired by Teddy Roosevelt and all his manly machismo decked out as a quirky cigar lounge and bourbon bar was perfect!

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click on an image above to enlarge

Losing the Wedding Cake | Non-traditional Wedding Sweets | Non-traditional Weddings

So we haven't gone completely mad when we say you should "lose" the wedding cake.  We really mean that you shouldn't feel like you HAVE to go the traditional route when it comes to choosing your sweets for your guests.  There are no rules when it comes to having (or not having) the big old wedding cake for 250 people.  If you don't like cake, you don't have to serve cake.  Or at least not an entire cake for everyone.

One of my favorite new trends I've been seeing pop up in several of my weddings is the smaller sized cake simply for cutting purposes and a huge dessert bar filled with all their favorite goodies.  I mean, what do you do if neither of you really enjoy cake?  I suggest tossing it out the window (not literally!) and serving your dearly beloved something you both actually enjoy.


What if your first date was at a fabulous little coffee shop and you shared an incredible little donut and would love to share that special moment with everyone?  Get your "cake" made out of donuts!

And who says pie is just for picnics?  We beg to differ!  Go for something outside the box and serve up adorable little miniature pies.  Or feel free to go even crazier with pies on a stick!

Or do what Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds did when they got hitched in Charleston at Boone Hall Plantation just last year, serve a little bit of everything!  They had the cake flown in from Virginia and had tons of amazing local bakeries put an incredible dessert station together for them with everything from strawberry shortcakes to s'mores bars to tiny little tartlets.

The possibilities are really quite limitless when you realize that your wedding is all about you and your new spouse.  There is nothing holding you back from serving what you want how you want it!  So be brave and throw that wedding cake out the window!