Dress the Part
Though Modern Trousseau offers gowns for debutantes and such, their specialty is dressing brides for the best day of their lives. This Upper King Street boutique features beautiful exposed-brick walls and minimalistic tones, an ambience that is calming for anyone who may be under the pressure of, say, planning a wedding.
Hot Rod
When Jeffrey Newton first bought his candy apple red 1966 Pontiac GTO, he had no idea it would be the start of Lowcountry Valet and Shuttle Co. The full-service transportation company provides formal white-glove valet service plus limousine and coach bus transport.
Wish List
Depending on your outlook, registering for gifts as a bride can be an exciting shopping spree or a tedious chore—but either way, it’s almost always overwhelming. That’s why interior designer Jeffrey Bannon loves when brides come in to his eponymous store to start their registries. “A lot of brides come in with no idea what they want,” he says. “My goal is to pull out of them what their personal style is. It does me a world of good to see them leave happy.”
A Proper Topper
While wedding planners and decorators focus on the small details that come together to create a perfect event, Matt McKeown and the staff of Haus Tents are focused on the big picture. Specifically, the structures that house all of those carefully selected centerpieces and cocktail napkins.
High Style Hair
Hair stylist Charlotte Belk believes in giving her brides a truly personalized experience. The co-owner, with her husband, of Elysium Salon and the Elysium Salon Agency, also runs the Wedding Hair by Charlotte Agency to cater specifically to brides.
Here Comes the Bride
Terri Espy and her daughter Krista Roach found the perfect balance when they opened the Gown Boutique of Charleston six years ago. Turns out, Roach’s fashion background meshes remarkably with Espy’s 20-year career in interior design. “It’s all about knowing fabric and construction, the scale and proportion of a garment on your body,” Espy explains. “It’s having an aesthetic eye for those types of things that translates interior design to bridal fashion.”
Tea Time
Tea brings back warm childhood memories for Butter Blossoms owners Emily Herr and Michelle DiTullio. “We would often seek out tea rooms during family vacations and getaways, always excited to experience the charming tradition of taking tea together, slowing down and making new memories over clotted cream and scones,” Herr says. So when the mother-daughter team decided to open up their West Ashley bakery, they knew that it had to have a tea party room.
Snap Crackle Pop
Burt Lawson had no idea that an impromptu spin inside a DJ booth at a wedding over a decade ago would turn into a lifelong passion and eventually his own company, FingerSnappin’ Entertainment.
Cru to the Rescue
Cru Catering has evolved quite a bit since its start back in 2000. What began as a private in-home service expanded into both a downtown restaurant and a full-fledged catering company serving Charleston, the country’s number one wedding destination.
Wed on the Water
Beach weddings are fine and dandy, but if you really want to get close to the water, try a wedding at sea. Charleston Harbor Tours and Events hosts rehearsal dinners and weddings for up to 250 people on their vessels the Carolina Belle and the Carolina Queen, two riverboat-style ships with open observation decks, dining salons and full bars. Couples can simply rent the boat and make their own catering and entertainment arrangements, or they can purchase an all-inclusive package.
