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Welcome to the Scarlet Plan & Design blog! We have lots of wedding planning advice and inspiration for brides and grooms in Charleston, Atlanta, Greenville and destinations worldwide!
We combined soft blush pink with mercury glass and gold, with lush floral designs, rustic farm tables, stunning industrial chandeliers, and refurbished church pews to create this lovely Southern wedding inspiration. We adore the nontraditional elements mixed with the traditional used to create this crisp, clean, elegant affair. We hope you love it as much as we did!
Read MoreI have a feeling this blog is going to ruffle a few feathers, but I'm ok with that. This has been on my mind for quite some time and I feel like I need to just go ahead and get it out in the open. I'll likely lose a few friends and a few likes on our Facebook page, but, again, I'm ok with that.
Nope, we sure don’t. You know why? Because there is no such thing as a gay wedding. I can’t tell you where to buy gay presents off their gay registry, I don’t know what their song will be for their gay first dance. There ain’t no gay hymns being sung at the ceremony, there is no “straight” section to sit in and Neil Patrick Harris probably isn’t on the guest list. Why? Because those aren’t fucking things.
And before you troll me and decide to lose your shit on social media, guess what? We don't do "straight" weddings either. We don’t do "white" weddings, or "black" weddings, or "Oriental" weddings (srsly, you will get punched if you say that in my presence), or "Muslim" weddings or any other wedding you're tempted to label.
We do big weddings, and small weddings, and medium sized weddings. We do weddings with two grooms, a bride & a groom, two brides, and weddings for gender queer clients, too. We have hijabi brides (salaam, sis), we’ve learned ASL to communicate with deaf grooms, we’ve had the coolest trans bride covered in tattoos that wore a black velvet wedding gown (holy cannoli that was rad!), we’ve had clients in recovery that throw a dry wedding and still end up dancing til dawn. Absolutely everyone is welcome here and your traditions, culture, language and preferred pronouns will be respected and remembered.
We do pop up weddings and elopements. We do incredible, authentic, unique, breathtaking, heartfelt, swoon-worthy weddings. We do weddings so filled with love and heartfelt joy that our entire team straight up Ugly Cries as the couple exchanges their handwritten vows.
We do super unique, weird, quirky weddings. We also do super traditional church weddings. We do nikkahs at mosques. We do fusion weddings combining time honored cultural traditions with the most important, meaningful pieces of their love story to create something entirely unique to our couples.
We do weddings where the clients want to hang cakes from the ceiling with Cirque du Soleil performers swinging around it. We do backyard weddings with food trucks. We do ultra luxe ballroom weddings with seven course meals and French Service. We do weddings where instead of exchanging rings, they both get tattoos. We do weddings where the bride is escorted down the aisle by her children and they have a "family ceremony" where they all pledge to love one another and to go forth as more than just a husband and a wife, they begin a whole new life together as a family. We do weddings where it's just the couple, their officiant, me and a killer photographer on a cliff overlooking the sea.
We do weddings where the couple has their best friend in the entire world get ordained so he can legally marry them using a ceremony script the three of them wrote together. (That wedding hit us right in the feels.)
the couple's best friend, Alan, officiated the nuptials in this photo
So, I guess my point is, yes, of course we do same-sex weddings (and all the other ones too)! I’ll even do a wedding if you’ve voted for Trump… And for us it's really about everything except the orientation of our couples, cuz let's be honest, that's none of our damn business anyway. #amiright?!
We love love! We love it in all its many forms. We love helping our couples celebrate their love for one another more than anything and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank the good Lord for allowing me to do what I love.
And speaking of Him, I believe with all my heart that the greatest commandment we were ever given was to love one another (Matthew 22:36-40) and that's exactly what I intend to do. I'm confident that when I'm called to account for my life in front of my Creator, all He's really going to care about is that I did my best to love folks without judgement and helped them celebrate their love for one another.
Now how about we all enjoy some photos of a few weddings that just make us happy, happy, happy?! You can't tell me that seeing people this happy makes you do anything but smile!
mike allebach, the creative genius behind the lens for this photo, is available for travel to all 50 states and abroad
mazel tov!
a ceremony filled with love and the promise to go forth as a family was just perfect for this couple
who says you can't wear a tuxedo with flip flops?
a traditional church wedding with 11 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen at peachtree road united methodist church in atlanta
jumping for joy!
matching boat shoes? i looooove!!
photos courtesy of the click chick photography, allebach photography, dana cubbage weddings, VUE photography, creative wedding photography, achor & eden, style me pretty, you are raven photography
When it came time to decide on my first Scarlet Wedding Tour venue, Upstairs at Midtown was a natural fit for me. I loved that it is centered right amidst the hustle and bustle of King Street. It felt like a nod to the city life I love so much back home, all while being encompassing the gorgeous historical feel of Charleston. Not to mention – it has a rooftop and phenomenal catering!
The mix of exposed bricks, wood floors, vintage mirrors and thick moulding make for an incredibly beautiful space. That sort of blank canvas is a playground for ideas, but I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it. I wanted to bring in contrast, and forgo the expected (my two favorite approaches when designing anything).
That meant tons of greenery. Bringing in an earthy feel was the perfect juxtaposition to the raw and otherwise neutral space. That also meant no linens and no flowers. Yes, a wedding venue with no flowers. Why? Well, why not? Upstairs is a remarkable, intimate space. It doesn’t need much because it’s already so pretty. The one thing it doesn’t have (as most city spaces don’t) is greenery. So, I called for tons of it. With that, there was no need for flowers or linens to make the setting feel full and lush. Rebekah of Forage and Fleur made that beyond easy to accomplish, as she went to town with my idea and executed it wonderfully. Event Haus’ gorgeous farm tables made the perfect canvas for the table settings and exquisite flatware pieces from Polished and quite literally, the icing on the cake was the simple, moss covered beauty from Sablee.
Diggity Donuts made a beautiful display for with their all natural donuts which worked so well with the organic theme. Jankun Creative put together a minimalist yet elegant paper suite that I loved and thanks to Charleston Virtuosi, we had the gorgeous deep sounds of the cello to fill the space.
My foraged fairytale in the city was one part magical, one part unexpected and all me! I loved every aspect of it, thanks to the amazing vendors I had the privilege of working with.
love, amy
planning & design :: amy feminella for scarlet plan & design | photography :: the click chick photography | transportation :: lowcountry valet | venue :: upstairs at midtown | videography :: before your eyes cinematography | rentals :: event haus & polished | floral design :: forage & fleur | cake :: sablee | doughnut cake :: diggity donuts | stationery :: jankun creative | stylist :: alden dehart for scarlet plan & design | music :: charleston virtuosi | bride's gown :: gown boutique of charleston | menswear :: ike behar | hair & makeup :: lava salon
Eeeeeek! I am so excited to start spilling the beans about the amazing vendor lineup we've got for the next Scarlet Wedding Tour!!! Today's post is all about the incredible photographers shooting at the venues our guests will be touring. Guests will be given the unique opportunity to get an up close look at how these talented folks work at events all while getting to know them better in an intimate setting. Although they all have very different styles, every one of our photographers is incredibly talented and we're beyond overjoyed to have them all on the Tour!
In case you're unfamiliar with our amazing Tour, we've rethought the traditional wedding show at the SWT, y'all. On our Tour you'll be skipping the enormous crowds, and you definitely won't find vendors stuck in rows of booths with only a few seconds (if that!) to chat with you while clawing past other brides-to-be for a small bite of shrimp and grits or a tiny sip of a weak watery cocktail. Guests will be split into small groups with other super fun newly engaged couples and shuttled aboard amazing vintage buses to tour 4 unique venues for tours and tastings all in one incredible afternoon. Read more about it HERE.
happy planning, loves!
First up we've got a veteran of the last SWT, my sweet friend Mackenzie Clark of The Click Chick of Photography! She will be shooting at my venue, Cannon Green. Her style is fresh, fun, playful and vibrant. Her eye for detail and styling her shots to perfection has made her a go-to photographer in Charleston and we're so happy to have her on the Tour again! Read more about her here.
Next we've got Raven Shutley of You Are Raven Photography shooting at The Cedar Room, designed by Sara & Regis. Quirky and playful, we're pretty much obsessed with all things Raven and couldn't be happier to have her on the Tour!
How long have you been in the event business? I've been a photographer for around 8 years, and started focusing on weddings & portraits about 6 years ago. Weddings are my FAVORITE thing to shoot, now!
What inspires you? My couples! Everyone is different and every couple is different as well, their love manifesting and appearing differently depending on their story both as individuals and together. So though I always stay true to my style, I shoot every couple slightly differently depending on the vibe I get from them. I'm also super inspired by locations! I love finding really great textures, colors, or shapes that help me say a little something about my couple.
What will guests of the Scarlet Wedding Tour be seeing from you? They'll be seeing how I work with an awesome couple and as a bonus, how I work an event space! With every group that comes in, I'll be challenging myself in new ways to show them how I work, my style, and my personality. We'll be exploring the space, utilizing it in new and wacky ways with each new wave of people.
What do you love most about this industry? I have met, worked with, and photographed some of the most amazing people in the entire world. Not only are the people I work with always kind, generous, genuine, fun, hilarious, and laidback, they all greatly appreciate art and highly value creativity. Equality and purpose are incredibly important to them, and I adore that. My fellow vendors and I are working hard to change the world, one wedding at a time, to make it a happier place where everyone feels welcome to be themselves, and I think that's all kinds of amazing.
What do you hope guests of the Scarlet Wedding Tour will take away from this experience? I hope that their minds expand and are filled with so many ideas of how their personal perfect day can be created. How the things that make them who they are can take physical form with a talented team of creatives who understand what they're looking for and get them as people.
Another veteran of the first Tour, Katie Capo of Catherine Ann Photography will be filling her pockets with salt when she shoots Amy's haunted venue, Old City Jail. Clean, elegant and timeless are just a few of the words I'd use to describe Katie's style and I can't wait for our wonderful couples to meet her in person!
How long have you been in the event business/and/or business for yourself? I started shooting weddings in 2009, but didn’t really establish myself as a business until 2013.
What inspires you? Dreamy natural light & historical places for sure! But authentic moments are my favorite thing. Nothing makes your photos shine more than being joyful and honest with your emotions on your wedding day.
What will guests of the SWT be seeing from you? They’ll be seeing Jay & I in action, capturing the details of the Old Jail & the models, as well as candid moments of the guests. They might even see some sneak peek photos of the set up while on the tour!
What are some of your favorite venues to work at? My favorite venues are outdoor garden areas & historic places. If I had to name a few, I would say Lowndes Grove, Middleton Place, and Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. I think the Old City Jail will make that list after the tour for sure!
What do you love most about this industry? Definitely the other vendors. They’re always willing to help, pass on referrals, and I can always count on them to go out for dinner and chat! Most of us work alone, so others in the industry act as our ‘co-workers’ and I think thats important. You need a ‘team’ to succeed, even if you’re not all doing the same thing. We’re all in different departments (-;
What do you hope guests of the SWT will take away from this experience? I hope that guests will see how important it is to hire professional wedding vendors if they want to bring their wedding visions to life. If you’re going to spend the money on a wedding (which IS a luxury...it costs next to nothing to actually get married) then you might as well hire the best people you can and not skimp out on one area, while splurging on another. No point in spending so much on a spectacular venue and wedding gown but then skimp on the flowers and photography! I also hope it inspires them to think outside the box for their wedding venues. I never would have thought to have a wedding at the Old City Jail, but now I think its an amazing spot and will definitely be memorable to guests.
Name on thing/place someone coming to Charleston from out of town must see or do. Oh dang, this ones hard! I suppose taking a history tour (be it walking or a horse and carriage). Charleston is so full of history and is interesting to learn about. You’ll see so much of the city that way and you’ll have a knowledgeable local telling you about everything.
And last but certainly not least we've got Jeni Becker with Sea Star Arts will be the photographer with Alicia at the stunning Wingate Plantation on Johns Island. This sweet new mom's style is warm, fresh and filled with emotion.
How long have you been in the event business? I have been photographing weddings for a decade now. Having a creative business is exciting!
What inspires you? Light. Sparkling light that is in someone's eyes, coming through the trees, dancing on the water... light! It is nature's way of sharing emotion.
What will guests of the Scarlet Wedding Tour be seeing from you? The SWT guests will be treated to polite southern charm. With a side of humor and sweet photographs to remember the fun day!
What are some of your favorite venues to work at? Have you seen Charleston? I mean really seen this town? I have traveled all over the world, photographed venues in many states, and I always come home to the most beautiful place on earth. So favorite venue? Any and all along our precious waterways.
What do you love most about this industry? We have a terrific group of vendors that truly live for the wonderful experience of a wedding. Everyone I have worked with all have one goal in mind, to take care of the couple getting married and make it a once in a lifetime experience. It is thrilling that so many people truly care about the events and the guests while taking grand care of the two saying their vows!
What do you hope guests of the Scarlet Wedding Tour will take away from this experience? I truly hope that the guests that invest their time in the SWT find new friends, exciting ideas, and inspiration from the light that will shine in each venue. There is truly something for everyone!
Name one thing/place someone coming to Charleston from out of town must see or do. EAT! You get all of the senses excited! Amazing food in really cool places with lots of history and charm! My favorite thing to do with my husband is just walk around sampling drinks and appetizers while strolling down alleys and holding hands under live oaks and Spanish moss.
Oh, my goodness! It has been sooooo hard containing this info for the last couple weeks, y'all! If you know me even a little bit, you know keeping secrets is NOT my strong suit. The venues we've lined up for the next Scarlet Wedding Tour are going to be nothing short of uh-MAZE-ing! As you probably already know from the last Tour, we here at SPD pride ourselves on showcasing an array of venues to our guests. Last time we had Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Boone Hall Plantation, Historic Rice Mill and Upstairs at Midtown as our venues giving guests a taste of four uniquely different Charleston venues. This time we're showing different locations but all still very much The Holy City. Three of them are downtown and the fourth is on nearby Johns Island, only 15 minutes from the Peninsula.
Sadly we can't share the design themes of the venues until they're revealed on Sunday, July 26, but make sure you buy your tickets now so you don't miss a thing!
First up we've got Wingate Plantation out on Johns Island. If you haven't been there yet, call Sarah and make an appointment right this second! It's a gorgeous hidden gem sitting on acres and acres of land just oozing with laid back Southern Charm.
Next we've got The Cedar Room at the old Cigar Factory on East Bay St. Oh, my stars, this venue absolutely kills me!! Opening later this spring, their 8000+ square feet of industrial, wide open event space is the perfect spot for larger weddings and events. Honestly it might be one of the biggest wide open event spaces (outside of a hotel ballroom) in Charleston and I'm smitten! Exposed brick, super tall ceilings, wood beams, and history...ah, l'amour! Oh, and they even have a gorgeous garden out back!
You'll never see this next venue coming... we've got Charleston's most haunted building, Old City Jail! Most folks are familiar with this building's sordid past and infamous former residents, some of which never moved on, but few are aware of the fact that it doubles as an event venue. Not for the faint of heart {or the very traditional couple!}, this space is perfect for the couple that craves something different {and maybe even a few phantom crashers!} for their Big Day!
Finally we are overjoyed to announce the fourth locale and one of Charleston's newest and most incredible venues, Cannon Green. Featuring two unique event spaces, The Trolley Room and The Courtyard, and an intimate 80 seat restaurant, Cannon Green is an absolute gem. Blending industrial elements with both rustic and Mediterranean, this venue is effortlessly chic and elegant while remaining firmly Southern. Easily one of the most unique venues in a city that is simply bursting with one-of-a-kind finds! And with Chef Amalia Scatena leading their culinary team, your guests will be wowed by not only the stunning venue but the menu as well.
Can you tell I'm excited?!? Y'all, I seriously can't even. Eeeek! This Tour is going to be showstopping and we cannot wait to load all our lovely engaged couples onto the buses provided by Lowcountry Valet again {arguably my favorite transportation vendor in the history of ever, I mean, have you seen their fleet?!}. Fully restored vintage cars and buses, tandem bicycles, and even a couple school buses.... Oops, I'm off on a tangent!
In any case, we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, July 26 on the Scarlet Wedding Tour!
happy planning, loves!
sara
Charleston Luxury & Nontraditional Wedding Planners & Wedding Coordinator | Atlanta Luxury & Nontraditional Wedding Planner & Wedding Coordinator | Destination Luxury & Nontraditional Wedding Planner & Wedding Coordinator | Philadelphia, PA Luxury Nontraditional Wedding Planner & Event Coordinator | Hilton Head Island Luxury Nontraditional Wedding Planner & Wedding Coordinator | Savannah, GA Luxury Nontraditional Wedding Planner & Event Coordinator
Scarlet Plan & Design | East Bay Street, Charleston, SC, United States
